Island hopping in the inner Oslofjord
By city ferry to the monastery ruins on Hovedøya and the lighthouse on Heggholmen.
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The islands in the fjord are only minutes from Aker brygge, and an ordinary Ruter ticket is valid. On Hovedøya you walk to the ruins of a Cistercian monastery from 1147 and the cannon batteries from 1808. Then you take the boat on to Gressholmen, site of Norway's first main airport for seaplanes, and cross to the little lighthouse on Heggholmen. Bring swimwear in summer.
The stops
- Tip
Aker brygge
Her starter fergene, du behøver kun vanlig Ruter-billett.
- 1
Lavethuset
A 19th-century military store by the pier, with art exhibitions in summer.
- 2
Hovedøya Abbey
The ruins of a Cistercian monastery founded by English monks in 1147.
- 3
Østre kanonbatteri
A cannon battery from 1808, with a view over the fjord.
- 4
Gressholmen-Rambergøya naturreservat
A nature reserve with a bird bay. Do not pick berries or mushrooms, as the soil is polluted from an old shooting range.
- Tip
Gressholmen Kro
A historic island inn, open in summer.
- 5
Heggholmen Lighthouse
A small white lighthouse on an islet you can walk out to from Gressholmen.
About the trip
- Where
- Oslo
- Getting around
- By boat
- Time
- 1 h 49 min
- Stops
- 5
- Season
- May–September
- Themes
- Family, History, Nature
Practical
- Start
- Rådhusbrygge 4 by Aker brygge. Ruter boat B1 to Hovedøya.
- Finish
- Gressholmen pier. Boat B1 or B2 back to Aker brygge.
- Toilets
- By the piers and beaches, mostly in the summer season.
- Accessibility
- Gravel, grass and rocks with small hills. The boats are step-free.