Location: Oslo
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The 7 Best Art Museums in Oslo, Eastern Norway
The 1000-year-old Norwegian capital sits at the head of Oslo Fjord. This stunning setting gives hints of the wild wonders that lie just beyond the city. From taking in visual delights at Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Viking Ship Museum, the Munch Museum and Holmenkollen, to the challenging content within the new Nobel Peace Centre and the Holocoust Center, Oslo offers plenty of food for thought. The Oslo Pass allows free travel on public transport, free parking and many museum and sight admissions.
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1. Vigeland Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,535 reviews
The Vigeland Park is the world's largest sculpture park made by a single artist, and is one of Norway's most popular tourist attractions. The park is open to visitors all year round.The unique sculpture park is Gustav Vigeland's lifework with more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and wrought iron. Vigeland was also in charge of the design and architectural layout of the park. The Vigeland Park was mainly completed between 1939 and 1949. Most of the sculptures are placed in five units along an 850 meter long axis: The Main gate, the Bridge with the Children's playground, the Fountain, the Monolith plateau and the Wheel of Life.
Reviewed By GrahamDavidRobinson - Transylvania, Romania
The Vigeland sculptures in Frogner Park (more often mistakenly called "Vigeland Sculpture Park") are really quite amazing and make this beautiful park so much more than just a wonderful space for relaxation and recreation. Any one of his masterpieces would be a sight to see but the effect of hundreds of them together is almost overwhelming and leaves the viewer with a deeper understanding of the human condition. As such, the collection is truly world class and an absolute must-see on any holiday in Oslo. You can get the number 12 tram from the centre / waterfront or the number 20 bus (which loops round the centre without entering it). Best of all, the park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and all year round, so you can visit when you like and spend as long as you like there. Given that the museums and art galleries pretty much all open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. (with shorter hours outside of the summer season), Vigeland can be tacked onto a day of sightseeing as a wonderful way to finish the day.
2. Emanuel Vigeland Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 111 reviews
Actually a mausoleum, this unusually-shaped building is decorated inside with an 800 square meter fresco which took Emanuel Vigeland 20 years to paint.
Reviewed By TankGrrrl - Scottish Borders, United Kingdom
My second time here, I've been itching to get back! Happy to see they now have some more funding, and will be opening the second room later this year :) As I said in my first review, DO NOT LEAVE TOO SOON to get the effect of this mausoleum. The light changes hugely over time, and you need to give it at the very least 20 minutes to start to experience what it has to offer. I stayed over 2 hours this time, and it's worth the effort! Fabulous place - the acoustics, the imagery, the lighting, the friendly staff, it's definitely my favourite place in Oslo - which is saying something in such a great city.
3. Munch Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2,284 reviews
Edvard Munch bequeathed a large portion of his work to the city before his death in 1940, and this museum is the result. It contains books, paintings, drawings, scuptures and letters. The Munch Museums have changing exhibitions. Please see website for updated exhibition program.
Reviewed By linam317 - Durham, United States
We chose to visit the Munch Museum because of its current exhibit - "The Swan Princess - Russian Art 1880-1910". A fabulous exhibition of paintings, sculpture, and textiles which explained and demonstrated the European-trained Russian artists who returned home and painted what they saw using Western styles and techniques - ice bergs, Russian peasants, walrus hunts, princesses, Russian fairy tale and opera settings. Gradually their styles began to go in different directions from Western art and developed personal and unique pieces. The exhibit is set up to compare/contrast some of the Russian pieces with some of Munch's similar works. A must-see exhibit for art lovers!
4. Astrup Fearnley Museet
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,187 reviews
Astrup Fearnley Museet is a private museum and has since its opening in 1993 been one of the most important art institutions in Oslo. The museum moved to Tjuvholmen in 2012, beautifully located by the Oslo Fjord in a building designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano. The museum adventure starts as soon as you catch sight of the magnificent building and location, that unites art, nature and urbanity. The museum houses the Astrup Fearnley Collection, one of Norway's most important and most extensive private collections of contemporary art, with iconic works by artists such as Damien Hirst, Anselm Kiefer and Jeff Koons.
Reviewed By lyndawilson72
Structurally breathtaking building on Oslo waterfront. Modern Art Museum over a few floors. Highlights were Damien Hirst exhibits, David Hockney paintings and the iconic Jeff Koons Michael Jackson & Bubbles sculpture. Well worth a hour of your time, then wander around the Tjuvholmen area.
5. The Mini Bottle Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 57 reviews
Reviewed By mattandbenny - Bradford, United Kingdom
Stumbled across this place in Oslo and it is a great little museum. Cheap entry (around £7.50) and they have over 50,000 miniature bottles over 3 floors. Very good way to spend an hour or so. It’s only open saturdays & sundays so you are out of luck if you want to see it in the week. Well worth a visit!
6. Litteraturhuset - The House of Literature
7. Stenersen Museum
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 16 reviews
