Oslo Opera House
Operahuset
A white marble opera house that rises from the fjord like an iceberg. Visitors can walk up the sloping roof for free and look out over the fjord and the new Bjørvika district.
The Oslo Opera House was designed by the Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta and opened in 2008. It is home to the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and in 2009 it won the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture (Mies van der Rohe Award). The building takes its shape from glaciers and icebergs. Its exterior is covered with about 36,000 blocks of white Carrara marble, and its sloping roof extends down into the water. Anyone can walk up the roof from the ground for free, which is the core idea of the design: to make the building a public space. From the roof you can see the fjord, the islands, the Munch Museum and the skyline of the new district. On the water in front stands a stainless steel and glass floating sculpture called She Lies. Inside, oak walls and large glass curtain walls create a warm atmosphere. The main auditorium seats about 1,350. English-language guided tours (paid, about 50 minutes) introduce the backstage areas and the architecture. Performance tickets start at around NOK 100 (check the official website for current prices). By the sea in front of the opera house are a floating sauna and a harbor swimming area, where you can swim in summer. It is about a 5-minute walk from Oslo Central Station.
Opening hours
Rooftop open all day; lobby approx. 10:00-23:00 (check website)
Nearby sights
- Deichman Bjørvika
- MUNCH
- Sørenga Seawater Pool
- Oslo Cathedral
- Ekebergparken Sculpture Park
- Karl Johans gate & Royal Palace
- Grünerløkka
- Mathallen Oslo