Oscarshall
Royal pleasure palace from 1852 on Bygdøy with national romantic interiors and a romantic park, open to the public in summer.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Oscarshall is a pleasure palace on Bygdøy in Oslo, built between 1847 and 1852 for King Oscar I. The king and Queen Joséphine were closely involved in the project. The palace was built as a private place for art, music and poetry, and the architect was Johan Henrik Nebelong.
The leading Norwegian artists of the day, among them Adolph Tidemand, Hans Gude, Joachim Frich, Hans Michelsen and Christopher Borch, produced works for the decoration of the rooms. The intensely blue vestibule with its rose window, the salon with carved figures inspired by Norway's Middle Ages and the dining room with paintings by Frich and Tidemand are among the best-known interiors. On the first floor, among other rooms, is the king's bedroom, and at the very top is the queen's apartment.
The park around the palace was laid out to Nebelong's plan, with winding paths that follow the terrain. The garden was restored in 2022–2023. In summer the palace is open to the public, and the park can be visited free of charge during opening hours.
Highlights
- National romantic interiors with paintings by Tidemand and Frich
- The ultramarine-blue vestibule with its rose window
- Romantic park with free admission
- Public guided tours at 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00
- Museum shop, ice cream and coffee in the lodge
Permanent exhibition
- Lystslottet og interiørene – Historic interiors from the 1850s with the vestibule, salon and dining room, decorated by leading Norwegian artists, and the king's and queen's rooms on the upper floors.
- Operated by
- Det kongelige hoff (De kongelige samlinger)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | NOK 140 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | NOK 70Students and children aged 6–17 |
| Children & teens | NOK 70free up to age 5 · Children aged 6–17: NOK 70; children aged 0–5 enter free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · A companion of a person with a disability does not need a ticket but must be able to show a companion card. |
| Students & apprentices | NOK 70 |
| Groups | –Private groups of up to 25 people: NOK 3,500 per group. |
| Families | NOK 350Family ticket for two adults and up to five children. |
Prices for the 2026 season. Tickets are bought in advance via Ticketmaster, and some tickets are sold on site in the lodge. The park and purchases of ice cream and coffee do not require a ticket.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The salon and dining room on the ground floor are accessible, but the main building has no lift for reasons of heritage protection, so the first floor is difficult to reach. Wheelchair users can reach the terrace. The park has many steps, but it is possible to follow the coastal path and enter the park from the sea side. Staff are happy to help on stairs, and folding chairs are available. An accessible toilet is located on the lower floor; contact a member of staff for access.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bygdø Kongsgård
Bus 30 to the Bygdø Kongsgård or Norsk Folkemuseum stop, then a few minutes' walk. Bygdøy ferry to Dronningen.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
Parking at the palace is not possible. Public car parks are at the turn-off to Oscarshallveien and at Norsk Folkemuseum, a few hundred metres away. There are two spaces for cars with a disabled parking permit at the palace; please notify in advance on +47 941 83 617.
- Accessible parking
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum shop in the lodge with souvenirs, books and postcards. During the season, mineral water, coffee and ice cream are sold. Public toilets are in the lodge.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Photography | Photography is allowed both in the park and in the interiors. |
| Good to know | Public guided tours of the palace at 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00. Visitors can also explore the rooms on the ground and first floors on their own, and guides are present to answer questions. Mobile phones must be silent inside the palace, and food and drink may not be brought in. |
