Must-visit museums in Oslo, Norway

A huge swathe of investment in recent years has put Oslo’s museum scene on the map. Positioning itself as a cultural magnet to compete with the best in Europe, it has more than made good on its aim, adding two world-class museums and a strikingly designed public library to a roster of architectural landmarks which already includes a magnificent Opera House that visitors can scale for panoramic views of the capital, and a City Hall that reveals itself to be an Art-Deco masterpiece when you step inside.

Among the brightest new stars in Oslo’s cultural firmament are the Munch Museum, one of the largest museums in the world dedicated to a single artist, and the new National Museum, which spans a massive 54,600 sqm. The city’s Nobel Peace Center and the Ski Museum & Tower have also had revamps, with both reopening to the public at the tail end of 2023.

Many of the big-hitting cultural attractions are neatly positioned along Oslo’s harbour promenade, a 9km stretch between Frognerkilen and Kongshavn. Along the way you can hoover up the Munch Museum and the Astrup Fearnley modern art museum, as well as City Hall, the Opera House and the impressive new Deichman Bjørvika public library. Be sure to also make time to visit one of the many floating saunas along the harbour; a dip in the ice-cold fjord is a weekly ritual for most residents of the city.

Beyond the waterfront, there’s plenty more to explore. Take a day trip to Oslo’s Bygdøy peninsula where a cluster of cultural highlights are found, including the Fram Museum, which examines the heroic age of polar exploration; the Kon-Tiki Museum, where you can learn about the exploits of Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl; and museums dedicated to Nordic folk culture and maritime history.

A 24-hour Oslo Pass allows free or discounted entry to most attractions, plus free public transport. If all that doesn’t quench your thirst, Oslo has 50-plus museums in total, covering everything from the arts, sculpture parks and architecture to lesser-known history and the world’s first digital Viking museum, The Viking Planet, which is good fun if you have the time.

Having opened its doors in 2022, the new National Museum explores four major disciplines – modern and historic art, design, architecture – in one behemoth building, forming the largest museum in the Nordic region. With more than 400,000 objects in its collection, only a fraction (6,500) make it to the exhibit halls; these cover everything from antiquity to the present day.

On the first floor, you can see everything from Roman busts and the Baldishol Tapestry (one of the oldest surviving tapestries in Norway) to contemporary fashion and design. The second floor is packed with modern and historical art, including rooms dedicated to Norwegian artist Edvard Munch and architect Sverre Fehn. The museum’s third floor has been transformed into a vast, luminous exhibition space known as the Light Hall, which runs temporary exhibitions.

Once you’re done here, head over to the neighbouring Nobel Peace Center (see further down), located in the city’s beautifully converted 1872 train station.

More information: Closed Monday. nasjonalmuseet.no

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The story goes that before becoming Norway’s most famous and prolific painter, struggling artist Edvard Munch would try and sell his paintings – including famous works such as The Sick Child and Madonna – to waiters at the city’s iconic Grand Café in exchange for steak and wine. Luckily for us, these have now been collated alongside 26,000 other artworks by the painter for the first time, in what is one of the largest museums dedicated to a single artist in the world.

Spread across 13 floors, with 11 exhibition spaces, be prepared to lose yourself in Munch’s dark and captivating works, visiting themes of death, love, anxiety and loneliness. Among them are several versions of The Scream on permanent rotating display, as well as temporary exhibitions that explore his inspiration and process. Once you’re finished, be sure to admire the building itself, which has quickly become an Oslo landmark since opening in 2021.

However, if you’re short on time, visiting the National Museum’s dedicated Munch room is a great way to get a quick primer on the artist, as well as see versions of some of his most famous paintings.

More information: Open daily. munchmuseet.no

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Surrounded by the Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park and with great views of Oslo’s harbour, the Astrup Fearnley Museum displays its collection of international contemporary art across two striking buildings cut asunder by a strip of water. These have been designed by the renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano.

Inside, its extensive collection includes significant works by artists Matthew Barney, Paul Chan, Nicole Eisenman, Ida Ekblad and Damien Hirst. The installations are particularly captivating, with pieces such as Børre Sæthre’s My Private Sky seducing and disturbing the viewer in equal measure; it draws its inspiration from the history of cinema and science fiction, and remains on display throughout 2024.

Outside, the surrounding sculpture park has several thought-provoking artworks, including Eyes by the late Louise Bourgeois and Ugo Rondinone’s playful 2.5m-high Moonrise busts.

More information: Closed Monday. afmuseet.no

Best of the rest

The Fram Museum

Delve into the era of early polar exploration at the Fram Museum, located on Oslo’s Bygdøy peninsula. Named after Norway’s first polar ship, which sailed the waters between 1893 and 1912, visitors today can board this huge wooden ship, which is exhibited alongside the Gjøa, the first vessel to sail through the infamous Northwest Passage.  frammuseum.no

Ibsen Museum & Theatre

Visit the former home of Oslo’s most famous literary resident, the world-renowned playwright Henrik Ibsen. With its original interiors still intact, this is where Ibsen spent the last 11 years of his life and wrote his final two dramas. An onsite museum provides a deeper insight into his creative process and lasting cultural importance. ibsenmt.no

Nobel Peace Center

This recently refurbished centre guides visitors through the history of the coveted Nobel Peace Prize (named after a Swedish chemist and inventor) while paying tribute to its laureates. It also has temporary exhibitions, such as an ongoing deep-dive into the world of Japanese artist Yoko Ono (until Nov 2024). nobelpeacecenter.org

Ski Museum & Tower

Established in 1923, the planet’s oldest ski museum is located next to the Holmenkollen ski jump hill, which offers fantastic panoramic views of Oslo. For its 100-year anniversary, several of the museum’s exhibitions were refurbished. Learn about skiing’s entry into Norwegian history and how it forms a central part of the country’s identity. skiforeningen.no