"The Art of Oslo Norway’s most famous artist, Edvard Munch, was raised and studied in Oslo at the end of the 19th century. It’s here that that the painter, most famous for his work The Scream, decided to move beyond the then fashionable style of Impressionism and embrace Expressionism. “No longer should interiors be painted, people reading and women knitting,” he wrote. “There would be living people, breathing and feeling, suffering and loving.” This summer, Munch, famous for his emotionally charged paintings that retain their compelling vibrancy a century after they were painted, will be seen side-by-side with another artist whose pictorial language is equally compelling: Vincent Van Gogh. Roughly 70 paintings and 30 works from both masters will be on display at the Munch Museum from May 7 to September 6, 2015. If your introduction to Munch makes you want to learn more about the life of this fascinating figure, the Munch trail is an easy bike ride from the city center. Stops include Engelaug østre (his birthplace) and By farm (the birthplace of his wife, Sophie). For more information, visit http://bit.ly/InnovationNorwayOslo Sponsored by Visit Norway"

"Astrup Fearnley Museum, Oslo The once seedy Tjuvholmen, or “Thief Island,” is the city’s newest arts district. Its showpiece is the Astrup Fearnley Museum, which reopened last September in an elegant, sail-shaped complex designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano. The open floor plan offers a relaxing environment in which to take in contemporary artwork in galleries featuring both permanent and visiting exhibits. The museum lends contemporary works to the neighboring hotel, the Thief, where guests can view video art on in-room TVs while warming their toes in Norwegian wool slippers. This appeared in the August/September 2013 issue. Image courtesy of Astrup Fearnley Museeet/Nic Lehoux"

"Channel Your Inner Indiana Jones at the Museum of Cultural History The museum of cultural history is managed by the Univeristy of Oslo and features many interesting exhibits, with a plethora of artefacts from all over the world. Working its way up from prehistory, there is much focus on the Viking Age and Medieval Period, and the museum is connected to the Viking Ship Museum as well (the entry ticket is valid for both museums). The museum continues to fund digs to discover more of Oslo and Norway’s cultural heritage – for example the trade with other countries and the influence this had on the people who lived here in the days of yore, as it were. These days, many interesting objects emerge from the digs in the new part of Bjørvika (by the Opera house), showing Norwegian ways of life many hundreds of years ago."

"Set Sail at the Kon-Tiki Museum This museum is dedicated to Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002), who gained worldwide fame when he crossed the Pacific Ocean on Kon-Tiki (a raft made from balsa wood) in 1947. After his return, Heyerdahl worked on a documentary of the journey, which won an Academy Award in 1951 (this movie is screened every day at the museum). The museum also houses several permanent exhibitions on his other journeys, including the expeditions on the reed boats Ra and Tigris, as well as his excavations on Easter Island and Fatu-Hiva. The archives of Thor Heyerdahl have now been included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World register. The museum is located on Bygdøy, an area ripe with museums and interesting highlights."

"Screaming for 'The Scream' at the National Gallery Established in 1837, Nasjonalgalleriet (The National Gallery) houses the country’s largest public collection of paintings, drawings, and sculptures. The focus is mainly on Norwegian art, featuring works by Munch (his perhaps most famous work, The Scream, is on display here), but the museum also displays works by international artists, such as several French Impressionists. There's also a completely charming café and small gift shop inside. P.S. Nasjonalgalleriet is connected to several other museums and galleries in Oslo (like The Museum of Contemporary Art, The National Museum of Architecture, and The Museum of Decorative Arts and Design) and your entry ticket gives you access to all of them – not a bad deal at all!"

"A Medieval Feast for the Eyes at Akershus Fortress This 700 year old fortress lies nestled by the Oslo fjord, still quite imposing even though lots of modern buildings have shot up all around it. The remains of the Medieval Akershus Castle lies within the fortress walls, once home to Norwegian kings and queens. Complete with narrow winding corridors, dungeons, and great halls, this truly is one of the most important buildings in Norway if you’re historically inclined. The castle church is still used for services, christenings, weddings and concerts, and the whole fortress area is visited by thousands of people each year, perhaps proving that history still matters?"