As you step onto the ferry from Aker Brygge close to the Town Hall, you will quickly feel the nice summer breeze and smell of fresh saltwater. A perfect short little getaway from the noisy and touristy places downtown brings you to a hand full of islands in the skerries of Oslo. During the spring and summer seasons, the schedules of the ferries are quite frequent, docking at several islands. Either you enjoy long and bright pre-summer evenings in May and June or you are visiting during the warmer summer months of July and August, I recommend a stop at Gressholmen.

Here you can explore the lush island, with a nature reserve, several great places to go swimming, sunbathe, and relax on characteristic rock-based beach spots. The heart of the island, restaurant Gressholmen Kro, is only a 5 minutes’ walk from the dock and impossible to miss. It is a perfect place to just sit and relax, drink a cold beer or enjoy some fresh seafood. The restaurant has a simple but complete menu that you can enjoy with the feeling of being accompanied by locals and foreigners that wants to get away from the crowded public Oslo beaches while observing the city from a perfect distance. Memories of a great, bright evening fill you with inspiration as you take in the views of the city harbor line in the ferry on the way back.

During the winter season, the restaurant is closed, but Gressholmen is still worth a visit.