About Historical Museum
The Historical Museum (Historisk Museum) is the University of Oslo’s museum of cultural history and one of Norway’s most treasure-filled institutions. Housed in a grand Art Nouveau building near the Royal Palace completed in 1902, the museum presents three main collections: Norwegian antiquities (including a world-class Viking Age gold collection), medieval church art from across Norway, and an ethnographic world cultures collection.
The Viking gallery is the museum’s most celebrated section. Showcasing spectacular gold jewellery, weapons, tools, and everyday objects from the Migration Period (400–600 AD) and Viking Age (800–1050 AD), the collection illuminates a world of extraordinary craft skill, long-distance trading connections, and cultural sophistication far exceeding the popular image of Vikings as mere raiders.
The medieval church art collection is equally impressive, housing carved wooden altarpieces, painted panels, sculptures, and religious objects removed from Norwegian churches during the Reformation. These works represent a remarkable survival of pre-Reformation Scandinavian religious art, displayed in atmospheric gallery spaces that recreate the hushed feeling of a medieval church interior.
What to See: Highlights
- Viking Age gold jewellery — among the world’s finest collections
- Migration Period gold neck rings and brooches
- Medieval church altarpieces and carved wooden sculpture
- Egyptian mummy collection
- Norse coin collection (one of Scandinavia’s largest)
- World ethnographic collection from five continents
- Beautiful 1902 Art Nouveau museum building
Skip the Queue — Buy Historical Museum Tickets in Advance
Booking online guarantees your entry and skips the ticket queue — especially important in summer and on weekends in Oslo.
Prices may vary. Booking fees may apply. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. DisclosureIs Historical Museum Included in the Oslo Pass?
✓ Yes — Historical Museum is included with the Oslo Pass, giving you free entry plus 30+ other Oslo attractions and unlimited public transport. At 160 NOK adult entry, the Oslo Pass pays for itself quickly when combined with other included museums.
🔑 Get the Oslo Pass — From 495 NOK/day Affiliate link. Commission earned at no extra cost to you. DisclosureVisitor Tips for Historical Museum
Don’t miss the Viking gold: The Migration Period gold collection on the ground floor is extraordinary. Allow 30–45 minutes here alone — the workmanship of the gold neck rings, brooches, and jewellery is breathtaking and quite unlike anything visible elsewhere in Oslo.
Look up in the medieval section: The towering wooden altarpieces and figure sculptures in the medieval church art galleries are among the most atmospheric museum spaces in Oslo. The lighting is deliberately subdued to recreate the ambience of a medieval church interior.
Combine with the National Museum: Both the Historical Museum and the National Museum are in the Tullinløkka area near the Royal Palace, approximately 10 minutes’ walk apart. Both are Oslo Pass inclusions, making this an excellent value half-day itinerary.
Guided Tours Including Historical Museum
- 🎧 Audio guide tours available on-site
- 👥 Small group tours (max 12 people)
- 🌟 Private guided experiences
- 🌎 Combined Oslo museum day tours
Getting to Historical Museum
The Historical Museum is centrally located near the Royal Palace and National Theatre (Nationaltheatret). The nearest metro station is Nationaltheatret (all lines stop here), approximately a 5-minute walk from the museum.
Several tram routes stop at Nationaltheatret (routes 12 and 13). Bus routes also serve the area. From the city centre via Karl Johans gate, it’s a 10-minute walk. All public transport is free with the Oslo Pass.
Best Hotels Near Historical Museum
Stay within easy reach and make the most of your Oslo museum visit. Check Booking.com for current rates and availability:
🏠 Find Hotels Near Historical Museum →Historical Museum: Frequently Asked Questions
The Historical Museum holds one of the world’s most spectacular collections of Viking Age and pre-Viking gold artefacts from Norway. Highlights include magnificent gold neck rings (torcs), elaborate gold brooches, arm rings, and pendants, many found in agricultural discoveries in the 19th and 20th centuries. The quantity and quality of gold demonstrates the wealth and long-distance trading connections of early medieval Norwegian society.
The Historical Museum specialises in historical artefacts — primarily Norwegian and world cultural objects from antiquity through the medieval period. The Munch Museum focuses on one artist’s work, while the National Museum covers art, architecture, and design from a broader chronological range. The Historical Museum is Oslo’s definitive museum for Viking and Norse history.
Yes — the Historical Museum holds a small genuine Egyptian collection including a mummified body from ancient Egypt within the world cultures collection. This is particularly popular with younger visitors.
Yes, the Historical Museum is fully included in the Oslo Pass.
Most visitors spend 1.5–2.5 hours. History enthusiasts wanting to thoroughly explore the Viking gold, medieval art, and ethnographic collections should plan for 3 hours.
