Norwegian version of this page

Museums at the University of Oslo

UiO owns and operates several museums where the public can explore unique exhibitions and witness research in action. The museums are important venues for both science communication and cultural heritage work.

Natural History Museum

The permanent exhibitions at the Natural History Museum cover 4,5 billion years of natural history. In addition, visitors can experience changing exhibitions on current topics such as climate and environment.

The museum consists of the zoological and geological exhibitions, the Botanical Garden and the Climate House, as well as extensive collections stored in warehouses.

The Natural History Museum is Norway's largest collection of natural science objects, with 7,7 million objects in total. Over 70 researchers work behind the scenes at the museum, studying biological and geological biodiversity.

Utstilling av dinosaurskjellett
Photo: Natural History Museum/Lars-Petter Pettersen

The geological exhibition reopened to the public in 2022 after seven years of renovation, and has since broken attendance records. The Natural History Museum was named 'Museum of the Year' in 2023.

Visit the Natural History Museum's website

Museum of Cultural History

The Museum of Cultural History is one of the largest cultural historical museums in Norway. It houses the country's most extensive archeological collection from prehistory to the Middle Ages, which includes the world's two best-preserved Viking helmets, a significant collection of Medieval ecclesiastical art and an antiquities collection from Mediterranean countries.

Religiøs kunst på museum
Photo: Museum of Cultural History

In addition, the museum boasts a significant ethnographic collection with objects from all continents.

Every year, the museum conducts archaeological excavations in order to try to uncover even more treasures that can tell us about the people of the past.

The Historical Museum is a part of the Museum of Cultural History at UiO

Visit the Historical Museum's website

Museum events

UiO's museums host  many different kinds of events that let youdelve into the exhibitions and all the fascinating questions they evoke.

See upcoming events at UiO's museums

Museum of the Viking Age (opens in 2026)

The excavated Viking ships from Oseberg, Gokstad and Tune are among Norway's most important cultural treasures. They are the world's best preserved Viking ships, with the Oseberg ship being the most impressive.

The Viking ships have been on public display for nearly 100 years. Attracting approximately 430,000 visitors annually, and the Viking Ship Museum has long held the distinction of being Norway's most visited museum.

The museum is currently closed, but the new Museum of the Viking Age is under construction and is scheduled to open in 2026. In addition to the ships, the exhibitions will include more than 8,000 other objects from the Viking Era.

Bilde av vikingskip i åpen sal på museum
Interior of the new Museum of the Viking Age. Illustration: Statsbygg

Visit the Museum of the Viking Age's website

See also

Published Dec. 18, 2012 4:19 PM - Last modified Jan. 30, 2024 7:48 AM