Norway’s capital, Oslo, has made a huge investment to advance itself as a destination focused on art and creativity. Despite two years of the pandemic, the city has a number of new museums, attractions and exhibitions opening this year in time for the return of travelers.

Speaking of the pandemic, visitors no longer need to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test or show proof of vaccination to enter Norway. In fact, regular access to hand sanitizer is likely to be the only reminder of the pandemic. Let’s have a look at four new cultural openings coming in Oslo during 2022.

Oslo’s New National Museum

Opening on June 11, the Nasjonalmuseet or National Museum is the largest museum in the Nordics and is Oslo’s latest poster child. The new museum has more than 80 rooms displaying some 6,500 artifacts. The collection brings together art, architecture and design to inspire visitors to harness their own creativity through shared history.

On the first floor, are 1,000-year-old tapestries, dazzling dresses, elaborate cabinets and sculptures from over the past 4,500 years.

Meanwhile, the second floor of the museum is dedicated to fine arts, including a Munch room with a selection of artwork by the famous artist. Among the paintings is a version of his iconic The Scream. However, other big artist names, including Degas, Manet, Monet and Rodin are on display in rooms 53 and 54.

As for the third floor, the Light Room features 23-ft-high glass and marble walls suitable for wall hangings. The architecture challenges the museum’s curators to use this incredible space in a less traditional way. In fact, an exhibit of contemporary pieces from Norwegian artists, dubbed “I Call It Art” runs there until mid-September.

Munch Museum (Munchmuseet)

The new Munch Museum opened its doors in October 2021 and displays the largest collection of the work of Munch that was bequeathed to the city. Meanwhile, the futuristic exterior of the museum has been crafted from glass and steel in a design by the Spanish architectural company, Estudio Herreros.

In contrast to the exterior stands a brand-new bronze sculpture by Tracey Emin. Standing 29-ft-tall, the female nude sculpture was lowered into place at the beginning of June. Titled “The Mother,” the sculpture rests in a live wildflower meadow on the pier outside the museum. Meanwhile, silver birch saplings have been planted to grow and cast shade on her, while creating a new outdoor space for people to relax.

Meanwhile, the newest exhibit at the Munch Museum is a fascinating combination of black metal museum and late-19^th century paintings by Edvard Munch. The Norwegian band Satyricon has been asked to compose music to accompany some of the paintings and graphics in the collection. This unique exhibition is set to run until August 28, 2022.

Deichman’s Future Library (Deichman Bjørvika)

Deichman Library is the city’s library, but it is also more than that, as it is the city’s wish to make culture available to all. In fact, the brand-new Future Library is a small part of the building that hosts unseen manuscripts submitted by well-known authors. The plan is to keep the manuscripts unread for 100 years.

In the opening ceremony for the Future Library, three new manuscripts will be handed over during a ceremony on June 12. Meanwhile, the works are by authors Karl Ove Knausgård, Ocean Vuong, and Tsitsi Dangarembga.

Sommerro House, Oslo

Now, we have something completely different. The former Oslo Lysverker electricity office, where residents paid their bills, is being restored to its original art deco glory. It is set to reopen as the luxury hotel Sommerro House, with furnishings and artwork from the 1930s throughout.

In complete contrast, the new, modern rooftop complex includes an outdoor swimming pool and a sauna. Meanwhile, the original public baths in the basement will be transformed into a wellness suite, Vesktantbadet.

Also on the rooftop is TAK Oslo, a new restaurant, serving Nordic-Japanese cuisine. The new rooftop complex opens on September 1, while the wellness suite fully opens in November. In the meantime, readers can see more images of this remarkable hotel on its official Instagram page.

Make sure you experience culture in Oslo in 2022, visiting these and other cultural institutions in Norway.