Unusual Date Ideas to Try in Oslo

The zipliner at the Holmenkollen Jump Tower will get your adrenaline pumping—it’s 361 meters (1184 feet) long—and will give you unforgettable views of Oslo as you complete the 107.5-meter (352-foot) drop. Expert tip: Do it at night, when the city lights are at their most majestic.

Norwegian pop music has a lot to teach you—from the first commercial recordings of 1904 to today’s sounds. Popsenteret is a museum that will teach all about it, plus it also gives you the chance to express yourselves through interactive experiences and DIY stations. Ready to make pop music history?

Generally, it’s not a good idea to fake anything when on a date. But, if zipline jumping sounds way too exciting for you, you can have the ecstasy without the agony at the Ski Simulator in Holmenkollen. The state-of-the-art technology will make you feel like Winter Olympics athletes as you whiz down the slopes in Kvitfjell, without even having to break a sweat.

Karting at Rudskogen Motorsenter | Courtesy of Harald Huysman Karting AS

Feeling silly? Lovey-dovey? Or maybe just artistic? Express yourselves by painting or coloring a pair of ceramics at Glazed & Amused. You also get to keep your work afterwards, so you may feel like exchanging them as a gift to each other.

We’re not talking about that cute ice sculpture with the carrot nose, but about something a bit scarier. Jo Nesbø’s bestseller, The Snowman (the seventh book starring his famous detective Harry Hole), is coming to the big screen and Norwegians couldn’t be more excited, as both the book and the movie are situated in Oslo and Bergen. Join the thrill by following the detective’s footsteps with this interactive map of Oslo.

The Snowman movie poster | Courtesy of Universal Pictures

The Well is Scandinavia’s largest bathhouse, and one of its 11 pools and 15 saunas probably has your name on it. Sure, this might not be first date material (though how cool would that be?) but it’s definitely a prefect (and sexy) way to unwind together.

If you take your coffee seriously, then a 10-minute hand-brewing lesson with a renowned barista might be a perfect idea for a date. Created by Lokalii, an app that will provide you with ideas for fun activities, you get to unleash your inner coffee snobs, learn how to make proper V60 coffee, enjoy it afterwards and get the satisfaction of knowing that 5% of the proceeds from this activity go to the Norwegian Red Cross.

Want to fly in space? Move objects with telekinesis? Fire laser guns? Now you can: VR Games is the most technologically advanced virtual reality game in Scandinavia, and can give you and your date an adventure to remember. Just make sure to unplug at some point.

Beer tasting is like wine tasting’s cool cousin: way less snobby and more fun at parties. Join one of the many events Ølakademiet organizes and get to taste exquisite brews while learning a few things about your favorite ale.

Now this is great first date material. Bogstad Manor is so beautiful it will take your breath away, even before your date does. Wander about the fully furnished house, stroll through the gardens, play with the farm animals… The only problem with this date is that you may never want it to end.