What to do and see in Norway, Norway: The Best History Museums

The 22 July Centre is a learning centre that works with the mediation of memory and knowledge about the terror attacks in Oslo and on Utøya on the 22nd of July 2011. The centre’s educational programme invites school pupils and teachers into the discourse about the 22nd of July and encourages active participation in the negotiation of the attack’s significance both at present, and in the future. Our website is developed with a particular focus on digital resource material, as an offer to schools to strengthen education on the topic of the 22nd of July and related topics. 22 July Centre opened in a temporary location at Teatergata 10 on 27nd of June 2020.

Gammelbutikken (The old store) was built sometime in the 1870’s as a general store with all types of goods like food, equipment, clothes, fishing gear and whatever else that was needed in a fishing village on Senja. In addition to being a general store it also functioned as office for the local fish landing factory and shipping agent. The second floor was used as accommodation for fishermen seeking shelter and somewhere to sleep. Today’s furnishing are the originals from 1925 and the store today appears much the same as it did a long time ago. Gammelbutikken today is a combination of museum, souvenir shop and cafe serving baked goods, coffee, drinks, ice cream and old fashioned candy. Variety of handcrafted goods from local Senja artists. Open Summer 2019 from June 25. – Aug 28. And on request. Can be booked for private events.

Come face to face with some of the world's greatest Viking treasures! Experience the best-preserved Viking Ships in the world and unique burial artefacts from boat graves around the Oslo Fjord. These ships have been on voyages of the sea before they became the final resting place for their wealthy owners. Here you will see incredible woodcarvings, mysterious skeleton remains and an immersive film that takes you into the Viking era. This is a museum experience out of the ordinary. Two Museums for the price of one! With a ticket to the Viking Ship Museum, you also get a free pass to the Historical Museum within 48 hours. Closed: 24-26 December; 31 December; 1 January.

Visit The Kon-Tiki Museum and be inspired by Thor Heyerdahl! See the original balsa wood raft from 1947 and the Oscar-winning film from 1951! The museum houses original boats and artifacts from Thor Heyerdahl's world-famous expeditions such as the original Kon-Tiki balsa raft which crossed the Pacific Ocean in 1947 and the original reed boat Ra II which crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1970. Both exhibitions have separate children storylines. The Kon-Tiki Museum also houses one of the most comprehensive exhibitions about Easter Island in the world, including a replica of a family cave from Easter Island. Underneath the Kon-Tiki raft is a special underwater exhibit that is fun for kids. Cinema screening the original Kon-Tiki documentary movie (Oscar for best documentary in 1951) every day at 12:00. Great museum shop. Free with Oslo Pass. A must when visiting Oslo!

Maihaugen offers activities and experiences for the whole family. Enjoy the idyllic surroundings and experience life like in the old days. The museum has more than 200 historic houses from as far back as the 13th Century to homes of the different decades of the 1900s, including Queen Sonja’s childhood home. Grazing animals in the open-air museum. All year you can look into historical houses and visit great exhibitions, the museum shop and café. Don't miss our popular Christmas Market in November/December.

Norsk Folkemuseum shows how people lived in Norway from 1500 to the present through its collections from around the country. Among the highlights are the Stave Church from Gol, dating from 1200 and an apartment building with homes from the 20th Century. 160 historic buildings in the big Open-Air Museum represent different regions in Norway, different time periods, as well as differences between town and country, and social classes. Indoor exhibits present Norwegian heritage. The museum has a comprehensive activity program and is open all year.

Open air museum with more than 80 buildings from Trondheim and the Trondelag area. Beautiful surroundings, and from the ruins of King Sverre's Castle you have a wonderful view over the city and the fjord. The impressive main exhibition Livsbilder, Images of Life, in the public building reflects childhood, youth, adulthood and age in the region during the past century. The rural section shows the development in Trondelag buidling styles from the fjord to the mountains, and how people lived in the 18th and 19th centuries in the different country areas.

Welcome to Kristiansand Kannmuseum where the worlds second largest land based canon can be seen. The area around the canon is good for hiking. Please see website for opening hours. We are now closed for the season.

Here you will find the ruins of the medieval cathedral and the bishop's residence from the 13th Century on the beautiful Museum grounds on the outskirts of Hamar. The museum is comprised of archaeological exhibitions, a botanical garden and an outdoor museum with about 60 buildings from around Hedemarken County. The cathedral ruins are protected by a much-discussed protective structure in glass and steel, called the Hamar Dome, which is an attraction in itself. Open every day in summer season. Groups all year when booked in forehand.