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4 Highlights at the Norwegian Maritime Museum

Discover Norway’s maritime heritage at the Norwegian Maritime Museum in Oslo. Dive into exhibitions featuring Viking Age boatbuilding traditions, coastal culture, and life beneath the surface of the ocean. Here we guide you to four experiences you don't want to miss when you visit!

1. Experience Viking craftsmanship

See Viking-era craftsmanship in the exhibition Viking Age Boat Builder and the KLINK Boat Building Workshop. Here you can experience an 1100-year-old original Viking boat and the replica that is constructed using traditional techniques.

This UNESCO-listed craft of clinker-built boats has left a lasting mark on maritime history. You can experience this legacy up close in the Boat Hall, where a collection of traditional boats is on display.

  • Presenter demonstrating traditional Viking boatbuilding with axe in front of engaged students.
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    Demonstrasjon av tradisjonell båtbyggingsteknikk i utstillingen Viking Age Boat Builder, hvor besøkende får oppleve det UNESCO-verneverdige klinkbåt-håndverket på nært hold. Beate Kjørslevik
  • Original Viking boat from the Gokstad find with clinker-built planks on display at the Norwegian Maritime Museum.
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    Original vikingbåt fra Gokstadfunnet. Båten er et enestående eksempel på det UNESCO-verneverdige klinkbåt-håndverket som preget nordisk båtbygging i århundrer. Beate Kjørslevik

2. Coastal culture and archeological finds

Along the coast of Norway (which is one of the longest in the world) people and boats have been closely connected throughout history.

Discover this bond as you step into the Boat Hall and see the By Sea exhibition that tell the story of Norway's maritime and coastal heritage.

Here you can experience the largest collection of open traditional boats in Norway: 13 traditional 19th-century boats. Each boat reflects local tradition, unique design and craftmanship. 

Also in the Boat Hall, on the mezzanines, you can experience Maritime Oslo, which takes you back to Oslo in the 16th- and 17th-centuries, showcasing shipwrecks, and fascinating archaeological finds from the old Oslo harbor.

  • Traditional 19th-century Norwegian sailboats on display in the Boat Hall at the Norwegian Maritime Museum.
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    Båthallen i utstillingen "Sjøveien" på Norsk Maritimt Museum. Beate Kjørslevik
  • Detail of rigging and ropework on the Fembøring in the Boat Hall at the Norwegian Maritime Museum.
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    Riggdetaljer og tauverk på fembøringen, den største båten i samlingen i Båthallen på Norsk Maritimt Museum. Beate Kjørslevik

3. Explore stories from the sea

On the second floor in the main building, you can experience At Sea! - an exhibition about the people who went at sea, from the Viking Age to the present day.

From vikings and pirates to cooks and boatswains, the drama and everyday life at sea are brought to life through stories accompanied by personal effects, clothing, letters and diaries.

Also on the second floor, explore On Schedule: Ships and Ship Traffic, an exhibition that traces Norway's maritime transport history through texts and ship models.

You can also step aboard the preserved DS Sandnæs and see how people traveled between Sandnes and Bergen over 100 years ago.  

  • Exhibition wall with illustrations, text, and maritime objects in the At Sea! exhibition at the Norwegian Maritime Museum.
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    I utstillingen Til sjøs! på Norsk Maritimt Museum møter du mennesker som har hatt livet sitt på havet. Beate Kjørslevik
  • Model of a modern passenger ship in display case in the "On Schedule" exhibition at the Norwegian Maritime Museum.
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    Skipsmodeller i utstillingen "I rute" illustrerer utviklingen i norsk passasjer- og fergetrafikk. Beate Kjørslevik

4. Plunge in and explore the ocean

Explore the Ocean invites you into the wonders and challenges of the sea, from its mythical creatures and hidden marvels to pressing threats like plastic pollution. 

Dive into a world where you journey through 500 years of ocean history, from wind-powered ships to today’s quest for green solutions.

The exhibition engages your senses and emotions, trying to spark a deeper love for the ocean and an understanding of why we must protect it for generations to come.

  • Children walking under a large blue wave made of plastic in the Explore the Ocean exhibition at the Norwegian Maritime Museum.
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    Utstillingen Oppdag havet tar deg med på en visuell og sanselig reise gjennom havets mysterier, myter og miljøutfordringer. Metro Branding
  • Two children inside a submarine installation in the Explore the Ocean exhibition at the Norwegian Maritime Museum.
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    Here children can dive into an imaginative underwater world. Metro Branding

More things to do at the museum

  • Events and activities: Visiting today? Be sure to check out our Daily Program to see what is happening at the museum today!

  • Eat at Café FJORD: Visit our cosy café by the fjord and unwind with a delicious cup of coffee or something to eat.

  • Museum Shop: In the Museum Shop you'll find a wide range of gifts for all ages, inspired by the museum’s exhibitions.

  • Explore the outdoor area: Take a break outside among boats and sculptures right by the fjord at beautiful Bygdøynes.

Ready to visit the Norwegian Maritime Museum? Plan your visit today!