Hovedøya

Island · Kongshavn

Hovedøya

Island · Kongshavn

0150 Oslo, Norway

Highlights

Island with beaches, forests, historical sites, and cafe

0150 Oslo, Norway Get directions

@afar

"An Island of History and Delight Hovedøya is an island located in the Oslo fjord. The name derives from Norse word hǫfuð, meaning height. It probably got this name from a large hill on the Eastern part of the island where there used to be a military watch tower in Medieval times. Hovedøya has a rich and varied history; from being a strategic military base in Viking times, to a monastery in the Middle Ages, to a quarantine station in the 1800's. Used as an internment camp for women who had consorted with Nazis after WWII, this camp was later used for temporary housing as there was a great shortage of houses after the war. Nowadays the island is used mostly for recreational activities; beaches and art galleries, and some times puppet shows. You can take a ferry from Vippetangen to get there."

12 Must-Do Experiences in Oslo

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@afar

Serene Oslo

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Andrea W.

Yelp

Pretty island, very close to mainland; it's only an eight-minute ferry ride to the island! The ferries that go to this island are part of the public transportation system, so you could just use the same tickets! The island itself is quite pretty, with a lot of trees and access to the beach and shoreline. The water isn't too cold, but I wouldn't want to swim in it either. Definitely worth a visit, seeing that this place is so close! It's cool to have a naturey place so close to the city, and if you just want to get away from the busy city life to relax no enjoy nature, it's really close by.

Dominique F.

Yelp

Out of all the islands surrounding Oslo this is the closest one to get to by ferry. The boat leaves from Akker Brygge (directly across the Nobel Peace Prize museum), and the ticket of the ferry is the same price as a bus ticket / included in your weekly pass if you have one. The ride takes less than 10 mins and the boats come often. As for the island, it's pretty big and there are a couple sand areas to chill. Water is well uhm - warm for Scandinavian standards - but being used to Egyptian and Caribbean beaches definitely colder that I am used to :D Still recommended on sunny gorgeous days.

Jasmine X.

Yelp

Nice quaint escape from Oslo. This is very accessible by ferry 92 (there) and ferry 93 (back) and is within zone 1. I read about it on some tourist guide and decided that I might as well get an experience in the Oslofjord and wasn't disappointed by this little natural escape. It's basically an entire island park. Maybe people live on it?? I saw a lot of boats but not many houses. Anyways, there are a ton of walking paths so you can easily immerse yourself in nature or in the fjord. There's a tiny beach and a lot of lovely places to sit down and spend the day. Most of the "beaches" or shores I suppose are rocky though. I came here on a gorgeous Friday afternoon and saw the place swarmed with locals and little kids. It's a lovely getaway if you get tired of the city. If you want to get pass the local swarms, I recommend you walk past the first main beach (the one next to the soccer field) and just keep exploring. The side of the island opposite of where the ferry drops you off is lovely and very peaceful. Great way to spend an afternoon. tldr; nice island very close to Oslo that offers beautiful nature escape and a chance to peer into the Oslofjord