Embark on a truly unique weekend break and discover the hidden gems of Eastern Norway! Stay in the historic Kongsvinger Fortress hotel, relax at a delightful forest spa, and experience top Norwegian design at The Plus and Magnor Glass Factory.
Weekend escapes
east of Oslo
Just an hour and a half east of Oslo by car, the deep forest and lake country is full of surprises!
Explore world class Norwegian architecture and design, historic hotels and spa resorts, and walk with cute alpacas!
Top it all with cosy local patisseries, a round at Norway's top rated golf course, walking with alpacas, or a stroll by the water!You don't have to go very far to have a fun and very special adventure near Oslo. Make the most of your weekend (or weekdays!), by visiting hidden gems on a round trip in Eastern Norway with loved ones, friends, or solo.
Step back in time
Head to the town of Kongsvinger (1.5 hrs east of Oslo) for your first stop and make your way up to its historic fortress.
The construction of Kongsvinger Fortress began in 1680 with a military purpose in mind, as it was built to protect Southern Norway from a Swedish invasion. It served its purpose well, as it has never been seized or conquered.
Even though the fortress is owned by The Norwegian Defence Estates Agency, it's considered to be a cultural site nowadays. There are plenty of concerts, plays and events that are hosted both within and around the fortress walls. You'll also find Norway's only Prison Museum just outside.
Feel like royalty at the grand Festningen Hotel and Resort, where modern comfort meets centuries of Norwegian history.
Wander around the old Commander's residence from 1683, and enjoy food inspired by the days of old in the same place as many kings before you.
Explore the majestic buildings and architecture and take in panoramic views of Kongsvinger and the Glomma river.
Kongsvinger became a natural place for the royals to stop when travelling during the union between Norway and Sweden from 1814-1905.
Go for a stroll in the old town of Kongsvinger, Øvrebyen, where you'll find two separate houses where kings and queens onces stayed with their courts.
Øvrebyen expanded outside the fortress walls and housed soldiers and officers. In 1975, this his part of Kongsvinger became a conservation area due its historical value.
Learn more about the area's fascinating history at Kongsvinger Museum, which also offers guided walking tours.
Right next to Øvrebyen you can visit Norway's only Women's Museum – Kvinnemuseet, which opened in 1995. The museum focuses on researching, documenting, and disseminating women's history.
Explore exhibitions on gender, sexuality, the Norwegian women's liberation movement, reproductive rights, and female pioneers.
The museum is located in a Swiss villa named Rolighed, a house which has seen much history.
Throughout its history it has been a mansion, a home for a doctor and his family, a parsonage, German military housing during the war, communal housing for eight families, a woodworking factory and was almost demolished before eventually becoming home to the Women's Museum.
Eat your greens!
You might be feeling a bit peckish after wandering around the historical fortress, so how about a 10-15 minute detour to a place called Skarstad Gartneri for your next stop? This farm and garden centre has a cosy café that offers plenty of fresh food based on the farms own produce and tasty baked goods.
You can buy fresh, crispy vegetables that have been grown on site and other local products in its farm shop, open May to October. It's also possible to buy fragrant, colourful flowers and plants.
If you feel like taking another detour, head a bit further north to the Finnskogen area. This peaceful place out in the woods is a 40-minute drive from Kongsvinger. Finnskogen is known as the home of an ethnic minority called Skogfinner, Forrest Finns. They emigrated from Finland and travelled through Sweden before settling in this vast woodland area.
Learn more about the area's history at local museums or enjoy one the many nature experiences in this peaceful part of Norway. Or simply relax at Finnskogtoppen Spa & Hotel.
If you're more of a camping person, how about spending a night at Sanngrund Camping, about 20 minutes west of Kongsvinger. Book one of the cabins, park a camper van or pitch a tent, and enjoy activities like boat trips and fishing. Many people also stop here for the delicious homemade food in their cafeteria.
Speaking of greens, just 15 minutes further south on our route, you'll find a place that has several times been named Norway's best golf course.
Whether you're a beginner or a pro, you're welcome to experience Kongsvinger Golf Club's 18 holes set in a beautiful forest landscape, situated around lovely Fløyta lake.
A furniture factory unlike any other
It may sound strange to visit a furniture factory on a weekend break, but The Plus is no ordinary factory. A 30-minute drive from Kongsvinger takes you into the woods at Magnor, where an architecturally impressive building sits nestled in between the tall trees, waiting to be explored. Both the roof and the surrounding Forest Park are always open and you're very welcome to camp there, too.
The Vestre factory inside The Plus produces outdoor furniture for several cities around the world.
Social and environmental sustainability is important here and The Plus was awarded the highest environmental certification, BREEAM Outstanding, in 2023. Very few buildings that aren't homes receive this classification, and The Plus calls itself "the world's most environmentally friendly factory".
Imagine walking along this spiral and experiencing a rooftop with magical views of a fairytale forest.
Explore the poetry path with poems from one of Norway's famous poets, Hans Børli, who lived in this area his entire life.
The plan is to create even more exciting activities for all ages around the factory in the coming years.
The company believes in inclusion, respect, and connections between people, which they hope can be experienced through their outdoor furniture.
You are cordially invited to actively use and get to know the area around The Plus!
The factory was designed by Danish architectural firm BIG and each wing is colour-coded for the different parts of the production process.
If you buy a ticket, you can enjoy a guided tour of the interior.
There's also one more important thing to mention. You can actually slide off the roof!
Indulge your sweet tooth
Exciting sweet treats and freshly made sandwiches are waiting for you just a four-minute drive from The Plus.
Ingelsrud Konditori is a patisserie and café run by Andrea Ingelsrud and has been a huge success among the locals ever since it opened in 2018. Ingelsrud spent several years in Oslo becoming a pastry chef, before deciding to move back home to open her own place. It's filled with homey retro furniture and a much of the food is made with locally sourced ingredients.
How about trying a Sigvartsen pastry that's been dunked in blackcurrant juice? It's crispy and sweet on the outside with a soft and fluffy centre. Or why not sink your teeth into a creamy chocolate mouse pine cone with a fresh blackcurrant filling?
Ingelsrud Konditori also has an exciting neighbour, as the Magnor Glassworks is right next door. Watch glassblowers in action and find their beautiful pieces in the main shop at outlet prices.
Glassblowing requires a great deal of skill and can take years to master. It's also a very hot environment in which to work; the glass can be as hot as 1,100 degrees Celsius after being in the flames!
"We like to experiment with the glass on Saturdays, and the pieces that turn out well are sold in the shop," says glassblower Jarle Seterlien.
There's also plenty of other shopping opportunities for clothes, wool, home and interior items, equipment for the great outdoors, and more. All of this is sold at discounted prices. Maybe this is where you'll find your next bargain!
Wind down in soothing surroundings
A relaxing spa break hidden in the woods is just an hour away from Magnor and one and a half hours away from Oslo. Bring friends, that special someone others, or go solo to Rømskog Spa & Resort to unwind and find tranquility in beautiful Norwegian nature.
This resort has everything you need to have a relaxing getaway. Indulge in a decadent breakfast, lunch or dinner, in the restaurant with lovely views of stunning lake Vortungen, encircled by tall trees.
Lose track of time in the spa's indoor pool with panoramic views and enjoy a visit to the sauna followed by a dip in the cold plunge. Don't forget to pamper yourself with one of the many luxury treatments that are available.
You'll even find more spa facilities outdoors! No matter the weather, you can spend time in the outdoor heated pool and jacuzzi. Lie back with a refreshing drink and enjoy being in close proximity to nature in one of the spa's comfy sunloungers.
Get some fresh air on a hike or a bike ride. Maps of the various trails can be found in reception, and there's also a free obstacle course right next to the hotel if you feel like letting your inner child loose. There are also plenty of fishing spots in the area and you can even rent a large but cosy lavvu with a fire pit.
If you want to be even more active and get out on the lake, you can rent paddle boards, canoes and pedal boats with room for four people.
Try one of the floating saunas or the cosy little wood-fired sauna. When you're feeling warm and toasty, have an invigorating dip in the lake.
Round off the weekend with a walk by the water at Fetsund Lenser. This natural heritage monument, timber floating museum and nature centre is the perfect place for a Sunday stroll.
Explore historic floating paths on the river Glomma about an hour away from Rømskog. It's a great place to stop on the way back to Oslo.
If you'd like one more stop on your trip, how about taking another detour to go for a walk with a soft and curious alpaca?
Make some new furry friends at Alpaca Hiking Sørum or Killingmo Farm. They offer fun alpaca experiences where you can spend some quality time with these wonderful animals.
The best bit is that they're both only about a 40-minute drive from Oslo, so it's also great for a day trip.
Get inspired for your next adventure
Explore these fun places just outside of Oslo.
Explore more of Norway
There are many other special places you won't want to miss! Here are a few.
Gamle FredrikstadThe Old Town - Gamlebyen Fredrikstad
The star-shaped old town of Fredrikstad was founded in 1567 and is the best-preserved fortress town in Northern Europe. The town gives you a sense of history, but it is no museum – people live and work here. The quarter is home to many galleries, artisans and cosy shops, restaurants, and cafes.
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