Island hopping in the Oslo Fjord
The Oslo Fjord harbours a handful of islands that can be reached by ferry from the city: the perfect destination for a relaxing day on the water, beach or in nature. It only takes 5 minutes to get to Hovedøya, where you can visit the medieval monastery. Alternatively, you could go and enjoy a long, leisurely lunch at an old inn on Gressholmen, or go camping for free on Langøyene. All 3 of these relaxing islands are within easy reach from Oslo.
Monastery, cannons and beach on Hovedøya
It only takes 5 minutes to get to Hovedøya from Vippetangen as it is the island closest to Oslo. The ‘main island’ is popular for a day out in the summer. It is covered in woods, has a marina and a sandy beach – although many sunbathers prefer the sun-heated rocks. On the western tip, there is a battery of canons that served to defend Fort Akershus directly opposite in the 19th century. The ruins of the Cistercian monastery from 1147 are the island’s main attraction.
Grassy dunes on ‘grass island’ Gressholmen
Three islands for the price of one: Gressholmen, Rambergøya and Heggholmen are connected by footpaths. You can sunbathe and swim along the east coast of Gressholmen and south coast of Rambergøya. The bay between the 2 islands is a breeding ground for water birds. A romantic wooden lighthouse sits atop a small jetty on Heggholmen. The Gressholmen Kro café has been serving drinks, snacks, sandwiches and a daily special in the summer since the 1930s.
Free camping on Langøyene
The H-shaped Langøyene island was once made up of two islands connected by the urban waste belt. Today, you might find that hard to imagine, as the rubbish heap has made way for a large, lush grassy field with forested ‘long islands’ on both sides. This is the only island close to Oslo that is not a protected nature reserve and where tourists can spend the night. Thanks to the Norwegian right to roam, camping is free. There is also a long sandy beach that covers a semi-circular bay. Facilities are limited, but there is a kiosk that sells beer and wine.
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Nature
The great outdoors beckons from all sides when you're in Oslo: from the waterside, the Oslo Fjord is filled with shady islands perfect for island hopping while, from the inland side, the city borders on the Oslomarka. This wooded area 1,700 square kilometres in size – with many kilometres of marked trails through cool valleys, across green hills and past red houses on blue lakes – is only 15 minutes from the city centre.
Arts & Culture
Even though Oslo is a small city with a population of only 600,000 people, it contains a lot of art; not only are there dozens of galleries, but also around 50 museums and exhibitions varying from Edvard Munch to Viking ships and the Nobel Peace Prize. However, modern art enthusiasts need not be disappointed either: with the opening of the Astrup Fearnley Museum, Oslo now boasts yet another top attraction.
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