Drøbak and Oscarsborg

Half an hour outside Oslo, on the east side of the Oslo Fjord, lies Drøbak. The narrow 18th- and 19th-century streets lined with small wooden houses give the town an idyllic touch. On an island just outside Drøbak you can visit the fortress Oscarsborg.

The centre of Drøbak is the square Torget where you find the popular Tregaarden's Christmas House and Santa's Post Office. They have Norway's biggest permanent Christmas exhibition and a special Santa Claus post stamp. By the charming boat harbour there is also an Aquarium, with the world's only "lutefisk" museum, and Badeparken a little north of the centre is a great place for swimming.

From Sjøtorget there are regular ferries to the fortress Oscarsborg. The trip takes 5 minutes and there is no charge for entering the island. The construction of the fortress was finished in 1853. It got the name Oscarsborg when king Oscar I visited the fortress in 1855. The fortress has a proud and dramatic history, and is best known for the sinking of the German heavy cruiser Blücher on 9 April 1940 during World War II.

In the summer it is possible to take a ferry from Oslo (departure from Aker Brygge) to Oscarsborg and Drøbak.