Munch Museum

About the Munch Museum

The Munch Museum (Munchmuseet) is without doubt one of Oslo's most extraordinary cultural destinations and a must on any serious museum itinerary. Opened in October 2021 in a dramatic 13-storey cantilevered tower in the Bjørvika waterfront district, the museum represents a defining statement about Oslo's ambition as a world-class cultural capital.

The museum holds a staggering collection — over 26,000 works donated by Edvard Munch himself upon his death in 1944. These include approximately 1,150 paintings, 18,000 prints, 4,500 drawings and watercolours, and thousands of letters, diary entries, books, and personal items. It is simply the world's most comprehensive collection of works by a single artist, and it tells a fascinatingly complete story of Munch's extraordinary life and creative genius.

Unlike many single-artist museums, the Munch Museum is genuinely vast in its scope. The building's 13 floors — including exhibition galleries, a cinema, a research library, a rooftop restaurant, and a public observation terrace — ensure that a single visit can easily fill half a day without revisiting the same space twice. The rooftop terrace alone, offering panoramic views of the Oslo Fjord, the Opera House, and the medieval Akershus Fortress, is worth the ticket price.

The museum sits in the heart of the Fjord City (Fjordbyen) urban development project, which has transformed Oslo's formerly industrial waterfront into a vibrant cultural district. You can walk from the nearby Oslo Opera House along the water's edge to the museum in about 10 minutes, making the visit part of a broader Oslo waterfront experience.

What to See: Highlights

• The Scream (multiple versions) — Munch made four versions of this iconic image. The museum holds three of them, including two rarely seen studies.
• Madonna (1894–95) — One of Munch's most celebrated works, combining sensuality with existential anxiety.
• The Sick Child (1885) — A profoundly personal work mourning Munch's sister Sophie, who died of tuberculosis aged 15.
• Self-portraits — Munch obsessively documented himself across decades; the museum holds a comprehensive self-portrait timeline.
• Rooftop terrace views — 360° views over Oslo Fjord, the Opera House, and city skyline from the 13th floor.
• Rotating international exhibitions — Major temporary shows typically run alongside the permanent collection.
• The Munch Archive — Letters, diaries, and documents reveal the artist's turbulent inner world.

Insider Tips for Your Visit

Book timed entry online: The Munch Museum operates a timed-entry ticketing system. While walk-ins are sometimes available, purchasing your ticket online guarantees your preferred time slot and lets you skip the queue — particularly important in summer (June–August) and on Saturday afternoons.

Give yourself at least 2–3 hours: The museum's permanent collection alone spans multiple floors. Add a temporary exhibition and lunch on the top floor, and you could easily spend a full half-day. Don't rush the highlights on the lower floors — the print and drawing galleries on the upper levels are genuinely extraordinary and often less crowded.

Visit on a weekday morning: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings (10:00–12:00) tend to be the quietest. Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings are typically the busiest periods. Thursday evening (until 21:00) offers a lovely late-visit option with reduced crowds.

Start at the top and work down: Take the lift to the highest gallery level first, visit the permanent collection chronologically as you descend, and finish with the ground-floor temporary exhibitions. This allows the rooftop terrace to be your first stop on a clear day when visibility is best.

The rooftop restaurant: Hovering over Oslo Fjord, the rooftop restaurant (Maaemo is the associated name) serves seasonal Norwegian cuisine. Reservations are recommended for dinner. The bar area is accessible without a dining reservation.

Getting to the Munch Museum

The Munch Museum is superbly located in Bjørvika, Oslo's waterfront district. Getting there is straightforward from any point in the city:

By public transport: Take Metro (T-bane) lines 2 or 3 to Bjørvika station, a one-minute walk from the museum entrance. The station sits right in front of the building. From Oslo Central Station (Oslo S), it's a pleasant 10–15 minute walk along the waterfront, passing the Oslo Opera House.

On foot from the city centre: Walk east along the waterfront from Aker Brygge (approximately 25 minutes), or head east from Oslo S along the Opera House promenade (10 minutes). Both are genuinely scenic walks.

By bus: Several bus lines stop near the museum. Bus routes 37 and 60 have stops on Schweigaards gate, about a 5-minute walk away.

With the Oslo Pass: All public transport — metro, tram, bus, and ferry — is included. Simply tap your Oslo Pass card on the reader.