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Out UK's Adrian Gillan admires Norwegian wood in Oslo, the capital and the most populous city in Norway.
Norway is one of the most progressive countries in the world when it comes to gay human rights, with equalities legally enshrined across the board from age of consent, which is 16 for all, to entry into the armed forces. | |
| However, in the land of the Midnight Sun and the Nobel Prize there are still conservative attitudes to change beyond the big cities and in Norway's own Protestant bible belt. Church blessings for gay relationships and adoption rights are still issues for some people and the country has never joined the European Union. |
Up for it at the Oslo Sommer Parade. |
SIGHTSNature and culture collide at the far end of a mighty fjord that is Oslo and nowhere less so than in the small but perfectly formed gay scene at the city's very heart, between the railway station and Royal Palace. But before losing yourself there, there are two world-class artistic attractions that only a dumb queer would miss - the awesome and occasionally erotic nude Vigelands Sculpture Park just west of centre and the Edvard Munch Museum (he of "The Scream" fame) just to the east.CHRISTMAS MARKETSChristmas is a magical time in Oslo with plenty of snow, hot glogg and festive lights filling the city with a festive charm. Oslo has several Christmas markets throughout the city. Most are in the centre, close to the central train station. | |
| One of the best is in Spikersuppa, alongside Karl Johan street, Christmas in Winterland is the largest and busiest Christmas market in Oslo. The Market is spread out between the Stortinget building, stretches to the Norwegian National Theatre, and attracts over two million visitors. Jul i Vinterland features hundreds of wooden handicraft stalls, Norwegian sweaters, plus food, cured meats, and hot drinks. |
Lighting of the Oslo Christmas Tree Photo: Helgi Halldórsson from Reykjavík, Iceland CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons |
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In Bygdøy there's the Norsk Folkemuseum’s Christmas Fair which is in the open-air Norwegian folk museum.
They feature over one hundred Christmas stalls, pony rides, farm animals, Santa’s workshops, a candle factory, and exhibits about
Norwegian Christmas traditions.
Located one hour outside Oslo, Hadeland Glassverk is Norway’s largest indoor Christmas market. You can blow your own Christmas Glass Ball, take a sleigh ride through the glassworks village or go ice skating. There's a beautiful art gallery, several restaurants and a quite magical atmosphere. REFRESH YOUR SOULCesar Bar & Cafe is a fairly new gay cafe bar in the centre of Oslo next to the famous Court House. Cesar serves lunch and drinks and features live DJ on Friday and Saturday nights. It's worth remembering that drinks in Oslo are not cheap and like so many countries now smoking is banned in all public places in Norway.The AGENDA on Storgata is an inclusive queer bar with two floors, cocktails, club nights, a cozy courtyard, and exciting events throughout the year. They host everything from DJ nights and dragshows to bingo, standup and a quiz night. CLUBBINGThen skip around the block to sit at the stools in Chair at Thorvald Meyers gate 45. This is a lively and fairly young hostelry with a small open dance-floor. It's not exclusively gay and attracts a mixed crowd who enjoy the best Gin & Tonic you'll find in Norway! | |
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Alternatively, the vast and cavernous London Pub. Since 1979, London pub has been the most visited gay
place in Norway. Most gays, lesbians, bisexuals and curious people know London Pub and have most certainly visited.
It does however smell of stale bear and pre-ban smoke and attracts an older, hairier, be-leathered crowd
to its dark and spacious basement chambers.
The more hardcore meet several times a month at SM and uniform club SLM on Gronlandsleiret, just east of the train station and somewhat out on a limb. Although leather is part of their name (Scandinavian Leather Men), it is not an absolute requirement for club nights. The club's dress code also includes rubber/latex, uniforms, skinhead, workwear and sportswear. | 
Feet first at the SLM Club. |
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In terms of bars, Elsker in Kristian IVs gate 9 first opened in 2006. The name means 'love' in English, and
it's a favourite hangout for Oslo gays and lesbians. The bar serves food and gets busy on the weekends with young crowds
dancing to pop and Eurovision songs. It's a great place to chill out, have a few drinks and make friends.
Bob's Pub is more of a traditional bar, catering for the mainly older gay crowd. It serves food and has outdoor seating during the summer months. CLUB NIGHTSOslo doesn't have the biggest gay scene in Europe, but there are some occasional club nights that are worth a mention. They tend to move to different venues each time, so it's worth checking out information from their social media.DRAMAqueen - Inclusive, unprejudiced and non-discriminatory queer nights featuring hip-hop, electro and hits. They host a mixture of nights for gay men, women and non-binary people. Indieseksuell - Club with alternative queer music. They like to think of themselves as a counterpoint to the established queer bars. Karmaklubb - A gay club for everyone who identifies as female or non-binary and their friends. In addition to club nights, they often host debates, film screenings and other events. Open Drag Stage - Club nights with drag shows, burlesque, voguing and dancing. Their events go late into the night. OUTDOORSOslo has its own gay beach - Paradisbukta - a short bus-ride (No. 30) out of town, which fills up on sunny days. At nights - which hold their light well in the summer months - there are several city cruising grounds. Try the small Stens (pronounced "stains") Park or, even better, check Vigelands Sculpture Park, in bushes just beyond the main central monolith - note condom dispensers nailed to the trees! | |
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Oslo Pride is known as "Skeive Dager" in Norwegian, Oslo Gay Pride is the largest cultural event for Norway's lesbian and gay
community. Events include a film festival, some concerts and exhibitions, entertainment, political debates and a large festival area on Rådhusplassen, by City Hall. |
Annual Parade in Oslo. |
GETTING THERENorwegian operates direct flights to Oslo Airport Gardermoen from London Gatwick, Edinburgh and Dublin. The journey from the UK takes less than two hours. You can also book on British Airways and SAS who all fly direct to Oslo from the UK.
Revised October 2026. |