Kon-Tiki Museum
Museum Museum displaying Kon-Tiki raft and anthropological expeditions
Oslo’s museum housing Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki raft and other expedition artifacts; visitors see the original raft, displays on ocean voyages and related maritime exhibits.
The Kon-Tiki Museum in Oslo, Norway, is dedicated to the life and expeditions of explorer Thor Heyerdahl and houses the original Kon-Tiki raft used in his 1947 Pacific voyage. The museum comprises exhibition halls that display the raft, related vessels and expedition material.
The collection grew from Heyerdahl’s immediate post-expedition materials and has been developed into a public museum to present his voyages and related ethnographic and archaeological interests. The Kon-Tiki voyage of 1947 is the defining event of the museum’s holdings.
The museum is situated on the Bygdøy peninsula in western Oslo, among several maritime and cultural museums, and is served by local buses and seasonal ferry links from the city centre.
- Location: Located on the Bygdøy peninsula in Oslo, the museum is easily reached from the city centre by road and ferry services to the museum peninsula.
What to See #
- Kon-Tiki: The original Kon-Tiki raft built and used in Thor Heyerdahl's 1947 Pacific crossing, conserved and displayed upright within the museum gallery.
- Ra II and expedition exhibits: Additional displays include the reed-built Ra II raft and artefacts and documentation from Heyerdahl's later transoceanic expeditions.
How to Get to Kon-Tiki Museum #
The Kon‑Tiki Museum sits on the Bygdøy peninsula in Oslo. From the city centre you can take bus line 30 to Bygdøy (stops by the museums) or the seasonal museum ferry from Aker Brygge to Bygdøy; from the bus stop or ferry landing it is a short walk of a few minutes to the museum. By car it is a short drive from central Oslo via Bygdøyveien, with parking near the museum.
Tips for Visiting Kon-Tiki Museum #
- Take the short passenger ferry from Aker Brygge to Bygdøy (or the bus) and visit mid‑morning or late afternoon to avoid the peak midday cruise‑ship crowds that flood the peninsula.
- Combine the Kon‑Tiki Museum with nearby maritime museums (Fram, Viking Ship) on the same Bygdøy circuit - the sites are close together and easy to do in a single outing.
- Allow around 1-2 hours to see the original Kon‑Tiki and Ra II displays; the museum is compact but best enjoyed without rushing so you can read the expedition context panels.
Best Time to Visit Kon-Tiki Museum #
The museum is enjoyable year‑round; visit in shoulder months (May or September-October) to avoid summer crowds while still having comfortable weather.
Weather & Climate near Kon-Tiki Museum #
Kon-Tiki Museum's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -6°C to 22°C. Moderate rainfall (701 mm/year).
January
January is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -5°C. Moderate rainfall (47 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is the coldest month with highs of 0°C and lows of -6°C. Moderate rainfall (32 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (42 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (72 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (76 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 8°C. The wettest month with 79 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. The wettest month with 79 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -1°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is freezing with highs of 1°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
