Munch Museum
Museum Oslo museum housing extensive works by Edvard Munch
Oslo’s Munch Museum holds an extensive collection of Edvard Munch, including multiple versions of The Scream, alongside rotating exhibitions; visitors come for the works and the museum’s contemporary architecture and displays.
The Munch Museum in Oslo houses the world’s largest public collection of works by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch and is a specialist museum dedicated to his paintings, prints, drawings and archives. The institution was established in the 20th century and occupies a new purpose-built building on the Bjørvika waterfront that opened in 2021.
Exhibits focus on Munch’s major works, graphic prints and personal archive material, presented across permanent and rotating displays. The museum building includes galleries, study facilities and a public terrace with views over the Oslo fjord, and it stages temporary exhibitions that place Munch in national and international contexts.
The Munch Museum’s core collection stems from Munch’s donations and bequests and has been curated and expanded over decades to support research and public access. The move to Bjørvika created larger, modern gallery spaces and consolidated much of the collection under a single roof.
Located on the eastern edge of central Oslo beside the waterfront redevelopment area and close to the city’s main transport links, the museum is within easy walking distance of the Opera House and central train and ferry services.
- Dates: The museum was originally founded in 1963 and relocated to a new purpose-built building in the Bjørvika waterfront district of Oslo, which opened to the public in 2021.
- Access: Timed tickets are commonly used; the building's location next to Oslo's Opera House makes it easily reachable on foot from central transport hubs.
What to See #
- Permanent collection: The Munch Collection is the museum's permanent holdings of paintings, prints and drawings by Edvard Munch and represents the largest public collection of his work.
- Temporary exhibitions: Temporary exhibition galleries stage rotating shows that place Munch's work in wider international and historical contexts and host loans from other major museums.
- Public facilities: Public spaces include an auditorium, study centre and a panoramic viewing terrace that faces the Oslo fjord and the city waterfront.
How to Get to Munch Museum #
The MUNCH museum (new Munch museum in Bjørvika) is in the Bjørvika waterfront area of central Oslo, a 10-15 minute walk south from Oslo Central Station (Oslo S) along the harbour. The museum is also served by local trams and buses at the Bjørvika stops.
If driving, follow local city routes off the E18 into Bjørvika; there is limited parking nearby and the site is easily reached on foot from many central Oslo locations.
Tips for Visiting Munch Museum #
- Buy timed-entry tickets online and aim for a weekday morning or late afternoon to avoid the busiest blocks of visitors, especially on weekends and cruise days.
- Approach from the Bjørvika/Oslo Central side-the museum is an easy walk from Oslo S and other nearby cultural sites, so combine visits to spread your time.
- Make time for the upper floors and the top-level viewing area-the permanent collection rooms can be crowded, while special exhibitions and the rooftop views over the fjord are often quieter and overlooked.
Best Time to Visit Munch Museum #
For the Munch Museum, visit weekday mornings and the winter off-season for the smallest crowds; summer brings the busiest periods.
Weather & Climate near Munch Museum #
Munch 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 (703 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 (33 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 (49 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (39 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (45 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 (65 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 (71 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 (75 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 7°C. The wettest month with 78 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 78 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.
