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.

However, at Aker Brygge, paradoxically neighboured by some of the most expensive restaurants in town, you will find Rorbua. Here you are offered a ”today’s menu” for 125 kroner (14,5 Euro), coffee included. Fish is often on the menu.

The food comes in hearty portions, and the chef specialises in traditional Norwegian food. Service is excellent, even without any Swedish waiters.

Rorbua means the little cottage where fishermen up north used to stay during the fishing season, and the restaurant’s design is meant to be kind of fisherman’s rough style. That’s OK, as long as the food is better than what the fishermen usually had to eat in the old days.

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The city bikes are available from a large number of bike stations around the city. You are only allowed to use a bike for maximum 3 hours – then you have to return it to a station (any one of them), and you can immediately loan a new bike if you wish.

Most of the stations are in the city centre, but you can also find bikes at Bislett, Grünerløkka, Gamlebyen (the old town) and at Bygdøy, and new stations are being built continuously. The bike stations are open 6 am – midnight. The bikes are not available in the winter.
For an updated list of bike stations, visit the website http://www.oslobysykkel.no, and you will find a map and a complete list of stations.

Tourists and others who don’t need a season card can rent a smartcard at the Tourist Information. This costs NOK 80 for one day. In addition to that, you have to have a credit card as a deposit.