A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Helsinki vs. Oslo for Families, Attractions, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Helsinki or Oslo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Oslo can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Helsinki

Helsinki is a active, nature-focused, and coastal city. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Oslo

Oslo is a green, clean, and progressive city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the food, museums, and nightlife.

Helsinki and Oslo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Helsinki or Oslo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Oslo. Although Helsinki and Oslo are roughly the same size, Oslo has more sights and attractions for tourists. Oslo is very popular for its big city activities, while Helsinki attracts visitors for its shopping and impressive beauty. Oslo is more touristy than Helsinki and is popular for its Viking history, its locally caught seafood, its maritime museums, and its access to winter sports. It is also well known for The Royal Palace. Helsinki is famous for its rich culture that includes traditional elements as well as an active subculture scene.

How is Helsinki different from Oslo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Oslo and Helsinki. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Helsinki or Oslo?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Helsinki and Oslo.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Helsinki. Many of the city's sights and attractions center around nature and the water. Major hightlights of the city include the Fortress of Sveaborg, Seurasaari open-Air Museum, and Temppeliaukio Rock Church. The city is also home to The National Museum of Finland.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Oslo. Famous sights around town include the Akershus Fortress, the Folk Museum of Norway, and the Munch Museum.

Is the Food Better in Helsinki or Oslo? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Helsinki and Oslo both to be nice destinations.

Helsinki has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Food in town is all about local flavors and simple ingredients. The dishes let the flavor speak for itself without fancy cooking techniques or complex flavor combinations. Many of the restaurants are locally sourced with traditional ingredients. You'll find a lot of seafood, herring, grilled sausages, pancakes, and desserts.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Oslo area. The city has a reputation of serving a lot of cured meats and potato dishes, but there is actually a good amount of variation available. Local favorites include smoked salmon, meatballs, and meat stews.

Is Helsinki or Oslo Better for Nightlife?

The nice nightlife scene is relatively similar in Helsinki and Oslo.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Helsinki. The nightlife scene is at its best on weekends when the city center comes to life with parties, dance clubs, and student activities. Many of the best clubs and bars are concentrated in the city center. Weekends are a bit calmer and things quiet down a lot.

Oslo has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city's high alcohol prices mean that many locals enjoy their drinks at home during pre-parties before heading out on the town. The atmosphere is usually laid-back and chill, with a diversity of entertainment venues that you can choose between.

Is the Shopping Better in Helsinki or Oslo?

Helsinki is notable for shopping. However, Oslo is a mediocre city for its shopping opportunities.

Helsinki is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city is great for shopping, with many brands focused on sustainability. There are local boutiques as well as name brands. Flea markets and vintage shops are also popular.

If you're looking to go shopping, Oslo has some nice offerings. The shopping that is available includes shopping malls and local boutique shops.

Is Helsinki or Oslo Better for Families?

Oslo is a world-class destination for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Helsinki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Oslo is an extremely popular city to visit for families. The city goes out of its way to integrate kid-friendly activities into everyday life. From playgrounds and parks to interactive museums and nearby amusement parks, this city is among the most kid-friendly around.

Helsinki is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The coastal setting offers many activities that kids and adults alike will enjoy. This capital city has a calm atmosphere with plenty of parkland to explore. The shoreline is dotted by islands where you'll also find a zoo and a fort. Kids will also enjoy exploring the islands by boat.

Is Helsinki or Oslo Better for Couples?

Helsinki is notable for romance. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Helsinki is a very popular place to visit for couples. The city's many parks offer the perfect setting for a picnic or a walk. There are also botanical gardens, evening boat rides, and saunas that will help you enjoy a romantic trip away.

Oslo makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. You can explore castles, go on forest hikes, or enjoy a couple's massage.

Is Helsinki or Oslo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Helsinki and Oslo are both nice destinations for backpackers.

Helsinki is a good city to visit for backpackers. With its active nightlife scene, vibrant atmosphere, and inclusive personality, this city is a fun place for backpackers, but you should expect to pay a premium for the experience. Many backpackers avoid the city because they have heard how expensive it is. There are a few hostels around that will help you keep costs a bit more manageable.

Plenty of backpackers visit Oslo. Notoriously expensive, this city does have some hostels, but it can be a bit challenging for those on a budget. Because many backpackers avoid the area due to the costs, it can be challenging to meet other backpackers.

Is Helsinki or Oslo Better for Students?

Both Helsinki and Oslo are high quality destinations for students.

Students come from all over to stay in Helsinki. The city has an active student life with plenty of culture and nature. It's active nightlife scene and beautiful natural areas make it a wonderful place to study.

Many students visit Oslo. The University of Oslo has an excellent reputation and welcomes many foreign students every year. The school does a lot to make sure international students feel at home here.

Is Helsinki or Oslo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Oslo is a world-class destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Helsinki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

With a huge network, the transit system in Oslo can get you around easily. The system includes buses, trams, undergrounds, local trains, and ferries.

Helsinki offers a very effecient public transportation network. Transit options include bus, tram, metro, commuter train and ferry services.

Is Helsinki or Oslo a more walkable city?

Oslo is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. Also, Helsinki is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

Oslo is a very walkable city. The city has a number of traffic-free areas so it's fun to explore on foot.

Helsinki is a somewhat walkable city. Many neighborhoods are easy to explore on foot. The air is also clean and the setting is refreshing.

For even more information, also check out Is Helsinki Worth Visiting? and Is Oslo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Oslo or Helsinki?

How long in Helsinki or Oslo?

In either Helsinki or Oslo, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Oslo than Helsinki because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Helsinki, and 1-5 days is enough time in Oslo.

Families should spend more time in Oslo than Helsinki. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Oslo, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Helsinki than Oslo. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Helsinki that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Oslo than Helsinki if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Oslo.

One day in Helsinki or Oslo?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Helsinki. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Oslo is a big city with plenty to do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Helsinki or Oslo?

Helsinki is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Oslo is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Oslo, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Helsinki or Oslo?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the active destination of Helsinki. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Oslo is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Oslo, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Helsinki or Oslo?

The nature-focused city of Helsinki offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Oslo is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway.

When comparing the travel costs between Helsinki and Oslo, we can see that Helsinki is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Helsinki Expensive? and Is Oslo Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Oslo?

Oslo has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki and Oslo, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Helsinki or Oslo?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Helsinki or Oslo in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Helsinki as well as Oslo. Most visitors come to Helsinki for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Oslo because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Helsinki is generally around the same temperature as Oslo. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 17°C (62°F), and Oslo fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Oslo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Helsinki this time of the year. In the summer, Helsinki often gets more sunshine than Oslo. Helsinki gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Oslo receives 246 hours of full sun.

Helsinki usually gets less rain in July than Oslo. Helsinki gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Helsinki or Oslo in the Autumn?

Both Oslo and Helsinki are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Helsinki because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Oslo this time of year.

Helsinki is cooler than Oslo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around 6°C (42°F) in October, and Oslo fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

Helsinki usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Oslo during autumn. Helsinki gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Oslo receives 86 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Oslo. Helsinki gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Helsinki or Oslo in the Winter?

Both Oslo and Helsinki during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Helsinki this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Oslo for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Oslo. It's quite cold in Helsinki in the winter. In the winter, Helsinki is much colder than Oslo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Helsinki in January average around -6°C (21°F), and Oslo averages at about -4°C (25°F).

In the winter, Helsinki often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Oslo. Helsinki gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Oslo receives 40 hours of full sun.

Helsinki usually gets less rain in January than Oslo. Helsinki gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Helsinki or Oslo in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Helsinki and Oslo. Many travelers come to Helsinki for the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Oslo in the spring for the activities around the city.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Helsinki. In April, Helsinki is generally much colder than Oslo. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 3°C (37°F), and Oslo fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

Helsinki usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Oslo during spring. Helsinki gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Oslo receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Helsinki usually receives around the same amount of rain as Oslo. Helsinki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Oslo and Helsinki