Asker, Bærum and Røyken, Norway

Fine arts and eco-beaches along the Oslofjord

You don’t have to travel far to get a more intimate and cozy alternative to Oslo. Asker, Bærum and Røyken give you both exclusive art experiences and cooling swimming opportunities in the Oslofjord.

The two municipalities Asker and Bærum are located just southwest of Oslo. Both are popular places for Norwegians to live, as they are close to the capital and easy to get to. Both have beautiful and varied nature.

Here you can enjoy the Oslofjord with its thrilling islands and small island communities, such as Borøya, Brønnøya and Langåra. The landscape provides wide farmable land, hilly terrain and deep forests with many lakes.

If you want to go swimming, Asker and Bærum have five blue flag certified beaches: Hvalstrand, Sjøstrand, Holmenskjæret, Hvamodden and Storøyodden. Blue flag is an international eco-label awarded to beaches with high water quality, lifeguards, and disabled access facilities.

Vollen is a coastal pearl with several eateries, the coastal museum Vollen Kystkultursenter, and an inviting swimming area. The rock massif Kolsåstoppen is popular for hikers and climbers alike. In the winter, you’ll find a variety of cross-country skiing tracks for all levels in the area.

Both Asker and Bærum are known for their large range of attractions within arts and architecture. The Henie-Onstad art center is one of the Nordic region’s leading art centres and features exhibitions of Norwegian and international contemporary art and works of modernism.

At Bærums Verk, a shopping centre situated in historical surroundings, you will find numerous shops, restaurants, art galleries and workshops. In Verksgata, the main street of Bærums Verk, there are plenty of shops and workshops with hand-made products of all kinds, including quilts, glass and furniture.

If you would like a taste of the local arts scene, you may want to visit The Yellow House in Asker. The house is an exhibition space for the visual arts and handicrafts managed by artists, and has a café with freshly baked cakes.

Røyken lies between the Drammenfjord in the west and the Oslofjord in the east. Here you will find beautiful scenery and a rich cultural life. A coastal path extends from Slemmestad via Nærsnes and Båtstø to Åros, whilst Oldtidsveien links the two fjords together. And if you want to be an archaeologist for a day, a trip to the Slemmestad Geology Centre is well worth a visit.

Find more inspiration on Asker & Bærum’s official website.

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