A glimpse into Norway's national heritage

Noteworthy for: The Viking Ship Museum holds some of the best-preserved wooden Viking ships in the world.

The Bygdøy peninsula - a short ferry journey from the city center - boasts several museums, the best of which are the Viking Ship Museum (Vikingskipshuset) and the Kon-Tiki Museum.

The Viking Ship Museum houses three spectacular examples of 9th and 10th century Scandinavian sea vessels - including the fully intact Oseberg ship - which were used as high status tombs. A collection of Viking weapons, utensils and talismans, buried with the ships, is also on display.

The Kon-Tiki Museum is named after the raft on which Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl crossed the Pacific Ocean in 1947. Alongside the raft, the museum houses various artefacts related to Heyerdahl's other expeditions and a changing program of temporary exhibitions explores his life and work.