Visiting Bygdøy, Oslo’s “Museum Island”

Often mistakenly referred to as an island, Bygdøy is a peninsula in the western part of Oslo that contains popular recreation areas, scenic walking and cycling trails, and many of Oslo’s most famous museums. Bygdøy is a must-see if you visit Oslo, so read on for more information on what activities you can do there!

Top things to do in Bygdøy

Relax at the beach

Bygdøy is home to three main beaches: Huk, Paradisbukta, and Bygdøy Sjøbad. Huk is the most popular as well as the most easily accessible – there is a bus stop right at the entrance. Huk also has a large park area and, in the summer, a snack bar.

The other two main beaches – Paradisbukta and Bygdøy Sjøbad – are both beautiful as well but require a bit more walking to access.

Explore the walking trails

The main walking trail on Bygdøy is a well-marked 6.5 km hike that takes you along the waterfront of Oslo Fjord. This scenic stroll is a great option if the weather is nice!

If you enjoy the walking trail on Bygdøy, you can find more day hikes near Oslo in this post.

Visit Bygdøy Royal Manor

Bygdøy Royal Manor is an organic farm that has been associated with the royal family of Norway since the 1300s. It is open to the public on Saturdays in the spring and fall.

Check out some of Bygdøy’s many museums

As the title of this post implies, there are quite a few museums to see on the Bygdøy peninsula! My favorites are listed below.

Admission to many of the museums on Bygdøy is included in the Oslo Pass, so this is a great option to consider if you’re planning to visit several of them in one day. For more information on whether the Oslo Pass is worth it for you, check out this post.

The Norwegian Folk Museum

The Norwegian Folk Museum showcases daily life in Norway from the 16th century to the present day. This open-air museum includes 160 buildings that chronicle the history of Norwegian architecture.

The Fram Museum

The Fram Museum tells the story of Norway’s history of polar exploration. The Fram was a ship built for Fridtjof Nansen’s 1893 Arctic expedition. The interior of the ship is preserved within this museum. You can also stand on the ship’s deck and experience an almost 360-degree view of what it would look like to sail through the icy seas of the polar regions.

The Norwegian Maritime Museum

The Norwegian Maritime Museum celebrates Norway’s maritime cultural heritage with a variety of indoor and outdoor exhibitions.

As of 2022, this museum features a new exhibition in which the public can observe the reconstruction of an original Viking boat in real time. This boat-building project is set to last for the next four years.

The Kon-Tiki Museum

The Kon-Tiki Museum presents the explorations of Thor Heyerdahl, who crossed the Pacific Ocean on the Kon-Tiki raft in 1947. This museum even showcases the original raft used in this famous journey.

If you plan to visit several of the museums listed above, you can purchase a combined ticket for the Norwegian Maritime Museum, the Fram Museum, and the Kon-Tiki Museum at a discounted price. Combined tickets can be bought in any of these three museums.

If you enjoy the museums in this post, you can also check out this list of Oslo museums for more inspiration!

How to get to Bygdøy via public transportation

To get to Bygdøy, you can take bus number 30 from Oslo’s city center. During the summer, there is also a ferry that runs between Bygdøy and the dock in front of Oslo City Hall. The ferry is a great option for sightseeing on the fjord! Both options are included in Ruter’s daily public transportation passes.

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I hope you find this guide to visiting Bygdøy helpful! You can find more to do during your trip to Oslo in Norway on a Budget: Top 9 Free Things to Do in Oslo.

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