Culture calendar 5th – 11th April
It is almost summer in Norway and nothing better than visiting a place that is famous for its sunsets. This week’s pick is Drøbak & the Oscarborg Festning.
We are sure you must have seen every corner of Oslo by now and therefore we decided to take a trip outside Oslo. We are introducing to you the beautiful town of Drøbak, which serves as a famous sea-side tourist spot. Drøbak is all about history, art, and beautiful sunsets all in one place. One can spot this small town from the magnificent Oslo fjord, and the best part is that it can be reached from Oslo in less than an hour.
In the 1800s, this small town served as an essential place for ships to load their industrial products. Although much has changed, you can still see many boats and vessels loading in Drøbak. With its beautiful wooden houses by the fjord, the town is picturesque and worth visiting.
From Oslo, you can choose an express bus shuttle that takes about 40 minutes whereas an ordinary bus takes about 50 minutes. Both the buses leave from Oslo Bus Terminal and they will drop you at Town Square. You may also choose to take the express ferry and enjoy the beautiful view. The ferry leaves from Aker Brygge and the journey takes about 1.5 hours, which includes 12 shortstops in local harbours on islands and the mainland.
Things to do:
Oscarborg Fortress (Festning) - when in Drøbak, one must visit the magnificent Oscarborg Fortress. It is one of the most important monuments from World war II in Norway. One can reach this coastal Fortress through a boat that runs between Drøbak and the Fortress. You may wish to check the timetable before you go. The trip happens the entire year and can be taken from Sundbrygga in Drøbak in just five minutes. The Fortress is divided into three main parts – the museum that signifies the military history from the blockhouses in 1640. Secondly, a coastal Museum that shows the structure of the coastal artillery. Lastly, the fire management Museum. If you plan to visit, make sure to book in advance as the place follows COVID 19 restrictions laid down by the government. Read more about the tours here.
Drøbak Church: If you want to take a quiet break, you should turn to the venerable old wooden church from 1776. It is located near Seaside Park entrance and is open several days a week during the summer.
Drøbak Golf Club: is an open and inclusive club that offers a wide range of activities. It is not vital to be a club member as it welcomes guests who want to try golf for fun. The 80-hole par 70 park has high-quality fairways and greens. The golf club offers various golf courses, and the prices vary with the day of the week and when you want to play. You can find more information about the current opening timings and capacity of the golf club here.
Christmas House: In «Julehuset» near the town square, Christmas is celebrated all year round! This is also where all the thousands of letters that are written to Santa Claus every year are collected.
Galleries: Drøbak is known for its many small art and craft galleries. There is an active market in the town square most days and various stalls sell antiques and knick-knacks.
Tomtermais: This famous farm is run by Ole Martin, a third-generation farmer on Tomtermais. What makes this farm a popular destination is the organically grown variety of vegetables. In the farm shop, you can find in high season 50-60 different types of vegetables. In their shop, they sell vegetables straight from the field. You will also see a variety of other products, such as eggs, honey, organic flour, beef, bacon sausages, homemade jams, jellies, and apple juice.
