Day Trip to the Enchanting Drøbak, Norway (2026)

Last Updated: October 2, 2026

If you’re visiting Oslo, add a day trip to Drøbak to your itinerary. The small and picturesque town of Drøbak is the perfect quick getaway. Read on to find out why and what to do in the lovely town.

This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services I have tried and/or find useful and reliable.

Less than one hour south of Oslo, Drøbak is a small town on the Inner Oslo Fjord. The town is a true winter wonderland during the cold months, but it’s just as charming in summer. Narrow alleys, a beautiful marina, and typical Norwegian wooden houses in bright colors make this a lovely destination for a city escape. I visited in winter and fell in love with the snow-covered alleys and the cozy atmosphere.

A day trip to Drøbak is more than enough to check out everything there is to see. While the town may not be packed with visitors, it still draws plenty of tourists. Drøbak is home to the only saltwater aquarium in the area, not to mention Santa’s house and post office.

Before getting into the planning and visiting details, here’s a quick overview of the places I will mention on the map:

Planning your day trip to Drøbak

If you don’t have a car, the best way to get to Drøbak from Oslo is by bus. Number 500 departs from Oslo Bus Terminal near Oslo Central Station and arrives at Drøbak Brygge in about 40 to 50 minutes. A more convenient stop is by the church in Drøbak. From there, it’s just a two-minute walk to the main square.

In summer, you may also reach Drøbak by ferryboat, route B21, which takes 1.5 hours from Oslo Aker Brygge. This way, you’ll combine the trip with a lovely boat ride along the Oslo Fjord. You can check the departure times for buses and ferries on Ruter#.

You can explore the entire town of Drøbak on foot, so you don’t need to worry about public transportation there. In less than 10 minutes, you can walk from one end of town to the other.

Julehuset: The Christmas House

One of Drøbak’s main attractions is, without a doubt, Treegaarden’s Julehus, or the Christmas house. From the outside, it almost looks like any other Norwegian wooden house, but as soon as you enter, you’ll find yourself immersed in the Christmas atmosphere with toys, Christmas decorations, and gifts everywhere.

The house was built in the late 1800s as a prayer house and remained open until World War II. After more than 40 years of being empty, the house was finally sold in 1986. Treegaarden’s Julehus opened only two years later and has attracted visitors ever since.

Treegaarden’s Julehus

Treegaarden’s Julehus

Treegaarden’s Julehus

If you’re visiting Drøbak in winter, this is a must-see. The house sits in Drøbak’s main square, so it’s impossible to miss. Go buy your Christmas decorations and some souvenirs, or just look around. And don’t forget to check out Santa’s post office!

What to see on your day trip to Drøbak

There are plenty of things to do to fill your day trip to Drøbak. As you walk down the alley from Santa’s house to the port area, you’ll find an interesting street sign picturing Santa Claus running with his bag of presents. The sign is near Drøbak’s Tourist Office, where you can see an exhibition of over 250,000 letters to Santa Claus sent from all over the world.

Next to the tourist office, you’ll also find the Drøbak Aquarium. If you have time, go in for a visit. A ticket costs 160 NOK, just over 16 US$ or nearly 15€. Don’t forget to check out the mermaids’ sculpture outside the aquarium and enjoy a stroll along the Oslo Fjord.

You can spend the rest of your time walking through the narrow alleys, checking out the colorful houses, or stopping for lunch or a coffee break at one of the many restaurants, cafés, and bakeries. Also check out Badeparken Drøbak and the Drøbak Church.

Eat and drink in Drøbak

If you’re looking for a place to have a slice of cake and a coffee, try the cozy Galleri cafe Teskje AS on Niels Carlsens gate. Next to it, you’ll also find Kumlegaarden restaurant og selskapslokaler if you want to have lunch or dinner.

If you’re visiting Drøbak in summer, enjoy the sun sitting on the terrace at Pavels Spiseri for a cold drink, some delicious baked goods and cakes, or a full meal.

Despite its small size, Drøbak has a lot to offer when it comes to restaurants. You’ll find anything from pizza to Chinese and Indian restaurants.

Planning your trip to Norway

First things first. If you’re still planning your trip to Norway, start by finding the best flights. I use Kiwi to compare prices and find the most affordable options. You can find many great flights from several European cities to Oslo. Search for your flights below:

As for accommodation, Booking.com has plenty of options for every budget, from low-cost hostels to luxury hotels. Oslo can be quite pricey, so I recommend booking your accommodation in advance. Check out the best accommodation in Oslo below:

Another thing to consider before your trip to Norway or anywhere else is getting travel insurance. I find SafetyWing to be among the best travel insurance out there. It works in 185 countries, and your policy extends automatically every month, so you don’t end up without coverage.

Learn more about the coverage and sign up here. I also wrote a detailed article about SafetyWing if you want more reasons to get this insurance.

Finally, if you plan to spend more time in Norway, you may want to visit the beautiful city of Bergen on the southwestern coast of Norway. You can also reach Bergen by train and enjoy one of the most scenic train rides in Europe!

Enjoy your Drøbak day trip!

Travel Resources

Lastly, here is a complete list of my favorite apps and websites for travel planning.

Roxana

Hi, I’m Roxana, a travel writer who’s spent the last 15 years traveling solo and collecting stories from around the world. Travel With New Eyes is where I share the places that moved me, the lessons I learned along the way, and the tips I wish I had before each trip. I choose slow travel and revisiting places over country-counting so I can go deeper and see even familiar places with new eyes – hence my blog’s name. Thanks for being here, it means the world to me!

• Instagram
• Facebook
• TikTok

Can’t read now? Pin it for later!