The Best New Attractions In Oslo For Summer 2022

The waterfront of the Norwegian capital continues to change at a rapid pace. Hot on the heels of the new Munch museum and Sørenga district comes the new National Museum, finally opening after a long delay.

Set to become one of the most important cultural venues in Scandinavia, the National Museum is sure to be a highlight of any Oslo itinerary this summer. Here’s what you need to know about the new museum, along with other new attractions in Oslo for the 2022 summer season.

The new national museum

Set to open in mid-June, the National Museum replaces several cultural buildings including the National Gallery, which had been closed for several years in preparation for the move.

The new museum brings together classical art, contemporary art and design, and architecture studies under one roof for the first time in downtown Oslo. The vast facility is capable of displaying around 5,000 works from the full collection, more than twice the amount on display across all the museum’s previous buildings.

Beyond the exhibition space, a new public plaza, rooftop terrace and the impressive Light Hall will host diverse cultural events this summer and for years to come.

Visitors shouldn’t expect to just turn up and gain entry, especially in the first few months. A timed entrance ticket system will be in operation, so advance booking is essential to avoid disappointment.

Munch museum

Late last year, the new Edvard Munch museum opened, also after significant delays. This summer will be the first opportunity many international tourists have to visit this towering new facility, home to three versions of Munch’s most famous artwork, The Scream.

While the architecture caused controversy locally, the waterfront building has room for far more of Munch’s artwork and inspiration than has ever been on public display before. It also gives space for visiting exhibits and experiments, such as the interactive creative space Brain Maze, open until mid-September.

As with the National Museum, booking a timed entrance ticket in advance is advised.

While you wait for your time, why not do as the locals do and enjoy a dip in the cool Oslofjord? The nearby Sørenga development hosts a fjord swimming pool at the end of the boardwalk, while the new Munch location of the Oslo Fjord Sauna has proved incredibly popular with the city’s youth since its recent opening.

New hotels in Oslo

The renovated Scandic Holmenkollen Park reopens its doors its mid-June with 376 guest rooms now on offer and a new spa complex opening later in the year. The hotel’s distinctive architecture has been retained but the interiors updated to modern standards.

Another long-awaited hotel opening will unfortunately be too late for the summer season. A landmark 1930s building just west of downtown Oslo has been transformed into the 231-room Sommerro House, set to become one of the most decadent hotels in Norway. Long out of use, the building’s original public baths have become a health and wellness space that should make Sommerro a true destination hotel for Norway.