Step into Oslo’s National Museum, where history, art, and design converge. From ancient sculptures to van Gogh’s brilliance and Munch’s The Scream, every gallery invites you to experience timeless creativity.
About the National Museum
The National Museum is a great museum to visit if you want an interesting insight into art, design, and history. This is the largest museum in the Nordics. The new museum now consists of the collections of the former National Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Norwegian Museum of Decorative Arts and Design. The museum is composed of three “themed” floors which showcases a permanent exhibition of over 6,500 objects.
Starting Out
The first Floor of the National Museum takes you on a walk through history. At the beginning you will get to see a hall filled with plaster sculptures (formerly known as the Sculpture Museum) which showcases famous antique sculptures. These are used as models for art students to draw as part of their training, rather than needing to travel around the world to see these pieces.
As trade between Europe and Asia began to grow, so did the influence of Eastern architecture begin appearing in Western civilization. There are several rooms dedicated to artifacts which were brought to Norway by the wealthy showcasing how the world changed in the 18th and 19th century.
The exhibits continue to show how Oslo changed over the decades with carefully themed rooms that transport you back in time. You will get a chance to see how rapidly the world has changed. Towards the end of the exhibits you will even get to see Queen Sonja’s consecration gown amongst other Royal clothing.
Moving On Up
The second Floor of the National Museum is filled with art work ranging from the 1500s to present day.
Arguably the most famous painting in the National Museum Collection – The Scream has become a popular icon of our time. In its technique and abstraction, it seems quick and spontaneous. Yet the work has evolved over time. This is one piece you will not want to miss.
Van Gogh painted over 35 self-portraits during his lifetime. This painting was done during his time in a psychiatric hospital in Southern France. Despite his unstable condition, he painted a lot during his stay. Vincent did not portray himself as a sick, broken man for the sake of effect or to arouse pity. He was convinced that painting would help him to heal.
Works from J.C. Dahl, Harriet Backer, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and many others can be seen on the second floor. This floor also includes a large collection of modern and contemporary art.
You’ve Reached the Top
There are two halves to the third floor which are reached by separate staircases.
Up one staircase leads to a darker themed collection of artwork. On this floor the walls are painted black to directly contrast the second half of the third floor exhibit.
This picture was painted while van Gogh was a student in Antwerp. Drawing skeletons was a common exercise at art academies. It is said that he completed the picture in one sitting.
Another well-known piece that you won’t want to miss. This artwork became very popular in recent times as it was used as a meme to represent the idea of a bad influence.
Up the other staircase there is a 2,400 square meter Light Hall which provides a bright and unique setting for temporary exhibitions. You can also go outside onto the roof terrace. Here there is a bar where snacks and drinks are served with spectacular views of the inner Oslofjord.
Visitor Information
Pricing
| Adults | 200 NOK ($19.88) |
| Under 25 | 120 NOK ($11.93) |
| Students (under 30 years of age) | 120 NOK ($11.93) |
| Under 18 | Free |
Opening Hours
| Day of week | Opening Hours |
| Sunday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday | 10–17 |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday and Wednesday | 10–20 |
Review
If you enjoy art and want to spend a few hours of your day inside, then the National Museum in Oslo is a great museum to visit. With a massive collection spanning three floors, this is one museum where the price can be justified. Especially when a decent meal in the city cost more that a full-priced ticket.
I walked through quite a bit of the museum as I wanted to see certain pieces, and it still took me two and a half hours to cover everything. If you stopped to read about every single piece in the collection, you could easily spend two days learning about everything inside.
If you are ever in Oslo and you want to experience famous pieces from Dahl, Monet, Picasso, van Gogh, Munch, and more, then you need to have this place on your list.
Overall I would give this museum a 7/10. Where do you rank it?
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