Intercultural Museum
Photo: Own work — CC BY-SA 3.0 no, via Wikimedia Commons
Located in Oslo’s Grønland district, the Intercultural Museum offers exhibitions on immigration history, cultural diversity, and social issues, housed in a former police station.
Planning your visit
The Intercultural Museum occupies a former police station in Grønland, the most ethnically mixed district of Oslo, and its subject is Norwegian immigration — a country that was, within living memory, a place people emigrated from and has become one people arrive in.
The exhibitions cover that transformation: the labour migration of the 1960s and 70s, refugee arrivals from Vietnam, Chile, Bosnia, Somalia and Syria, and the experience of settling into a small, homogeneous society. Prejudice is addressed directly, including exhibitions built around racism and the assumptions Norwegians hold about newcomers and vice versa. Personal testimony and community-contributed objects form much of the material.
Part of the Oslo Museum, it is deliberately a neighbourhood institution as much as a city one, with programming produced with local communities.
Grønland itself is worth walking for the same reason — markets, food and shops reflecting the population — and the museum makes sense of the streets around it. Admission is free. Allow an hour. Current availability is shown below.
Before you book
Where is Intercultural Museum?
Intercultural Museum is in Oslo, Norway. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for Intercultural Museum?
Allow an hour. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Is Intercultural Museum free to enter?
Yes, general admission to Intercultural Museum is free. Guided tours and special exhibitions may still be charged separately.
What are the opening hours of Intercultural Museum?
Tuesday 11:00–16:00 Wednesday–Thursday 13:00–19:00 Friday–Sunday 11:00–16:00 Sun 11:00–16:00 Thu 11:00–18:00 Sat–Sun 11:00–16:00 Thu 13:00–19:00. Hours change on public holidays, so check the official site before travelling.
Do I need to book Intercultural Museum in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.
