Drøbak is one of Norway’s cosiest Christmas towns, especially when the streets are decorated with hearts and strings of lights, Advent stars are hung in the windows of the old wooden houses and the large Christmas tree in the square is lit. Here are 10 tips for cosy pre-Christmas experiences in Frogn and Drøbak:
1. Santa hunt and Santa portals
The pre-Christmas period is saved for all pole hunters out there – in Drøbak you can go on a “Santa hunt” from 1 to 31 December. The Santa hunt takes place in Stolpejaktens already established and popular app and many poles will be placed around the Christmas town of Drøbak.
When you scan the various poles that are placed around the Christmas town of Drøbak, you also get fun stories about why Drøbak is a Christmas town!
For the children, it is also fun to try Nisseportaler in Drøbak city centre.
2. Christmas house and Santa’s post office
Tregaardens Julehus – better known as Julehuset – offers a Christmas atmosphere all year round. The yellow, large wooden house on Drøbak square is open all year round and an attraction in itself. All the world’s Christmas decorations are sold here. Santa’s post office is also located here! Because did you know that all mail addressed to Father Christmas in Norway ends up in Drøbak?
Letters to Santa Claus, Babbo Natale, Papai Noel, Viejo Pascuero, Père Noël, Father Christmas, Weihnachtsmann or Pai Natal with wishes for everything from material gifts to a better world – all end up in Drøbak. Over the past 37 years, as many as 250,000 letters have arrived here in the small fjord town, 30 minutes south of Oslo. Here, both young and old also have the opportunity to post their own Christmas letter, stamped with the official Santa Claus stamp.
Read the exciting archive of Tregaarden’s Christmas house here.
3. The Christmas letter exhibition at Avistegnernes hus
This year’s Christmas exhibition at Avistegnernes hus opens on the first weekend of Advent and this year’s exhibition is all about using your freedom of speech and expressing yourself in the engaging workshop on the second floor, where you can make your own poster. On the ground floor there will be a sales exhibition.
4. Santa sign and lutefisk museum
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration received an application on 12 March 1991 from the technical department in Frogn municipality for permission to put up a danger sign for Santa Claus. This sign hangs in Osloveien when you drive down to Gamle Drøbak. Today there is also a more photogenic Santa sign in Drøbak boat harbour, just outside Drøbak Aquarium and the Tourist Information. Both are perfect photo motifs and very Instagram-friendly! Drøbak also houses the world’s only lutefisk museum, one of the city’s rarities! In the pre-Christmas period, it is possible to book private guided tours before strolling up “Lutefiskavenyen” and enjoying lutefisk at, for example, the traditional restaurant Kumlegaarden.
5. Traditional Christmas food
Hot mulled wine, crunchy crispy pork belly and homemade rice cream – there are many tasty highlights that belong to Christmas. Several of the restaurants in Drøbak city centre have long traditions of serving Christmas food. The restaurants that will offer Christmas food this year include Kumlegaarden, Café Sjøstjernen, The Lobby at Reenskaug Hotel, Café Drøbak, Bella Vista Telegrafen and Oscarsborg Hotel & Resort.
6. Christmas at Follo museum
In December, Christmas is celebrated at Follo Museum, including a Christmas workshop, pre-Christmas day and Christmas baking. Read more about Follo Museum’s Christmas programme here.
Follo museum
This idyllic open-air museum at Seiersten is surrounded by nature on all sides and offers great experiences for young and old. Welcome.
7. Local food and edible Christmas gifts at Haneborg Farm
Just 7 min drive from Drøbak city centre you will find the cozy farm shop of Haneborg farm with over 50 different self-produced vegetables, as well as a large selection of local foods and edible Christmas gifts.
The farm shop is also open in the pre-Christmas period with lots of goodies. The farm shop is open until Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
8. Unique Christmas shopping
The Advent season is an excellent time to shop sustainably and locally – and at the same time support local shops. Drøbak city centre is completely free of chain stores and is therefore a great place to find unique Christmas gifts. The niche stores in Drøbak city centre are known for high quality – all within walking distance of each other. The vast majority of the shops are located in the Christmas-decorated streets Niels Carlsensgate, in Storgata and around the square and offer everything from local design to exclusive fashion and interiors.
9. Accommodation with a Christmas atmosphere
Frogn and Drøbak have several great places to stay that offer both winter magic and Christmas spirit. The over 100-year-old Reenskaug Hotel is located in the heart of Drøbak and was given a new look last year with The Lobby, a combined reception, bar and restaurant that gives associations to New York. The hotel is also known for decorating extra for Christmas and calls itself “The Christmas Hotel”. At Oscarsborg Hotel & Resort, simple military barracks have been converted into beautiful hotel rooms, many with sea views. In winter, there’s a very special calm on the historic fortress island.
Oscarsborg Hotel & Resort will also be creating Christmas magic in the fortress.
Nordre Frogn is home to a brand new and unique accommodation facility, the glass cabin NEST Bunnefjorden, which has both a sauna and a hot tub, so those who rent the cabin get their own little spa – perfect when the temperature is below freezing.
10. What happens in the pre-Christmas period in Drøbak?
Here is an overview of Christmas events in the pre-Christmas period in Drøbak. Drøbak and Frogn is a well-known cultural city with many events before Christmas.
Shopping in Drøbak
Here you will find an overview of the great shopping that is available in Drøbak, that are also open on Sundays.
Accommodation in Drøbak and Frogn
There are many nice places to spend the night in Drøbak and Frogn, from historic accommodation to idyllic guest harbours, coastal trail cabins and a…