The Islands of the Inner Oslofjord

Hovedøya, Lindøya, Nakholmen, Gressholmen and Bleikøya — low, green, scattered with small painted cabins, and close enough to the city that you can see them from a quay. Every sightseeing cruise passes them. Ruter’s line B1, “Øyene”, actually stops at them, and it leaves from Rådhusbrygge 4, the same quay two of these sightseeing boats use, on an ordinary Ruter ticket. Line B2 adds Langøyene in summer only.

Near islandsFive, in the inner fjord

Public lineRuter B1, “Øyene”

Its quayRådhusbrygge 4

TicketAn ordinary Ruter ticket

Summer-only islandLangøyene, on B2

Cruise that landsOne of six

What they look like from the water

Not dramatic, and that is the point. Low wooded humps a few minutes apart with cabins along the shorelines, painted in the colours people paint cabins, and small boats tied up in front of them. In summer they are populated; in February they are a dark green line with lights in it. This is the part of a city cruise that most people remember and the part hardest to photograph from inside a saloon. Shooting the fjord.

Passing them, or landing on them

Five of the six cruises pass. One lands: the six-hour trip that goes ashore on five islands and walks them with a live guide in English, 4.5 from about 158 reviews. It is not wheelchair accessible, it involves walking and climbing on the islands, and under-15s must have an adult with them. That is a day out, not a cruise, and it is the only booking here that puts you on the ground.

Or the boat that is already on your ticket

Ruter runs B1 from Rådhusbrygge 4 to Hovedøya, Lindøya, Gressholmen, Bleikøya and Nakholmen. Ruter’s own words are that you reach the islands on en helt vanlig Ruter-billett — a perfectly ordinary Ruter ticket — and VisitOslo puts it as being able to get on and off any of the ferries with a regular public transport ticket or an Oslo Pass. There is no commentary and no guaranteed window seat, and the timetable is built for people who live there. The honest comparison.

Insider tip

Hovedøya is the nearest and the easiest half-day. If you have one afternoon and want to be on an island rather than looking at one, that is the one to take — Hovedøya.

The trip that actually lands

Six hours ashore on five islands with a live guide in English, 4.5 from about 158 reviews — a small sample next to the big city cruises. It is not wheelchair accessible, it involves walking and climbing on the islands, and under-15s must be accompanied by an adult. Read that before you book, not at the quay.

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Frequently asked questions

Which islands are in the Oslofjord near Oslo?

Hovedøya, Lindøya, Nakholmen, Gressholmen and Bleikøya are the near ones, all served by Ruter’s B1 line from Rådhusbrygge 4. Langøyene is reached by line B2 in summer only. Hovedøya in detail.

Can you visit the Oslofjord islands on a cruise?

Only on the six-hour trip, which lands on five islands and walks them with a live guide in English, 4.5 from about 158 reviews. It is not wheelchair accessible, involves walking and climbing, and under-15s need an adult with them. Everything else passes without stopping. Island hopping.

Do you need a special ticket for the island ferries?

No. Ruter’s own line is that you get there on a perfectly ordinary Ruter ticket, and VisitOslo says a regular public transport ticket or an Oslo Pass lets you get on and off any of the ferries. Ferry or cruise.