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Expat in Oslo

10 Best Museums in Oslo Norway

10 Best Museums in Oslo Norway
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Best Museums in Oslo (Oslo Museums)

One shouldn’t miss the best museums in Oslo when visiting the city.  Two of the most well-known museums can be found in the city center, the Viking museum, and the Kon-tiki museum.  Stories of The Vikings and the Kon-tiki expedition are well known to history. Both the people and the famous ship, known for their amazing adventures and explorations, had their origins in Norway. Oslo museums have so much to offer and these are but two of some of the 10 best museums in Oslo, ranging from historical to modern art that can be found throughout the city.

  1. Viking Museum

Whether you’re a history buff or not, you’ll be amazed by the Viking museum at Byggdøy, in Oslo. This museum is definitely ranked as one of the 10 best museums in Oslo. Here you will find an incredible display of Viking ships, which are considered the best maintained wooden ships in the world, built in the 9th century. The ships are complete with intricate and detailed carvings, reflecting the incredible technology of the time. This is a must see of Oslo museums.

Best Museum in Oslo

The incredible Oseberg Ship

Best Museums in Oslo

Tune ship is one of the world's best preserved Viking ship. It was found in 1867.

Opening Schedule :

The Viking museum is open every day.

May 1 - September 30 - 09:00 - 18:00, October 1- April 30 - 10:00 - 16:00

It is closed on the on the following days:

December 24, 25, 26, 30, and Jan 1

Admission Fee:

Adult : NOK 80, Student/Pensioner : NOK 50, Family : 150, Children under 18 years : Free

The museum is closed on the following days:

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day 1st, 2nd Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and January 1st.




2. Munch Museet

It’s a world-renowned art museum in Oslo, Norway. Among the two famous artworks are  The Scream and Madonna, which were stolen in 2004 and was found by the police in 2006. This museum is devoted to the artist’s ( Edvard Munch) life and works.

Best museums in Oslo

Best museums in Oslo

Opening Schedule:

Monday to Sunday: 10:00 - 16:00

For  incoming events and other schedules, please check Munch Museet visiting schedules.

Admission fee:

Adult  : NOK 100.00, Student/Senior : NOK 60, Under 18 years old : Free entrance, Groups (Min.10) per person :10

  1. Kontiki Museum

Here you can see an exhibit of the original boat of the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl’s (1914-2002) expeditions, including the Kon-Tiki raft and other artifacts. You probably have heard or watched the legendary Kontiki movie where Thor crossed the Pacific Ocean using the balsawood raft (Kon-Tiki in 1947). You’ll be pretty much dumbfounded when seeing the Kontiki raft for yourself. It’s unimaginable how they survived in the Pacific Ocean with that raft.

Best museums in Oslo

The all mighty Kon-tiki, a raft that is made of balsa wood.

Best museums in Oslo

Best museums Oslo

RA II

Opening Schedule :

Nov - Feb : 10:00 - 16:00

Mar - May : 10:00 - 17:00

June - Aug : 09:30 - 18:00

Sept - Oct : 10:00 - 17:00

It is closed on the on the following days:

December 24, 25, 26, 30, Jan 1, and May 17.

Admission Fee:

Adult : NOK 100

Family: NOK 200

Children (6-15): NOK 40

  1. Norwegian Folk Museum

Another one of the best museums in Oslo is the Norwegian Folk Museum. I must say it is my first time to visit an open air museum. This museum tells  how typical Norwegian life in the 16th century. During the summer, most houses and buildings are open so you can go inside. There is also a host that welcomes you  in traditional folk dress. It’s really a wonderful experience. I found it funny that some of those old and historical houses in this museum still exists in my home country.

Best museums in Oslo

Gol Stave Church (11-1200)

Best museums in Oslo

Best museums in Oslo

Opening Schedules:

Mon - Fri: 11:00-15:00

Sat - Sun and holidays: 11:00 -16:00

Admission Fee:

Adults: NOK. 125

Children:         40

Children under 6 years old : Free

For more information about discounted prices check Norskfolkemuseum site.




5.The Fram Museum

Just about a minute walk from the Kontiki museum, you’ll be amazed the building alone of this Fram museum. And, as soon as you get inside, you’ll see this huge vessel. This museum reveals the story of Norwegian polar exploration. Another wonderful thing that I like about this museum is that you can actually go inside the ship and walk around it.

Best Museums in Oslo

Best museums in Oslo

Best museums in Oslo

Liked I mentioned above, here in Oslo, you can experience boats of different kinds in the museums, isn’t that something?!

Opening Schedule:

All Days 10:00 - 16:00

Adult: NOK 100

Children/Students: NOK 40

Seniors: NOK 70

  1. Ibsen Museum

In Norwegian, it is called “Ibsenmuseet”. It contains both Henrik Ibsen reversed apartment and a major exhibition about Ibsen's life and works. Henrik Ibsen's home, where he lived the last 11 years of his life, the core of Ibsen Museum.

Opening Schedules:

Winter season (September 15 - May 14): Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 - 16:00

Thursday: 11:00 - 18:00

Closed 24 - 26.desember, 31 December and 1 January Guided tours of Ibsen's apartment every hour from 11:00 - 15:00 Thursdays are additionally guided at 16:00 and 17:00

The summer season (May 15 - September 14) : Monday - Sunday: 11:00-18:00

Closed on May 17th.

For more information about the apartment/museum’s opening schedules and admission fees, please check Ibsenmuseet apningstider og priser.

7.Natural History Museum

One of the top attractions in Oslo, Norway is the Natural History Museum. Aside from the botanical garden, the natural history museum, both have the Geology museum and the Zoology museum. It is situated in the University of Oslo and is Norway’s largest and oldest museum of natural history and is definitely one of the best museums in Oslo.

Best museums in Oslo

The Geological Museum showcases more than 2 million amazing fossils, minerals, specimens, and rocks research materials.  All of which are acquired from different legendary expeditions from the north of the  Arctic, and Antarctic regions, some are donated from the Norwegian industry and by private collectors. It was planned and built by W.C. Brøgger between 1911-1917. One of the popular attractions here is the fossil called “Ida”.

Best museums in Oslo

Zoology museum exhibits animals from around the world. 

Best museums in Oslo

Best museums in Oslo

Opening schedules:

Botanical Garden : Opens all the time

The Greenhouses: Opens all day 10:00-17:00

Geological and Zoological Museums : Tuesday- Sunday: 11:00 - 16:00, Mondays : CLOSED

Admission Fees:

Botanical Garden : FREE entrance

Geological and Zoological Museums :

Adults: NOK 50

Children (4-16 yrs old): NOK 25

Students : NOK 25

Family (4 adults + 4 children): NOK 100


8. Nobel Peace Center

Or the Nobel Peace Prize is one the most notable and best museums in Oslo, Norway. It is very interesting to see the Peace Prize laureates that are all displayed on digital screens in the Nobel Field, how cool is that! It’s a garden of 1000 fibre-optic lights.

Best museums in Oslo

The museum is a mix of culture and politics which advocate collaboration, debate and opinion about the issues of peace, war,  and conflict resolution. It introduces Nobel Peace Prizes.

Best museums in Oslo

Opening Schedules:

Tuesday - Sunday:  10-18:00 (Museums, shop, cafe)

Admission Fees:

Adult :100, Senior/Student : 65, Family ticket : 180, Children under 16 yrs. Old : Free

9. Astrup Fearnley Museum

A privately owned modern and contemporary art museum is also one of the best museums in Oslo. It is nicely located at the harbor going to the end part Aker Brygge, where it is facing the Oslo fjords and the sea. 

Best Museums Oslo

Best museums in Oslo

Opening Schedules:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday : 12:00-17:00, Thursdays : 12:00 - 19:00, Saturday, Sunday : 11:00-17:00

Mondays : CLOSED

Admission Fees:

Members: FREE entrance Adult : NOK 120 Student: NOK 80 Children under 18 yrs old: FREE entrance

Oslo Pass: Free Entrance

10. Ski Museum

The Ski Museum in Oslo is the world’s oldest ski museum, that shows the unimaginable 4000 years of skiing history. It boasts an impressive collection of relatively 2500 pairs of skis and other winter equipment.  A lot of these skis are owned by the members of the royal family and the top-notch athletes.

Best museums in Oslo

In Norwegian, it’s called Skimuseet, and it is owned by the Association for the Promotion of Skiing.  

Opening Schedules:

October - April  10:00-16:00; May and September 10:00 - 17:00; June, July and August 09:00- 20:00

There will be shorter opening hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Admission Fees:

The entrance ticket is the same for the Ski Museum and jump tower.

Adult : NOK 135, Children: NOK 65, Family (2 Adults +2 Children) : NOK 320, Student/Senior : NOK 110

Guided Tour: NOK 1200 (needs to be pre-booked)

Oslo Pass: Free Entrance




Given the fact that Oslo is an expensive city and the superb one of a kind experience you will be getting in these 10 best museums in Oslo. The fees are actually cheaper if you compare it to other museums in Europe. Wouldn’t you agree? Which of these museums have you been to? 

If you are visiting Oslo and want to know more about top things to do, you can read my previous article about top 12 free things to do in Oslo. 

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10 Best museums in Oslo

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