Everything You Need to Know About Island-Hopping in Oslo

Even though Oslo itself has plenty of interesting things to do, the main appeal of the Norwegian capital lies in the beautiful nature nearby. It’s truly something else to have a city where you can take the Metro to untamed hiking and fun skiing. My favorite experience here is island-hopping around the inner part of Oslofjord. 

I’d go as far as saying that if you only have one or two days in Oslo, you should spend the bulk of this island-hopping. You can get to many of these with an ordinary public transport ticket, thanks to an excellent network of ferries. 

Having been to Oslo 8 times, I’ve visited several islands and gone on all kinds of nature adventures. Based on those experiences, I’m putting together this comprehensive guide to help you with island-hopping in the Norwegian capital. You’ll find out where you can visit, what you can do, how to get to each island, and much more. 

These Are the Islands You Can Visit With Public Transport

You can visit five islands from Oslo’s city center via the public transport ferries: 

• Hovedøya 
• Bleikøya 
• Nakkholmen
• Langøyene (formerly Rambergøya and Gessholmen)
• Lindøya 

Hovedøya is the closest island to Downtown Oslo; the ferry ride takes around 10 minutes. If you only have enough time in the Norwegian capital to visit one, this is where I would recommend spending the bulk of your time. You’ll get fantastic views of the city center, along with plenty of interesting attractions on the island itself. 

Bleikøya is my personal favorite; it’s largely residential and feels like a small town separate from Oslo. Langøyene, meanwhile, used to be two islands—but since then, the water between them has been filled with land. 

Nakkholmen and Lindøya are both mainly residential, but they’re still worth visiting. Both have a wealth of traditional, colorful Norwegian houses, and the main joy of both is wandering around. 

How to Reach the Islands in Oslo

Oslo’s five main islands are all easily accessible by public transport. Ferries operate between these islands year-round, but daily schedules are slimmer during the winter. 

To buy a ticket for the ferry, you’ll need to download the Ruter app. It’s available on iOS and Android. I suggest purchasing a day ticket, which will also cover your public transport in Oslo’s city center. A one-day ticket costs 137 Norwegian Kroner (NOK), which is around $14.50. 

If you want to explore the rest of the Oslofjord, it’s possible to take an island-hopping tour. Doing so costs more money, but it might be a better option if you want someone else to do the trip structuring for you. 

You can also take various tours on the Oslofjord, though you generally won’t be able to disembark at any of the islands. Nonetheless, the scenery will still be nice. My friend and I sailed from Copenhagen to Oslo in May 2023, part of which involved going through the Oslofjord, and it was very pleasant—even though the fjord isn’t on the same level as the ones near Bergen. 

What Can I Do on Oslo’s Islands?

Oslo’s main islands are great if you want to be active, and they’re equally fun to just walk around and explore. 

Based on my numerous trips to these islands, here are some of my top recommendations for the best things to do. 

1. Get a Great View of Oslo 

One of my favorite things to do in Oslo in general is to get a great view of the city. And when island-hopping, that’s precisely what you’ll receive. The City Hall and Akershus Festning look particularly scenic as your ferry heads towards Hovedøya and beyond. 

As the ferry moves further away from the shore, a mesmerizing view of Oslo’s downtown area—with the mountains behind it—will appear. Once you’re on the islands, you can similarly enjoy lovely views of the city. You’ll see numerous landmarks, such as the Holmenkollen Ski Jump.

The view looks particularly scenic on a moody day when it’s about to rain, but it’s worth seeing regardless of the time or weather. 

2. Go Swimming 

One of Oslo’s many great qualities is that the water here is clean enough to swim in. Hovedøya, in particular, is a great place to go swimming, and you’ll find a swimming area on Langøyene as well. 

Oslo can get surprisingly warm in the winter, and going for a dip is a nice way to cool off. You don’t need to pay a fee, but you will need to bring your own towel and swimwear. It goes without saying that the water is pretty cold year-round. 

3. Explore Some Ruins

Hovedøya is the place to be if you’re into history. On this island, you’ll find ruins from a monastery dating back to the 12th century. The building remained undiscovered for centuries after being burned down, but now, it’s a lovely place to walk around. 

My mom and I visited these ruins in May 2019 and found them very interesting. I still find it so cool how some monuments can stand the test of time, especially in climates as harsh as Norway. 

The ruins are completely free to walk around, so be sure to add them to your list when you visit Hovedøya. 

4. Have a Picnic

Oslo is a nice place to visit year-round, but it’s hard to ignore the city’s spirited atmosphere on a sunny day. Having a picnic is one of the best things to do when visiting the islands; you’ll find seating areas on some of them for which you can do so. 

If you plan to have a picnic, be sure to stop at a grocery store in Oslo; you’ll only find some cafés on some of the islands. For the full Norwegian experience, get some crispbreads and Kvikk Lunsj chocolate bars. 

Note that while you have the freedom to roam in Norway, you should also not leave a mark. Make sure that you take all of your trash with you. 

5. Enjoy Being in Nature

On some occasions, I’ve taken the ferry to some of Oslo’s islands because I simply want some time in solitude. Having the islands so close to Oslo is perfect for a quick retreat. 

Hovedøya is, in my opinion, the best island for getting into nature. You’ll find some lovely forests here, and it feels incredibly peaceful. Lindøya is similarly nice. 

6. Visit One of Oslo’s Old Airports

While the impressive Gardermoen Airport serves Oslo today, this was not always the case. Besides other airports, one of the first ones was on Gressholmen—which today is one of the islands that form Langøyene. 

Gressholmen Airport was used between 1927 and 1939, and people could only use it during the summer. Needless to say, this became impractical as Oslo began developing. Today, the area is used to store boats, and you can visit it while you’re in Gressholmen. 

When Should I Visit the Islands in Oslo?

While you can visit the islands year-round, doing so in the winter will require more planning. The ferry schedule being limited is only one issue; you also need to consider the lack of daylight hours. In December, for example, the sun is above the horizon for just over six hours in Oslo. 

If I were to pick the absolute best time to visit, I would say that you should do so between May and September. When my friend and I went to Norway in May 2023, we spent a full day hopping around the islands and really enjoyed it. 

One exception to the rule is Hovedøya, which is worth visiting year-round. Since it’s only 10 minutes from the city center, getting here and then heading back into town is very easy. 

Regardless of when you visit Oslo’s islands, I recommend making sure that you know the ferry schedule in advance. I haven’t had issues in Oslo, but I did once miss a flight home from Gothenburg because I didn’t check when the boats would leave 🙂. 

You can check the ferry schedule here. 

Can I Camp on Oslo’s Islands? 

You can only camp on Langøyene, and it’s possible to stay here for a maximum of two days. You’ll find a campsite on the island where you can set up shop, and it’s free to stay here. 

If you decide to camp here, you should keep in mind that you’re expected to be quiet from 11 pm to 7 am. Moreover, you need to set up your tent at least three meters away from the others. Another key rule is that you aren’t allowed to set up barriers that shut other people out of the area. 

On the island, you’ll find some bathroom facilities—along with recreational areas. 

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