Hovedøya

Island · Kongshavn

Hovedøya

Island · Kongshavn

2

0150 Oslo, Norway

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Hovedøya by Photo courtesy of Erlend Bjørtvedt
Hovedøya by Photo courtesy of Erlend Bjørtvedt
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Hovedøya by null
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Highlights

Hovedøya is a charming island just a ferry ride from Oslo, boasting beautiful beaches, lush forests, a historic monastery, and serene spots for relaxation.  

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0150 Oslo, Norway Get directions

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0150 Oslo, Norway Get directions

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Last updated

Jul 17, 2025

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@afar

"An Island of History and Delight Hovedøya is an island located in the Oslo fjord. The name derives from Norse word hǫfuð, meaning height. It probably got this name from a large hill on the Eastern part of the island where there used to be a military watch tower in Medieval times. Hovedøya has a rich and varied history; from being a strategic military base in Viking times, to a monastery in the Middle Ages, to a quarantine station in the 1800's. Used as an internment camp for women who had consorted with Nazis after WWII, this camp was later used for temporary housing as there was a great shortage of houses after the war. Nowadays the island is used mostly for recreational activities; beaches and art galleries, and some times puppet shows. You can take a ferry from Vippetangen to get there."

12 Must-Do Experiences in Oslo
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@afar

"An Island of History and Delight Hovedøya is an island located in the Oslo fjord. The name derives from Norse word hǫfuð, meaning height. It probably got this name from a large hill on the Eastern part of the island where there used to be a military watch tower in Medieval times. Hovedøya has a rich and varied history; from being a strategic military base in Viking times, to a monastery in the Middle Ages, to a quarantine station in the 1800's. Used as an internment camp for women who had consorted with Nazis after WWII, this camp was later used for temporary housing as there was a great shortage of houses after the war. Nowadays the island is used mostly for recreational activities; beaches and art galleries, and some times puppet shows. You can take a ferry from Vippetangen to get there."

Serene Oslo
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Matt Lim

Google
Beautiful island with sandy beaches, oysters in the water (never seen that before), and wild raspberries + alpine strawberries to forage. Makes for a great day trip. Also the cafe on the island is really good

Roshan Amaranayaka

Google
Hovedøya is a true gem! The island is absolutely stunning, with beautiful beaches, lush forests, and charming historical sites. The peaceful atmosphere and breathtaking scenery make it the perfect escape from the city. I highly recommend a visit to this idyllic island.

Grace

Google
A nice place located few minutes away from the city. We traveled by ferry and the line was a bit long. Here you can swim, grill, sunbathe, visit a cozy cafe, and enjoy nature walks. There are also quiet spots in the island where you can enjoy the sunset. Although, sand isn’t that fine and the water isn’t clear. Nevertheless, I’d say it’s worth a visit especially if you are in Oslo.

Gopi Nathan

Google
Biggest and nearest of local islands near Oslo city harbour area. Popular in warm Summer days. Local boat service by Ruter ( B1 and B2) . Normal router ( bus, tram, metro etc) is valid.

Le Ramé

Google
Hovedøya is the island closest to the city centre, with beautiful forests, beaches and cultural heritage. Ferries to Hovedøya from Aker Brygge are available and you can use the same public transport ticket. There are two beaches and perfect for swimming.

Niranjhana Narayanan

Google
A cute lil island with insane views and a nice cafe. There were a few rams which liked some scritchies! A good spot for a weekend picnic and the ferry to this and other islands nearby are in zone 1 so no special ticket required.

cletus ferrao

Google
The island to the nearest of Copenhagen harbour is very easy to reach Visa public ferry transport. It has a small but beautiful trekking track you the other side of the island where you can take a ferry to continue your journey ahead or back to mainland. A must visit place for waking trips or picnics.

Bronisław Poulin

Google
Nice island but nearly got stranded because the boat timetable was wrong. Nice old buildings. In winter though, very lonely island. Nice beach.
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Andrea W.

Yelp
Pretty island, very close to mainland; it's only an eight-minute ferry ride to the island! The ferries that go to this island are part of the public transportation system, so you could just use the same tickets! The island itself is quite pretty, with a lot of trees and access to the beach and shoreline. The water isn't too cold, but I wouldn't want to swim in it either. Definitely worth a visit, seeing that this place is so close! It's cool to have a naturey place so close to the city, and if you just want to get away from the busy city life to relax no enjoy nature, it's really close by.
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Dominique F.

Yelp
Out of all the islands surrounding Oslo this is the closest one to get to by ferry. The boat leaves from Akker Brygge (directly across the Nobel Peace Prize museum), and the ticket of the ferry is the same price as a bus ticket / included in your weekly pass if you have one. The ride takes less than 10 mins and the boats come often. As for the island, it's pretty big and there are a couple sand areas to chill. Water is well uhm - warm for Scandinavian standards - but being used to Egyptian and Caribbean beaches definitely colder that I am used to :D Still recommended on sunny gorgeous days.
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Jasmine X.

Yelp
Nice quaint escape from Oslo. This is very accessible by ferry 92 (there) and ferry 93 (back) and is within zone 1. I read about it on some tourist guide and decided that I might as well get an experience in the Oslofjord and wasn't disappointed by this little natural escape. It's basically an entire island park. Maybe people live on it?? I saw a lot of boats but not many houses. Anyways, there are a ton of walking paths so you can easily immerse yourself in nature or in the fjord. There's a tiny beach and a lot of lovely places to sit down and spend the day. Most of the "beaches" or shores I suppose are rocky though. I came here on a gorgeous Friday afternoon and saw the place swarmed with locals and little kids. It's a lovely getaway if you get tired of the city. If you want to get pass the local swarms, I recommend you walk past the first main beach (the one next to the soccer field) and just keep exploring. The side of the island opposite of where the ferry drops you off is lovely and very peaceful. Great way to spend an afternoon. tldr; nice island very close to Oslo that offers beautiful nature escape and a chance to peer into the Oslofjord