How about spending your holiday in Drøbak this summer? Here are 10 tips:
Small town vibe just outside Oslo
In the fjord town of Drøbak, you will find a calm and pleasant holiday atmosphere. Here, life moves at a slower pace. Enjoy an ice cream, stroll through the cozy and blooming streets, or let your feet dangle from the dock. It’s quite different from Oslo, yet very close to the capital. Drøbak is also a great town to explore on foot. Whether you choose the charming and often flower-lined Badehusgaten, the cozy Kroketønna, the coastal paths in Badeparken, or one of the small charming side streets marked with blue round signs labeled "Paths for public use." In recent years, Drøbak has gained many fine, unique niche shops. There isn’t a single chain store in the town center. There are also many galleries, cozy eateries, and a lively atmosphere at Drøbak square with market vendors. Drøbak is also open on Sundays, all year round.
Summer festivals
Drøbakfestivalen 2025
Drøbak Festival 2025 took place on June 13–14 in Kirkeparken at Badeparken, featuring artists such as Cezinando, CC Cowboys, Briskeby, Kakkmaddafakka, Stein Torleif Bjella, Skaar, Trang Fødsel, and Tøfl. Read more about Drøbak Festival here.
Drøbak Harbour Festival
Drøbak Harbour Festival 2025 was held on July 25–26 at Sjøtorget in Drøbak Harbour, with performances by De Lillos, Gentle Groove, Black Debbath, Oslo Ess, Maria Mena, Øystein Sunde, Vinni, and Loveshack.There will also be family events on both Friday and Saturday, including a death diving show, activities in the harbor, the Norwegian Championship in fish soup, and lots of fun for all ages!
Read more about Drøbak Harbour Festival here.
OscarsborgOperaen Presents the Oslofjord Opera Festival
From August 1–13, OscarsborgOperaen will host the Oslofjord Opera Festival, including Sirkus Requiem, a unique outdoor presentation of Verdi’s Requiem in collaboration with the Oslo Philharmonic at Oscarsborg Fortress.
There will also be a children’s opera performance of Peter Pan.
Read more about the Oslofjord Opera Festival here.
Summer Concerts in Drøbak
A hand-picked lineup of top musicians will perform in this year's concert series, offering a varied program of classical gems, contemporary music, and jazz. In collaboration with the Risør Chamber Music Festival, Cikada, and OscarsborgOperaen, renowned artists from Norway and abroad have been invited to the beautiful Drøbak Church to give audiences memorable musical experiences every Saturday at 12:00 from June 21 to August 2, 2025.
Guitars by the Fjord
Guitars by the Fjord will present several concerts on the stage in Badeparken throughout the summer.
Read more about Guitars by the Fjord here.
Unique summer shopping
Drøbak has many unique shops. In the city center, there is not a single chain store. Unlike most Norwegian towns, Drøbak is open on Sundays all year round and has been nicknamed ”The Sunday Town”.
Read more about shopping in Drøbak here.
Lågøya island
Lågøya is a family favorite with over-night opportunities in cozy costal cabins that Oslofjorden Friluftsråd, DNT Oslo, and Omegn are cooperating for. The ruter ferry will take you to the island during the weekends of april and all days in the summer season. The island is 1 kilometer long and has amazing hiking areas, family friendly bays and a small playground. Read more about the island here:
Camping at the island of Håøya
Visit one of the Oslofjord's most cozy islands this summer. Right next to the fortress island Oscarsborg is Håøya, with boat connections from Oslo and Drøbak daily in the summer. This is a great place to camp, with lots of nice tent sites and places to hang up the hammock.
For breakfast or lunch you should visit Håøya Naturverksted, the cozy café - and the house of the goat farmer Helge Haugen and his family. Here you can also climb Frogn and the Oslofjord's highest point, 229.4 moh. Read more about the idyllic tent island Håøya here.
TIPS! BUA Drøbak offers free rental of hiking equipment, including hammocks. Contact the Tourist Information in Drøbak.
Free boat trip in the Oslofjord
Drøbak has always had a strong maritime identity and in the 18th century, Drøbak was in fact the place in Norway that had the most registered sailing ships. Drøbak Kystlag offers free lending of dinghies with electric motors in Drøbak boat harbor. Go to Drøbak Kystlag's Facebook page to book an appointment, sign the self-declaration you find in one of the mailboxes right next to the rowing boats and read the instructions for borrowing the boat on board. It is also important to look at the weather and wind!
When all the practicalities are in order, the boat is yours for 2.5 hours. There are several nice places to go; Bergholmen is always protected from the wind and has nice and easy piers to moor the boat. Around Oscarsborg is another popular trip! You can also dock at Ormeleine and get to the top of Håøya - the Oslofjord and Frogn's highest point! Drøbak Kystlag also offers free sailing practice and boat handling courses by appointment. At BUA Drøbak you can rent a life jacket for free. Ship O´hoi!
Beach life in Drøbak
Drøbak has several nice beaches, both in and outside the center. The family beach Skiphelle has a long sandy beach and a large lawn, while Torkilstranda is the windsurfers' favorite. The bathing park in the center of Drøbak is also an excellent place for bathing nymphs - for example at the newly restored "Herrebadet", part of the bathing facility and spa facilities that were built at the beginning of the 20th century. There are also several smaller beaches in the center, such as the local favorite Nordstranda between Sundbrygga and Vindfangerbukta. It is also nice to swim in fresh water on Øvredammen, or in warmer temperatures inside the bathing facility at Bølgen Bad.
Go on a pole hunt!
Pole hunting has become a very popular way to experience and explore new places, so why not add the pole hunt to Frogn? Activity, fun and sightseeing in one!
Tour de Frogn
Experience Frogn from the bike seat! Here you cycle past strawberry fields, raspberry vines and cozy farm shops before you enter Drøbak center with its rich history and cultural heritage. You also get to train your muscles - the reason why Drøbak got its name is because of the city's steep hills.
Cozy outdoor cafés
In the summer, Drøbak's many outdoor cafes come to life. Around the square are Det gamle bakeri, Handelshuset Gastrobar, Peppes Pizza and Bytinget. Skipperstua, Miramar and Café Sjøstjernen have outdoor cafes with fjord views, while at Café Teskje you can sit in a large garden with a playground. Reenskaug Hotel also have fine outdoor seating. At Oscarsborg you can eat out with the sun in your face both at the restaurant Forpleiningen at Oscarsborg Hotel & Resort and Havnekroa or at Oscarsborg Guest Harbour Eatery in the guest harbor. Read more about the restaurants here.
