The best museums in Oslo

Oslo is a city that balances urban life with natural life in a beautiful way. You can easily enjoy your time in Norway’s capital by strolling around the wildlife or admiring the stunning architecture. But what about other attractions?

As one of the world’s largest capitals, Oslo has many protected landmarks, parks, forests, bars and shops. To really experience Norwegian culture and its fascinating history, you should spend some time exploring Oslo’s best museums. During your cruise to Norway, make sure to include these on your must-visit list:

Kongeveien 5, 0787 Oslo, Norway

Holmenkollen Ski Museum & Tower is the oldest ski museum in the world. Situated on the side of the mountain below the famous Holmenkollen ski jump, the museum opened back in 1923 and remains the oldest of its kind in the world. Here, you can trace the history of skiing back 4,000 years through the varying exhibits and displays.

Edvard Munchs Plass 1, 0194 Oslo, Norway

The Munch Museum (pronounced moonch) has a collection of around 1,100 paintings, 18,000 prints, 700 motifs, 7,000 drawings and 13 sculptures. One of the most significant artists of Modernism, Edvard Munch produced work for over 60 years from his debut piece in the 1880s until his death in 1944. A pioneer of expressionist art, he was a tenacious artist credited for his experimental works across painting, film, photography, drawings, sculptures and graphic art.

Universitetsgata 13, 0164 Oslo, Norway

Home to Norway’s most extensive collection, the National Museum of Art, Architecture & Design has to be spread across a number of venues. The exhibition extends across to the National Gallery, the National Museum of Architecture and the Museum of Contemporary Art. With more than 400,000 objects in its collection, it is a huge display of hundreds of years of Norway’s creative background.

Sars' gate 1, 0562 Oslo, Norway

The largest collection of its kind in Norway, the National History Museum includes the Geological Museum, the Zoological Museum and the Botanical Gardens. When the sun is shining in Oslo, the stunning Botanical Gardens are an absolute must-see. Featuring over 7,500 plant species native to Norway and from around the world, the gardens are over 200 years old and have become one of the most popular attractions in the city.

Huk Aveny 35, 0287 Oslo, Norway

Situated on the Bygdøy peninsula, the Viking Ship Museum houses the world’s best-preserved Viking ships and findings from the Oslo Fjord. The ship was discovered in 1903 by Knut Rom, a farmer who also found skeletons and other grave artefacts. The whole collection contains three of the best-preserved ships in the world, all of which were unearthed between 1867 and 1903 having been buried for almost a millennium. The museum highlights the discoveries from the Gokstad, Oseberg and Tune ships, as well as smaller boats, carts and tools. Please note: the Viking Ship Museum is closed for rebuilding, it will reopen as the Museum of the Viking Age in 2025/26.