Oslofjord

Oslofjord—scattered with islets, isolated coves, and little pockets of beach—is a leisure destination for the inhabitants of Norway’s capital. Fjord cruises are a good way to take in the scenery and learn about the area’s history and geography, while island-hopping ferries allow you to visit the islands and see highlights such as the Cistercian monastery on the island of Hovedøya, the beaches of Huk bay, and a nature reserve for wading birds on Bleikøya. Fjord cruises are also featured on some full-day Oslo tours, during which you can visit city highlights such as Akershus Fortress, the Oslo Opera House, and Vigeland Park.

• Oslofjord is a must-see for first-time visitors to the capital.

• Dress in layers. Temperatures on the water can be cold, even in summer.

• The best place to swim in the fjord is off Museum Island (Bygdøy), a peninsula on the western side of the city.

To reach Oslofjord, take ferry 92, 93, or 94 from Vippetangen in Oslo’s city center. The fjord’s islets are accessible by private boat, ferry, or guided tour, and it takes roughly 20 minutes to get to most islands from Vippetangen on the Oslo waterfront.

The narrow sounds of Oslofjord are best explored in summer, when weather is typically warm and the sun sets for only a few hours each night. This is the most popular time to visit, and the bays can be packed (by Scandinavian standards) with boats and swimmers. As such, it’s a good idea to book tours and accommodations ahead of time.

Vikings once called the area around Oslofjord home, and some ancient settlements surrounding the waterway date back to the Stone Age and Bronze Age. The world’s best-preserved Viking ship was unearthed from the fjord’s waters and currently resides in the city’s Viking Ship Museum.

Yes, you can take Norway fjord tours from Oslo. You can board a boat in the city’s harbor to cruise out on the nearby Oslofjord for the day or travel a long way out to the region of western Norway for a cruise on a famous Norway fjord, like Naeroyfjord.

Yes, an Oslofjord cruise is worth taking to experience what the fjords of Norway are like without too much time driving. Taking a cruise of Oslofjord eliminates the hassle of finding a ferry, letting you focus on the scenery from the water and sightseeing at the stops along the way.

While you can get to Oslofjord from the Oslo waterfront, it isn’t as easy to reach other Norway fjords. To reach the popular fjords, travelers fly to the nearest airport and then drive. For instance, you could fly to Bergen to visit Hardangerfjord or fly to Stavanger to visit Lysefjord.

Fjords near Bergen are some of the most famous fjords in Norway, so it's fair to say that they are considered better than the fjords around Oslo. The big appeal about the Oslofjord is that it's within reach from Oslo, whereas the ones near Bergen take more time.

Yes, the water in the Oslofjord is saltwater as it is connected to the North Sea by the Skagerrak strait. Most fjords, including the many fjords in Norway, contain seawater as they form along coastlines. However, some freshwater lakes are referred to as fjords by Norwegians, including Tyrifjorden near Oslo.

Yes, you can swim in the fjords of Norway, although don’t expect the water to be anything other than cold. On Oslofjord, you'll find plenty of places to swim, including the bathing spot at Tjuvholmen, the Sørenga Sjøbad swimming pool, and the various beaches around Bygdøy outside the city center.