Grefsenkollen: An Easy Hike With Rewarding Views of Oslo

By far my favorite thing about Oslo, and the reason I’ve visited so many times, is how much nature you have within touching distance of the city center. A simple bus ride or tram journey can lead you into untouched wilderness among lakes and forests, with great views and the smell of fresh pine trees. Grefsenkollen is one of my favorite hiking experiences in the capital region. 

Grefsenkollen offers great views of Oslo and its nearby fjords, mountains, and islands. Moreover, it’s one of the most accessible hikes in Norway altogether—let alone in and around Oslo. I had the privilege of taking this hike on one of my previous trips to the Norwegian capital, having had it on my list for over five years, and it was well worth the wait. 

Based on my experiences, I’ve put together this full guide to hiking Grefsenkollen. Keep reading to learn how to get to the trailhead and the rest of the practical information you need.

Getting to the Trail’s Starting Point 

Since we were staying in the center of Oslo and close to Akershus Festning, we had the option to take either the tram or bus to the trail’s starting point. While we took the bus, the tram was roughly the same time. 

Bus

We took the 31 bus to Årvoll Senter; the journey took just under 25 minutes. From here, we walked a further 15 minutes or so to the start of the trail point. The trail starts in a suburb and is marked on Google Maps, making it pretty easy to find; search for “Grefsenkollen tursti”. 

Tram

After finishing the hike, we actually took the tram back into Oslo. While we were staying close to Akershus Festning, we wanted to go to Grünerløkka. So, depending on where in Oslo you are, the tram might actually be a better option. 

One option is to take the tram from Jernbanetorget, which is just outside the city’s main train station. From here, you can get off at Storo or Doktor Smiths Vei—before walking to the trailhead. 

Regardless of whether you take the tram or bus, you just need a one-zone public transport ticket. You can buy these in the Ruter app. 

What Were the Trail Conditions Like? 

The trail itself was in pretty good condition. I didn’t have too many problems walking up this, especially compared to some of the hikes we did in the Faroe Islands—when it was basically mud, grass, and vibes. While it had been raining before we went on the hike, the trail was mostly fine. 

Still, though, I can imagine that it can get slippery at other times of the year. So, I still recommend bringing a good pair of hiking shoes. Plus, you’ll probably need them if you’re visiting other parts of Norway—such as Stavanger or Bergen 🙂. 

Hiking With Views of Oslo

Once you start the hike, you’ll immediately walk through a forest with various marked trails. While we strayed from the original trail a few times, it was generally easy to find. Before long, we were met with some great views of Oslo and its nearby islands and mountains. Holmenkollen Ski Jump was in clear sight in the distance. 

We then continued upward and found various other viewpoints of the Norwegian capital. At each of these, we stopped for a few minutes to admire the scenery. Besides seeing Oslo, you’ll get a great view of the Oslofjord. 

Reaching the Top

It took us around an hour to reach the top, but that included various photo stops along the way. If you were to go without stopping, you could probably get to the top within 45-50 minutes. 

At the top of Grefsenkollen, you’ll find a restaurant. Our original plan was to go here for some food, but it wasn’t open until 12:00. That’s our own fault for not checking the times, but at least you can now learn from my mistake. 

You can find all the opening times for the restaurant here. It’s also possible to book a table on the website; the official site is in Norwegian, but “Book bord” means “Book table”. 

To be honest, I feel like the journey to the top was worth more than the view when we got there. However, my mind would probably have been different if we had been able to visit the restaurant. Still, the views coming down were nice. 

The journey back down took us around the same time as it took for us to reach the top. 

Would I Recommend the Grefsenkollen Hike? 

I can fully recommend Grefsenkollen if you’re looking for a beginner-friendly hike within easy reach of Oslo. While you could drive all the way to the top, there is no fun in that—and you’d also miss the best views along the way. 

Anyone with reasonable fitness levels can hike Grefsenkollen, and I also think it’s suitable for children. Despite being so close to Oslo, the trail was also pretty quiet when we visited; we saw just a few other locals for the entire time we were hiking there. 

If you’re in the Norwegian capital for a few days, I’d suggest doing the hike before exploring the rest of Oslo. Despite there being so many fun things to do closer to ground level, this is the perfect way to get acquainted with nature in Norway. 

My Top Tips for This Hike

Now that we’ve covered the most important aspects, here are some of my top recommendations for this hike… 

• Time Your Visit Right: In hindsight, I’d have done this hike early in the morning or later in the evening. If we had gone later, the restaurant would have been open. For photography, the lighting was also not great when we were there; early morning or later in the afternoon would’ve been better. 
• Don’t Bring a Car: While you could drive here, I recommend just taking the bus or tram. Both are very simple, and driving in Downtown Oslo is pointless unless you enjoy being stressed. 
• Fill Your Bottles Before: I didn’t see anywhere to fill up our bottles on the way up, so do this at your accommodation before starting the hike. 
• Dress in Layers: While the hike isn’t very long, you *will* start sweating. It still felt cold when we did the hike, even in May—and I felt like dressing in layers was a wise approach.

A Simple but Rewarding Hike for Your Oslo Itinerary

Grefsenkollen has become one of my favorite nature experiences in and around Oslo, and it’s pretty easy for most people—even if you have limited hiking experience before. The trail is well-marked and so easy to reach from the city that not coming here makes little sense (unless you only have one day in Oslo). 

Now that you’ve read this guide, you should have everything you need to hike Grefsenkollen and enjoy some great views of the Norwegian capital.

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