Oslo is one of the best places in Europe to step into everyday Norse life. In one compact city, you can see rare Viking artefacts, stand beside legendary ships, and try immersive digital experiences that make a raid feel real. The city centre holds the Historical Museum, where you can view authentic treasures from the Viking Age. Near City Hall, you can dive into Viking Planet with a digital experience to relive history. Out on the Bygdøy peninsula, you will find the home of the famous Oseberg and Gokstad ships. These monuments represent Oslo’s Viking era, which shaped its long Nordic history. Intrigued to go back to the 9th century? Then, keep reading to see how to plan a trip around the very best Viking museums in Oslo and the top Norse sites nearby!
Key Takeaways
- The top three Viking museums in Oslo are the Historical Museum, Viking Planet, and the Viking Ship Museum.
- The Viking Ship Museum is closed for conservation and expansion, and is set to reopen in 2027 as the Museum of the Viking Age.
- The Historical Museum presents top finds from across Norway with clear stories about travel, trade, belief, and daily life of the Vikings.
- Viking Planet delivers films, VR, and interactive rooms that create a strong immersive experience, complementing other Viking galleries.
- Add the Viking Garden in Oslo, and a trip to Vestfold County to discover beyond the Viking museums of Oslo. Visitors can find burial mounds and a full-size ship replica from the 9th century.
The Best Viking Museums in Oslo
The Historical Museum Viking Exhibition
Located at Frederiks gate 2 near the city centre, the Historical Museum has welcomed visitors since 1904. It belongs to the University of Oslo and houses collections from prehistory through the Middle Ages with a strong Viking focus. The VÍKINGR exhibition gathers finds from across Norway to showcase the Vikings’ various aspects of life. You will see weapons, jewellery, coins, and everyday tools that help you picture how people moved, traded, and worshipped. Famous highlights include a rare Viking helmet and fine metalwork that shows skill and status. Each room invites you to lean into the unique stories of history with each object.
The museum’s building itself is an elegant piece of early 20th-century architecture, which adds to the experience. If you want to start with authentic artefacts before any digital stops, begin here and set your baseline for other Viking museums in Oslo.
Viking Planet
A few steps from Oslo City Hall, Viking Planet opened in 2019 as a digital Viking museum. It uses film, VR, and interactive screens to tell stories about seafaring, warfare, art, and daily life. The 270-degree cinema surrounds your field of view and raises the energy without losing the facts. VR stations are staffed by helpful hosts, so even younger visitors can relax and enjoy the scenes. Most content supports multiple languages, which makes it friendly for mixed groups and families.
Exhibits pull from the latest research and partner with Norwegian creatives, so visitors can expect educational creations with rich Viking information. Spend about one to two hours for a full visit, depending on how many VR and film options you try. If you are travelling with friends who prefer action over glass cases, add Viking Planet to your plan!
Museum of the Viking Age (The Viking Ship Museum )
Set to reopen in 2027 as the Museum of the Viking Age. The Viking Ship Museum is closed while experts protect the Oseberg, Gokstad, and Tune ships and expand the building with modern climate control and new galleries. The goal is to secure the fragile timbers and present more of the collection in a stable environment for the long term. If you are planning a visit in 2027, here is what to know about the museum so you can look forward to new discoveries!
The site sits on the green Bygdøy peninsula, a short ride from central Oslo. The original ship halls opened in the 20th century to house famous vessels from burial mounds dated mainly to the 9th and 10th centuries. The renewed museum will offer improved walkways, richer storytelling, and facilities built for conservation as well as crowds. While the doors are closed, you can still learn about the ships through models, films, and related displays in the city. Keep this stop for a future Oslo trip, and use the rest of this guide to fill the gap in the meantime.
Viking Monuments Beyond the Museums in Oslo
The Viking Garden in the Oslo Botanical Garden
Located at Tøyen in the east of the city, the Viking Garden is a themed area inside the Oslo Botanical Garden. It has a 33-meter-long ship and shows the plants that Vikings grew, traded, or gathered. Beds display barley and oats for food, flax for textiles, and herbs used for medicine and dye. You will also find trees and shrubs tied to shipbuilding and craft, such as oak and hazel.
Paths and low walls shape a landscape that hints at fields, shorelines, and farm plots. This setup helps you imagine how resources supported trade and travel in the 9th and 10th centuries. Signs provide historical details on Vikings and notes on plant uses, so you can connect each species to daily needs at the time.
The setting is peaceful, entry is free, and the garden works in every season, whether you prefer spring flowers or a crisp autumn walk. It is an easy addition to a cultural day in Oslo. If you are looking for more gardens to visit, refer to our guide on the best neighborhoods to explore in Oslo for inspiration!
Vestfold County Viking Sites
Vestfold County lines the west side of the Oslofjord and holds some of Norway’s most important Viking Age monuments.
The Midgard Viking Centre
The first stop is The Midgard Viking Centre at Borre, located next to Borre National Park. Here you can walk among great burial mounds that marked a royal power centre from the 6th to the 10th centuries. Trails pass between the mounds, and signage explains how leaders used ships, halls, and art styles to project status. Inside the museum, you will find displays that set the landscape in context and hands-on areas that suit families.
Vikingodden
In Tønsberg, you can mark Vikingodden as the next stop to view a full-size replica of the Oseberg ship, built with traditional methods. The sight of a finished longship at the waterline provides a spectacular scene from historical times. During the summer, you can even attend free Viking Age workshops. Check out their opening hours to schedule your visit.
Gokstad Mound
For your last stop, the Gokstad Mound in Sandefjord marks the original burial site of the ship now cared for in Oslo. It was excavated in 1880, with skeletons of a man from the Viking era! He is assumed to be 185cm tall, which was an extraordinary height at that time. Other remnants of the Viking Age were also discovered, such as fishing hooks and horse harnesses. With a car ride from Oslo, you can easily link two or three of these interesting stops to take a step back in history!
Conclusion
That is your blueprint for the best of Norse Oslo in any season. Start with the Historical Museum for real objects, add Viking Planet for a cinematic experience, and keep the new Museum of the Viking Age on your future list. If you want to hire private transportation to visit Vestfold County, or customise your route around these historical landmarks, join our Amitylux private tour in Oslo. We offer private tours in Oslo, and can seamlessly add your favorite Viking destinations for a complete story of ships, trade, and belief during the colder months in the Nordics!
Looking to further unveil the secret lives of the Vikings? Check out our blog about the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, Denmark!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I see Viking history in Oslo?
Begin at the Historical Museum to view the top artefacts from across Norway. Add Viking Planet near City Hall for film, VR, and interactive rooms. Keep an eye on the new Museum of the Viking Age, which is set to reopen in 2027 with the famous ships at Bygdøy.
Why is the Viking Museum in Oslo closed?
Conservation teams are stabilising the Oseberg, Gokstad, and Tune ships and rebuilding the facility with modern climate control and larger galleries. This work will protect fragile wood and improve visitor flow. They plan to reopen in 2027 under the name Museum of the Viking Age.
Is Viking Planet Oslo worth visiting?
Yes. It offers a strong mix of film, VR, and interactive content that suits families and small groups. The 270-degree cinema adds impact, while multilingual content helps everyone enjoy the same stories.
Are there still Norse things in Oslo?
Yes. You can see original objects at the Historical Museum, dive into digital storytelling at Viking Planet, and stroll through the Viking Garden at Tøyen. When the new Museum of the Viking Age opens in 2027, the ship halls will return to the list and complete the picture.
