To do · Inner Oslofjord islands
Photo: Pudelek (Marcin Szala)/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Hovedøya
The nearest island to the city – eight minutes by boat – with the ruins of a monastery founded in 1147, nature reserves and a step-free path from the pier to the beach.

| What | To do |
|---|---|
| Ages | All ages |
| Where | Inner Oslofjord islands |
| Address | Hovedøya ferry pier, 0150 Oslo |
| Season and hours | The Ruter ferry (B1) runs in late October and November – check the timetable, because if you miss the last boat it may be hard to get back (Oslo kommune). Kiosk, Klosterkroa restaurant and some toilets are summer-only. |
More with kids in Oslo
Norsk FolkemuseumAn open-air museum of historic houses from all over Norway, from a 13th-century stave…
Fram MuseumStep aboard Fram, 'the most robust wooden ship in history', to see how the crew and…
Kon-Tiki MuseumThe Kon-Tiki raft itself, in a new exhibition (summer 2026) where the sky above it turns…
Norwegian Maritime Museum (Norsk Maritimt Museum)A play harbour with the ship Queen of Congo, a steamship to board and sea monsters in…
Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology (Teknisk museum)Playful learning for children and adults on a big scale – a science centre and hands-on…
Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden (Naturhistorisk museum)Norway's largest natural history museum, with exhibitions on zoology, geology and…
All of Oslo with kids The Oslo city guide
Checked on oslo.kommune.no, October 2026. Check seasons and hours with the place before you go.
Is this your place? Become a Metro Mode partner →