Akershus Fortress

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"In Oslo, I describe this medieval castle as rumored to be Norway’s most haunted site, with tales of a demon dog guarding the gates and the eerie apparition of a woman with no facial features, and I note that the fortress is free to visit." - Andrea Romano Andrea Romano Andrea Romano is a writer and editor in New York City. For the last eight years, she has been a lifestyle journalist for Mashable, Brit+Co, Reviewed, Bustle, and Travel + Leisure. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

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"Prison sentences at the Akershus Fortress often involved hard physical labor, and it was known for using irons and chains as a way to discipline prisoners. Rumors persist of whispers and scratching heard along the hallways, and guards have reported weird sensations while on duty, like being pushed by someone who wasn't there. Entry is free and in the summer, daily tours are offered in English." - Travel + Leisure Editors

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"Discover some of Oslo’s most important history at this medieval fortress and castle overlooking the city’s fjord approach. Built in the late 1290s by King Haakon V to protect the city from invasion, the complex has been in continuous use ever since, including as a prison and military site. A quick stroll around the free museum—not to mention the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum and Resistance Museum—is enough to transport you back in time. Watch out for the smart young soldiers patrolling the grounds. They’re not there to entertain tourists—the fortress is still an active military site."

72 Hours in Oslo

Photo courtesy of Terje Borud/visitnorway.com

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"A Medieval Feast for the Eyes at Akershus Fortress This 700 year old fortress lies nestled by the Oslo fjord, still quite imposing even though lots of modern buildings have shot up all around it. The remains of the Medieval Akershus Castle lies within the fortress walls, once home to Norwegian kings and queens. Complete with narrow winding corridors, dungeons, and great halls, this truly is one of the most important buildings in Norway if you’re historically inclined. The castle church is still used for services, christenings, weddings and concerts, and the whole fortress area is visited by thousands of people each year, perhaps proving that history still matters?"

Museums of Oslo

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48 Hours in Oslo Itinerary (Updated 2025)

"Exploring Akershus Fortress, originally built in 1290 and later transformed into a Renaissance palace under King Christian IV, I appreciated its unbreached defensive history (it did surrender during WWII), the on-site military museum and resistance museum, seasonal guided tours and concerts in summer, and the accessible grounds (main gate summer hours 7am–9pm; visitor center 10am–5pm); admission is free." - Matthew Kepnes

Penny G.

Google

This fortress is a cool place to walk around with a great view of Oslo harbour! Beautiful walls and buildings. Lovely garden and lots of mushroom 🍄

Patrick X.

Google

A remarkable historical site, a nice place to walk around, a must visit destination in Oslo. We spent a couple of hours here and enjoyed our visit. It is walkable from the harbor. The harbor was beautiful too.

Inayah S.

Google

Akershus Fortress is my favorite spot in Oslo and definitely one of the must-visit places in the city. The fortress is full of history, with beautiful grounds to walk around, and it also offers an amazing view of the harbor. A perfect place to enjoy both culture and scenery in one visit.

Emma T.

Google

Such a beautiful place to walk around in didn’t cost anything to walk through the gardens and the outside of the Fortress. During the fall the leaves made everything so beautiful.

Мээргул Мырзабай К.

Google

Probably the best place in Oslo! Peaceful atmosphere, stunning views of the city and the fjord, and so much history in every wall.

Fon C.

Google

Nice place to walk around on a Sunday in Oslo as most things are closed. There’s not much to see or do, but it’s a pleasant spot for a short stroll and some quiet time.

Sid M.

Google

The views of the city and the fjords are fantastic. Entry is completely free; the main building is closed in winter.

Maryam A.

Google

I hadn’t really planned to visit Akershus Fortress, but I’m so glad I did. A beautiful piece of Oslo’s history with stunning views. Just make sure to wear comfy shoes—it’s not the best place for heels!

Sara C.

Yelp

Visiting the Akershus Fortress was the literal first thing we did after landing in Oslo - and what a way to start a trip! First off, the views from Akershus out to the fjords of Oslo were absolutely breathtaking. Even if you're not at the fortress for the history, a stop there just to see the views would totally be worth it. Akershus is a medieval castle, so it has no shortage of architectural sights too. It is a fortress, so there aren't too many frilly adornments, but what is there is very cool to look at. My favorite part was the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum that is housed inside the fortress. There were uniforms, swords, tanks (on the outside), and other weaponry and pieces from throughout Norway's history. Everything is super well laid out and easy to navigate. Even as an English speaker, I had no problem understanding the exhibits because there was a plethora of English signage along with the Norwegian. A visit to Akershus fortress is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon. History, scenery, and best of all - it's totally free!

Kris L.

Yelp

Great views and nice walking paths, be sure to see the Resistance Museum and go into the visitor center to view the interactive AI displays where you can ask a question and the period figures provide an answer.

Chad M.

Yelp

I was pleasantly surprised to see that a mysterious place like this was free to enjoy. I surely wasn't going to miss out. My significant other and I went through the main entrance in Kirkegata. I was happy to see how large it was, especially since that helped to disperse everyone out. We were able to walk at our own pace. The structure of everything sure did blow my mind. It was all beautifully made. The Toalett was free to use, so that was great. It was somewhat clean. Overall, with this being a free attraction and having a lot of walking involved, I enjoyed it very much. I wouldn't hesitate to come back. Date of visit: Sep 14, 2024

Mitch K.

Yelp

A well preserved medieval fortress that has guarded the entrance to Oslo's harbor for many years. It is open to walk around and a tram line will take you to the base of the hill. Most interesting is the resistance museum inside of the fortress. It records how Norway handled the rise of Hitler and the Nazi occupation of Norway from just before WW II, through the war and afterwards. Worth you time as Norway was occupied with about 400,000 German army troops for about five years. There is also a nice slide show that you will have to ask about at the front desk which covers the history of the Norweigan monarchy and government from being a part of Sweden through independence. A small gift shop has some excellent books, many in English. Excellent views of Oslo and the harbor.

David F.

Yelp

This fortress is a must-see on your visit to Oslo. It is very unique in that it is a living fortress, meaning it has been used for hundreds of years on and off, even today. Although not much of the so-called "original" fortress is still there (besides parts of the walls), the reconstruction done during the 1930s is a great depiction of what the fortress looked (and could have for some sections) like in past centuries. Using the audio guide you get with your ticket, you get a great walkthrough of the different rooms in the fortress, and if you choose to, more detailed descriptions of some of the artwork or items. A lot of the artwork is very interesting, although much had come to the fortress later, meaning it isn't as old as you might expect

Ed U.

Yelp

When Oslo became Norway's capital in 1299, the ruler at the time, King Haakon V, ordered the construction of this medieval fortress to ward off invading barbarians. Turned out to be a smart move as Sweden kept trying to conquer Norway back then. Its current restoration began in earnest when Norway gained its independence from Sweden in 1905. Now it's become a cool, atmospheric place to stroll in the evening after a too-expensive meal in nearby Aker Brygge where all the tourists congregate. Surrounded by rocky walls and lined with cobblestone paths, the fortress features an inevitable row of cannons and a great panoramic vista point of Oslofjord except this one evening when a supersized cruise ship blocked our view in one direction (photo: https://bit.ly/3RBUl1P). RELATED - Exploring Norway? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3PEL4Fe

Michael U.

Yelp

Not far from the National Museum or Oslo Fjord docks Akershus Fastning is a medieval castle in the Norwegian capital. Once built to protect the King and City the fortress is open to the public daily for free, though the castle itself is ticketed. Originally constructed in the 13th century the fort also contains a military museum with canons still mounted and pointed over extensive views of the waterfront.

Herbert E.

Yelp

'Ello chaps! Akershus Fortress (Akershus Fastning) is a medieval castle in the Norwegian capital of Oslo, located right next to the water front. Once built to protect and provide a royal residence, it's now a historic attraction. The fortress is open to the public daily (FREE!), although aspects of some of the interior parts (such as the castle) are open with a fee. Note, you'll see members of His Majesty the King's Guard around as military members continue to guard the fortress and area to this day. Overall I give Akershus Fortress 5 stars out of 5.

Gayan P.

Yelp

Beautiful place. Nice piece of history that is worth taking a look at when you're in the area. We are glad that we made the time to see the fortress.

Martine K.

Yelp

We came late so we couldn't go inside the castle. But walking around the grounds is awesome in itself. You get a great view of the Bryggen Wharf and marina area. My pictures give you a better idea than I could ever explain. There's an area where you can enter and local artisans have stuff on display. It's really pretty amazing inside. There is also the Norwegian Resistance Museum on the grounds that you can learn about how they resisted against Hitler. It's interesting but a lot of it is in Norwegian. All in all a grat place to check out.

Rebecca T.

Yelp

It wasn't planned, but we spotted this beautiful fortress during our boat ride across the harbor. We're glad we got to check it out because it offered a great view with a perfect vantage point. The fortress itself didn't have much to explore, at least not that I know of, but it does offer a nice stroll up and down the hills. There's a restaurant just right at the base of the fortress next to the harbor with some live music playing too! At first we were kind crept out here because there were random weird children / dwarves statues at random spots. One girl with no face but just hair was standing right by the side of the entrance creepily... We later found out these are all works done by an artist! It's pretty cool to have these creepy statues in an ancient fortress! This place is good if you have free time at night; it stays open late. But I wouldn't say it's a must-see.

Sandra F.

Yelp

Akershus Fortress (Norwegian: Akershus Festning) or Akershus Castle (Norwegian: Akershus slott) is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison. It is also still a military area, but is open to the public daily until 9pm. In addition to the castle, the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum and the Norwegian Resistance Museum can be visited there. The Norwegian Ministry of Defence and Defence Staff Norway (armed forces headquarters) have a joint modern headquarters in the eastern part of Akershus Fortress. Enjoyed the experience and loved all the old medievel buildings.

Yelp U.

Yelp

Great day at Akershus! Saw the sunset and really enjoyed the history about Queen Margrete at the visitor center. The Arm Forces museum is also very well curated. I would like to visit there again before I leave Oslo. Tusind tak!

Sandra K.

Yelp

Free entrance to the fortress. An awesome view on the Oslo fjord and a lot of history passing through these walls.

Brian S.

Yelp

A tough old castle Akershus is a huge castle and fort that was constructed way back in the late 13th century and has been changed, enlarged and restored zillions of times throughout the centuries. It's now difficult to tell what part is from what time period. The castle has be besieged and attacked many times in the past by all kinds of different kings, dukes and generally unpleasant people and has never been taken until it was voluntarily surrendered to the Germans in 1940. It was also used as a prison in the 19th century and had a reputation as a very harsh place that few people survived for very long. The castle is now used by foreign dignitaries and important people for events and special occasions but is also opened to the general public. You can walk around and look at all the cool old buildings and get stunning views of the harbor and ships from the top. The castle is in wonderful condition and it's obvious that they take good care of it. Lots of fun to spend some time exploring the park like grounds and all ancient buildings and stones. A great part of Norwegian history that should not be missed.

Pat C.

Yelp

Akershus Fortress, located in the city centre by the Oslo Fjord, is a great place to discover Oslo's history and a beautiful place to enjoy a summer day. History The building of Akershus Castle and Fortress was commenced in 1299 under king Håkon V. The medieval castle, which was completed in the 1300s, had a strategical location at the very end of the headland, and withstood a number of sieges throughout the ages. King Christian IV (1588-1648) had the castle modernised and converted into a Renaisssance castle and royal residence. During the 17th and 18th century the castle fell into decay, and restoration work only started in 1899. Events The Fortress area is used for a number of big events, including concerts, holiday celebrations and ceremonies.

Qype User (.

Yelp

Built in the last 13th century, this stone and wood building was a medieval castle on a hill overlooking Oslo harbour. In the 16th century it became a fortress and was subjected to (but survived) many sieges. It was returned to a palace in the 17th century, and remains a museum of Norwegian royal and military history. It's an interesting contrast to the ornate castles one sees in England and France. Rooms are large and dignified, but not opulent in any way. The castle is generally open from May to September. At other times of the year, entry is at a 1pm guided tour.

Andrea W.

Yelp

This place isn't too interesting. We couldn't figure out how to go insid even though we came during supposed open hours, so we just walked around outside the castle for the views and a look at the fortress. Here's a visitor center and a pretty big piece of land so to speak that counts as the fortress, but most of it wasn't very interesting, just buildings. Maybe worth a visit?

Vince V.

Yelp

Akershus festing is medieval era fortress fronting the Oslo harbor. The views are great! Wear comfortable shoes, there are steep climbs on cobblestoned roads all the way.

Vladmir T.

Yelp

Well Preserved 13th Century Military Fort! My friend Racha took me on a foot tour of Oslo on her way to work my second day here. She took me to the sculpture garden and then to this fort. I have always been captivated by nature and history... The fort was really well maintained and gave an interesting glimpse into border security from a much more ancient standard. Going back to the days where the sword and cannot defended lands against invaders long before the days of aerial strikes, drones, missiles, computers and everything modern. Deftly worth stopping in for an hour or two and putting history into perspective.

Stephanie P.

Yelp

It took me 9 months to go to Akershus. It's so centrally located, very near to nationalteatret station and also close to Akerbrygge. Very nice landscape and worth taking a walk on a nice day. It is much bigger than I thought and has some museums including the war museum which describes the Cold War and how Norway resisted. There are several locations with maps in Akershus showing where one should go. There are many buildings and pathways! Perfect for a relaxing walk. Nice greenery around and flowers. I really recommend this to everybody and not just tourists. There is even a little pond/lake with water inside the area. Perfect for the sunset time.

Mark C.

Yelp

A lovely old castle grounds to walk around that are close to the city centre. There is a lot of history here and museum set up to run you through it and guided tours available as well to help get that extra kick of history The museum part I stuck my head in regarded it's time as a prison and wow was is it a rough place. I went in 'Spring' so i can't imagine how cold that place would get at the height of winter You get some great views of Oslo city from high up on the walls too

Mike V.

Yelp

You can't miss this place if you sightseeing anywhere in Oslo... and you shouldn't miss going inside, or exploring it for a few hours, especially on a clear day. Great views, beautifully maintained rooms and passageways, insulated well (it actually hit near 80 and this was a great place to cool down.... but more likely, you'll enjoy it for its insulation in "cold" weather). Definitely bring your tripod tho. The rooms are massive and dim so your flash won't even make a dent and you'll want long slow shutters to get the full effect. I've had success here during the lunch hour avoiding crowds and on weekdays in May.

Lauren C.

Yelp

Akershus is a really cool castle/fortress located near the water in Oslo City Center and is considered as one of the main sights to see while visiting the city. Dating back to its construction in the 13th century, the history here goes way far back. The castle itself is interesting to see just for the fact that it is so old and has a diverse history of invaders, wars, etc. By visiting Akershus, you also get an outstanding view of Oslo fjord, the cruise ships coming into the port and the whole of the city itself. Fabulous and remarkable in many ways. Although I did not have the chance to visit the inside while I was here, even the outside itself was cool enough and definitely worth a stop.

Tone Ø.

Yelp

I have been to this wonderful fortress and really is worth a visit. You can look at many different things and learn lots about what it was used for and how it worked. At night from time to time there is also a light show in the fortress so if you are lucky to be there when they host that I would go and have a look. The view is also pretty great from the fortress. If you are an aspiring architect or an artist I would advice you to take a visit there and have a look.

Catalina C.

Yelp

I visited the fortress in March. It would probably have been a lot more beautiful either after snow fall or in the summer/spring. I definitely recommend a quick walk through the fortress. I would have appreciated some information though.

Qype User (.

Yelp

This is one of the places in Oslo you cannot miss while sightseeing.

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28,276 Postcards · 5,516 Cities

35 Most Haunted Places in the World

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28,276 Postcards · 5,516 Cities

The 10 Most Haunted Places in Europe

25,132 Postcards · 3,699 Cities

72 Hours in Oslo

Photo courtesy of Terje Borud/visitnorway.com

25,132 Postcards · 3,699 Cities

Museums of Oslo

https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/forty-eight-hours-in-oslo/

@nomadicmatt

6,681 Postcards · 1,173 Cities

48 Hours in Oslo Itinerary (Updated 2025)