Museums in Norway
A guide to 53 Museums in Norway — with descriptions, photos and traveler visits from the NextOnTrip community. Locations spread across 32 cities and towns. Most visited by the community: Ringve Museum, Kystmuseet Hvaler, Hordamuseet.
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Preus Museum
Horten
Preus Museum in Horten is Norway's national museum of photography. It sits within the former naval base area of Karljohansvern, in a historic building that began life as a grain store and was converted into exhibition space. What is the Preus Museum? It is a state institution that approaches photography from three angles: artistic, cultural-historical and technical. The collections hold photographs, but also photographic equipment and books. That mix shows photography as art, as a history of technology, and as a record of everyday life. Where did the museum come from? It started with one person's passion. Leif Preus opened a photography shop in 1956, and the business grew large enough to fund further acquisitions. The collection he built became the foundation of the Preus Photo Museum, which he opened in 1976 in Horten, on Langgata street. The next turning point came in the mid-1990s. The state bought the collections from the private museum, in 1994 according to some sources and 1995 according to others. From then on the institution had national status. After the takeover it was for a time known as Norsk museum for fotografi, and the Preus Museum name returned in 2005 as part of a wider renewal. About the building The museum stands in Karljohansvern, Horten. The building, originally a grain store for the Royal Norwegian Navy, dates to the 1860s. In 2001 it was adapted for museum use by architect Sverre Fehn. It is a good example of giving a new role to historic military-era architecture. Who should visit? Photography lovers who want to see how cameras and image-making techniques evolved. Anyone curious about Norwegian history seen through photographers' eyes. Architecture fans interested in the reuse of industrial and naval buildings. Travellers exploring Horten and the Oslofjord area who want something off the usual trail. Frequently asked questions Is the Preus Museum a national museum? Yes, it is Norway's national museum of photography. The state took over the collection from the private museum in the mid-1990s. Who was Leif Preus? A collector and businessman in the photography trade. He founded the shop in 1956 and opened the first museum in 1976. What is in the collections? Photographs, photographic equipment and books, covering art, cultural history and technology. Who designed the building's conversion? Architect Sverre Fehn, who adapted the former storehouse for museum use in 2001. Why did the name change? After the state takeover the institution used the name Norsk museum for fotografi. The Preus Museum name was reintroduced in 2005 with the museum's renewal. Before visiting, check the museum's official website for current opening hours and exhibitions.
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Lepramuseet
Bergen
Lepramuseet (the Leprosy Museum) in Bergen occupies the former St. Jørgen's Hospital. It tells the story of a disease that frightened people for centuries and of the Bergen doctor who found its cause. It is a small but distinctive museum of medical history on Norway's west coast. What is Lepramuseet? The museum sits inside the historic St. Jørgen's Hospital complex (St. Jørgens Hospital). A hospital has stood on this spot in Bergen since the 15th century, and for a long time it cared for people with leprosy. Fires destroyed the medieval buildings, and the structures you see today date from the 18th century and are protected as listed buildings. It is part of Bergen's city museum, Bymuseet i Bergen. Why leprosy in Bergen? Between 1850 and 1900 the city had three hospitals for leprosy patients, and Bergen had one of the largest concentrations of such patients in Europe at the time. Research carried out here ended up mattering far beyond Norway. Armauer Hansen and the 1873 discovery The site is closely tied to Gerhard Armauer Hansen, a Bergen physician. In 1873 he identified the bacterium that causes leprosy, one of the first findings to show that a microorganism could cause chronic disease in humans. The illness is still sometimes called Hansen's disease in his honor. According to the University of Bergen, Hansen worked at St. Jørgen's Hospital from 1868. What you will see The hospital church and the main ward building survive, and they have changed little since the last residents left in 1946. That gives a visit a real sense of the old institution rather than just a row of display cases. The exhibition covers patients' lives, their care and the history of leprosy research. Some visitors describe the display as modest, with relatively few objects, so it works best as a short, atmospheric stop rather than an all-day plan. Frequently asked questions Where is Lepramuseet? In central Bergen, western Norway, at the former St. Jørgen's Hospital. Is it a large museum? No, it is compact. The historic complex and its story are the main draw. Who is it for? Anyone interested in medical history, old hospital care and offbeat sights in Bergen. When did the hospital operate? Since the 15th century, with the last patients leaving in 1946. Can I combine it with other sights? Yes. It complements a Bergen city visit well, especially for travelers looking for less obvious but important history. Check opening hours and ticket prices on the museum's website before you go, as they vary by season.
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Hordamuseet
Bergen
Hordamuseet is an open-air folk museum in the Fana district of Bergen, set at Stend beside the Fana fjord. It belongs to Bymuseet i Bergen, the Bergen City Museum, and presents the traditional coastal culture of Hordaland through historic buildings, wooden boats and traces of very early settlement. What can you see at Hordamuseet? The outdoor section holds about thirty historic buildings. Gathered in one place, they show how people built and lived along Norway's west coast, and they include farm buildings and boathouses. Walking between them gives a good sense of everyday life for farmers and fishing families centuries ago. A separate group of nine buildings relates to summer mountain farming. They stand on the Fanafjellet hills, close to the highest point of the road over the mountain, and illustrate the old custom of taking livestock up to high pastures for the summer season. Boats and the boat hall A major draw is the boat hall, opened in 2013, which displays traditional clinker-built wooden boats. A boat shelter presents 26 vessels, making the museum a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in maritime heritage. Archaeology on the grounds The Stend area also has an archaeological side. The site includes burial mounds, a large stone circle and traces of a long boathouse from Roman times. The foundation of an Iron Age boathouse and other remains suggest that people have settled here for around 10,000 years. A short history The museum was founded in 1945 as Hordaland Landbruksmuseum, the Hordaland Agricultural Museum. It was renamed Hordamuseet in 1969 and became part of Bymuseet i Bergen in 2007. How do you get to Hordamuseet? The address is Hordnesveien 24, Bergen. By car it takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes from the city centre. By public transport, take the Bergen light rail to Lagunen, then bus 61, 62 or 64 to Stend. Frequently asked questions Is Hordamuseet an outdoor museum? Yes, it is mainly an open-air museum with about thirty buildings, complemented by a museum building and boat exhibitions. Is there a cafe on site? Yes, there is a cafe and a museum shop. Groups can book guided tours. Is the museum open? The official Bymuseet and visitBergen pages describe the outdoor area as open during the season, but one travel-site listing mentions a temporary closure. Check the Bymuseet website before you go. Who is it for? Anyone who enjoys history, vernacular architecture, boats and archaeology, as well as families looking for a calm trip outside central Bergen, by the Fana fjord.
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Kystmuseet Hvaler
Hvaler
Kystmuseet Hvaler is a coastal culture museum on the island of Spjærøy in the Hvaler archipelago, in Norway's Østfold county. It is part of Østfoldmuseene and occupies the former farm of Nordgården Dypedal at Dypedalsveien 37. This open-air museum sits among the islands and skerries and shows what everyday life was like for ordinary people in this corner of south-eastern Norway. What can you see at Kystmuseet Hvaler? The main exhibition is called "Skjærgårdsliv", or "life in the archipelago". It covers the years 1850 to 1950 and brings the daily routines of Hvaler's residents to life. You will find fishing gear, stonecutters' tools and period furniture that help you picture the homes and workplaces of the time. Fishing and work in stone long supported the island communities, and the exhibition presents both through the objects and people behind them. A second part of the offer is "Hogd i granitt" ("Hewn in granite"), shown at a protected quarry at Skjeldsbosundet. It deals with granite extraction, an industry that shaped the history of Hvaler. The museum also hosts "Velkommen om bord!" ("Welcome on board!"), an exhibition about Hvaler sailors in which the seafarers themselves tell the story. It gives visitors a personal view of life at sea. Is it a good place for families? Yes. A garden at the museum lets children play freely. They can try stilts and swings, and among the trees there is a hen house and miniature houses. A visit is therefore more than looking at objects behind glass. How did the museum begin? The museum grew out of a collection of objects gathered by Hvaler Kulturvernforening, a heritage society founded in 1971. The collection was placed at Nordgården on Spjærøy and shown under the name Kystmuseet Hvaler. Over time the museum became part of Østfoldmuseene. Frequently asked questions Where is Kystmuseet Hvaler? On the island of Spjærøy in Hvaler municipality, Østfold, at Dypedalsveien 37. Who runs the museum? Østfoldmuseene, the regional museum group for Østfold county. Which exhibitions are there? "Skjærgårdsliv" (archipelago life, 1850-1950), "Hogd i granitt" at the quarry in Skjeldsbosundet, and "Velkommen om bord!" about Hvaler sailors. When is it open? Sources differ: the museum runs in the summer season and out of season usually by appointment. Check the current hours at ostfoldmuseene.no before you go. Is there anything for children? Yes, a garden with stilts, swings, a hen house and miniature houses. Practical tips Hvaler is an island group, so plan your day around travelling by car and confirm opening hours in advance. The museum combines well with a walk in the surroundings and a visit to the quarry at Skjeldsbosundet, where the granite exhibition is shown. Together they explain how the people of the archipelago made a living and how the sea and the rock shaped their lives.
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Ringve Museum
Trondheim
Ringve Museum in Trondheim is Norway's national museum of music and musical instruments. It occupies a historic estate on the Lade peninsula in the north-east of the city, and combines collections from around the world with a large park and botanical garden. What is Ringve Museum? It is the country's leading institution for the history of music and instrument making. The collection spans many cultures and eras, from folk instruments to salon and concert pieces. Depending on the source, it holds roughly 1,500 to more than 2,000 instruments. The museum also keeps a vast sheet music archive (over 25,000 prints), a photograph collection and a sound archive with pianola rolls, polyphon discs and phonograph cylinders. How did the museum come about? Ringve was one of the old manors on the Lade peninsula. The first house on the site dates to 1521, while the present group of buildings goes back to the 1740s. The estate is tied to the childhood of Peter Wessel Tordenskjold, the famed Norwegian naval hero, whose father, Councillor Jan Wessel, owned the property. In 1919 Christian Anker Bachke bought the estate. His wife, the Russian-born émigré artist Victoria Bachke, built up a private instrument collection that became the foundation of the museum, which opened to the public in 1952. What to see on site A visit has two main parts. The exhibition in the former barn is open all year. The historic manor house is explored on guided tours in the summer season, so check current opening times before you go. Guides often demonstrate instruments, which makes the visit as much about listening as looking at display cases. Ringve Botanical Garden Next to the museum lies a botanical garden of about 13 hectares, established by the university in 1973. It is run by NTNU's university museum, and its living plant collections serve research, education and the conservation of endangered species. Highlights include an arboretum of forest trees and shrubs from the Northern Hemisphere, a systematic garden showing the evolutionary lines of flowering plants, and the Historic Park, a 19th-century landscape garden. The garden is free and open at all times. Frequently asked questions Is Ringve Museum a national museum? Yes, it is regarded as Norway's national museum for music and musical instruments. When did the museum open? It opened to the public in 1952, built on Victoria Bachke's private collection. Can I visit the manor house without a guide? The manor house is open through guided tours in the summer season. The barn exhibition is open year-round. Is the botanical garden free? Yes, the garden is free and always open. Who is it best suited for? Music lovers, families, history fans and anyone who enjoys a walk among greenery. The mix of instruments, historic architecture and gardens easily fills several hours, even when Trondheim's weather is unpredictable.
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