Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6
Side Trips from Oslo
S tretching for 100km (62 miles),
Oslofjord is Oslo's link to the open
sea. Touring the fjord's western and
eastern banks is richly rewarding. Of
all the towns to visit, the most evoca-
tive and historic are Halden and
Fredrikstad on the eastern bank, and
Tønsberg on the western bank.
The eastern shore also has many
beaches with fine sands frequented by
Oslovians in summer, especially in
July. Even then, however, the waters
may be too cold for you if you come
from hotter climes than Norway. The
western side of the fjord was the site of
several Viking settlements, and some
of their remains or ruins can be seen
today.
1 Drøbak: Home of Father Christmas
35km (21 miles) S of Oslo
This overgrown village, with a population of some 3,000, is one of the more
intriguing to explore along the eastern bank of the Oslofjord. The Father Christ-
mas association is a bit bizarre, because you'd think the designation would be
reserved for some town in the far north of snowy Norway. According to Norse
tradition, the Julenisse —meaning the Yuletide elf—calls Drøbak his adopted
home. Many Oslovians flock to the town in December to purchase Christmas
gifts (see below).
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE Buses from Jerbanetorget in Oslo take 1 hour to reach
Drøbak, costing 60NOK ($8) one-way. Visit www.nor-way.no for information.
Motorists can follow signs to E6 south to reach the town. In summer the Prin-
cessin, an express boat, sails from the pier at Aker Brygge in Norway from
Wednesday to Sunday only. It reaches Drøbak in 1 1 2 hours, and a one-way fare
costs 60NOK ($8.50). Though the ferry is the way to go for the sheer scenic
pleasure of it all, consider going by bus one way and returning by boat (or vice
versa) if you're pressed for time.
If you need to cross over for more sightseeing on the western bank of the
Oslofjord, you can take a new tunnel going under the fjord, linking Drøbak with
Drammen (later in this chapter). The cost is 50NOK ($7.10) per vehicle. Service
is from mid-May to early September. Contact the tourist office (below) for details.
Impressions
Unless you have sailed down the Oslofjord on a tranquil summer's day,
you cannot imagine the sensation of absolute peace and beauty that
surrounds you.
—Author Roald Dahl, in his autobiographical Boy
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