A spectacular discovery in 1903
On August 8, 1903, archaeologist Gabriel Gustafson was visited by farmer Oskar Rom, who had found something unexpected in a large burial mound on the Lille Oseberg farm in Slagen outside Tønsberg. It would prove to be the world's most spectacular Viking find.
Crushed under masses of stone and clay, the excavators found not only a ship, but several hundred unique objects: a wagon, a magnificent sleigh with carved animal heads, kitchen utensils, beds, textiles, animals and much more. In the burial chamber lay the skeletons of two women from the year 834.
It took 21 years to conserve and reconstruct the Oseberg Ship. The original wood was used where possible, and the ship today consists of more than 90 percent original wood from the year 820.
Experience the world's best-preserved Viking ships
The Museum of the Viking Age displays the three best-preserved Viking ships in the world. The Oseberg ship is 21.5 meters long with 15 oar holes on each side and space for 32 people. The ship could be both sailed and rowed, and the spectacular carvings on the prow show craftsmanship at its very best.
The Gokstad ship is 23.8 meters long and built around 890. This ship was built for long voyages on the open sea and represents the Vikings' seafaring expertise. The Tune ship from around 910 completes the collection.
In September 2025, the Oseberg ship was moved for the first time in 100 years. The Gokstad ship followed in October of the same year. The move was a historic event where the ships were lifted with a specially made crane bar system and lowered into their new exhibition halls with climate control and vibration-damping support systems.
More than just ships
The Museum of the Viking Age displays not only the ships, but thousands of artifacts from the Viking Age. Here you will find weapons, jewelry, tools, textiles and everyday objects that provide a unique insight into how the Vikings lived.
The iconic Oseberg sledges, with their spectacular carvings and animal ornaments, are among the world's finest examples of Viking Age craftsmanship. Textiles, down and organic materials have survived for over 1,000 years thanks to protective blue clay.
New world-class museum
The new Museum of the Viking Age will be three times larger than the old Viking Ship House. Danish AART architects won the architectural competition in 2016 with their design "Naust", inspired by Viking-era boathouses.
The museum will be 13,100 square meters in size with 5,500 square meters of exhibitions. The old Viking Ship Museum from 1926, designed by Arnstein Arneberg, will be preserved and integrated into the new building. A glass connection connects the historical and the modern.
When the museum opens in 2027 you will get:
- Three Viking ships in climate-controlled surroundings
- Over 5,500 objects from the Viking Age
- Modern interactive exhibitions
- Restaurant and museum shop
- Museum garden with Viking Age plants
- Activity area for children and school classes
- Laboratory with access to the public
- Lecture hall and research center
Easy to get to by Bygdøyfergen
The Museum of the Viking Age is located on Bygdøy in Oslo, just 7 minutes by ferry from Rådhusbryggen. Norway Yacht Charter operates the Bygdøyfergen, which runs frequently throughout the summer. The museum is within walking distance of the ferry pier, along with the Norwegian Folk Museum, the Fram Museum and the Kon-Tiki Museum.
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