Dating s Dating ad Sites Sites n Free t Education e Free O Dating lsearchf Free o
di Education h Tag Free u Sites sd Tag s
osearchyu Tag wl Education Education i
d Free a Education k Tag ngsearcho Sites fsearchilsearchn
s Sites hsearchrsearch asearche Sites 4 i Education l
n Free sisearch tsearche
Osearchlf Sites o Tag d Education Free aysearchosearchlsearch search Free 0 Education m Tag n Sites te Sites err
searchi Free e Free wy Dating Ea
h Tag fsearcht
e Sites s Tag adsearch Sites a Free tssearchosearchn Tag flsearchv Tag r Dating
Sites Hovedøya offers a botanical and historical haven, but also a beach and beautiful viewpoints to the Oslofjord. Here you find some of Norway's rarest flowers and the ruins of a monastery from the 12th. century. Note that most of the island is a nature reserve, thus vegetation and animals are protected. Picking of flowers is forbidden.
Langøyene offers a long beach and is a popular spot for families. This is one of the few islands where you can put up a tent and stay the night. Actually, the beach used to be a dump for garbage.
While both Langøyene and Hovedøya are islands only packed with nature and visitors, Lindøya is also packed with summerhouses. Come here and watch how Oslofolks spend their summer. Due to restrictions, all houses come in three colors, only, green, yellow and red.
Getting there:
Ferry no. 92 or 94 from Vippetangen (west of Aker Brygge).
Bathing in the sea
Oslo has many beaches. Huk, Hvervenbukta and Ingierstrand are some of them. Huk is situated at Bygdøy where you also find the Vikingships, while the others are situated the south-east.
Getting there:
Bus no. 30 to Huk, bus no. 76/83 to Hvervenbukta or bus no. 87 to Ingierstrand.
Maridalsvannet (Maridalsvannet lake)
This is a scenic tour that takes you through farming land, woods, historical ruins, a typical Norwegian church, always with great views to the Maridal lake.
Maridalsvannet is situated north of the citycenter. The lake is the main source of drinking water in Oslo, therefore access to the lake is strictly forbidden. Do not let this refrain you from enjoying a nice bike ride along the water. The western and northern part of the lake is characterised by sloping farm fields dotted with picturesque wooden houses, the ruins of the Margaretha church and the little white wooden Maridalen church. Continue to the “wishing bridge” across the Deadsea river, before you enter the second leg of journey: A winding trip in the forest with great views to the water.
Getting there:
Take the tram to Kjelsås station and walk or bicycle from there.
Østensjøvannet (Østensjøvannet lake)
If you are interested in Norwegian birds, Østensjøvannet is the place to visit. The lake is Oslo’s biggest wetland and bird reserve. More than 200 species have been registered here. The area is widely used for recreation. Do as the locals, take the 4,5 kilometer long hike around the water.
Getting there:
Subway no. 4 to Lambertseter station. Follow the Lambertseter road until it becomes the Østensjø road.
St. Hanshaugen (St. Hanshaugen park)
Among Oslo’s many parks, St. Hanshaugen is one of the most romantic ones. It is not very big, but it is hilly with great views to downtown Oslo. The park has an interesting history. Years ago it was regarded worthless, and for a while it was used as graveyard for horses. In the 1840s the inhabitants of Christiania, the name of Oslo at the time, began to use the park as site for their Midsummer Eve bonfire. This is how the park got its name St. Hanshaugen, which means Midsummer hill. You will find an outdoor cafe here in the summer.
Getting there:
Bus number 37 takes you from the central station to St. Hanshaugen. If you prefer to walk, it takes about 15 minutes from the center of Oslo.
Sognsvann (Sognsvann lake)
Oslo has two great woodland areas: The North forest and the East forest. Sognsvann is probably the most popular doorway to the North forest. People go here to hike, run, stroll or just relax. As with any entrances to the Oslo forest, there is a big sign welcoming you to the municipal forest. If you want to take a lazy stroll around Sognsvann, do so, but there are numerous other trails. If you want to escape the crowds at Sognsvann, continue to Store- og Lille Åklungen (Big and Small Åklungen), a little to the north. Just follow the signs from Sognsvann.
Getting there:
Subway no. 3 stops a 2-minute walk from the water.
Ullevålseter (Ullevålseter summer farm)
Those who venture out on a hiking trip in the woods, may want to rest their feet and enjoy a meal at one of the typical “markastuer.” Markastuer are houses, some dating back in time, which serve as resting places for hikers and skiers. One of these is Ullevål summer farm. Ullevålseter used to be a smallholding dating back to 1737 and it is surrounded by that typical Norwegian wooden-fence called a skigaard.
Getting there:
Subway no. 3 to Sognsvann. Then follow the signs into the forest. Ullevålseter is a 4,5 kilometer walk from Sognsvann.
Akerselva (Akerselva river)
Oslo has many rivers and if one should be named the blue vein of Oslo, it is the Akerselva. The story of the river is fascinating. In the Middle Ages it was the source of drinking water and in the 19th. century it became the cradle of Norway’s industrialization and became very polluted. Today the river is an environmental park. Many of the bridges are illuminated with designer lighting and there are many popular recreational spots along the river. In the north, there’s Brekkedammen, a bathing spot, and further south there are many popular picnic spots, e.g. Kuba in the trendy Grunerløkka.
Akerselva is a good example of Oslo’s rich nature. In the southern part, the salmon comes to spawn and in the northern part, the beaver lives. More than 100 species of birds have been found along the river, including the national bird, the fossekall.
Getting there:
Subway to Nydalen station and walk downstream.
Bogstad Gård (Bogstad farm)
Visit a real farm with many Norwegian farm animals like goats, pigs, sheep and English Hereford cows. In spring the farm is littered with baby cows and sheep. The farm also houses an authentic Norwegian manor, now a museum, dating back to the 18th century which once belonged to Norway’s first prime minister Peder Anker. If you visit Hovedøya, you will encounter sheep from Bogstad on holiday.
Getting there:
Subway no. 2 to Røa station, then bus no. 41 to Bogstad Gård.
Frognerparken (Frogner Park)
Norway's most famous park, Frognerparken, contains the Vigeland sculptures. But this is not the only reason why the park is worth a visit. You will also find Frogner manor dating back to 1790, Norway's biggest collection of roses and the The Oslo City Museum.
You can get a free brochure of Frognerparken. Pick up a copy at the City Hall's Information center at Aker Brygge or download it here (pdf, 800 kB - new window).
Getting there:
Tram no. 12 to Vigelandsparken, or walk there from Majorstua.