History Museums in Norway
Museums telling the story of Norway – from the Viking Age and the medieval kingdom through the union with Denmark, the Eidsvoll constitution of 1814 and independence in 1905 to the occupation years and the oil age.
Vestland (47)
Rogaland (40)
Innlandet (38)
Nordland (36)
Trøndelag (32)
Oslo (31)
Møre og Romsdal (28)
Akershus (26)
Finnmark (25)
Buskerud (24)
Troms (24)
Agder (20)
Østfold (18)
Telemark (18)
Vestfold (16)
Svalbard (4)
History Museums in Norway: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 427 history museums in Norway, spread across 16 counties and 283 towns and cities. Most of them are in Vestland (47), Rogaland (40), and Innlandet (38).
At the city level, Oslo (31), Bergen (17), and Trondheim (12) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several history museums in a single day.
18 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs NOK 120 at the median, and the middle half charge between NOK 100 and NOK 150.
58 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 146 offer dedicated programs for families, and 179 have a café or restaurant. These figures come from our ongoing research – museums whose details we haven’t verified yet aren’t included in the counts.
Top 10 history museums in Norway
The best-known history museums in Norway
Urnes stavkyrkjeHistory · Ornes
Akershus slott og festningCastles & Palaces · Oslo
Borgund stavkyrkjeHistory · Borgund
Det kongelige slottCastles & Palaces · Oslo
FrammuseetPeople · Oslo
Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og designArt · Oslo
Nobels FredssenterHistory · Oslo
Heddal stavkyrkjeHistory · Notodden
VikingtidsmuseetArchaeology · Oslo
Fantoft stavkyrkjeHistory · Bergen
History museums in Norway with free admission
Oscarsborg festningCastles & Palaces · Drøbak
Hadeland GlassverkTechnology · Jevnaker
NTNU VitenskapsmuseetNature · Trondheim
22. juli-senteretMemorial · Oslo
RjukanbanenTechnology · Miland
Norsk vegmuseumTechnology · Fåberg
BuekorpsmuseetHistory · Bergen
Royal and Ancient Polar Bear SocietyHistory · Hammerfest- Bøfjorden sjøbruksmuseumRegional · Bøfjorden
KiellandsenteretPeople · Stavanger
History museums in Norway with programs for families
- Urnes stavkyrkjeHistory · Ornes
- Akershus slott og festningCastles & Palaces · Oslo
- FrammuseetPeople · Oslo
- Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og designArt · Oslo
- Nobels FredssenterHistory · Oslo
Kon-Tiki MuseetPeople · Oslo
Norsk FolkemuseumOpen-air · Oslo
Universitetsmuseet i BergenNature · Bergen- Oscarsborg festningCastles & Palaces · Drøbak
MaihaugenOpen-air · Lillehammer
Wheelchair-accessible history museums in Norway
- Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og designArt · Oslo
- Kon-Tiki MuseetPeople · Oslo
- Universitetsmuseet i BergenNature · Bergen
Verdensarvsenter for bergkunst – Alta MuseumArchaeology · Alta
Norsk Maritimt MuseumTechnology · Oslo
Preus museumArt · Horten
Norges Olympiske MuseumHistory · Lillehammer
Norsk OljemuseumTechnology · Stavanger
Svalbard MuseumHistory · Longyearbyen
HvalfangstmuseetTechnology · Sandefjord
History museums in Norway with the highest published visitor numbers
By county
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many history museums are there in Norway?
Our directory currently lists 427 history museums in Norway across 283 towns and cities.
What are the best-known history museums in Norway?
Some of the best known are Urnes stavkyrkje, Akershus slott og festning, Borgund stavkyrkje, Det kongelige slott, and Frammuseet.
Which history museums in Norway offer free admission?
18 museums are free to visit – for example Oscarsborg festning, Hadeland Glassverk, NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet, and 22. juli-senteret.
Which history museums in Norway are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 54 are open, such as Frammuseet, Kon-Tiki Museet, and Verdensarvsenter for bergkunst – Alta Museum.
Which history museums in Norway are wheelchair accessible?
58 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og design, Kon-Tiki Museet, and Universitetsmuseet i Bergen. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit history museums in Norway?
A regular adult ticket costs NOK 120 at the median, with prices ranging from NOK 25 to NOK 400. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · Natural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Castles, Palaces & Monasteries · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums