Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hiking the Fjord Country
In summer you'll want to leave Drammen for some hikes into the
Oslofjord country. You are likely to be joined by some of the athletic
locals who, after a long, cold winter, want to enjoy the countryside. The
tourist office distributes hiking maps of the area. Our favorite trail goes
to the
Kjøsterudjuvet Gorge
, lying 1km (.5 mile) north of Drammen.
Other scenic trails take you to the
Bragernesåsen
Moments
forests and to the
Spiralen Tunnel
(see above).
Salmon and trout are caught in the Oslofjord and river, especially in Helle-
fossen. From mid-May until the end of August, fishing is very popular in the
area. For more information, including information about obtaining a license,
call
Hojksund BØ Camping
at
&
32-75-42-42.
Tuesday and Saturday in Drammen attracts fans to the
Drammen Race-
course,
Buskerudvn 200 (
&
32-21-87-00
), one of the country's 10 permanent
betting courses.
In summer, swimming is the big activity at both indoor and outdoor pools.
Sentralbadet
(
&
32-83-65-86
) is open from mid-August to May, boasting a
25m (82-ft.) indoor pool with a solarium, Nautilus fitness center, a water slide,
and a Jacuzzi. Another pool complex with similar facilities is
Marienlystbadet
(
&
32-83-34-05
), open from late May to mid-August with both indoor and
outdoor pools, plus a heated kiddie pool.
In winter the area around Drammen offers 100km (62 miles) of ski trails,
including 45km (28 miles) of tracks lit at night. The tourist office keeps infor-
mation about all of these activities.
SHOPPING
Many Oslovians drive out to the
Buskerud Storscenter
(
&
32-23-15-45
), a
mall lying 8km (5 miles) from the heart of Drammen. To reach the mall, take
Route 135 out of Oslo, following the signposts to Hokksund. Once at this
mammoth mall, you'll find nearly 100 stores and various restaurants. Prices are
cheaper than in the heart of Oslo because the rents are much less expensive.
WHERE TO STAY
First Hotel Ambassadeur
Drammen's finest hotel—built in the
19th century—is better than ever following a massive renovation in 2002. The
location is next to the train station, a 5-minute walk from the town's center. The
hotel attracts mostly business travelers, but visitors to the Oslofjord stay here
too. About 40% of the bathrooms contain tubs and showers, the rest have show-
ers only. Decorations are tasteful, and the accommodations are brightened by
pastels. Some rooms are spacious enough to accommodate pullout sofas, attrac-
tive for families. On-site, the Waldorf is a first-class restaurant serving classic
Norwegian specialties such as locally caught salmon and international dishes.
Strømsø Torg 7, N-3044 Drammen.
&
31-01-21-00.
Fax 31-01-21-11. www.firsthotels.com. 230 units.
753NOK-1,253NOK ($107-$178) double; 1,598NOK ($227) suite. AE, DC, MC, V.
Amenities:
Restaurant; bar;
sauna; laundry service/dry cleaning. In room: TV, dataport, minibar, hair dryer.
Rica Park
A member of a popular Norwegian chain, this place is decent and
fairly standard. Rooms are midsize and have a tasteful, yet bland, decor. All the
bedrooms have average-size bathrooms, 27 of which come with a tub/shower
Kids
