Working as a local guide in Oslo I enjoy giving tours here, but whenever I have time I also like to join guided tours. There is always something new to learn, and it’s also a great way to meet travelers coming to visit my home-town.

This time I decided to go Island Hopping in Oslo with a local guide! Oslo has several islands that are connected to downtown with convenient electric ferries zipping across, and what better day to explore than a sunny day in November.

👉 I booked the Island Hopping in Oslo tour at GetYourGuide.

The island tour begins

I bought this tour through GetYourGuide, so I had their app on my phone ready to show the ticket. Included in the tour is:

• A Guide to take you around and give cultural and historical information (he was quite fun as well!)
• Ticket to public transportation (can also be used for another 20 hours after the tour is over)
• Something warm to drink (only during winter from October)

Where to meet the guide?

Meeting point for this tour is at Aker Brygge just in front of the National Museum where the Oslo ferries depart from. I’ve made a Google Maps location here, so you can easily find it.

You’ll find the guide waiting for you there with a big sign, so they’ll be easy to identify. It’s good planning to be there 15 minutes ahead of time, and I actually came a bit late so the guide even called me to ask where I was, however I was just around the corner.

A few minutes prior to 10am the guide summoned everyone and gave a brief presentation of himself, the tour and how to validate the public transportation ticket, which the guide will provide you with (it’s a paper ticket). The cool thing is that since it’s a 24 hours pass, you can use it for 20 more hours after the tour is over.

How to dress for the island tour?

What to wear depends of course if you are going in the spring, summer, fall or in the winter. Read my complete Norway packing list article to get an idea of what can be smart to pack when you travel here. So, dress for the proper season, check the weather forecast at YR (the one that locals use), and bring good shoes since there will be some walking on gravel and uneven paths.

Fun and informative guide!

What are the Oslo ferries like?

The Oslo ferries are only a few years old and feel quite modern and comfortable. They are all running on electricity, so there are no annoying diesel fumes or engine sounds. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and you can sit at entry level, or climb up on the next level for even better views. There are also (clean) bathrooms onboard, and a coffee machine with different types of hot drinks.

If you want to have a closer look at the ferry take a look at my YouTube-episode about local transportation in Oslo.

The First Stop – Hovedøya island

Since I was on the winter edition of the tour we visited two islands, and not three like they do on the summer version. I think this has to do with the fact that it can get a bit too chilly in the winter, and also that the ferries have less frequent departures.

Anyways, we stayed on the ferry for about seven minutes across to the Hovedøya island. This is the most well-known of the Oslo islands, and perhaps so because it is the one that is closes to the city. The name “hoved” comes from the old norse word “hǫfuð” which means head. That is because when you look at the east side of the island it resembles a tall head.

On this island you can expect to see the following:

• A forest with many plants, flowers and trees (it’s a natural reserve)
• No cars (all the islands are car free, yay!)
• Ruins of a thousand year old monastery that belonged to Cistercian munks
• A fox (no guarantee, but there is a fox on the island)
• Boats (there are quite a few harbors)
• Old cannons dating back to the Napoleonic wars
• Amazing views of the fjord and Oslo

After strolling around for about an hour we had some time to use the restrooms on the island, before heading to…

The Second Stop – Lindøya island

Happy as a clam on Lindøya

The next stop took us to the Lindøya island, also known as one of “hytteøyene”, cabin islands. That’s because scattered around on the island are tenfolds of small charming cabins painted in different colors. These cabins date back to a time when the workers in the city were allowed to build their little summer retreat out here. Most of them are still owned by locals, but the prices have sky-rocketed (location location location) the last years, so whenever one is on the market they tend to sell at very high prices.

Anyways, thanks to Norway’s right to roam law, you can freely walk around on the island. Our guide took us on some charming small gravel paths, up to a nice viewpoint and explained some fun stories about the cabins, the history and “life on the island” during the summer months.

On this island you can expect to see the following:

• Charming cottages in various colors
• A viewpoint
• You’ll be served some cookies and hot drinks
• Beaches and docks out into the water
• Plenty of idyllic scenery

Start saving up and maybe one of these gems can be yours in the future! If you buy one let me know and I can look after it when you are not here 😉 Note that they sell for 1 million USD ++ and there is no running water, an outhouse, they can not be used in the winter, and they can not be rebuilt. But you’ll live your best life in those summer months when you can enjoy “hytteliv” aka. life at the cabin, so close to the city of Oslo.

👉 I booked the Island Hopping in Oslo tour at GetYourGuide.

Strolling around the Lindøya island

Why you should go on this island tour?

I have to say I really enjoyed the three hours I spent with a guide touring these two islands. The other travelers where also very nice with different backgrounds, and there was plenty of time to chat a bit as we walked around.

I think if you have a few extra hours and want to get out of the city then taking one of these tours is perfect! Visiting Oslo is not just about the city, but also about getting out into nature like the locals do.

Btw. if you rather want a private tour or a shorter/longer tour of the islands feel free to get in touch with me, and I’d be happy to guide you there. As a tour planner I can also help you plan your trip to Oslo & Norway.

For more Oslo recommendations check out my Oslo Travel Guide.