Best for
Families, history & adventure lovers
Time needed
1–1.5 hours
Worth it?
Yes, especially on a Bygdøy museum day
Skip if
Tight on time — prioritise Fram first
About Kon-Tiki Museum
The Kon-Tiki Museum tells one of the twentieth century's most audacious stories: Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl's 1947 voyage across the Pacific Ocean on a hand-built balsa raft to prove that ancient Peruvians could have settled Polynesia. The original raft — 101 days, 8,000 kilometres, six men, and an ocean — is displayed in the museum's main hall, exactly as it arrived in Polynesia.
Heyerdahl's theory was considered absurd by the anthropological establishment of the 1940s. The accepted view was that Polynesia had been settled from Asia, sailing eastward with the trade winds and ocean currents. Heyerdahl argued that the currents and winds of the South Pacific would actually carry a vessel westward from South America to Polynesia — and that South American sweet potatoes, which were present in Polynesia before European contact, proved prehistoric contact.
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To demonstrate the feasibility of the voyage, Heyerdahl built a raft of nine balsa logs in the traditional pre-Columbian style, without metal fasteners, using only natural cordage. The crew of six — all Norwegians except one Swede — sailed from Callao, Peru on 28 April 1947. On 7 August, after 101 days at sea, the Kon-Tiki ran aground on a reef in the Tuamotu Archipelago. All six men survived.
The original raft is displayed in the main hall under natural light. It is smaller than visitors expect — 13.7 metres long, roughly the size of a generous living room — and the idea of six men living on it for three and a half months across open ocean is genuinely extraordinary to contemplate. The mast, the sail, the bamboo cabin, and the navigational instruments are all original.
The museum also displays the Ra and Ra II — the papyrus reed boats Heyerdahl built in 1969 and 1970 to cross the Atlantic from Morocco to Barbados, again proving ancient oceanic voyaging feasibility. Ra I sank 600 kilometres from its destination; Ra II made the crossing in 57 days. The Tigris, a third vessel built to demonstrate Mesopotamian maritime capability, is represented in the collection.
The Kon-Tiki Museum is on the Bygdøy peninsula, a 15-minute ferry ride from Aker Brygge or a 15-minute bus ride from the city centre. It clusters naturally with the Fram Museum and the Norwegian Folk Museum for a full day on Bygdøy. The Oslo Pass covers admission.
What to See: Highlights
- 1Original Kon-Tiki balsa raft
- 2Ra II papyrus boat
- 3Easter Island artefacts
- 4Underwater aquarium
- 5Thor Heyerdahl's personal collection
- 6Oscar-winning documentary film
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Included with the Oslo Pass
Kon-Tiki Museum is included with the Oslo Pass — a city card that covers entry to 30+ attractions, unlimited public transport, and discounts across Oslo. It can represent serious savings if you plan to visit multiple museums.
Insider Tips
Watch the documentary film — it adds enormous context
Combine with Fram Museum next door for a full Bygdøy morning
The Easter Island artefacts are underrated — don't rush past them
Book a Guided Tour
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Getting There
Bygdøynesveien 36, 0286 Oslo
Open in Google Maps →- 1Bus 30 → Bygdøynes (last stop) — 2-minute walk
- 2Summer ferry (May–Sep): Rådhusbrygge 3 → Bygdøy — 10-minute crossing
- 3Cycling: ~25 minutes from central Oslo along the fjord path
- 4The Fram Museum is 200 metres away — combine in one visit
Where to stay
Hotels in Oslo
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You're doing a Bygdøy museum day (it's right next to the Fram)
- You find Thor Heyerdahl's story inspiring
- You're travelling with older children who like adventure stories
- You have the Oslo Pass (entry included)
Skip if...
- You only have time for one Bygdøy museum — choose the Fram instead
- You're not familiar with the Kon-Tiki expedition (read up first for more impact)
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Oslo
Fram Museum
Go aboard the world's strongest wooden ship and relive Norway's heroic polar expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic.
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National Museum
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Norwegian Resistance Museum
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