1. Sleep in a hammock
In the woods, overlooking the water or on one of Oslofjord’s cosiest islands – there are many great places to spend the night in both hammock and tent. Right next to the fortress island of Oscarsborg is Håøya, with a boat connection from Oslo and Drøbak on weekends from March/April, and daily in summer. This is a great place to camp, with many nice tent pitches and places to hang your hammock.
Frognmarka also offers great places to spend the night in nature, with the areas around Øvredammen and Oppegårdtjernet being particularly nice. There are also several places along the coast where you can hang your hammock. Find two tree trunks along one of the coastal paths in Frogn and spend the night with first-class views where the Oslofjord is at its narrowest. BUA Drøbak offers free hire of hiking equipment, including hammocks.
2. Unique overnight stays
There are several unique places to stay in Drøbak and Frogn. Nest Bunnefjorden is a new trendy mirror glass cabin in Nordre Frogn, with its own sauna, hot tub and a large terrace with barbecue. Perfect place for a romantic overnight stay this spring. In the centre of Drøbak, visitors can check in at the over 100-year-old Reenskaug Hotel. The historic hotel has just been given a new look with The Lobby, a combined reception, bar and restaurant that gives associations to New York. At Oscarsborg, the fortress hotel Oscarsborg Hotel & Resort is located where simple military barracks have been converted into beautiful hotel rooms with a military theme, many with sea views.
There are also several Kystledhytter you can rent via Oslofjordens Friluftsråd, on the islands outside Drøbak. These open for the summer last weekend in April.
3. First bath of the year in Badebyen?
In the “seaside town” Drøbak, you can swim all year round – even in the spring! Drøbak has several nice beaches, both in and outside the city centre. The family beach Skiphelle has a long sandy beach and a large lawn, while Torkilstranda is the windsurfers’ favourite. Here is also one of the galleries of the local artist Reidar Finsrud. The bathing park in the centre of Drøbak is also an excellent place for the first bath of the year – for example at the newly restored “Herrebadet”, part of the bathing and spa facilities that were built in the early 1900s. There are also several smaller beaches in the city centre, such as Nordstranda between Sundbrygga and Vindfangerbukta.
If you want to bathe in more comfortable temperatures, Bølgen Bad is a good alternative. Drøbak also has a sauna – Drøbak sauna is located on Lehmannsbrygga.
4. Nice springtime boat trips
Spring is a magical time for boat trips, and both Drøbak Gjestehavn and Oscarsborg Gjestehavn are nice places to dock. Drøbak is located where the Oslofjord is at its narrowest and it is also a short distance to several nice islands, such as Håøya, Bergholmen and Furuholmen. Do you not have your own boat? Drøbak Kystlag rents out rowing boats for free – check their Facebook page. At BUA Drøbak you can rent a life jacket for free.
5. Sustainable shopping
Many people tidy up at home in the spring, so this is a great time to find hidden treasures in the second-hand shops. There are several places to shop sustainably in Drøbak. Fretex in Storgata has both clothes, toys, books, art and interior items. Also check out Sitrus Second Hand and Frk. Getz. In the spring and summer, there are also several of the market traders at Drøbak Torg who sell reuse and antiques. Kiwanis Drøbak has a second-hand market every Saturday from 30 April in an old bunker at the historic Veisving battery at Seiersten skanse. Otherwise, there are several flea markets throughout the spring. In addition to both second-hand shops and antiques, Drøbak is known for its good shopping offer with its unique niche shops. In the city centre there is not a single chain store. Drøbak is also one of the few cities that has Sunday opening all year round.
Shopping in Drøbak
Here you will find an overview of the great shopping that is available in Drøbak, that are also open on Sundays.
6. Håøya – the pearl of the Oslofjord
Håøya is one of Oslofjord’s cosiest islands with idyllic bathing coves, great hiking trails, organised boat moorings, the Håøya Naturverksted café and great camping spots. A varied and idyllic island gem to visit both on a day trip or to stay overnight in the spring. Here you can also climb Frogn and Oslofjord’s highest point, 229.4 metres above sea level. The tour includes exciting war history, unique nature and fantastic views towards Oscarsborg and Drøbak. The route boat B21 has departures to Håøya from both Drøbak and Oslo on weekends from March / April.
7. Walks along the coast
There are accessible trails along large parts of the coast in Frogn and it is particularly well signposted from Skiphelle to Ramme, but it is also possible to start the trip in Drøbak city centre.
Here you can wander along narrow Drøbak streets with everything Drøbak has to offer in terms of atmosphere and building history; flowering rose gardens, vibrant squares, galleries, eateries, aquarium and boat harbour, Julehuset and museums.
8. Spring cycling tours
The road network in Frogn is popular with cyclists, both hard-core exercisers and families who like to take a pleasant discovery trip by bike. There are many routes to choose from; we suggest that you either start, end – or take a break – in Drøbak. It’s important to replenish your nutrition and restore your fluid balance. Something fresh from a café or bakery, a coffee on the pier in the marina or in Badeparken will make the break the highlight of the day. On your way north, you can, for example, choose the route via Nesoddtangen, via the farm shop to Haneborg Farm or take your bike on the boat over to Aker Brygge in Oslo.
9. Outdoor dining
In spring and summer, Drøbak’s many outdoor cafés come to life. Around the square are The Old Bakery, Handelshuset Gastrobar, Peppes Pizza and Bytinget. Skipperstua and Café Sjøstjernen have outdoor seating with fjord views, while at Café Teskje you can sit in a large garden with a playground. Reenskaug Hotel also has great outdoor seating.
At Oscarsborg, you can eat out in the sunshine at the restaurant Forpleiningen at Oscarsborg Hotel & Resort, Havnekroa in the guest harbour and Oscarsborg Gjestehavns Spiseri.
10. Gallery walk in the artist city
Spring is a perfect time to go on a gallery walk and Drøbak has a long history as an artist city. Throughout the ages, the city has charmed both artists, writers and bohemians, such as Hans Gude, Oda and Christian Krogh and Knut Hamsun. As the artist and cousin of Edvard Munch, Edvard Diriks, has said: “There were only two places worth living; Paris in winter and Drøbak in summer”. Today there are several galleries both in and outside the centre of Drøbak, there are still many artists living here and it is a very popular place to visit for the cultural tourist.
