We all knew The Scream, obviously, but nothing prepared us for how spectacular the museum built to house its creator’s work would be. The Munch Museum, housed since 2021 in an impressive 13-storey building on the edge of Oslo’s fjord, in Bjørvika, offers far more than a straightforward retrospective of the Norwegian artist: it’s a genuine destination in its own right, with permanent collections, temporary exhibitions and sweeping views over the city. Here’s what we found.
The museum holds the bulk of Edvard Munch’s work, bequeathed by the artist himself to the city of Oslo when he died in 1944. Across several floors, you come across everything from his most monumental canvases to his woodcuts, in spaces organised floor by floor: one for his most iconic works, another for the XXL formats, another devoted to his private life at Ekely. Standing outside the building is The Mother, a 9-metre sculpture by Tracey Emin, in direct dialogue with Munch’s world.
Edvard Munch and the Chocolate Factory
Right now, the museum is running the temporary exhibition “Edvard Munch and the Chocolate Factory,” on view until 11 October 2026. For the first time, visitors can get a close look at the monumental works Munch created in 1922 for the Freia chocolate factory, Norway’s most iconic brand. It was the first time a factory had ever commissioned decorative art on that scale, and the first time such a work was designed for a staff canteen used mostly by women. The exhibition doesn’t just hang the famous Freia frieze: it also traces the history of cocoa, the workers’ movements, and the fight for women’s rights at the time, through preparatory sketches and archival documents.
Also worth seeing, though not for much longer since it closes on 2 August 2026: “Paula Rego, Dance Among Thorns,” the first major Nordic retrospective devoted to this Anglo-Portuguese artist, a central figure in feminist art. More than 140 works, collages, pastels, textile sculptures and figurative paintings, trace her path between Salazar’s Portugal and the London where she studied from age 17. The exhibition’s opening section draws a direct line to Munch: Paula Rego discovered his work at a Tate Gallery retrospective in 1951, and her painting Drought (1953), shown here for the first time, strikingly echoes The Scream in its colours and brushwork.
Good to know
Don’t miss
Head all the way to the top of the building: the top floor offers a 360-degree view over Oslo’s fjord and the city, with a café for a well-earned break after the visit.
What our daughter loved
She found the Paula Rego exhibition pretty unsettling, but that’s always a good excuse to talk it through together. She loved the large-format works.
The real upsides for kids
If your kids are older
The chocolate factory exhibition is a good way into social history, women’s labour and working conditions in the early 20th century, through a subject that instantly grabs kids: chocolate.
If your kids are under 8
The museum runs a dedicated programme, MUNCH Kids, with activities designed for younger visitors. Between the 13 floors to explore and the view over the fjord, there’s enough to keep them busy without getting bored in front of the paintings.
Gallery
Munch Museum: FAQ
What temporary exhibitions are currently on at the Munch Museum?
Two temporary exhibitions run alongside the permanent collections. “Edvard Munch and the Chocolate Factory,” until 11 October 2026, devoted to the monumental works Munch painted in 1922 for the Freia chocolate factory. And “Paula Rego, Dance Among Thorns,” only until 2 August 2026, the first major Nordic retrospective devoted to this Anglo-Portuguese feminist artist, with more than 140 works and a direct link drawn to Munch’s world.
How much time should you set aside for the visit?
Budget at least 2 to 3 hours to take in the permanent collections spread across several floors as well as the temporary exhibition.
What are the entry fees?
Full price is 280 Norwegian kroner (NOK) during the day, and 200 NOK from 6pm onward. Under-25s pay 100 NOK, and entry is free for under-18s.
What are the opening hours?
The museum is open every day of the year except 1 May. Sunday to Tuesday, 10am to 6pm, and Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 9pm.
Do you need to book tickets in advance?
It’s not required, but strongly recommended, especially in high season, to be sure of getting in.
Is the museum suitable for children?
Yes, a dedicated programme called MUNCH Kids offers activities designed for younger visitors, on top of the building’s 13 floors to explore.
Where is the Munch Museum and how do you get there?
The museum is in Bjørvika, on the edge of Oslo’s fjord, a few minutes’ walk from Oslo’s central station (Oslo Sentralstasjon).
Practical Information
Details
MUNCH, Bjørvika Edvard Munchs plass 1, 0194 Oslo, Norway
Open every day of the year except 1 May. Regular hours: Sunday to Tuesday, 10am to 6pm; Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 9pm.