Hovedøya is the closest, just five minutes away. Here you will find the ruins of an old cistercian monastery, and also buildings and cannons from the time when the island was a part of the city’s defense. In a small cafe you can by simple sandwiches and a beer. The nature is wonderful, and you can have a long stroll. Most people come for the bathing during summer. 

Also for bathing: Gressholmen and especially Langøyene. Then there is Nakholmen, Lindøya and Bleikholmen – all islands with several cottages. Not so much for outsiders like you and me, but it is certainly possible to get off the boat to have a look, especially at Lindøya, where there is plenty of space.

More to come about the islands later on!

The ferry to Nesodden

There must be dozens of companies offering different cruise trips on the Oslo fjord, and by all means – it can be very pleasant. You will get some shrimps and a glass of cheap white wine (cheap only for the company, it will be quite expensive for you…)

But if you want to see the fjord, you can do it on your own. Just jump on the Nesodden ferry, leaving 32 minutes past every hour from Aker Brygge. It will cost you 50 kroner for the round trip, and you will be back in town after 53 minutes.

On board you can buy coffee and a ”lefse” (thin pancake of rolled dough, served buttered and folded). You will have a nice view of the fjord, and a very pleasant return to Oslo, which really is a town that should be approached from the sea.

Don’t bother to hop off the boat at Nesodden – there isn’t anyting to see there – unless you would like to go for a long walk along the coastal path.

So when a loudspeaking minister of trade dared to call it ”harry” to go shopping for cheaper beer, cigarettes and food stuff at the other side of the Norwegian/Swedish border, it came out all too wrong. Instead of being ashamed, people took pride in their ”harry trips”, bringing the border business to new heights – much to the grievance of Norwegian shop owners.

A favourite destination for people living in Oslo is the picturesque little town of Strømstad, 130 kilometers south of the Norwegian capital. Thanks to thousands of Norwegian guests, of whom quite a few got their own vacation houses in the area, Strømstad is as Norwegian as Sweden can be. Actually, it was a Norwegian area until a Danish king had to let it go to Sweden in 1668 (yes, this is a bit complicated. I will explain later in another post…).

In Strømstad you will find whatever you are looking for in the shops, generally to a significantly lower price than in Norway. But you should go there first and foremost for a pleasant trip. You will find reminences of the typical wooden villages of Sweden, and you can eat well – for example at Røkeriet. And if you have time – you should take the boat to the Koster Islands, a small hour outside Strømstad – a place where time is moving very slowly. I will tell you more later – I promise.

Your car will take you comfortably to Strømstad in 90 minutes, with the bus it will take you an hour more.
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