Oslo sits on a fjord with forest on its doorstep, and a good share of that forest can be reached without a car. The City of Oslo's own hiking pages point you to bus stops and the Ruter journey planner.
This guide sticks to the walks that the City of Oslo describes in detail, plus what Visit Oslo says about Nordmarka. Details were checked in September 2026. Bus numbers change, so use the journey planner at ruter.no for current routes.
Øyungen: a lakeside walk in Nordmarka
Take a bus to the Skar stop, towards Maridalen. From there the walk follows the river to Øyungen lake, at the northernmost part of the Maridalen valley in Nordmarka. It's around five kilometres, usually takes one and a half to two hours, and the City of Oslo calls it a fairly easy hike.
The trails are gravel, so the walk works for hikers with reduced mobility or young children, and there are many scenic waterfalls along the river. The City of Oslo suggests bringing a tent or a hammock if you'd like to spend the night in the forest. If you do, read the fire rules below and the guide to wild camping and the right to roam first.
From Øyungen you can keep going deeper into Nordmarka, towards historic places such as Tømte and Liggeren, or up onto hills such as Øyungskollen.
Grefsenkollen: the city and the fjord from above
For Grefsenkollen, take a bus to the stop Akebakken at Grefsenkollveien. The walk from there is just over an hour and the City of Oslo rates it fairly easy.
The reward is what the city describes as one of the most stunning views of Oslo, the fjord and the surrounding forests. There's a restaurant at the top with outdoor seating in summer, and you can carry on into Lillomarka if an hour wasn't enough.
Ljanskollen and Hvervenbukta: a coastal option
Ljanskollen is a short, fairly easy hike to a hill just shy of 85 metres above sea level on the east side of Bunnefjorden. Take a bus to Fiskevollen, or walk from Hvervenbukta.
It's an old forest, with trees dating back to the early 18th century and older, and the forests here are protected. There's a footpath with a panoramic view of the fjord and the city.
Hvervenbukta is a small bay with a sandy beach and a café, popular in summer. The City of Oslo suggests cycling there from Bjørvika, near the Opera House and the Munch museum, along a fairly flat path following Mosseveien.
Vettakollen and Nordmarka
Visit Oslo describes Vettakollen as a hilly neighbourhood in the Vestre Aker borough, with a peak that measures 419 metres above sea level, and says hiking around it is popular in warmer weather. Check the route and the transport on ruter.no before you go.
Nordmarka itself is a big forest region in northern Oslo with outdoor recreation all year round, according to Visit Oslo. In summer it lists blue-marked hiking tracks and lakes for swimming, and says the routes are usually well marked, though a map is recommended for longer distances. Several cabins are open to the public to take a break, have a meal or stay the night, and most are run by DNT Oslo og Omegn, Skiforeningen or the Municipality of Oslo. If maps aren't second nature yet, the guide to reading a map and compass is a good start.
The fire ban in the forest
Norway has a general ban on lighting fires or grilling in or near forests and other wilderness areas from 15 April to 15 September, according to the Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB). The exception is narrow: where it is obvious that a fire cannot start, such as in areas with plenty of snow.
Beaches are typically treated as wilderness areas too, though grilling is allowed on a beach at a good distance from forest and vegetation, or at places the municipality has approved. Municipalities can grant permission where local conditions allow, so check what applies where you're going before you light anything. Leave no trace principles covers the rest of forest etiquette.
Winter and other seasons
Nordmarka is used all year, so a walk isn't limited to summer. In cold months the winter hiking essentials apply even on a short city-edge walk, and the layering guide explains how to stay warm without sweating through it.
Where to go next
If Oslo is one stop on a longer route, six classic hikes in Norway compares the country's bigger day hikes, and hiking in Bergen is the west-coast equivalent of this guide.
About Erik Lindqvist
Erik Lindqvist is a Scandinavian trail guide and outdoor writer based in Norway. He has spent fifteen years hiking fjord paths, mountain ridges, and forest tracks across Norway, Sweden, and Iceland.
