Grand openings: 9 brand new
reasons to visit Norway

The Norwegian painter Edvard Munch is one of the world’s most significant artists, and the new Munch Museum in the city centre provides evocative, engaging and modern art experiences. The Museum is one of the world’s largest museums dedicated to a single artist. Munch’s art is shown in three permanent exhibitions, which means that many of his 28,000 works, including iconic works as “The Scream”, are displayed at all times. Temporary shows present works by renowned Norwegian and international artists, as well as innovative contemporary artists. All in all, you’ll be able to walk through eleven exhibition halls on seven of the buildings thirteen floors.

In addition to all the fantastic exhibitions, you can attend concerts, literary readings, and other cultural activities and events. The whole family can also create art together in one of the fun art workshops. If you need a break, stop by the restaurant on the 13th floor.

Right next to the museum, there will be a brand new family-friendly beach called Operastranda, with a floating dock, a diving platform, and green recreational areas.

Opens in 2021.

Buckle up for a whale of a time! The stunning structure of the Whale on the island Andøya in Vesterålen – considered one of the world’s best places to spot migrating whales – will act as a coastal viewpoint and an educational museum. The Whale’s stone-covered rooftop will serve as a whale-spotting platform, while the inside will house sprawling exhibition spaces with whale-related artefacts, a café, and a museum store.

Opens in 2023.

The 18 Norwegian Scenic Routes are all about the connection between cutting-edge architecture and design and breathtaking nature. Each road offers several groundbreaking sites – viewpoints, art installations or resting areas with some of the world’s best toilets. The two big news for 2021 will be a mushroom-shaped toilet in Hardanger and a spectacular viewpoint by the sea in Jæren in Ryfylke.

The Harestua solar observatory is Northern Europe’s largest astronomical facility. Located in Hadeland – Norway’s new art destination about 45 kilometres north of Oslo – the centre offers activities, educational guided tours and lectures on astronomy and science. The Solar Observatory has engaged the architects in Snøhetta to renew and expand the centre. The plans involve the addition of a 1,500 square metre planetarium as well as scattered interstellar cabins, each shaped like a small planet.

Opens in 2021/2022.

On the island of Odderøya in Kristiansand in Southern Norway, a historical landmark and grain silo is currently being transformed into a massive art museum. The nearly 10,000 square metres of new museum will act as a catalyst for Nordic Modernist art through a range of permanent and temporary exhibitions. The ambition is for the Kunstsilo to become one of the Nordic region’s leading art museums.

Opens in 2022.

At the new National Museum, collections from the National Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Norwegian Museum of Decorative Arts and Design will be gathered under one roof. Until it opens, stop by the information centre Mellomstasjonen to see how the largest art museum in the Nordics will turn out when finished. Why not join a guided tour or an artist talk?

Opens in 2022.

In Longyearbyen on the remote island of Svalbard – far above the Arctic Circle ­– a new Visitor Center for Arctic Preservation Storage will soon open. The Arc will rise out of the icy landscape like a giant igloo and aims to showcase content from the Svalbard Global Seed Vault – the world's most extensive secure plant seed storage – and the Arctic World Archive – a vault that aims to preserve the world’s digital heritage. In collaboration with the Norwegian Natural History Museum, it will provide insight on how Svalbard’s unique geology has transformed over millions of years. Combine a visit to the Arc with other polar adventures: go dog sledging, join a wildlife safari, or chase the northern lights on a guided tour.

Opens in 2022.

8. Havila Voyages

Step aboard on the most environmentally friendly ships on the Norwegian coast between Bergen and Kirkenes! Havila Voyages will sail all year round, deep inside fjords and far out at sea, past steep mountains and weathered islets, under the northern lights in winter and the midnight sun in summer. The ultra-modern ships will stop at 34 ports along the way and offer a unique possibility to experience some of Norway’s most beautiful spots and scenery, fun activities, and first-class local food.

Starts in 2021.

9. Zeabuz: Self-driving ferries

The future is here! Zeabuz opens up for a new world of waterborne urban transport. This sleek, self-driving and climate-friendly ferry will transport people across or along waterways on demand – almost like a floating elevator. The Zeabuz ferries will be equipped with cameras to scan for obstacles and a navigation system to monitor the boat’s speed and position. The ferry was developed by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim as an alternative to a proposed bridge across the city’s harbour canal.

Zeabuz will be introduced in Trondheim, as well as in other Norwegian cities and along the coast, during 2021.