One day trips
These are some suggestions for day trips from Vollen and a few places further away which you might like to visit during your holiday in NorwayNot a threat – just some information about traffic fines in Norway
It costs a lot to forget traffic rules in Norway. Here are some examples of fines:
Driving while talking on a mobile phone without using handsfree: NOK 1 700; Sitting in a car without using a seat belt: NOK 1 500
Driving against a red traffic light, or too close to the vehicle in front: NOK 6 800
Driving against one way traffic, or in the bus/taxi lane: NOK 5 500
Not using lights or not using the signal lights: NOK 2 600
Speeding fines: these are REALLY high! Don’t speed! Driving after drinking alcohol: DON’T – this can give a prison sentence!
REMEMBERING ALL THAT – HAVE A GREAT TIME IN NORWAY.
Drammen Spiral tunnel (Spiralen Drammen)
Please note: in 2020 the tunnel was upgraded. The spiral tunnel in the city of Drammen is a unique experience and in fact has been ranged by CNN Travel as one of the world's most special tunnels. You enter from the town and drive up 1650 meters in six and a half...
Kongen’s Utsikt – The King’s Viewing Platform
The King's Viewing Platform is 484 meters above the Tyrifjorden and Steinsfjorden lakes. You can either start at Sundvolden and hike the 1300 meters up to Kleivstua or you can drive up to Kleivstua parking area beside the hotel (this is a toll road and...
Gaustatoppen
Gaustatoppen is a spectacular mountain top - at 1883 meters and in clear weather it is possible to see approximately 60,000 sq.m., one sixth of Norway's mainland. However a visit to Gausta also offers amazing nature experiences throughout the year -...
Blaafarveværket (The Cobalt works) and the Haugfoss waterfalls
The cobalt ore from the mines 8 km further up the hills was brought down to the Haugfoss waterfalls where it was processed using the power from the big 6 meter water wheel. Today the Blaafarveværket site is a beautiful natural museum about the making of cobalt used...
Drive to the End of the World (Verdens Ende)
The name is perhaps a little dramatic, but that what the southernmost point of the island of Tjøme is called. Two of our guests from the Netherlands drove down one windy afternoon in March and thoroughly recommended making the trip. Verdens Ende is reached by...
Middle Ages Cathedral at Hamar / Domkirkeruinene på Hamar
The Middle Ages Cathedral ruins date from 1152. In 1998 a magnificent protective encasement of glass was erected and this was consecrated as a church. The building is now used for religious ceremonies, concerts and theatre productions. There is room for an...
Stavkirker – Stave churches
There are a number of stave churches, from as early as the 12th century within easy reach of Vollen. Perhaps Heddal and Uvdal are the finest, but all are well-worth a visit. Some, however, are not open for visitors, unless a viewing of the interior has been arranged beforehand.
Norsk bergverksmuseum – The Silver Mines at Kongsberg
Join a one and a half hour train ride that takes you 342 meters below the surface and 2,3 km into the mountain. Inside the King’s mine there is a guided tour through stopes, adits and shafts. A mine elevator built in 1881 (“Fahrkunst”), is just one of many things to...
Day trip to Sweden & ferry across the Oslo fjord to Sandefjord
You might like to take a day trip to Sweden and return by ferry across the Skaggerak. In the holiday season, it is wise to pre-book your passage and car on the ferry. The photo shows the ferry arriving at the city of Sandefjord. This needs a little...
The Bear Park (Bjørneparken) – the place to get close to bears, moose, lynx, reptiles as well as farm animals.
At the Bear Park at Flå, the animals are housed in large natural enclosures. You can watch the animals up close and learn about them from the park presenters. In March of 2016, the park opened the largest crocodile exhibition in Norway, with 30 crocodiles, snakes and...
The Cobalt Mines
The Cobalt Mines lie in the hills above Åmot, and can be reached by a 2 hour car trip from Vollen. We suggest you spend the whole day as there are lots of activities apart from the fascinating tours (for children or for adults) into the depths of the hills along the...
Oscarsborg Fortress
Taken from a plane on the approach to Oslo airport from the south, the island on which the Oscarsborg fortress stands, is in the middle of the narrowest part of the Oslo fjord, between the town of Drøbak on the eastern shore and the big island of Håøya. The Norwegian...
Drøbak Christmas Shop – all year round!!
If you come to Norway in November and December, you will find Norwegian julenisser (Christmas elves and Father Christmas) everywhere - and lots and lots of seasonal decorations on sale in the shops. But these might be more difficult to find at other times of the...
Kistefos Museum and Sculpture Park
Kistefos Museum and Sculpture Park is well worth the 70 minute drive from Vollen. In the autumn of 2019, the utterly amazing TWIST bridge gallery was opened. This has since been acclaimed as one of the two must-see buildings in Norway and one of the...
Hadeland Glassworks Village
Hadeland Glassworks enjoys an idyllic setting on the southern shore of the lake Randsfjorden, just 80 minutes' drive from Vollen. The Glassworks was founded in 1762 and is Norway’s oldest handicraft manufacturer in continuous operation. In summer and at weekends...
Vollen Ferry
The upper deck is the place for sightseeing and sea breezes. Indoors there is a warm beverages machine, comfortable seats and salt-sprayed windows. Vollen Ferry Boat runs Monday to Friday (depending on fjord ice conditions, the boat runs all year except from...
Right to Roam
In Norway there is a huge possibility to walk, cycle, ski or sail over the whole country. These rights are set out in detail in the Norwegian Environment Agency's brochure, Right to Roam. There are also extensive coastal paths and tracks along the sea and fjords. ...