Oslo WWII Walking Tour: Akershus Castle & Film Locations

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Free cancellation

1/6

Duration2h 30m

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · RU +1

Mobile ticketAccepted

Oslo’s WWII scars revealed on city streets and fortress walls

You’ll walk Oslo’s main streets with a local guide who brings WWII history alive through hidden details, film locations from Number 24, and honest stories at Akershus Castle. Expect small surprises—like laughter over mispronounced Norwegian—and moments where you’ll pause and really feel what happened here.

2h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Oslo WWII historical sites

Visit Royal Place
Walk Karl Johans Gate WWII sites
See Parliament building
Explore market square
Visit University square
View National Theater and Sønsteby monument
Tour Akershus Castle and fortress

The Experience

We were already halfway down Karl Johans Gate when I realized how much I’d been missing just walking these streets. Our guide, Erik, had this way of pausing mid-sentence to point at something — a building corner, a faded plaque — and suddenly the whole place felt different. He told us about the occupation, but it was more like he was remembering it for someone else. There was this chill in the air (maybe just Oslo in spring), but also from hearing how people hid news under their coats or passed secret notes right where we stood. I kept glancing at faces passing by, trying to picture what it must’ve felt like then.

The Royal Palace looked almost too peaceful for all the stories attached to it. We stopped near Parliament and Erik showed us a spot where resistance fighters once met — honestly, I’d walked past it twice that week and never noticed anything unusual. He mentioned the film Number 24; I hadn’t seen it, but now I kind of wish I had before coming because he pointed out scenes filmed right there. Someone in our group tried to pronounce one of the Norwegian names from the movie and Erik laughed — not unkindly, just that warm Norwegian way that makes you feel like you’re part of some inside joke.

Akershus Castle was the last stop, its stone walls cold under my hand. You could almost smell old gunpowder in the damp corridors if you let your imagination go there (maybe I did). The guide handed out these little written guides after — “Unretouched history,” he called them — with photos and maps you could actually take home if you wanted. The tour ended without any big speech; we just stood there for a minute looking back toward the city center. I still think about that silence before everyone wandered off in their own directions.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided walk through central Oslo with stops at Akershus Castle, Karl Johans Gate, Parliament Square and other WWII sites.
accessible routes for wheelchairs or strollers.
plus an optional written guidebook with maps and photos available for purchase after your walk.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomeNot for heart conditions

Operated by Oslo Photo Tour