Got questions? We got answers. These are the often asked questions concerning the Vigeland Museum and Vigeland Park. Let's start with the Vigeland Museum (Vigelandmuseet) and continue with the Vigeland Park.

VIGELAND MUSEUM (Vigelandmuseet)

Where is the Vigeland Museum?
The Vigeland Museum (Vigelandmuseet) is located in the street Nobels gate 32, west of Oslo City Centre at Frogner.

How do I get to the Vigeland Museum?
Take tram 12 or 15, or bus 20 to the stop called Frogner Plass. This is one stop away from the Vigeland Park.

How do I get to the Vigeland Museum if I am already in the Park?
Go south of the Bridge, Fountain or the Monolith. A good navigation tip is to head for the street named Halvdan Svartes gate. Fun fact, Vigeland could see the Monolith from om the Tower of the Vigeland Museum?

What is the Vigeland Museum?
Vigelandmuseet was built to be the studio, workplace and home for Gustav Vigeland, Norway’s most famous sculptor of all time. It was always meant to become a museum. Today it is a museum dedicated to Gustav Vigeland and his art, and three dimensional contemporary art and historic art.

How does the Vigeland Museum look?
The building is big, made of red brick stone in a neo classical style.

Is Vigelandmuseet close to Oslo City Center?
Yes, it is 2,8 km west from the city center.

Is the Vigeland Museum free?
No. The tickets are considered to be cheap, though. Go to Visitor Information.

What can I expect to see in the Vigeland Museum?
The museum is dedicated to Gustav Vigeland, his life and art. But the museum also exhibits three dimensional contemporary and historic art in changing and temporary exhibitions.

You can expect to see the whole story of the transport and making of the Monolith, the story about the Fountain and the Park, his original plaster sculptures, sketches and the almost unknown early sculptures from the 1890ies, themed around love, loneliness and anxiety. Remember to see the sketcht room on the first floor and visit the open courtyard (Borggården). See what's up.

Why do all the influencers visit the Vigeland Museum?
Our theory? The Vigeland Museum is colorful, with rooms full of beauty and it is perhaps one of the best lit museums with it’s exceptional natural light floating from above. There is a special meditative atmosphere in the museum and many seek contemplation here.

May I take photos?
Oh yes, please. Photos for private use are allowed when no flash is used and the photos are taken discreetly, not to disturb others. Otherwise, please book time for your photo shoot on Mondays, when the museum is closed and therefore available for such activities. Please tag us with #Vigelandmuseet or @Vigelandmuseet for Instagram.

Is Vigeland Museum a Mausoleum?
No. But kind of yes and no.

Gustav Vigeland’s ashes are placed in a circular urn designed by Vigeland himself and placed in the museum tower. But you might be thinking about Emanuel Vigeland’s mausoleum, the younger brother’s mausoleum at Grimelundsveien 8? He was also an artist. They both made art about life and death.

Can I please see Gustav Vigeland’s urn?
No, not normally. So sorry! Gustav Vigeland’s urn can only be seen as special treat and part of a guided tour in his apartment at the Vigeland Museum. The apartment is open on special occasions only.

Are there ramps for wheel chairs to enter the Vigeland Museum?
Yes, there is a quite narrow ramp at the main entrance. The Vigeland Museum building is listed as a protected national monument, and facilities for visitors with disabilities can unfortunately not always live up to contemporary standards.

If you are using a wheelchair, you can enter the museum via an inclined plane. The permanent collection on the ground floor is available for visitors using a wheelchair, and the rooms are spacious and with no thresholds. There is also a ramp to enter the Courtyard. Wheelchairs for rental are not available.

There is no lift in the museum connecting the floors. A wheel chair friendly toilet is located in Hall VII (7).

Is Sinnataggen (The Angry Boy) in the museum?
Sinnataggen is standing firm and very angry on the Bridge in the Vigeland Park. But Vigeland made his first sketch of this kid in 1901. The whole story behind the sculpture is to be found in the Vigeland Museum.

How do I get to the Vigeland Park?
Take tram 12 or 15 or bus 20. The stop is called Vigelandsparken. This is one stop away from Frogner Plass, which is the stop for the Vigeland Museum.

Is the Vigeland Park free?
Yes. All parks run by Oslo City are free. The Vigeland Park is free and always open - 24/7. It is outdoors with no restrictions, even during night time. The Vigeland Museum nearby, was built to be Gustav Vigeland’s home and atelier, is however not free. The tickets are considered to be prized cheap tp moderately.

Why is the Vigeland Park free?
All parks in Oslo are free. The story goes like this: Gustav Vigeland and Oslo City made a pact. During city development in the 1920ies, he lost his atelier. The result was that Gustav Vigeland decided to donate all his art to Oslo City in return for a place to work. The City agreed and added an apartment on top of the studio. This became his workplace and home for the last twenty years of his life. Today, this is the Vigeland Museum (Vigelandmuseet).

How many sculptures may I find in the Vigeland Park?
More than 200 scultures made by Gustav Vigeland and his crew. The art is made of granite (stone), bronze and wrought iron (the gates are also part of the art). The Museum contain Vigeland's original plaster sculptures.


Who is reponsible for the art in the Vigeland Park?
The Vigeland Museum is conserving the art for eternity. It is Oslo City, Bymiljøetaten who is responsible for roads, gravel, plants and toilets in the Vigeland Park.

Are there ramps for wheel chairs to reach the Monolith in the Vigeland Park?
Unfortunately no. The Monolith is surrounded by steps. But it is possible to come quite close. Beware that parts of the Vigeland Park have packed gravel, while other areas have asphalt and stone more suitable for wheelchairs. Cycling is not allowed in the main axis of the Vigeland Park.

Is there an audio guide for the Vigeland Park?
No. We are so sorry. There are several books, but no audio guide or app - yet, as the Vigeland Museum have no budget for this at the moment.

Why are the sculptures naked?
Gustav Vigeland wanted his art to be universal and timeless. Therefore the sculptures in the Vigeland Park and Museum have no clothing that can theme the sculptures with class or time. Some of Vigeland’s monuments however, where he is depicting an actual historical person, have clothing.

Was Vigeland angry at kids? On the Bridge at the Vigeland Park you find a sculpture with a man kicking kids?
Gustav Vigeland wanted his art to be interpreted freely and he often gave his works neutral titles, so that we can allow our own interpretation. In art history, the «genii» - often in form of children, symbolizes a strong creative force. Vigeland called the teasing children - like the ones in the tree crowns surrounding the Fountain - for «genii».

In this particular work of Vigeland it might at first glance look like the angry man is kicking the kids. But can it be interpreted in other ways as well? Are the thoughts a burden to the man? Does he try to shake it off? Does he worry too much? The same theme can be found in the Fountain, with a sculpture with a man yelling at kids in the trees. We have no reason, nor found any evidence in the Vigeland Collection to support any suggestions that Gustav Vigeland molested kids. On the contrary, Vigeland's wife and himself advertised for a summer child to spend time with them in their summer home.

Where do I find Sinnataggen (The Angry boy)
The Angry Boy (bronze) is located on the Bridge in the Vigeland Park. He is part of a group of four children - each showing different emotions - the way only children can. The Angry Boy is also to be found as a sketch (drawing), and a smaller version (plaster) inside the Vigeland Museum.

Why is the Angry Boy's hand so shiny?
Well, as thousands of tourists and visitors touch him every day, thinking it means good luck, the bronze fades with every touch. We say it is good luck NOT to touch the art, as Vigeland's original modelling also fades by this behavior.