The most popular island in the Oslofjord is Hovedøya, a beautiful, quiet place ideal for walks, picnics and, in warm weather, swimming in the sea.
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Especially when the weather is nice, Hovedøya has its charm in all seasons.
Nature and beaches
The island of Hovedøya is only a few hundred metres long at most, and you can walk the whole thing in 20 minutes, but you can spend half a day here.
Much of the island is covered in pleasant forests interspersed with hiking trails, meadows and rustic wooden houses.
In the southern part of the island there are several pleasant pebble beaches where you can take a refreshing dip in the fjord water in summer.
Remains of a monastery and a fortress
In the middle of the island you will visit the beautifully preserved remains, especially the foundations, but also some of the outer walls, of a Cistercian monastery dating back to 1147.
Entrance is possible 24/7 and is free of charge.
On the highest point of the island there was also in the past an outpost to the main fortress of Akershus in the centre of the town, and there are still historical cannons there.
Ferry routes and timetable
To reach the island of Hovedøya, you can take the B1 and B2 ferries. Both lines depart at the Aker Brygge dock.
| Line | Frequency | Sailing time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aker Brygge | B1, B2 | 4x per hour in summer 1x per hour in winter |
8 minutes |
|
Lindøya |
B1 | 2x per hour in summer 1x per hour in winter |
6 minutes |
| Gressholmen | B1, B2 | 4x per hour in summer 1x per hour in winter |
10 minutes |
| Bleikøya | B1 | 2x per hour in summer 1x per hour in winter |
14 minutes |
| Langøyene | B2 | 2x per hour in summer Not in operation in winter |
18 minutes |
| Nakkholmen | B1 | 2x per hour in summer 1x per hour in winter |
30 minutes |
Fares are the same as for all modes of transport, see detailed information in the chapter Transport in Oslo.
Find timetables: ruter.no.
What to see around
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