Oslofjord Island Hopping: Which Guided Tour Should You Book?
4 min read
For most visitors, the 3-hour island hopping walk with Viking Biking & Hiking is the simplest choice. It costs €46.94, has 4.8 out of 5 and 3,398 reviews, and the listing names public ferry tickets among its inclusions. In winter, read the section on the winter tour further down: it is the only one whose listing mentions spikes for icy paths.
Most of these tours ride Oslo’s public electric ferries to islands in the inner fjord, with a guide, and several cover Hovedøya with its medieval abbey ruins, usually together with Lindøya and its colourful summer cabins. What differs is the meeting point, the length and the conditions.
The tours compared
| Tour | Length | Meets at | Islands | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oslo Nature Walks: Island Hopping | 195 minutes | Rådhusbrygge 4 | Two islands | €46.94 |
| Guided Oslofjord island-hopping tour | 3 hours | Brynjulf Bulls plass 2 | Lindøya and Hovedøya | €54.06 |
| Island Hopping in the Oslofjord | 4 hours | Kongens gate 14 | Two islands | €54 |
| Guided island-hopping tour to 3 islands | 4.5 hours | Brynjulf Bulls plass 2 | Hovedøya, Gressholmen and Lindøya | €56.90 |
| Guided winter island tour | 3.5 hours | Rådhusbrygge 4 | Hovedøya, Lindøya and a small third island | €59.27 |
What each one offers
Oslo Nature Walks walks about 7 km on gravel, dirt paths and stones, according to the page, and asks for good trail shoes and a backpack for water and food. The itinerary has roughly 70 and 98 minutes ashore on the two islands, joined by ferry rides of 7, 7 and 18 minutes. Warm drinks are included in October to March; otherwise food and drinks are not. The page lists it as not suitable for children under 9 and for wheelchair users.
The 3-hour tour from Brynjulf Bulls plass goes to Lindøya, known for its car-free paths and wooden cabins, and Hovedøya, where the page describes the ruins of a 12th-century Cistercian monastery, coastal trails and old fortifications. Public ferry tickets are included in the price, according to the page. It is listed as not suitable for children under 9, people with back problems or mobility impairments, and wheelchair users.
The 4-hour tour from Kongens gate 14 starts with a short walk to Aker Brygge, then two islands by electric ferry, and returns to Aker Brygge, from where the guide can ride the tram back to the centre with you. The page mentions an optional swim at a beach, so it reads as a summer tour. Ferry tickets are listed among the inclusions; wheelchair users are listed as not suited.
The three-island tour is the longest, at 4.5 hours. It has the same operator and meeting point as the 3-hour tour from Brynjulf Bulls plass and adds Gressholmen, with forest paths and a rocky shoreline, to Hovedøya and Lindøya; the itinerary gives about 50 minutes on Hovedøya and about an hour on each of the other two islands. The page asks you to bring water and snacks or lunch, and lists it as not suitable for children under 9, people with mobility impairments and wheelchair users.
The winter tour takes you to Hovedøya’s abbey ruins, then Lindøya, and on across a small footbridge to an even smaller island for a hot drink and gingerbread. The page includes strap-on spikes for icy paths, electric ferry tickets and warm drinks. If it is very cold, the guide can shorten the time on the islands. It lists people with diabetes, people over 75, people with a low level of fitness and children under 10 as not suited. For any health question, ask a doctor before you book.
Which one for whom
- Families with children: the listings give minimum ages of 9 for Oslo Nature Walks, the 3-hour tour from Brynjulf Bulls plass and the three-island tour, and 10 for the winter tour. For the 4-hour tour, ask the operator about age limits.
- Cold-weather visitors: the winter tour is the one built around ice and cold. Oslo Nature Walks also lists warm drinks from October to March.
- Short on time: the two 3-hour tours.
- Wheelchair users: four of the five tours are listed as not suitable for wheelchair users; the winter tour is listed as not suitable for people with a low level of fitness. Ask the operator before you book.
Looking for a boat trip rather than a walk? See the fjord cruise comparison, and for all water trips the fjord cruises page. Prefer outdoors in the forest? The forest, winter and sauna page has more.
Our recommendation
Book the Oslo Nature Walks tour for a straightforward half day. In the cold months, the winter island tour is the one that lists spikes and hot drinks. If you want a longer day with more islands, take the three-island tour.
