See Roald Amundsen’s ship in Oslo, Norway. Essential guide to visiting the Fram Museum and exploring the history of polar expeditions.
Amundsen’s arrival in Antarctica
On the 14th of January, 1911, Roald Amundsen arrived in the Bay of Whales, Antarctica. Up until very recently, this was the most southern latitude a ship had ever navigated to. Amundsen’s ship, the Fram, made it to 78°41’S.
Extraordinarily, the Fram also holds the record for the most northern latitude a ship has ever navigated to – 8°57’ on 16 October 1895. This was on Fridtjof Nansen’s Arctic 1893 to 1896 expedition, where the Fram spent nearly three years drifting in the Arctic ice pack.
Why book The Fram Museum admission ticket?
- 🚢 Step aboard the Fram, the strongest wooden ship ever built
- ❄️ Discover Norway’s polar exploration history up close
- 🎥 Interactive exhibits and immersive storytelling
- 🌍 Learn about expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic
- 📸 Great photo opportunities inside the iconic museum ship
Why Amundsen chose the Fram
The Fram – meaning ‘forward’ in Norwegian – was designed for polar exploration. Its distinctive rounded hull meant it was tossed around in normal seas, but could withstand the pressure of polar ice and float across it.
Amundsen wanted the Fram as his ship, as his initial aim was to be the first to the North Pole and he wanted to use Nansen’s tactics. When Cook and Peary beat Amundsen to the North Pole, the great Norwegian explorer changed plans in utmost secrecy. Even his crew didn’t know they were heading for the Antarctic until they stopped in Madeira on the way.
5 great Oslo experiences to book
- 🚤 Cruise the Oslofjord on a silent boat.
- 🌍 Explore the multicultural Grünerløkka neighbourhood on a guided street food tour.
- 🍽️ Take a three-course dinner cruise with live music.
- 🗺️ Uncover central Oslo’s secrets on a guided walking tour.
- 🚲 Take a bike tour to uncover more of Oslo’s highlights.
How to see the Fram in Oslo, Norway
This information, and plenty more about polar exploration, is laid out at the excellent Fram Museum in Oslo.
The centrepiece of the Fram Museum, unsurprisingly, is the ship itself. In fact, the distinctive triangle-shaped building is built around Amundsen’s ship.
Visitors can walk on board the 39 metre-long icebreaker, while it is surrounded by displays about the Fram’s journeys and the realities of polar exploration.
Why visit the Fram Museum in Oslo?
The Fram Museum is genuinely fascinating. Even if you don’t care about Amundsen’s ship – and it’s one of the world’s best museum ships – then the stories of life in the Antarctic, planning the trip to the South Pole and Amundsen’s appreciation for his hard-working dogs will keep you interested. It also acts as a de facto Fridtjof Nansen Museum.
Where is the Fram Museum in Oslo?
The Fram Museum is on Oslo’s Bygdoy Peninsula, along with the Kon-Tiki Museum and Norsk Folkemuseum. The best way of getting there is on the Bygdoy Peninsula ferry from central Oslo.
Tickets for the Fram Museum cost 180kr. This Fram Museum ticket price was checked and updated in January 2026.
More Norway travel ideas
Other Oslo experiences include fjord cruises on a silent electric catamaran, bike tours and sea kayaking adventures.
Other Norway travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Whitewater rafting in Voss, Norway’s action capital.
- Which Oslo museums and attractions are open on Mondays?
- A practical guide to visiting Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.
- Five lessons learned from a Norwegian fjords cruise.
- Complete guide to Mostraumen fjord cruises from Bergen.
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