Admiring art in the Munch Museum in Oslo.
When we first headed to Oslo, we didn’t think that art would be the main highlight of the Norwegian capital.
The unique minimalism architecture is sublime.
However, a trip to the Munch Museum should be a priority on your Oslo itinerary.
An immaculate building with 13 floors of art, and a trendy sky bar at the top makes it a great place to spend a few hours.
With different activities on each floor of the Museum, it is a fun experience, and a great introduction into one of Norway’s finest ever artists.
This blog details how you can visit Munch Museum, with practical details and original photos.
Keep reading to find out the story behind Edvard Munch, and a glimpse of the original Scream painting.
Some unique architecture.
How to visit the Munch Museum.
When you arrive in the Norwegian capital you will realise that it is a very compact and walkable city.
Munch Museum is right by the port area and Opera House, so very easy to visit.
Munch Museum’s exact location is at Tøyen, Oslo, with the official address being: Edvard Munch's Plass 1, 0194 Oslo.
How to get to the Museum for first time visitors:
Public Transport.
You can easily reach the museum by taking the Oslo Metro (T-bane) line 5 from Oslo Central Station and get off at Tøyen Station (about 3 stops), with the museum being a short walk from the metro station.
Trams.
Tram lines 17, 18, 19, and 20 stop near the museum.
Walking.
The museum is a 20-minute walk from central Oslo and its main attractions, making it easily accessible if you enjoy walking around the city.
Munch Museum Opening Hours.
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM - Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.
10:00 AM to 9:00 PM - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
The entrance to Munch Museum.
Munch Museum tickets prices.
Adults: 180 NOK (£13).
Under 25: 100 NOK (£7).
Kids 0-17: Free.
Special Exhibitions and Events at Munch Museum.
The Munch Museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions and special events, such as workshops or educational activities, which can have an impact on opening hours.
It's worth checking the museum's website for these opportunities/disruptions during your visit.
The Munch Museum is wheelchair accessible and provides assistance for visitors with reduced mobility, with elevators and ramps available all the way to the top floor.
Enjoying the vibes in Oslo.
The Museum Experience.
As with the rest of Oslo, the Museum offers a spacious and relaxed ambience for visitors.
The museum has built its experience around Edvard Munches’ work being unfinished, allowing modern day influence on the narrative of the masterpieces.
Munch Museum houses a large collection of Edvard’s works, including paintings, sketches, prints, and personal artefacts.
My main highlight was The Scream, but other notable paintings include The Sick Child, and The Madonna.
You’ll also find rotating exhibitions of contemporary art, as Munch’s influence continues to inspire artists today.
Each floor is designed in a different way, with a unique theme on each one.
The 12 different themes:
Alone.
To die.
The Scream.
Love.
Gender.
Outdoors.
Naked.
Others.
Oneself.
In Motion.
On the Surface.
Variations.
Exhibition details.
Information board about Edvard Munch.
You should allow at least 1.5 to 2 hours to fully explore the museum, especially if you want to take your time with the exhibitions, and spend a little time in the cinema room, watching the short films.
A weird piece of art.
13 floors of art.
The Munch Museum in Oslo only reopened in a stunning new location in 2021, which spans 13 floors of galleries and exhibitions.
Prior to his death in 1940, Edvard Munch donated much of his work to the city of Oslo, and it has managed to fill 13 floors, which offers modern day visitors a comprehensive exploration of his life and work.
Floors 1 - 3.
Some human emotions, relationships, and existential themes are the main focus on the first few floors of Munch Museum.
I learned about some of his personal life and upbringing through his work on these floors.
If you are observant during the beginning of your tour of the museum, you will gain some understanding of the artist’s influence.
A room full of beautiful art.
Floors 4-7.
After your introduction to Edvard’s work, the next three floors will take you on a tour around some of his most iconic pieces, including ‘The Scream’ and ‘Madonna’, along with some of his varied artwork.
One feature which I noticed with his artwork is a vast array of colour, which brings the pictures to life!
On the seventh floor, the museum houses the ‘Shadows’ exhibition, which invites us to step into the artist’s domestic environment, creating a unique opportunity to learn more about his professional life, and his time living in Ekely (just outside of Oslo), where he spent the last thirty years of his life.
Another great piece.
Floor 8-13.
The upper levels of the museum explore Edvard’s development through different phases of his career, from early works to his involvement with modernist movements.
You can see how his legacy lives on through the modern creatives.
Munch museum also displays his rare short films and personal photographs, offering a deeper understanding of the artist's vision and struggles
A busy room.
History and Cultural Significance of the Munch Museum.
The Munch Museum was established in 1963 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Edvard Munch’s birth, nearly two decades after his death, when he left all of his work to the city of Oslo.
With other 25,000 original pieces of art, it has been a challenge to showcase his work and preserve his legacy, however, in today’s world, the modern Munch premises is a cornerstone of Norwegian culture and an important global repository of modern art.
As soon as I entered the site I could feel the culture of the place, which is embodied by every inch of the building, and every staff member who made it a fun experience to explore.
Norwegian culture and landscapes were often the theme and centrepiece of many of Edvard’s works, as he tried to put Norway on the global map through art.
Munches’ creativity has inspired many modern artists, with contemporary art and exhibitions also on display.
One of Edvard’s famous quote displayed in the Museum.
The preservation efforts of Munch Museum.
With Edvard Munch's art being one of the cultural focal points of the Norwegian capital, the museum is working hard to ensure that his beautiful work is preserved for future generations to enjoy.
After his abundance of work was donated to Oslo some decades ago, it was stored in sub-optimal locations for a while, which had an adverse effect on some of the intricacies of the paintings.
As Edvard had such a unique way of creating his work, along with his unconventional use of certain materials has contributed to some challenges in the modern art world.
Before any piece of art is approved to be displayed in the Munch Museum, it has to go through an assessment, and be approved by the department of conservation on site.
Although the Norwegian people know that there has to be an expiry date on Edvard’s work at some point in the future, they feel as though these Museum techniques will allow us all to enjoy the work a little longer!
Climate Control.
The temperature and humidity levels are constantly monitored and controlled on site to prevent the deterioration of delicate materials.
Light Management.
Munch’s watercolour works are also very sensitive to light, therefore, certain exhibits are lit with low-UV LED lighting, to try and minimise fading and degradation caused by UV and infrared radiation.
Digitisation.
We noticed many of the famous pieces have now been digitised, so the museum can display them, even when giving the originals a recovery break.
The awesome museum just across the river.
An iconic globally acclaimed painting.
The biggest draw to the museum for visitors from all over the globe is the ‘Scream’ painting.
You have to wait until you reach the fourth floor to enjoy this masterpiece, which is said to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds, however, it is also thought of as a priceless cultural treasure of Norway.
Once you arrive on the fourth floor and notice the crowds gathering, it may not be all that it seems, as there are actually three different displays of the Scream design on site.
A painting, a drawing, and a print all rotate on the exhibition every 30 minutes to protect their fragility.
This is also one of the tightened security measures which was implemented after a 2004 theft occurred in the previous museum, when the 1910 tempera-on-cardboard version of The Scream was stolen, before later being recovered.
The iconic ‘Scream’ painting.
Some prior planning can make your day run smoother, if you specifically want to view the original painting.
Some nights, the museum is known to put the painting away for the day up to an hour prior to closing time.
Crowds are always gathered around the Scream.
Guided tours.
I enjoyed exploring the museum of my own accord, as it is so vast, I wanted to enjoy it all at my own pace, however, there are different opportunities to explore the museum as part of a guided tour, or with commentary of the different floors.
You can rent an audio guide at the museum, which provides insightful commentary on the different artwork.
There are also guided tours available in multiple languages, including English.
Check the schedule and book in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons.
There are occasionally free tours - when we visited, the museum's schedule was offering free tours on Mondays, with each tour being unique, shaped by the museum's current programme.
One of the daily group tours.
Paint your own Munch masterpiece.
My favourite floor in the museum is the one which interacts with visitors the most, by offering the chance to create your own piece of frottage art.
Frottage involves creating rubbings of textured surfaces, and visitors can experiment with the technique, aligning with the museum's emphasis on hands-on artistic exploration.
It is fair to say my art wasn’t of the levels of Edvard Munch, but it was a fun experience anyway!
A message to modern day creatives.
Awesome views of Oslo from the skybar.
Enjoying a drink in the beautiful rooftop bar rounds off a great couple of hours in the Munch Museum.
The views of the Norwegian capital are awesome!
Bistro Tolvte.
On the Museum’s 12th floor there is a restaurant called ‘Bistro Tolvte’, which offers lunch and dinner through the day, along with drinks and snacks. It is open every day except Sunday, and its menu offers a wide range of food options.
Kranen Bar.
The bar is located on the 13th floor and can be reached by using the glass elevator by the restaurant.
You can enjoy beers, cocktails, or soft drinks with a unique chilled ambiance.
The outdoor seating terrace offers a fantastic view of Bjørvika.
Incredible views from the sky bar on the top floor of the Museum.
What else to do in Oslo.
You only need a couple of days to see most of the highlights on an Oslo itinerary, however, even though the Norwegian capital isn’t as busy as some European cities, I found it to be very unique with its offerings.
Here are the activities which I enjoyed the most:
History:
Akershus Fortress.
The 700 year old fortress holds a pivotal place in Norwegian history and is regarded as a symbol of national defence and resilience. It is free to wander around its grounds, and you can explore inside for a small fee.
Fram Museum.
A unique museum which was opened in 1936 and showcases the polar exploration ship Fram travelled farthest both north and south during its expeditions. The building was built around the original Fram ship, and visitors can explore the ship.
Culture:
Floating Saunas.
The alternation between sauna heat and cold water plunges is a common ritual in the Norwegian capital, with popular floating saunas such as ‘KOK Oslo’ offering the experience with beautiful views of the Oslofjord.
Natural Beauty:
Fjord cruises.
Fjord cruises showcase the unspoiled beauty of the Oslofjord, which the locals take very seriously. The cruise offered us a glimpse into how waterways shaped Norwegian settlements and maritime culture.
We passed small fishing villages and historic landmarks.
You may not fit all of the above activities in, and even if you don’t, it is awesome just exploring and enjoying the Scandinavian way of life.
Similar to when I visited Gothenburg, I really enjoyed sitting in a local spot with a coffee, just observing daily life in the Norwegian capital.
A themed bar in Oslo.
Some other quirky spots in Europe.
If you love visiting quirky spots during your travels, then here are another two awesome places you should also head to.
The famous Dead Chicken Alley in Berlin is an awesome street art spot in the German capital, which can be enjoyed through the day or night. There is also history in the alley, with the Anne Frank and Otto Weidt Museums offering visitors a fun way of learning about the city’s turbulent past.
Another timeless artist was the late Friedensreich Hundertwasser, who was renowned for his vibrant paintings and unique architectural designs.
The colourful Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna is an awesome free spot to visit, to admire the beautiful, but weird building, and to grab a souvenir or two.
Dead Chicken Alley in Berlin.
Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna.
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