A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Oxford vs. Oslo for Families, Attractions, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Oxford or Oslo?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Oxford or Oslo, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Oxford

Oxford is a scholarly, collegiate, and beautiful college town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. 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. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and museums.

Oxford and Oslo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Oxford or Oslo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Oslo than Oxford, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Oslo is more popular for its big city activities, while Oxford is known for its nightlife, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Oslo is more touristy than Oxford and is popular for its Viking history, its locally caught seafood, its maritime museums, and its access to winter sports. It is also home to The Royal Palace. Oxford is popular for being home to one of the world's most notable universities.

How is Oxford different from Oslo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Spend time exploring the superb sights and museums in either Oxford or Oslo.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Oxford can be an interesting and educational experience. This town is filled with culture, history, and world class museums. Check out the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Modern Art, Ashmolean Museum, or the Museum of Oxford.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Oslo. Famous sights around town include the Akershus Fortress, the Folk Museum of Norway, and the Munch Museum.

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

Both Oxford and Oslo offer good local cuisine and restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Oxford. In addition to the typical British pubs and fish and chips shops, you'll find a wide diversity of ethnic food around town. Thai, sushi, Indian, and more are common dining options. Head to the Oxford Covered Market to try a traditional British breakfast or have some delicious ice cream.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Oslo. 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 Oxford or Oslo Better for Nightlife?

Oxford is notable for nightlife. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Oxford has plenty to do after the sun goes down. As a college town, you'll find an active nightlife scene with trivia nights and plenty of parties. There are pubs around town where you can grab a drink or find out if there's a concert while you're in town.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Oslo. 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 Oxford or Oslo?

Oxford is a nice place to visit for shopping. However, Oslo is a mediocre city for its shopping opportunities.

Oxford is a great destination for shopping. Shops around town offer the perfect opportunity to pick up some Oxford gear or by a few items from the Harry Potter franchise.

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 Oxford or Oslo Better for Families?

Oslo is very popular for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Oxford is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Oslo is an amazing family-friendly city to visit. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Oxford. Families will enjoy taking a paddle boat out on the water and exploring the beautiful setting. There are also a number of sights that were influential in the making of Harry Potter. In particular, you'll find the inspiration for the "Great Hall" if you take a tour of Christ Church College. The tour must be booked in advance and they often sell out. Older kids will also enjoy exploring the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Is Oxford or Oslo Better for Couples?

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

Oxford is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beautiful campus and striking architecture make this a great destination for romance. Hire a boat and explore the water or wander through one of the impressive gardens.

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 Oxford or Oslo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Oslo is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Oxford is lacking in good options for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to 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.

Oxford is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels around town that offer affordable accommodation. As a college town, Oxford also has an active nightlife scene and a young crowd that keeps things affordable and fun.

Is Oxford or Oslo Better for Students?

Oxford is an amazing college town to visit for students. Also, Oslo is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Oxford is a great destination for students. At its heart, Oxford is a college town and students are at the heart of the city and its culture.

Students come from all over to stay in 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 Oxford or Oslo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Oslo is very popular for times when you don't have a car. Also, Oxford is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Oslo has an effecient and thorough public transportation system which can take you anywhere in the city. The system includes buses, trams, undergrounds, local trains, and ferries.

You'll find some public transit in Oxford, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses available if your legs get tired.

Is Oxford or Oslo a more walkable city?

Oxford and Oslo are superb when it comes to walkability.

Oxford is very walkable. The best way to explore most of the town is on foot, so you can soak up the full collegiate atmosphere.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Oslo or Oxford?

How long in Oxford or Oslo?

In either Oxford or Oslo, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Oslo than Oxford because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Oxford, and 1-5 days is enough time in Oslo.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Oslo than Oxford 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 Oxford or Oslo?

Oxford is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and shopping. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Oslo is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Oxford or Oslo?

Oxford 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 great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Oxford or Oslo?

Oxford is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This college town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Oslo. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Oxford or Oslo?

Because Oxford is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the park-filled big city of Oslo. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Oxford and Oslo, we can see that Oxford is more expensive. And not only is Oslo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Oslo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Oslo and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Oxford would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Oxford than you might in Oslo.

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

Which is Bigger, Oxford or Oslo?

Oslo has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Oxford. When comparing the sizes of Oxford 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 Oxford 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 Oxford or Oslo in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Oxford as well as Oslo. The summer months attract visitors to Oxford because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Oslo this time of year.

Oxford is around the same temperature as Oslo in the summer. The daily temperature in Oxford averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Oslo fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Oslo. In the summer, Oxford often gets less sunshine than Oslo. Oxford gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Oslo receives 246 hours of full sun.

Oxford usually gets less rain in July than Oslo. Oxford gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Oxford or Oslo in the Autumn?

Both Oslo and Oxford are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Oxford this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Oslo for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Oxford is much warmer than Oslo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Oxford in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Oslo averages at about 7°C (45°F).

Oxford usually receives more sunshine than Oslo during autumn. Oxford gets 107 hours of sunny skies, while Oslo receives 86 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Oxford usually receives less rain than Oslo. Oxford gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Oxford or Oslo in the Winter?

Both Oslo and Oxford during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Oxford for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Oslo in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Oslo can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Oxford. In January, Oxford is generally much warmer than Oslo. Daily temperatures in Oxford average around 3°C (38°F), and Oslo fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).

In the winter, Oxford often gets more sunshine than Oslo. Oxford gets 52 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Oslo receives 40 hours of full sun.

Oxford usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Oslo. Oxford gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Oxford or Oslo in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Oxford and Oslo. Many visitors come to Oxford in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Furthermore, most visitors come to Oslo for the activities around the city during these months.

Oxford is much warmer than Oslo in the spring. The daily temperature in Oxford averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Oslo fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

Oxford usually receives less sunshine than Oslo during spring. Oxford gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Oslo receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Oxford usually receives around the same amount of rain as Oslo. Oxford gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Oslo receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Oslo and Oxford