Planning a trip with your besties? Make lifelong memories on a weekend trip in the Oslo region! Here are a bunch of tips for you, all within easy reach of the Norwegian capital.
When did you last enjoy a trip with your best friends? It’s time to start dreaming and planning some fun together. After all, good friends and new experiences are some of the most rewarding things in life. Check out our top tips here!
Something delightful for everyone
Spending a night or two under the same roof gives you plenty of time to catch up properly.
Norway's capital offers plenty of exciting activities to keep everyone busy the whole weekend, and lets you combine urban entertainment with rural bliss, with short distances between the city centre and the countryside.
Go for a day trip outside the city, stay overnight, or find a place where you can enjoy the entire weekend.
From fjords to mountains
The sea, fjords, and mountains are all easily accessible from Oslo by car, bus, or train. Go paddling on a quiet forest lake, explore the picturesque islands that dot the Oslofjord, or dip your toes in the sea. You can even travel all the way to the end of the world (at least that’s what Verdens Ende means in Norwegian)! For the latest art and architecture, head for the Kistefos Museum in Hadeland.
Here are some hot tips for the perfect weekend getaway:
1. Urban adventures
Visit some of Oslo’s newest attractions like the MUNCH museum, the National Museum and the Deichman library, or the sculptures in Ekeberg Park.
You can also go for a stroll along the revamped harbour promenade, sample something tasty at a food hall, and try one of Oslo’s many floating saunas. With saunas floating on the fjord, everyone can go for a swim all year round – not just hardcore ice bathers!
End your day with a good concert!
2. An art weekend
Explore Kistefos at Hadeland, a modern art museum that is just two hours from Oslo by public transport. Here the spectacular architecture of The Twist takes the sculpture park to a whole new level.
The Henie Onstad Art Center in Sandvika offers top-class international art exhibitions – just 40 minutes west of Oslo by public transport.
Finish off with a shopping spree at Hadeland Glassverk where you can purchase local handicrafts and more. It's also worth checking out the many unique accommodation options in the area. Go glamping or stay at Thorbjørnsrud Hotel, which serves award-winning local cheeses and meals prepared from ingredients from its very own farm.
3. Natural charm west of the Oslofjord
Rent a car and go for road trip on the winding roads west of the Oslofjord. See coastal gems like Vollen and Sætre and stop for lunch on the Hurum Peninsula or in cosy Holmsbu.
There are lots of beaches in Vestfold. Explore Horten, home of the Preus Photography Museum and exciting Viking heritage, beautiful Åsgårdstrand where Edvard Munch painted many of his most iconic works, and Tønsberg, the oldest town in Norway.
Continue to the island paradise of Tjøme and the smooth boulder on the coast at Verdens Ende (“the end of the world”, in Norwegian). It’s simply beautiful, any time of year. Sip afternoon tea and indulge yourself at the spa at Engø farm or at Farris Bad Hotel in Larvik. Allow enough time to stroll along the shore outside Stavern, which has been named Norway's cosiest summer town.
4. Lovely experiences east of the Oslofjord
Numerous gems line the eastern shores of the Oslofjord. Start in Drøbak, a town known for its traditional wooden buildings, aquarium, and speciality shops, including a Christmas shop that's open year round. Take the boat across the strait to Oscarsborg for lunch. Don't forget your bathing suit! Close by you’ll find Ramme Farm, a unique cultural destination with art exhibitions, organic food, and a lovely park.
Further south lies Moss and the beautiful island of Jeløya, where you can explore exciting art at Gallery F15 and sample pretzels baked to perfection at Alby farm. Treat yourselves to afternoon tea and an overnight stay at the elegant Refsnes Hotel.
If you want to stroll through a super cosy town with vintage shops and lovely back gardens filled with flowers, a visit to the old town of Fredrikstad is a must. On warm, sunny days, nothing beats a swim by the rocks at Hvaler or an overnight stay in a lighthouse.
Further south by the Swedish border, the fortress town of Halden awaits. Hire a canoe or bike and enjoy the scenery along Norway’s oldest canal.
5. Soothing forests
Sometimes you just want to get away from it all. Venture deep into the woods, where you can all relax and be yourselves in tranquil nature. Get active with horse riding or paddling, or go berry picking. Stay in a treetop cabin or spend the night in a tent that's suspended in the air.
A short train ride northeast of Oslo, you’ll find the quaint town of Kongsvinger. Wander among historic houses and local eateries in Øvrebyen, Kongsvinger's old town. A beautiful fortress on a hill overlooks the town and Norway’s longest river, the Glomma. Visit the fortress museum, hotel and restaurant, or explore the enchanting wilderness in Finnskogen forest before continuing on to Elverum.
6. Mountains, villages, and traditional farms
A traditional mountain lodge in Lillehammer and Gudbrandsdalen is the perfect setting for a girls getaway. And it's only an hour and a half from Oslo. Enjoy cycling, horseback riding, and hiking in spectacular surroundings. Lillehammer offers excellent shopping and cultural gems, including the Lillehammer Art Museum and Maihaugen, Norway's biggest open-air museum, which showcases how people lived in the past.
Another tip is to visit the Mjøsgårdene farms to soak up the unique atmosphere and broaden your culinary horizons by sampling local delicacies. Hamar is lovely city that is also home to a magnificent cathedral. Go for a stroll along the promenade by Mjøsa, Norway’s biggest lake.
Get inspired! Plan a culinary evening in the capital or breathe in the fresh sea breeze while island hopping in the Oslofjord.
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Experience it for yourself!
We invited four friends on a girls-only trip to the Oslo region.
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