Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
11am-2:45pm, Sat-Sun 11am-3:45pm. Ferry: From Pier 3 facing the Rådhuset (summer only). Bus: 30 from
the National Theater.
Kon-Tiki Museum
Kon-Tiki
is a world-famous balsa-log raft. In 1947
the young Norwegian scientist Thor Heyerdahl and five comrades sailed it from
Callao, Peru, to Raroia, Polynesia (6,880km/4,300 miles). Besides the raft, there
are other exhibits from Heyerdahl's subsequent visits to Easter Island. They
include casts of stone giants and small originals, a facsimile of the whale shark,
and an Easter Island family cave, with a collection of sacred lava figurines
hoarded in secret underground passages by the island's inhabitants. The museum
also houses the original papyrus
Ra II,
in which Heyerdahl crossed the Atlantic
in 1970. Although kids like to be taken here, adults will find it fascinating as
well. For those who get really interested, they can read Heyerdahl's account of
his adventures in his book,
Kon-Tiki,
published in countless editions around the
world (available in the museum shop, of course). Most visits to this museum
take about 45 minutes.
Bygdøynesveien 36.
&
23-08-67-67.
www.kon-tiki.no. Admission 40NOK ($5.70) adults, 20NOK ($2.85)
children, family ticket 95NOK ($13). Apr-May and Sept daily 10:30am-5pm; June-Aug daily
9:30am-5:45pm; Oct-Mar daily 10:30am-4pm. Ferry: From Pier 3 facing the Rådhuset (summer only). Bus:
30 from the National Theater.
Norsk Sjøfartsmuseum (Norwegian Maritime Museum)
This
museum chronicles the maritime history and culture of Norway, complete with
a ship's deck with helm and chart house. There's also a three-deck section of the
passenger steamer
Sandnaes.
The Boat Hall features a fine collection of original
small craft. The fully restored polar vessel
Gjoa,
used by Roald Amundsen in his
search for the Northwest Passage, is also on display. The three-masted schooner
Svanen
(Swan) is moored at the museum. Built in Svendborg, Denmark, in
1916,
Svanen
sailed under the Norwegian and Swedish flags. The ship now
belongs to the museum and is used as a training vessel and school ship for young
people. Visits require about 45 minutes.
Bygdøynesveien 37.
&
24-11-41-50.
Admission to museum and boat hall 40NOK ($5.70) adults, 25NOK
($3.55) children. May-Sept daily 10am-6pm; Oct-Apr Mon-Wed and Fri-Sun 10:30am-4pm, Thurs
10:30am-6pm. Ferry: From Pier 3 facing the Rådhuset (summer only). Bus: 30 from the National Theater.
Norwegian Folk Museum
From all over Norway, 140 original build-
ings have been transported and reassembled on 14 hectares (35 acres) on the
Bygdøy peninsula. This open-air folk museum, one of the oldest of its kind,
includes a number of medieval buildings. The Raulandstua is one of the oldest
wooden dwellings still standing in Norway, and a stave church here dates from
about 1200. The rural buildings are grouped together by region of origin, and
the urban houses are laid out in the form of an old town.
Inside, the museum's 225,000 exhibits capture every imaginable facet of Nor-
wegian life, past and present. Furniture, household utensils, clothing, woven
fabrics, and tapestries are on display, along with fine examples of rose painting
and woodcarving. Farming implements and logging gear pay tribute to the
development of agriculture and forestry. Also look for the outstanding exhibit
on Norway's Lapp population. You can easily spend 2 hours here.
Museumsveien 10.
&
22-12-37-00.
Admission 75NOK ($11) adults, 20NOK ($2.85) children under 17. Jan
2-May 14 and Sept 15-Dec 30 Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm; May 15-Sept 14 daily 10am-6pm.
Ferry: From Pier 3 facing the Rådhuset (summer only). Bus: 30 from the National Theater.
Vikingskiphuset (Viking Ship Museum, University Museum of Cultural
Heritage)
Kids
Kids
Displayed here are three Viking burial vessels that were
Kids
