Museums in Norway
Whether you’re into fine art, contemporary works, historical artefacts, or just want to see Edvard Munch’s Scream, this is your guide to some of the best museums in Norway.
Fine art museums and museums of contemporary art
Investments in places to explore art are on the rise in Norway, resulting in new landmark architecture housing both public and private collections. Norway also has the world’s largest museum devoted to one single artist, the painter Edvard Munch.
Book nowLillehammerLillehammer Art Museum
Lillehammer Art Museum is located in a unique building designed by Snøhetta, in the centre of Lillehammer. The permanent collection comprises Norwegian visual art from the 1830s up until today, and the museum also presents temporary exhibitions featuring Norwegian and international art.
OsloNational Museum - Architecture
The National Museum - Architecture is being renovated, and parts of the museum are therefore closed. The Study Hall in the National Museum - Architecture is only open by appointment between 10am - 3pm. Beyond this, the National Museum - Architecture will be closed to the public until Statsbygg's work is completed. Museum of architecture that explores contemporary and historical themes through drawings, photographs and models. Norway's largest architectural collection that consists of more than 300,000 artifacts dated from the 1830s to today. The main building, designed by Christian Heinrich Grosch, was completed in 1830. It was adapted and extended by Sverre Fehn before opening as a museum in 2008. The building is a juxtaposition of classicism and modernist architecture - an encounter between Grosch and Fehn, Norway's most important architects of the 19th and 20th centuries respectively. Free entry on Thursdays. Norwegian name: Nasjonalmuseet - Arkitektur
Historical museums
Norway has a surprisingly long history and proofs of civilisation go more than 10,000 years back in time. All over the country, there are museums with collections that you will only find here.
Museums in Oslo
Oslo has several world-class museums, with exhibitions ranging from Viking ships to the newest contemporary art. Most places are easy to visit within a short time frame by foot, bike, or public transport.
OsloOslo Fire Museum
Museum run by volunteers who aim to collect and preserve the rich history of Oslo's fire department. The Fire Museum is located in the old fire station in Grønlandsleiret, which dates back to 1861, and was in ordinary use until 1978. Open for pre-booked groups outside of ordinary opening hours. Closed during school holidays (sommer holidays late June to mid august, autumn holidays in early October, Christmas, Easter, and other public holidays). Norwegian name: Brannmuseet i Oslo
OsloBogstad Manor
Beautiful manor house fully furnished with items from the years 1750-1850. Bogstad is located in a romantic Norwegian landscape reminiscent of an English garden, and has been home to many prominent people. The manor's animals include cows, sheep, pigs, goats, chickens and rabbits. The grounds also include a play area for children, walking trails, a café, a historic park and changing exhibitions in the lobby. Guided tours Tours of the museum are available between mid-May and mid-September. Group tours are available upon request all year. Free entry to the area - the fees here apply to the guided tours. Norwegian name: Bogstad gård
OsloNorway's Resistance Museum
Museum at Akershus Fortress that documents Norway's domestic World War II history from the years 1940-1945. The exhibitions have re-created five years of occupation through pictures, documents, posters, objects, models, original copies of newspapers and recordings. The Restistance Museum is located in a building from the 17th century, adjoining the memorial for Norwegian patriots executed during the war. Norwegian name: Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum
OsloOslo Jewish Museum
Oslo Jewish Museum aims to protect the Jewish minority's national heritage and convey the Jewish tradition and history in Norway from early immigration up to the present. The museum continues to grow its photo and artifact collection and manages a unique documentation archive of Norwegian Jewish culture and history. The museum is located in a former synagogue in the neighbourhood where most of Oslo's Jewish immigrants settled from the mid-1800s onwards. Exhibitions (subtitled in both Norwegian and English) Remember us for life - Jewish destinies 1940-1945 opened to mark the 70-year-anniversary of the deportation of Jews from Norway. The exhibition's main focus is the people and families that were affected. The Jewish year – For Everything there is a Season is an interactive and child-friendly exhibition which deals with feasting and holidays throughout the year. Shtetl – a world that was tells the story of the “shtetls”, villages with a predominance of Jewish inhabitants in the former Russian Empire, and the story of the culture Jewish immigrants from there brought to Norway when they emigrated.OsloNational Museum - Architecture
The National Museum - Architecture is being renovated, and parts of the museum are therefore closed. The Study Hall in the National Museum - Architecture is only open by appointment between 10am - 3pm. Beyond this, the National Museum - Architecture will be closed to the public until Statsbygg's work is completed. Museum of architecture that explores contemporary and historical themes through drawings, photographs and models. Norway's largest architectural collection that consists of more than 300,000 artifacts dated from the 1830s to today. The main building, designed by Christian Heinrich Grosch, was completed in 1830. It was adapted and extended by Sverre Fehn before opening as a museum in 2008. The building is a juxtaposition of classicism and modernist architecture - an encounter between Grosch and Fehn, Norway's most important architects of the 19th and 20th centuries respectively. Free entry on Thursdays. Norwegian name: Nasjonalmuseet - Arkitektur
Kid-friendly museums
Children are always welcome in Norwegian museums, but here you will find museums that are especially suited for the little ones.
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