Norway is one of the countries where the Vikings originated. And hence there is a lot of Viking heritage still present in Norway.
If one wants to experience Viking culture and travel back in time, they should surely attend a Viking festival or visit one of the Viking museums present in Norway. They can also explore authentic ships and treasures when they visit museums.
The Vikings traveled to many countries to conduct raids or to trade. They used rivers and seas as a path for their Viking trade, traveling long distances in wooden ships crafted from scratch.
Some museums highlight the stories of the Vikings all over Europe, but the best viking museum are in Norway. And one should pay a visit to these viking museums in norway.
Also See: 10 Facts about Viking Longships
1. Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum
The Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum opened its doors in 1926. It is located on the Bygdøy peninsula just outside Oslo’s city center. It has been a national symbol and a place for people to gather to experience the cultural heritage of the Vikings.
The three preserved Viking ships- Oseberg, Tune, and Gokstad- are exhibited in this museum. They are 9th Century ships. After operating for 95 years continuously, the museum has closed for renovation. It will reopen as The Museum of the Viking Age in 2025 or 2026.
2. Historical Museum, Oslo
The Historical museum is famous for the Viking Exhibition, exhibiting some of the most famous and exquisite items from the Norwegian Viking age. Suppose one wants to know about the Vikings’ culture, the wars they fought, and their journeys, they should surely pay a visit to the Vikingr Exhibition once.
It also shows the transition that society went through during the Viking age. There are exhibits of the artifacts in the exhibition that represent different aspects of life, death, and society.
It can be said that the three aspects that the exhibition shows are the journeys that they went on, the story about their warriors, and how society went through a change during that time.
To show their journey, the exhibition has gold and silver treasures found in Norway. Beautiful Viking age swords, which are embellished with precious metals, are also exhibited, showing the warrior spirit they had in them.
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3. Midgard Viking Center in Horten
The center was opened in 2000, and the Viking Hall was opened in 2013. There are knowledgeable guides present in the center who take us around all the exhibits, such as the Viking Hall, the Borre Park, and the Viking ship burial.
From the center, one can witness the great view of the Borre park and mounds, the greatest collection of monumental grave mounds. The Viking Hall reconstructs a royal Guildhall from the Viking age.
There are also engaging activities for children where they are taught how to fight like a Viking and also how to cook Viking food. There are several fun activities people can engage in, such as sword fighting, ax throwing, archery, and tug of war.
Near to the Viking center, one should also visit the city of Tonsberg, where one can find reconstructed Viking ships, and also Tonsberg is home to a lot of burial mounds. It is located at the center of the Vestfold Viking trail.
4. Sagastad Viking Center, Nordfjordeid
Sagastad is a modern Viking center. The virtual reality technology is used to show Nordfjordeid as a virtual Viking village. Many mysterious rituals and mythology from the Norse beliefs can be experienced here.
It is located at the shores of Nordfjord, and it houses a reconstruction of Myklebust Ship, which was 30 meters long. The original ship was burnt in a burial ceremony. One can also know more about the Vikings’ voyages through the exhibits here.
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5. Nordvegen History Center, Avaldsnes
First-ever Norway’s King’s home is said to be Avaldsnes. Nordvegen means “the way to the north,” It refers to one of the most important shipping routes that pass by the island. And this is from where the center takes its name. It is situated at a 10-minute distance from the historic St. Olav’s Church.
It is an underground viking museum norway, where stories are told using modern methods, using sounds, lighting, smells, pictures, and films, which appeal to all your senses. The center also has a variety of fun activities for children, a souvenir shop, and an open cafeteria open during the summer season.
Near to the Center is a small Viking village amongst the main attractions here. After visiting the center, one knows a lot about their culture.
6. Lofotr Viking Museum, Lofoten
Lofotr Viking Museum is the largest Viking longhouse ever found and excavated in the world of Vikings. Visitors are transported back in time with the smell of open fire and tar.
One can get the real Viking experience here, as they are served with the traditional food and meals of the Vikings at the Viking Banquet Hall while being entertained by the stories of the Viking age.
Every year in August, they hold a 5-day Lofotr Viking Festival, which includes a market where guests can buy things, concerts, games, competitions, rowing, etc.
Also See: Top 9 Misconceptions and Myths About Vikings
7. Stiklestad Cultural Center, Trøndelag
It is where Norway’s most historic battle, the Battle of Sticklestad in 1030, took place and became an important landmark for the transition from paganism to Christianity. The Center was created in the year 1995, and its goal is to preserve the heritage of St. Olav within Norwegian history.
At the end of July, guests can experience “St. Olav’s Days at Stiklestad” with its concerts, plays, tours, lectures, and activities for whole families. The historical events before and after the battle are presented in the plays performed here.
8. Museum of Archaeology, Stavanger
History of the Viking age is explained in the exhibition with the help of the lives of 6 local women. Recent discoveries are displayed in the exhibition, for example, swords, golden buckles, and glass beads. Brooches, books, clasps, and beads of the jet are also displayed, which tells about the voyages that the Vikings went on. Also, Arabic silver coins were seen raided by the Vikings from the East.
9. Viking Town of Kaupang, Larvik
Kaupang was founded in 800. It was a significant place for trade and production. There is a traditional Viking house and a model of how the town would have looked if it was present even today.
It is built on the evidence that one could gather from the past. Every Wednesday is Family Day, and on these days, children join their parents on the archeological excavation. A traditional meal and soup and bread are prepared for the whole family.
Also See: Viking Women (what the role of women were, what they did, and traditions pertaining to women)
10. Hike Like a Viking, Trondheim
While ‘Hike like a Viking’ is not like the traditional norway viking museum or a town or a cultural center, it ensures that the guests can fully experience the Viking lifestyle. The hike starts in Trondheim, where the people are given Viking clothes and other important gear that might be useful in their journey to the Viking age.
It is a 4-day hike in which the guides navigate through the Norwegian mountain region and prepare traditional meals for the guests. Viking history is told through a series of tales and songs.
Through these viking museums in norway, cultural centers, and Viking towns, one can know about the Viking culture and the Viking age. One interested in the history of the Vikings should pay a visit to Norway and experience the Viking lifestyle on their own.
