10 Best Road Trips near Oslo
Escape to the Southern Coast This Weekend!
Although the capital has many exciting experiences to offer, it undoubtedly adds an extra dimension to your vacation when you can take a trip out of Oslo and experience something a little different. Most of these sights are available all year round, but it’s worth double-checking opening times before you travel to avoid a wasted journey. And should you still end up returning without having seen what you wanted, sometimes getting on a bus or a train to a new and exciting destination is a nice trip in itself!
1. SNOW
Ski time!
Good for: Families, Adventure
A short automobile, bus or metro ride outside the city centre takes you to one of Norway’s best indoor ski arenas, SNOW. Whether you’re into slalom or cross-country skiing, this center has it all. Not only is there a 500-metre slalom slope and a cross-country ski run of up to 1.5 km, but for a small additional fee you also get access to a gym.
And then there is of course delicious food served to suit different price brackets and tastes. With hotels on the property as well, everything is in place for world-class skiing adventure.
Location: Snøfonna 1, 1470 Lørenskog, Norway
Open: Tuesday-Friday: 14.00-21.00, Sunday-Sunday: 10.00-18.00
SNOW
2. Baerums verk
Historical buildings full of surprises
Good for: Families, Shoppers, Food
Baerums verk was once an epicenter for raw material processing of the metallic kind in Norway. This is where ore was cast and melted into iron, which was used in some of the most beautiful kilns in the country. The small community that built up around the ironworks covered all the needs of the people here. Shops, town halls, transportation hubs, schools, residential buildings and many other functions had to be covered.
Many people still live at Baerums verk, but the buildings from that time have been turned into a shopping mall with a number of good restaurants.
Location: Verksgata 15, 1353 Bærums Verk, Norway
Open: Monday-Friday 10.00-20.00, Saturday 10.00-18.00, Sunday: 12.00-16.00
Phone: +47 67 13 00 18
Baerums verk
3. Tusenfryd Amusement Park
Oslo’s biggest and best amusement park
Good for: Couples, Families
Tusenfryd is located in an area that was once home to a small zoo and amusement park along Mosseveien, but which in the late 80’s gave way to far more bright lights and attractions. And there have been many years of bright lights, attractions and hours of fun since! Year on year, the park succeeds in attracting visitors from all over Eastern Norway, with new attractions, exciting shows and pretty much something to suit all tastes. The area is well served by public transportation.
This has the bonus effect that the carpark is rarely full.
Location: Fryds Vei 25, 1407 Vinterbro, Norway
Open: May-October
Phone: +47 64 97 64 97
Tusenfryd Amusement Park
4. Eidsvoll House
Home of the Constitution and a popular museum of democracy
Good for: Families, History, Budget, Unusual
Eidsvoll House was owned by Carsten Anker, Norway’s richest man at the turn of the century between the 18th and 19th centuries. This is where the new Norwegian constitution was written in the spring of 1814, when it finally seemed that Norway would be able to break free from the Danish supremacy that had lasted for over 400 years.
A visit to this historic building will of course give you an insight into this history, but you will also be able to get an impression of what everyday life was like for the servants. Eidsvoll 1814 also has an exciting museum where you can learn about modern democracy in the world.
Location: Carsten Ankers veg 19, 2074 Eidsvoll Verk, Noewat
Open: Tuesday-Friday 11.00-15.00, Saturday-Sunday: 11.00-16.00
Phone: +47 63 92 22 10
Eidsvoll House
5. Hovedøya
An iconic hideaway - in the city centre
Good for: Couples, Families, History, Budget
If you walk along the harbor promenade in Oslo, you’ll spot Hovedøya. And it doesn’t take long to get there with one of the scheduled boats from Vippetangen. These accept all regular cards and tickets from Ruter, so you can use both single and season tickets.
The island itself is surprisingly large, and there are many cozy woods and coves you can settle in for a day of relaxation and peace. A peace you’ll find quite surprising given how close you still are to the city centre.
Hovedøya
6. Ekeberg
Great views and amazing food
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Food
The ridge just southeast of the city centre is a popular excursion site for all the city’s inhabitants, and with its slightly sleepy suburban character, Ekeberg is also a very sought-after residential area. Both soccer tournaments and music festivals are held here, and in the area you will find a visitor farm and many great hiking opportunities - including the best ski slopes within ring 2.
On the slope down to the city you have a fantastic view of the harbor pool and the Opera House, as well as several pleasant restaurants and a much talked about sculpture park.
Location: 1181 Oslo, Norway
Ekeberg
7. Østmarka
One of Oslo’s top activities
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Budget, Adventure
Anyone who visits Norway’s capital can’t failt to notice the city’s fantastic surroundings. With fields and mountains on more or less all sides, it’s easy to get out into the woods for some peace and quiet. Østmarka is easily accessible by public transportation, and can offer great hiking terrain in hilly landscapes.
Here you will find both golf courses and unpolluted fairytale forest, moraines and lakes where lumber was once floated in times gone by. If you’re a member of the Norwegian Tourist Association, you have access to a number of cozy little cabins in Østmarka.
Location: Public transportation to Lørenskog, Siggerud, Flateby or Ytre Enebakk
Østmarka
8. Oscarsborg Opera
Beautiful music in historic surroundings
Good for: Couples
Oscarsborg was probably Oslofjord’s most important military installation during the German attack on Norway in April 1940. The location, just north of Drøbaksundet, made the fortress a natural place to stop the cruiser Blücher, so that the government and the royal family could escape the invasion force.
In recent times, the fortress has been decommissioned, and is now a museum that organizes many fun and interesting cultural experiences, especially in the summer. In the exercise area, there is plenty of space for stage and sound systems, lights and grandstands, so that the operas performed here under the late summer sun benefit from a fantastic natural scenery.
Location: 1443 Oscarsborg, Norway
Open: Open seasonally
Phone: +47 815 33 133
Oscarsborg Opera
9. SAS Museum
Everything you didn’t know about Scandinavian aviation history
Good for: Families, History
Ever since the airline was established in 1946, the Scandinavian Airlines System has flown Norwegians around the country - and to far-flung destinations around the world. There have been many souvenirs and memories over the years, many of which are displayed at the SAS Museum at Oslo Airport.
Here you can get into the cabin of one of the classic planes, see how the uniforms have changed over time and learn more about the history of Norwegian airports. Get a drink at the museum café, and the viewing platform to the western runway at OSL is definitely worth a visit.
Location: Gardermovegen 1, 2030 Nannestad, Norway
Open: Tuesday: 10.00-15.00
Phone: +47 957 18 005
SAS Museum
10. Wesselstua
A small house with a big history
Good for: History, Unusual
Wesselstua is kept in memory of Johan Herman Wessel, one of Norway’s national poets and one of the loudest voices behind the idea of independence for Norwegians in the Enlightenment. Although he is probably best known for the time he spent in Copenhagen and the important role he played in Det Norske Selskab, his childhood home in Vestby is still an important local historical attraction.
If you want to visit the living room and see how Wessel grew up, contact Vestby municipality’s culture department in advance. You’ll get a tour and some funny anecdotes about the living Johan Herman.
Location: Johnsrudveien 13, 1540 Vestby, Norway
Open: By appointment
Phone: +47 982 58 688
Wesselstua
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