Oslo / The verdict
Is the Holmenkollen ski jump worth it?
Worth it for ski and winter-sports fans and for view hunters: five writers praise the view from the jump tower and the museum charms the skiing-minded, while the one non-skier in the log found the whole visit wasted on them and preferred views closer to town.
By The Real Traveler Experiences team.
The Oslo story
Oslo is the smallest and most outdoorsy Nordic capital: a compact centre on the fjord where the Opera House's walkable roof, the MUNCH museum and Akershus fortress sit within easy reach of each other, and forests, ski trails and islands begin inside the city boundary. Vigeland Park's 200-odd sculptures are free and essential, the Fram lets you walk aboard the actual polar ship, and the Holmenkollen tower hands you the city's best panorama.
The verdict in 30 seconds
It depends
Worth it for ski and winter-sports fans and for view hunters: five writers praise the view from the jump tower and the museum charms the skiing-minded, while the one non-skier in the log found the whole visit wasted on them and preferred views closer to town.
Go if
- Ski and winter-sports fans: the museum has old gear and polar explorer history, and the tower looks down the jump from the start gate
- View seekers: five writers praise the panorama from the top of the tower
- Thrill-curious travelers: two writers call looking down the 126-meter slope terrifying and a third calls it nerve wracking
- Oslo Pass holders: one writer says the museum is free with the pass, so check what your pass covers
Skip if
- You have no interest in skiing: the one non-skier in the log found the museum and tower wasted on them
- You rate city views above hilltop ones: the same writer prefers Ekebergrestauraten and the city hall roof
- The uphill walk from Holmenkollen station worries you: writers describe an uphill walk of 10 to 15 minutes, and one warns it is quite steep
- You dislike small elevators: one writer notes the tower lift is small and can be crowded
- The weather is rough or an event is on: one guide says the tower can close on short notice
What it costs
- Adult entry: kr 200 (2026 prices; every ticket includes admission to the Ski Museum and the Ski Jump Tower; under-30s pay 150 NOK). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Child, age 6 to 17: kr 100 (2026 price; includes the museum and the tower). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Family ticket (2 adults plus 2 children): kr 500 (2 adults plus 3 children is 600 NOK; groups of more than ten pay 180 NOK each). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Ski simulator add-on: kr 130 (75 NOK for children 6 to 17, 350 NOK for a family of 2 plus 2; tickets can be bought on arrival; the official site lists the zipline as a separate activity). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 7 traveler reports (Feb 2025 to Oct 2025) and the official sources linked on this page. 1 was negative.
What people like
- Five writers praise the view from the top of the tower, calling it great, magnificent, stunning, fabulous or unbeatable.
- Looking down the jump from the top gets strong reactions: terrifying, nerve wracking, and a look down a 126-meter slope.
- The museum wins fans: one writer found it delightful, another interesting with plenty of old gear and polar explorer history, and a third liked its update.
- Going first thing worked for one writer, who rode the tower lift alone.
What people complain about
- The one non-skier in the log found the museum and tower wasted on them and rated the views closer to town as better.
- The walk from the metro station is uphill, and one writer warns it is quite steep.
- The tower lift is small, and one writer notes it can be crowded; another says it is shared with zipline riders.
- Friends of one writer found the ski simulator not unforgettable.
- One guide warns the tower can close on short notice in rough weather or on event days.
How to do it right
- Take metro line 1 toward Frognerseteren to Holmenkollen station; one guide puts the ride at 25 to 30 minutes from central stops.
- Allow 10 to 15 minutes for the walk uphill to the arena; one guide calls it a short but steady climb and another warns it is quite steep.
- Arrive at opening: one writer rode the small tower lift alone by going first thing, and asks at the entrance in peak season.
- Plan the museum first while it is quiet, then the tower; one guide puts the museum at about an hour and the tower at 20 to 40 minutes.
- Dress for wind at the top, and check the official hours page before you go: the tower can close in rough weather or on event days, and the page currently lists a maintenance closure of the tower from 13 to 16 October.
- One ticket covers the museum and the tower; the ski simulator costs extra, at 130 NOK for adults.
The trap to avoid
Treating it as a view-only stop. The one negative account came from a non-skier who found the museum and tower wasted on them and preferred the views from Ekebergrestauraten and the city hall roof. The other six accounts liked the tower view or the museum, so decide whether either appeals before committing a half day.
Why this verdict
Holmenkollen is two things at once: the world’s oldest ski museum and a jump tower with what reports repeatedly call Oslo’s best view, 64 meters up and 427 meters above sea level. Reports split cleanly by interest. Ski and winter-sports fans, and view hunters on a clear day, call it a highlight: the museum covers 5000 years of skiing plus polar expedition gear, and standing at the start gate makes the 126-meter jump’s steepness viscerally clear. The dissent is consistent too: visitors lukewarm on skiing describe an uphill trek to a tower they could have skipped, with one report rating the views weaker than those closer to town. Weather is the second condition; the panorama is the payoff and it fades in cloud.
The museum earns its half of the ticket even for moderate ski interest. Reports describe 5000 years of ski history plus polar expedition gear in galleries renovated for the museum’s centenary, and the visit builds to the start gate, where the 126-meter jump’s pitch hits in a way photos do not convey: one report calls looking down the slope nerve-wracking, another terrifying. The tower elevator stops short of the top and the last stretch is 114 steps on foot, so the small-lift warning understates the climb.
The extras are separate purchases rather than inclusions. The simulator costs extra and draws fun marks from families, and the Kollensvevet zipline is its own product entirely; reports treat both as add-ons, not reasons to come on their own. What unifies the positive reports is the setting: the metro ride up is repeatedly called scenic, a summer visitor in an itinerary thread found the tower views breathtaking, and a documentary survey lingers on the jump’s profile above the city. What unifies the negative ones is expectation: this is an arena and a panorama, not a generic city sight.
Timing and tickets
- Adults pay 200 NOK, children 6 to 17 pay 100 NOK, under-30s 150 NOK and seniors 180 NOK; every ticket covers the Ski Museum and the jump tower, and the Oslo Pass includes it.
- Metro line 1 to Holmenkollen station, then a steep 10 to 15 minute uphill walk; the ride is scenic and part of the appeal.
- The tower elevator is small, so reports advise heading straight up at opening.
- The ski simulator costs extra, and the Kollensvevet zipline from the top is a separate product.
Bottom line
Go on a clear day if skiing history or a big view interests you; skip it if neither does, because the trip out and the climb back up are the cost of admission.
Book or check times
Holmenkollen Ski Museum and Jump TowerOpening hours and pricesOslo Pass
Questions
How much does the Holmenkollen ski jump cost?
The official 2026 prices are 200 NOK for adults, 100 NOK for ages 6 to 17, 150 NOK for under-30s and 500 NOK for a family of 2 plus 2. Every ticket includes the Ski Museum and the jump tower.
How do you get to Holmenkollen?
Metro line 1 toward Frognerseteren stops at Holmenkollen station, a ride of about 25 to 30 minutes from the center, followed by a 10 to 15 minute uphill walk that one writer warns is quite steep.
Is the Holmenkollen ski jump worth it if you do not ski?
The one non-skier in the log found the museum and tower wasted on them and liked the views closer to town more. Writers who enjoyed it praised the view from the top and the thrill of looking down the jump.
What are the opening hours?
The official page lists 10:00 to 16:00 from January to April and from October to December, and 10:00 to 17:00 from May to September, with shorter hours on May 17 and December 24 and 31.
Can you go up the ski jump itself?
Yes. A lift takes visitors to the top of the tower, where writers describe a big platform, a view over the city and fjord, and a look down the 126-meter slope. Entry to the tower is included in the ticket.
How long do you need?
One guide puts the museum at about an hour and the tower at 20 to 40 minutes, so about two hours with a coffee break, plus the metro ride each way.
Pack for it
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