Oslo in January: a seasonal travel plan
Oslo, Norway. In january, the average daytime high is -3.5 °C and the night-time low is -8.7 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Choose a month
Selected month: January
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Oslo
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- -3.5 °C
- Nighttime low
- -8.7 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 80.6 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 14.6
- Daylight
- 6.8 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | -4.3 | -9.3 | 4.4 |
| Days 11–20 | -3.9 | -9.2 | 4.8 |
| From day 21 | -2.5 | -7.7 | 5.4 |
What this month is like
Oslo, Norway. In january, the average daytime high is -3.5 °C and the night-time low is -8.7 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
There are 14.6 wet days on average, with about 80.6 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Average daylight is 6.8 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What to pack
Pack a warm coat, thermal layers, a hat, gloves and insulated shoes with non-slip soles. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — -2.4 °C, January — -3.5 °C, next month — -1.6 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 15.3, 14.6 and 12.5.
Things to do
Oslo sits at the head of its fjord: a compact centre along Karl Johans gate, the new Bjørvika waterfront with the opera house, and Grünerløkka with its cafés to the east. The city is expensive, but trams, the metro and ferries make taxis unnecessary.
Opera House and Bjørvika
Walk up the white sloping roof of the Opera House, which is open to visitors, and look out over the fjord. The city library and waterfront are next door, a good place to begin a walk through the new quarter.
Vigeland Park
Vigeland Park holds hundreds of sculptures and stays open day and night without an entrance fee. Follow the main axis to the monolith, then walk back through Frogner to the waterfront in summer.
Bygdøy peninsula
The easiest way to Bygdøy is the ferry from Rådhusbrygge. The Fram and Kon-Tiki museums and the open-air Folk Museum stand there; two of them fill a full day.
Where to stay
Sentrum
The centre along Karl Johans gate suits a first visit: station, palace and harbour are all walkable. Evenings are quiet and restaurants costly, but transport is on the doorstep.
Grünerløkka
Grünerløkka is loved for its cafés, bars and the park along the Akerselva river. Rooms cost less than downtown, and the station is a few tram stops away.
Frogner
Frogner is a quiet district of embassies and late nineteenth-century apartment blocks, with a park and Vigeland Park nearby. It suits anyone who values calm; bars are downtown.
Getting to and around Oslo
The Flytoget train links Gardermoen Airport with Central Station in about twenty minutes, while ordinary trains take longer and cost less. Around the city the T-bane metro, trams and buses cover the centre and the museum districts, and a day pass pays off when you move between them. Ferries from Rådhusbrygge serve Bygdøy and the islands in the fjord.
Three days in Oslo
Centre and Bjørvika
Walk up Karl Johans gate to the palace in the morning, then descend past Akershus Fortress to the waterfront. Afternoon at the opera house and library, dinner in Bjørvika.
Frogner and Bygdøy
Vigeland Park first thing, then the ferry from Rådhusbrygge across to Bygdøy. Pick two museums, say Fram and the Folk Museum, and return on the same boat.
Grünerløkka and Holmenkollen
Morning at the Mathallen food hall in Vulkan and a walk along the Akerselva. Take the tram up to Holmenkollen for the fjord view and the ski museum next to the jump.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -3.5 | -8.7 | 80.6 | 14.6 | 6.8 |
| February | -1.6 | -7.1 | 67.2 | 12.5 | 9.1 |
| March | 2.3 | -4.6 | 68.2 | 11.8 | 11.8 |
| April | 8.1 | -0.7 | 56.0 | 9.1 | 14.5 |
| May | 14.5 | 5.0 | 74.4 | 13.1 | 17.1 |
| June | 19.1 | 10.0 | 90.1 | 14.1 | 18.7 |
| July | 19.9 | 11.4 | 110.3 | 16.1 | 18.0 |
| August | 18.8 | 10.5 | 119.1 | 15.9 | 15.6 |
| September | 14.9 | 7.5 | 119.6 | 13.7 | 12.9 |
| October | 8.2 | 2.4 | 96.6 | 14.1 | 10.2 |
| November | 1.7 | -2.3 | 97.4 | 14.4 | 7.6 |
| December | -2.4 | -6.7 | 85.1 | 15.3 | 6.1 |
Frequently asked questions
Oslo: what is the temperature in January?
The average daytime high is -3.5 °C and the night-time low is -8.7 °C. Outdoor conditions are frosty. Keep walks short and alternate them with indoor stops.
How many days with precipitation are there in January?
On average, there are 14.6 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 80.6 mm. Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What should I pack for walks in January?
Pack a warm coat, thermal layers, a hat, gloves and insulated shoes with non-slip soles. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — -4.3 °C; 11–20 — -3.9 °C; 21 to month-end — -2.5 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in January?
The average is 6.8 hours. Daylight is limited. Set aside time for views and photographs before dusk.
Is Oslo worth visiting in January?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around -3.5 °C and nights around -8.7 °C work for you. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
What can I do in Oslo on a wet day in January?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Oslo in January?
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Average daylight is 6.8 hours.