Interest in the Vikings has reached an all-time high in recent years. From newly discovered ships to living villages and high-tech exhibitions – here are some of Norway's top Viking sites.
Travel back in time and explore authentic ships and treasures, as well as modern Viking experience centres filled with cutting-edge technology. Attend a Viking festival or challenge your inner Viking in one of the many villages that have been built as open-air museums throughout the country. Here are the main Viking attractions in Norway – from south to north.
The Oslo region
In June 2019, a 1600 square metre state-of-the-art interactive entertainment centre opened in the city centre of Oslo. With ground-breaking virtual technology, high-end film productions, and a 270-degree cinema, The Viking planet is the first of its kind in Norway. Step back in time and experience Norwegian Vikings like never before!
The Viking Ship Museum on the Bygdøy peninsula just outside Oslo’s city centre has long been the most popular Viking museum to visit. Here, the three preserved Viking ships found in Norway – Oseberg, Tune and Gokstad – are exhibited. They are ranked among the world’s best-preserved vessels from the era. Unfortunately, the museum is temporarily closed for construction of the new, more modern Viking Age Museum. The new museum is scheduled to open in 2025/26. In the meantime, you can visit The Historical Museum in Oslo, which contains exquisite objects from the Viking Age.
In recent years, archaeologists have discovered two new Viking ships in the Oslo region, creating headlines around the world. The latest find was in Horten in Vestfold in 2019. Vestfold is also home to several museums where you can dive into Viking history. At Midgard Viking Centre in Horten, you can visit the magnificent Gildehallen, a reconstruction of one of the Viking Age's largest halls, and see exhibitions that show many aspects of Viking life.
In the Viking hall at The Slottsfjell Museum in Tønsberg, you can experience Norway's fourth best-preserved Viking ship, the Klåstad ship, discovered in 1970. In Tønsberg harbour, you can see, and maybe even sail aboard, an exact replica of the world-famous Oseberg ship, built by volunteers of the Oseberg Viking Heritage Foundation. At the Kaupang Viking town in Larvik, you can experience Norway’s first urban settlement from the Viking Age.
All three museums are located just a one-hour drive from Oslo.
Fjord Norway
Viking fans have lots to look forward to in Fjord Norway. At the modern Viking museum Sagastad in Nordfjordeid, visitors can explore the 30-metre-long Myklebust ship, enjoy interactive exhibitions, and learn more about the region’s proud Viking history.
Viking house, located in the heart of Stavanger, is another groundbreaking concept. The museum uses VR technology to recreate the exciting life that the Vikings from the region once lived. Only a few kilometres away, by the Hafrsfjord, you can visit the impressive monument Swords in rock (Sverd i fjell in Norwegian). This was the site where King Harald Fairhair united all of Norway into one kingdom in 872.
Avaldsnes near Haugesund is one of Norway’s most important places for cultural history. Here, the first king of Norway, Harald Fairhair, had one of his seats during what many consider to be the golden age of the Vikings. Today, you can see authentic Viking culture at Nordvegen History Centre, The Viking Farm at Bukkøy and St. Olav's Church. The Viking Farm was designed on the basis of archaeological discoveries, and offers an insight into everyday life during the viking era. At Nordvegen History Centre, you can find out how how Avaldsnes became the first royal seat of Norway, and learn more about the chieftains and kings that controlled ship passages in the narrow channel, Karmsundet, for over 3,000 years. People travel from near and far every June, in order to take part in the Viking Festival in Avaldsnes.
Another highlight is the Viking village Njardarheimr in Gudvangen near Flåm, where you can experience how the Vikings lived 1,000 years ago, when Gudvangen was first founded. The 400 Vikings living here have unique knowledge about Viking life, and are more than happy to invite you to learn and take part.
Trøndelag
When it comes to Norwegian Viking history, one cannot forget Stiklestad in Trøndelag county. The site is famous for the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030, where the Christian Viking king Olav Haraldsson – later known as St. Olav – fell at the hands of local chieftains. He later became the patron saint of Norway. The battle marked the consolidation of Norway and a definitive breakthrough for Christianity.
This battle is recreated every July as an outdoor theatre event called “The St. Olav Drama”. The re-enactment coincides with the traditional celebration of Olsok, a festival full of story-telling, concerts, food, markets, and everything else you need to travel back in time and feel like a true Viking.
Stiklestad National Culture Centre is open year round and offers exhibitions, events, and fun activities. The Folk Museum at Stiklestad comprises around 30 buildings, mostly from the 1700s and 1800s. The buildings are brought to life with people, activities, music, and more at a variety of events held there throughout the year.
Northern Norway
Spectacular remnants of Viking life are also found further north in Norway, including the remains of the longest building discovered from the period.
Located at Borg on the island of Vestvågøya in Lofoten, this 83-metre long structure has been restored and now hosts the Lofotr Viking Museum. The museum exhibits objects such as imported glass, gold and ceramics – artefacts that suggest that the area was once home to a wealthy and powerful clan.
Take part in a Viking feast, row a Viking ship, shoot a traditional bow and arrow or try setting up a timber frame building. Lofotr is a living museum offering fun, interactive experiences for Viking buffs of all ages.
Every year in August, Borg hosts a five-day Viking festival featuring more than 100 Vikings from near and far, and includes a market, competitions, theatre, concerts, and more.
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