Oslo · Aker Brygge & Tjuvholmen

Vikingskipshuset

Museum

About Vikingskipshuset

The Viking Ship Museum houses three genuine 9th-century burial ships discovered in Norwegian fjords, including the spectacular Oseberg ship with its intricate wood carvings and the sturdy Gokstad vessel. These aren't replicas or fragments: you're looking at actual ships that carried Viking chieftains to their final rest over 1,000 years ago. The artifacts buried alongside them, from ornate sleighs to everyday tools, paint the most complete picture you'll find anywhere of how Vikings actually lived and died.

Right now though, you can't visit at all. The museum closed in 2019 for a massive renovation that won't finish until at least 2026, possibly later. The ships are being painstakingly conserved in climate-controlled storage while architects build a completely new museum around them. When it reopens, the space will be three times larger with interactive displays and better lighting, but for now the site sits empty behind construction barriers.

Honestly, this closure is a huge loss for Oslo tourism, and the timeline keeps slipping. The old museum was cramped and poorly lit, sure, but seeing those ships up close was genuinely breathtaking. Your best alternative is the Museum of Cultural History at the University of Oslo, which has an excellent Viking collection including weapons, jewelry, and household items. It's not the same impact as standing next to a full ship, but it's what we've got until this renovation finally finishes.

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The place

Getting there

Address

Huk Aveny 35, 0287 Oslo, Norway

Neighborhood

Aker Brygge & Tjuvholmen →

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Good to know

Tips, answered

Head to the Museum of Cultural History's Viking Age exhibition on the second floor instead, it's open year-round and costs 100 NOK for adults

Check the Norwegian Maritime Museum next door, which often gets overlooked but has fascinating boat-building exhibits and costs only 120 NOK

Follow @khm_uio on social media for updates on temporary Viking exhibitions around Oslo while the main museum stays closed

Plan for about 1h 15m.

Vikingskipshuset is in the Aker Brygge & Tjuvholmen neighborhood of Oslo. The address is Huk Aveny 35, 0287 Oslo, Norway. The area is well-served by metro.

This works well at any time of day, though mornings tend to be quieter. Weekdays are less crowded than weekends.

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