The Munch Museum, simply called MUNCH, is a museum entirely dedicated to the works of Norway’s most celebrated artist Edvard Munch. The building is eye-catching. It is 60m tall and is covered in recycled, perforated and partially translucent aluminium panels, with the top section of the building leaning outwards. It looks a bit like a giant traditional dark wood log cabin of rural Norway, just made from metal.
The museum’s exhibitions are drawn from Munch’s personal collection, which he bequeathed to the nation on his passing. This collection was vast and included 1100 paintings, 15,500 graphic sheets of 700 motifs, 4700 drawings and six sculptures. There were also almost 500 printing plates, 2240 books, notebooks, documents, photographs, tools, props and furniture.
The first exhibit we visited was a temporary exhibit called ‘All is Life’, which is based on a large, heavy album in which Edvard Munch collected drawings, prints and texts written in colourful letters, which he referred to as the ‘Tree of Life’. The exhibit had taken pages from the “Tree of Life’ and alongside the excerpt displayed the works he produced that correspond to the notes and sketches. It was fascinating to see the processes and thoughts behind Munch’s works of art.
On the fourth floor of the museum is a large permanent exhibition of Munch’s work, entitled ‘Infinite’. It categorises Munch’s work into themes and chronological order and has on display some of his most famous works, including ‘The Scream’ and ‘Madonna’. There are three versions of ‘The Scream’, but only one is displayed at a time. The two not on display are hidden behind panels that drop down. Presumably, this is done to protect them from light exposure. The crowds around ‘The Scream’ were large, but not as bad as with the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. We waited patiently and eventually were able to work our way to the front and get a good close-up view. The version on display was the most famous one. Luckily, later on during our visit we came back and were able to see the ‘sketched’ version of ‘The Scream’. As well as the famous works there were plenty of other interesting pieces on display including nudes and self-portraits and an interesting set of 18 illustrations called ‘Alpha and Omega’, together with a poem, which was Munch’s take on the creation story. The story is about the first two people on a desert island – Alpha and Omega. They live in harmony until a large cloud casts a shadow over the island – Alfa discovers Omega lying with a huge snake on top of her, staring into its eyes. Alpha kills the snake in anger and jealousy, but this does not stop Omega. She initiates erotic relationships with all the island’s animals until she gets bored and flees on the back of a fallow deer.
On the 6th floor was a double-height exhibition room that was designed to hold some of Munch’s largest pieces. The exhibit was called ‘Monumental’ and features some of the largest paintings ever created by Edvard Munch. These enormous artworks are versions of the paintings made by Munch for the University of Oslo’s Ceremonial Hall in connection with the university’s centenary in 1911. Munch and several other artists were invited to compete for the commission and Munch worked tirelessly for years, producing several hundred preparatory works and sketches. To work on this massive scale, he built a series of outdoor studios at his home, creating several versions of each motif in different sizes.
On the seventh floor is a permanent exhibit called ‘Shadows’. Edvard Munch spent the last 30 years of his life at Ekely, his villa just outside Oslo. The house was demolished in 1960, but many artefacts and memorabilia were saved. This exhibit using creative displays, lighting and multimedia tries to capture the essence of Munch’s life at Ekely. One of the fun things in this exhibit was the mice. The exhibit has several small peepholes where you can stare inside and see the hidden world of the mice – it was a fun thing for kids and adults to explore.
Planning your visit to MUNCH
Getting around Oslo
Thanks to Oslo’s excellent public transportation system Ruter, it is easy to travel around the city. Distances between attractions are often quite short, so you can explore a lot of the city by walking or biking.
Public transport
All public transport in Oslo and the surrounding boroughs are included in one ticketing system. That includes city and regional buses, trams, undergrounds, local trains and ferries. The ferries to Bygdøy are not included.
Tickets and zones
One of the easiest ways to get and manage tickets for public transport is using the mobile app Ruter. If you prefer having physical tickets in your pocket, you can purchase them at the Oslo Visitor Centre, at Ruter’s customer service centre, and in Narvesen and 7-Eleven shops.
Get an overview of the prices for tickets here.
Please note that if you want a physical version of weekly, monthly or annual tickets, you need a reusable plastic travel pass costing 50 NOK. All tickets are transferable.
Oslo and the surrounding boroughs are divided into several zones. All of Oslo, including the last stops of the subway system, is included in zone 1. If you want to go to Oslo Airport Gardermoen, you need a ticket for four zones. If you have a period ticket of the Oslo Pass, you can buy the remaining zones separately.
Ticket prices for public transportation in Oslo
See all ticket prices for public transport in Oslo and find out where you can buy tickets.
Free travel with the Oslo Pass
With the Oslo Pass, you can travel for free within zone 1 (Oslo) and zone 2. In addition to Ruter’s public transport network, also the ferries to Bygdøy are included in the Oslo Pass. Find out more about the Oslo Pass and what is included here.
Eating out for vegans in Oslo
While Oslo might not be the most vegan-friendly city in the world, there are still plenty of high-quality options to choose from.
- Oslo Raw – Address: Skovveien 16, 0257 Oslo, Norway osloraw.no
- Dirty Vegan at Barcode Street Food – Dronning Eufemias gate 14, 0191 Oslo, Norway https://www.dirtyvegan.no
- Nord Vegan – Kristian IVs gate 15B, 0164 Oslo, Norway 3 https://www.nordvegan.no/
- Cultivate – Helgesens gate 18a, 0553 Oslo, Norway – https://cultivatefood.no
- Torggata Botaniske – Torggata 17B, 0183 Oslo, Norway https://www.torggatabotaniske.no/
- Veggie da Luca – Thorvald Meyers gate 34, 0555 Oslo, Norway https://delideluca.no/
- Silk Road at Oslo Street Food – Torggata 16, 0181 Oslo, Norway – https://www.oslo-streetfood.no/silk-road
The best time to visit Oslo
Positioned in the southern part of Norway, Oslo experiences a Humid continental climate; no dry season, warm summer, according to the Köppen climate classification, symbol Dfb. The climate bears a strong influence of Gulf Stream, thus enjoying a warmer climate than other regions of similar latitude around the world.
For Oslo annually, monthly average temperatures range between -6.8°C (19.8°F) to 21.5°C (70.7°F), showing significant fluctuations as the season change. Moreover, rainfall is experienced all year round, with monthly averages ranging from 36mm (1.42″) to 90mm (3.54″). The city endures between 4 and 8 rainy days per month, with the maximum number of rainy days in August and November.
The best time to visit Oslo
For visitors, the best time to visit Oslo is usually between June and August. Temperatures during these months range from 15.1°C (59.2°F) to 21.5°C (70.7°F), which is quite pleasant for outdoor activities. The sea temperature is at its highest, around 17.3°C (63.1°F) in June and 17.9°C (64.2°F) in August. These months also provide the longest daylight hours, between 17.9 and 18.7 hours, providing ample opportunity to explore the city’s attractions.
The worst time to visit Oslo
The winter season, from December to February, is regarded as the least attractive time to visit Oslo due to the cold temperatures and short daylight hours. The average temperatures plummet to cold levels between -6.8°C (19.8°F) to -0.9°C (30.4°F), and daylight is restricted to between 6.1 and 9.2 hours. Additionally, the sea temperature is at its coldest, dipping to between 3°C (37.4°F) to 4.2°C (39.6°F), making it unsuitable for water-based activities.
Where to stay in Oslo
1. Mid Range: Hotell Bondeheimen
This central hotel is just 100 metres from the National Gallery and Oslo’s main shopping street, Karl Johans Gate. Free WiFi and a popular in-house restaurant is available. The Oslo Opera House is 1.3 km away.
Hotel Bondeheimen’s spacious rooms also include cable TV, a tea/coffee maker and ironing facilities.
Hotel Bondeheimen’s restaurant, Kaffistova, specialises in traditional Norwegian food such as potato dumplings and cod.
Tinghuset Tram Stop is just around the corner from Bondeheimen and is a 4-minute ride from Oslo Central Station.
2. Luxury – Hotel Continental
The elegant Hotel Continental is centrally located in Oslo, only 150 metres from Oslo’s main street, Karl Johan. It is the only 5-star hotel in Norway, and offers free in-room Internet access.
The individually decorated rooms at Continental Hotel include a cable TV, minibar and an in-room safe. Bathrooms include amenities and a separate shower and bath.
Leisure options include a free 24 hour gym and a lobby lounge featuring Edward Munch lithographs.
Guests can enjoy fine dining at Restaurant Eik Annen Etage. The historic Theatercaféen has been the Oslo’s most popular dining and meeting place for over 100 years.
3. Budget -Bunks at Rode
Situated in Oslo, Bunks at Rode has a shared lounge, terrace, bar, and free WiFi throughout the property. The property is around 4.1 km from Akershus Fortress, 6.9 km from Sognsvann Lake and 2.4 km from Oslo Bus Terminal. The property is non-smoking and is located 2.5 km from Oslo Central Station.
Certain rooms are fitted with a kitchenette with a fridge, a microwave and a stovetop. The rooms have bed linen.
