Nature Archives

WildOslo guided kayak tour in nature

Guided kayak excursion of about 3.5 hours at Langen in Oslomarka. The tour starts south of Oslo near Siggerud and is conducted with experienced local nature guides. You'll learn to stay safe in your kayak. Escape the crowds and join a great tour among beautiful scenery, birds and peace.
Included: A good lunch • Kayaking equipment (oar, vest) • The guide will bring a towel in case you want to swim

The tour is suitable for small groups up to 5 people.

Om Langen

Paddling on Langen is a bit like paddling on a wide and drowsy river. Langen is about 9 kilometers long and we paddle parts of it, past small islands, some farms, duck families and beaver huts – most of the time you paddle in wilderness. You start in the north, at Bru. The lake is popular among fishermen, and you will find everything from perch to trout, bream and protected eel. There are many nice places to go ashore, as well as tent sites here and there.

Access: Take the bus, to Bru – it takes 31 minutes from Bjørvika (bus 550 change to 515 at Klementsrud).

Hiking along Glomma at Årnes

The first stage of the Elvestien is a paved, easy-to-walk path that runs along Glomma between Årnes and Høie. Further along the path, there are several viewpoints with tables and benches – nice rest and rest areas whether you want to go for a short or a long walk. The view is open towards Glomma, the Glomma/Vorma river meeting and towards i.a. Nes church ruins.

Ti på Topp Vinter Oslo og Akershus

Take your friends, colleagues or family on a ski trip in the beautiful countryside in Oslo and Akershus. The tour goals are varied, some easy, some medium tours, while we also have some more demanding ski tours well outside the groomed ski slopes. Here you can sign up as an individual participant, or as a member of a family team, friend team or company team. Download the "Ti på Topp" app, and get ready to register your winter trips.

There will be ski trips from the Oslo area, Asker and Bærum, Follo and Romerike! We want to help you get a little extra motivation to take a ski trip in the fields this winter!

Hurdalsjøen by bike

The nature in Hurdal is magnificent, with wooded hills surrounding Hurdalssjøen. The buildings are located around the sea and extend up the valleys – a nice mix of traditional hamlets and modern construction sites, which together form an attractive cultural landscape. In Hurdal’s large forest areas, there are miles of forest roads and paths where you can discover the surroundings on two wheels. Hurdal offers over 40 lakes with fishing and swimming opportunities and fantastic views, such as Fjellsjøkampen, Akershus’ highest point.

You stay at Hurdalsjøen Hotel, located in the middle of an eldorado of nature experiences. The hotel is an architectural gem that is beautifully reflected in Hurdalsjøen and they place great emphasis on art. As they see it, well-being is something more than fantastic food and drink from Eastern Norway’s dishes. It is also something more than feeling the body find its way back to itself in their new Spa. Wellness is also when you tickle or tease the intellect through art.

Day 1

Arrival in Hurdal

After arriving to Hurdalsjøen Hotel you can take a nice bike tour in to the center of Hurdal. It is a very cozy place with beautiful environments. Hurdal was called "The pearl of Eastern Norway" by the poet Theodor Caspari. In the evening, your nice room and dinner awaits at the hotel.

Accommodation: Hurdalsjøen Hotel, Hurdal

Meals: Dinner

Cycling: Approx 24 km

Day 2

Bike tour around Hurdalsjøen

After brekfast you head for a bike tour around the lake Hurdalsjøen. The lake is 16 km long and the nature is fantastic. Like many other lakes in the lowlands of the eastern mountains, Hurdalssjøen was a fjord arm in earlier times. There are many nice places to stop along the way, for example on Østerudhøgda where there is a nice view over Hurdalssjøen. You cycle around the lake and can stop and swim at some nice bathing spot along the way, for example in Åsand, Meieriodden close to Hurdal church and Haugnes on the east side of Hurdalssjøen. In the evening, your nice room and dinner awaits at the hotel.

Accommodation: Hurdalsjøen Hotel, Hurdal

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Cycling: Approx 48 km

Day 3

Minneåsvegen – Byua – Rødtjern – Skisenteret – Knaimoen

Today you will discover severral interesting places. Take a small detour from Minneåsvegen up on Brenntoppen after about 2 km on Byfellavegen, at the exit to Vingerdalsstua. From the top there is a fantastic view of Hurdal! Knaimoen is the county's best preserved hamlet, with 16 old log houses. The place was originally a Finn place, but became at the end of the 17th century seats for Knaigårdene, and was in operation until 1967.

Accommodation: Hurdalsjøen Hotel, Hurdal

Meals: Breakfast

Cycling: Approx 40 km

Badeparken, Drøbak

Badeparken in Drøbak

Badeparken and Parrstranda are located in the center of Drøbak.

This is one of Indre Oslofjord's finest bathing areas, with a diving tower, beach volleyball court, floating docks and playgrounds. You can either lie on the large grassy area, sunbathe down on the sandy beach or find a more sheltered spot on the rock.

The history of this park is closely linked to the history of the town of Drøbak. At the end of the 19th century, Drøbak developed into an important seaside town and resort with a number of bathing facilities in Badeparken. The old "Men's Bath", which was part of the bathing facilities and spa facilities built in 1900, has today been restored and is a very nice bathing area. Badeparken and Parrstranda are also a couple of minutes' walk from the center of Drøbak with great niche shops, galleries, cozy cafes and attractions such as the Drøbak Aquarium, the Christmas House and the Avistegnnernes Hus. The nearest car park is Bankløkka and the nearest bus stop is Drøbak church.

Facilities: Car park, bus stop, toilet, shower and summer kiosk.

Fetsund Lenser

Fetsund Lenser – a national heritage monument, timberfloating museum and nature centre. A unique blend of cultural and natural adventures, set in beautiful scenery on the Glomma, at the gateway to Nordre Øyeren nature reserve, northern Europe's largest inland delta. Norway's only preserved timber-sorting facility, now a national heritage monument.

Museum
Timber-sorting facility on the water, 20 listed buildings, boats, workshops, exhibitions.

Visitor Centre Wetland, Northern Øyeren.A 300 m2 children-friendly centre with lot of interactivity, prize-winning architecture and exhibitions with focus on regional nature and wetlands. Nature trail, beautiful surroundings and a walk path following the river through the museum area Cafe and shops.

Member of Visit Greater Oslo

Carsten Ankers summerhouse

Eidsvoll museum

Visit Eidsvoll Municipal museum, Eidsvoll Occupation museum, Feiring ironworks, St. Paul's iron mine and Carsten Anker's house

Member of Visit Greater Oslo

Filtvet and Tofte villages by the Oslofjord

The tip of the Hurum Peninsula has had a central position when shipping traffic was the link between both sides of the Oslofjord and today consists of beautiful unspoilt coastal scenery and charming southern villages. Here we introduce you to two different towns that are reached by summer boat to Filtvet, by car or by bike.

Filtvet is easily reached by boat during summer time and we start at the pier where we have great views over to Son and towards Filtvet Fyr. Follow Strandveien past the small houses towards Filtvet Lighthouse and the beautiful white beach where you can rent waterjet, swim and sunbathe and enjoy good ice cream from the ice cream bar. On the other side of the lighthouse is a nice green area with benches.

Probably, Filtvet has been a port since the Middle Ages where loading and unloading of goods and exports of timber has been conducted. From the 1740s to the 1770s there were operations in three iron mines near Filtvet. These were owned by Moss ironworks, and were located on or near Husebykollen. Mining ceased and seamen settled in Filtvet. From the 1780s, Filtvet was also a customs office under Drøbak's customs district. But after Tofte Cellulosefabrikk was built in 1897, Tofte emerged as the largest urban area in the area.

If you have lunch at Villa Malla there is a real danger of not wanting to leave this beautiful white bay with a view to the lighthouse ……. but new experiences are worth the detachment.

Filtvet lighthouse is the region's only lighthouse and has been in operation since 1840 and was automated in 1985 and today is a coastal gallery with changing exhibitions throughout the summer. The garden and beach are open for for swimming and recreation. Various events such as exhibitions, concerts and lectures are also organized. It is possible to rent the lighthouse.

Tour suggestions at Filtvet:

Follow the dirt road that goes on the upper side of Villa Malla and you will reach a nice wooden bridge and Ekrebukta and follow the coastal path further towards Tofte.

Tofte is located at the south tip of Hurum and is among the areas in the country with the highest average temperature. This leads to a lush plant and bird life on the islands and in the Sandbukta-Østnestangen nature reserve. It is said that the most beautiful part of the coastal path is the trip from Tofte to Rødangen via the nature reserve with the possibility of tenting along the way. Cozy trip with great views of the coast. There is abundant wildlife of seabirds and seals in the archipelago at Tofte. The area around Tofte has significant occurrences of the rare species of mistletoe and barberry.

Tofte center is elongated with small shops, Greek restaurant and local and mediterrean delicacies at Kultivar. Tofte has several beautiful sandy beaches and grassy areas for fun with good toilet facilities such as Apotekerstranda and Preisserstranda.

Tofte Cellulosefabrik AS and Hurum Fabriker AS, became the cornerstone companies that the entire Tofte community depended on for over a hundred years until the factory was closed down in 2013. A strong working-class culture grew on site and the population expanded. Today, the area has been transformed into a business park and Tofte has several well-preserved buildings that describe industrial history.

The polar ship Maud made for Amundsen is for storage in the harbor to the south of Tofte pending the construction of a museum.

Member of Visit Greater Oslo

Historic bathing towns in Asker

Humans have since the early 1900s believed that the salty air and a bath in the sea cures illnesses, and since then the Oslofjord has been a favorite place for bathing houses, gatherings, recreational activities and summer places for the distinguished families from "Christiania". For many years, the "Daddy boat" brought passengers to the the small towns on the weekends while mothers, grandparents and children stayed in the small towns throughout the summer.

No wonder that the area today has 6 of Norway's Blue Flag beaches in addition to summit hikes with fantastic views and a lot of unspoiled nature.

A road trip through Asker, to Hurumlandet takes you through different eras via charming summer gems such as Vollen, Sætre, Filtvet and Holmsbu. The area is best experienced by car but is also very popular to explore biking or by leisure boat. There is also a scheduled boat between Aker Brygge and Drøbak / Son with a few stops along the coast.

Treat yourself to quality time in a slower pace and feel the atmosphere visitors have come to experience through centuries. Rent rooms at one of the classic seaside hotels while exploring the coastal path, coastal galleries and other attractions in Asker and the Hurum Peninsula.

SPA at Holmen Fjordhotell

Holmen Fjordhotell is idyllically located by the water's with a view of the most beautiful part of the Oslo Fjord. The guest house Holmen Sommerhotell was started in 1924, and has today been expanded and converted into a modern conference hotel with a beautiful SPA in maritime style. Trygve Hegnar has collected some of his maritime antiques, old boats and cars that are on display in the hotel's public areas. Enjoy a good dinner and wrap up the evening with a game of shuffle board in the hotel bar.

Vollen

A stop in Vollen offers a whole day of experiences; unique shops with jewelery design and fashion, delicious Mediterranean lunch on the pier at Vito´s or the taste of Greece at Elea. Popular activities are renting a jet ski in the marina and sauna at Varm in Vollen. The Oslo Fjord Museum has changing exhibitions that tell about life on the fjord and the boat building traditions. The polar ship Maud was built here and is now for storage in Tofte, further south on the Hurum Peninsula. Nearby accommodation options: Quality Hotel Leangkollen , Ramton Camping and Holmen Fjordhotell

Sætre

Sætre is located at the exit of the Oslofjord tunnel south of Hurumlandet. Sætre Gård is a cultural monument and is idyllically located by the Oslo Fjord and is today a nice gallery and restaurant. The town has a nice city beach, beautiful hiking areas around Sandspollen and an active marina. Sætre is developing into an urban small town with nice restaurants and public services.

Filtvet

In charming Filtvet you can enjoy a lazy day by the beautiful white bay with a view to Filtvet Lighthouse. Stroll among the small houses, bathe from the rocks or enjoy a good meal at the esteemed Villa Malla. This is not just a restaurant, but a destination in itself. They have no menu, just buffet for both lunch and dinner. The buffet is full of homemade Mediterranean food such as salads, salsa, dips, countless vegetable dishes and hot dishes from the grill. In Gallery Malla, you will find exhibitions by artists from all over the world. Accommodation nearby: Villa Utsikten.

Holmsbu

Holmsbu is the most famous small town in Asker, beautifully situated by Drammensfjorden. This coastal gem is bustling with life from Easter to the autumn holidays, but is well worth a visit all year round. Spend the evening with delicious food at one of the city's restaurants and cafés, listening to live music in the backyard or on the hotel terrace. Enjoy a refreshing sea bath and sauna from the floating sauna, rent a canoe from the hotel and walk the coastal path towards Rødtangen.

The unique light and landscape at the southern tip of Hurum has been immortalized by many painters. Henrik Sørensen came to visit in 1913 and enjoyed the place so much that he lived in Holmsbu almost every summer for the rest of his life in company with several renowned painters, referred to as "Holmsbumalerne". They painted the beautiful decorations in Holmsbu church in the 1950s and 1960s. Holmsbu Bildemuseum-Henrik Sørensen's collections is nicely located along the coastal path in Støa and is open from June to September.

Make a hike to Holtnesdalen nature reserve with unique primeval forest, deciduous forest and carpets of wildflowers. The stream divides the valley into two parts and creates deep, dark valley depressions – with ferns and deciduous forest in the valley bottoms, and more coniferous forest at the height between them.

Experience the beautiful coast and find peace in the sunset breeze. Enjoy good company with close friends in one of the many beautiful places along the Asker coast.

Have a pleasant tour.

Drøbak Aquarium

Welcome to Drøbak Aquarium

Drøbak Aquarium gives you an up-close look at the rich wildlife of the Oslofjord. Inside the aquarium, you’ll find 50 aquariums, 2 large tanks, and a touch pool with various types of sea creatures.

The aquarium showcases many exciting species. Among others, you’ll get up close to the fearsome grin of Hugo the wolffish. You'll find everything from adorable scallops to ghostly tadpole cods. Some of the tanks even have sharks! We also display various echinoderms and starfish in their dazzling colors.

In June 2025, Drøbak Aquarium will also open a brand-new freshwater section.