Drøbak is one of the few cities in Norway that there is actually a lot to do on Sundays, so much so that Drøbak has been nicknamed “Sunday town”. Here, galleries, cafes, restaurants, all the great little niche shops and attractions such as Drøbak Aquarium, Tregaardens Christmas House, Bølgen bath & activity centre, Avistegnernes hus and Follo museum keep Sunday open, all year round.
Holiday feeling – all year round
Drøbak people are never in a hurry and especially not on a Sunday. Do as the locals do; buy a coffee, take a walk surrounded by old historic wooden houses, visit some of the small unique fashion and interior shops or go to a gallery opening. Life is good in Drøbak, especially on Sundays!
Sunday shopping in the Sunday Town of Drøbak
In the centre of Drøbak there is not a single chain store and that is what makes shopping here extra unique. Here you will find, among other things, exclusive fashion from Norwegian designers, Drøbak-designed cashmere wool and Scandinavian interior items. Most of these unique niche shops are located along Niels Carlsensgate, Storgata and around the square. During the summer season, there are also market traders selling everything from vintage discs to antiques at Drøbak torg.
Art and culture
As an artist city, Drøbak also has many galleries, and most are open on Sundays. Drøbak artist Reidar Finsrud has two galleries outside the city centre, both at Bilitt and at Torkilstranda. He has also made the bronze sculpture of the three “Mermaids of Drøbak” and the new sculpture “Neptune” in Drøbak boat harbour.
Read more about the galleries in Drøbak here.
Avistegnernes hus shows drawing with meaning, expression-based art and is a tribute to the newspaper artist Fredrik Stabel. The hot tub of Drøbak Kunstforening is a great gallery with fjord views, otherwise both the Oslofjord Art Centre and Gallery Havstad are worth a visit. Hegn Ceramic Studio makes ceramics, has a shop and holds courses in Drøbak city centre. Gallery Vera is a gallery on the way to Torkilstranda.
Music is also important to Drøbak. In the summer there are four major festivals: Drøbak Festival, Drøbak Harbour Festival and Guitars by the Fjord. On the island of Oscarsborg, the famous Oscarsborg Opera is a highlight every August.
There is also often outdoor live music in the city, either at Café Sjøstjernen, in the charming backyard of Café Drøbak or at Handelshuset Gastrobar. Smia, the Culture House next to the golf course, also offers regular concerts, theatre and other cultural events.
Activities for the whole family
Drøbak is a nice place for the whole family to make the Sunday trip. Follo museum is a child-friendly open-air museum at Seiersten, 15 minutes walk from Drøbak city centre. Here you can see old cultural-historical buildings from the local area.
Follo Museum is also close to Bølgen Bad, another family favourite. Just by Bølgen you will also find a skate park for the kids. Drøbak is also home to the only saltwater aquarium in Eastern Norway – Drøbak Aquarium, which shares a building with the Tourist Information Centre. Here the whole family can see and experience many exciting species from the Oslofjord, with large and small aquariums, children’s tunnel and touch pool. There’s also a newly opened freshwater section that’s a must-see. And don’t forget to say hello to Hugo the catfish, the aquarium’s mascot!
Lunch and dinner
There are many great places to eat in Drøbak, even on Sundays.
There are many tasty highlights in Drøbak, also on Sundays. Everything from small, cosy cafes to restaurants with fjord views.
Read more about where to eat here.
Oscarsborg Fortress
Oscarsborg is also a great place to spend a Sunday. Oscarsborg is an idyllic coastal gem where stately fortifications, underground tunnels, cannons with biblical names and a unique hotel set the mood for a great visit with a historical flavour.
Read more about the fortress island Oscarsborg here.
