The Vikingskipshuset, the Viking Ship Museum on Bygdøy, was one of Oslo's most visited attractions for decades. It housed three remarkably well-preserved Viking ships: the Oseberg ship from around 820 AD, the Gokstad ship from around 890 AD, and the smaller Tune ship. All three were burial vessels found in royal grave mounds around the Oslofjord in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Oseberg ship in particular, with its intricately carved prow, is considered one of the finest surviving examples of Viking craftsmanship anywhere in the world.
The museum is currently closed for a massive expansion and transformation into the new Museum of the Viking Age. The old building, designed by Arnstein Arneberg and opened in 1926, was too small and lacked modern climate control to properly preserve the fragile wooden ships. The new museum, designed by the Danish firm AART architects, will be roughly three times larger and include new exhibition spaces, conservation facilities and a visitor centre. It is expected to reopen around 2027 or 2028.
When it reopens, it will almost certainly become one of Oslo's top attractions again. The Viking ships are national treasures of the highest order, and the new museum is being built specifically to give them the setting they deserve. Check the museum website for the latest reopening timeline before planning a visit.
The museum is currently closed for a massive expansion and transformation into the new Museum of the Viking Age. The old building, designed by Arnstein Arneberg and opened in 1926, was too small and lacked modern climate control to properly preserve the fragile wooden ships. The new museum, designed by the Danish firm AART architects, will be roughly three times larger and include new exhibition spaces, conservation facilities and a visitor centre. It is expected to reopen around 2027 or 2028.
When it reopens, it will almost certainly become one of Oslo's top attractions again. The Viking ships are national treasures of the highest order, and the new museum is being built specifically to give them the setting they deserve. Check the museum website for the latest reopening timeline before planning a visit.