A day in Munch’s footsteps

There are several day trips from Oslo to historic and idyllic spots around the Oslofjord, where you can explore Munch's fascinating life and work.

The Munch Museum in Oslo

In 2021, the MUNCH museum opened in an iconic and ultra modern building right beside a brand new city beach. The 13-story tall building contains galleries and restaurants, and hosts workshops and contemporary art exhibitions, in addition to iconic pieces by the world-famous painter.

MUNCH is home to more than half of the artist’s paintings and is one of the most comprehensive single-artist museums in the world.

A day in Munch’s footsteps

Edvard Munch was a world-famous painter and printmaker from Norway. He was active for more than 60 years and was one of Modernism’s most important artists.

Munch's works are inspired by both the people in his life and the landscapes where he lived and worked. Explore the places Munch called home and where he found inspiration for his most iconic art.

1. Oslo

Norway’s capital hosts the world's biggest collection of Munch's work. The MUNCH museum in Bjørvika is the most comprehensive single-artist museum in the world, exhibiting more than half of the artist’s paintings. The collection includes famous works like The Scream, Madonna, The Dance of Life, Puberty, and The Sick Child, as well as works from every stage of the artist's career.

The National Museum also contains several of Munch’s most significant works, including early versions of The Scream, The Girls on the Bridge, The Brooch, and Melancholy.

You can experience even more Munch on a guided tour of Oslo City Hall, and in the nearby University Aula, which hosts concerts and other events, and is open to the public, with guided tours on select dates. Munch’s studio at Ekely, outside Oslo city centre, is part of MUNCH and is usually open during summer.

To see the same view Munch saw when he first had the idea for the motif depicted in The Scream, head to The Munch Spot in Ekeberg, close to the Ekebergparken Sculpture Park. You can also visit Munch’s grave at the Vår Frelsers Gravlund cemetery, which features a bust of the artist.

2. Ramme

A 40-minute drive south from the centre of Oslo, you'll find the cultural destination Ramme, where Munch had a country home at Nedre Ramme from 1910 until his death. Here, you can walk in Edvard Munch's footsteps along the culture trail, visit the Ramme Art Gallery, and at Ramme Farm you can explore the unique garden at Havlystparken.

Many adventures await in Ramme, so why not book a stay at the beautiful Ramme Fjordhotell?

3. Åsgårdstrand

In 1898, Munch bought a house in the little coastal town of Åsgårdstrand in Horten, which is today a journey of about an hour and twenty minutes from Oslo. This house is now a small museum open to the public. Here, everything has remained untouched from the artist's day.

Many of Munch's famous works were painted here, including The Bridge, Four girls in Åsgårdstrand and The Dance of Life, and walking through the same surroundings with the same light is an unmissable and almost uncanny experience.

4. Jeløya

Munch also spent time on the opposite shore of the Oslofjord from Åsgårdstrand. If you take a short boat trip from Horten to Moss, you can visit the island of Jeløya, where Munch received inspiration for some of the most famous works of his career.

Here, you will also find Refsnes Gods, a historic hotel from 1767 beautifully situated by the Oslofjord. The hotel has a unique art collection with works by more than 90 artists, including some by Munch.

In the Restaurant Munch you will find four original Munch lithographs, as well as watercolours and graphic works, including Self Portrait from1895 and Young Woman.

You should definitely spend the night here too. The hotel has been awarded the St. Olav's Rose – a certification given to high-quality destinations that play a role in conserving Norwegian cultural heritage and are open to the public.

Jeløya is a natural paradise for art buffs, as it's also home to the renowned galleries Galleri Røed and Galleri F15, the latter of which is a leading Nordic art institution.

5. Kragerø

About an hour and a half south of Åsgårdstrand lies the lively city of Kragerø, where Munch painted several of his famous works. A map of the many spots where Munch found his motifs is available at the local tourist information office. The Munch Tour showcases the most charming, hidden streets of this harbour town.