End station: 5 hiking trails in the Metro Oslo

End station: 5 hiking trails in the Metro Oslo

A comprehensive network of Oslo hiking trails can be reached from the urban subway system. All offer great access to nature and are easy to reach from the city center

The hiking trails around Oslo are similar to the rest of the country: clearly signposted, well -groomed and often fully booked with cozy huts that serve hot drinks and hearty dishes.

Hiking trails in Norway are cultivated by the excellent Norway Trekking Association (DNT). Your crowdsourcing route planning sister UT.NO is also a great online resource full of hiking ideas, tips and cards.

The Norwegians know how to hike is one of the reasons why I keep returning. Here are five of the best hiking trails in Oslo, all of which can be reached from the city's subway system.

Østmarka

Distance: 12-15km (7.5-9.5MI) Time: 3-4 hour transport: subway line 2 to Ellingsrudåsen

Alt = "Oslo hiking trail Nøklevann See"

Nøklevann lake in the northwestern corner of Østmarka (picture: Dreamstime)

This metroline brings you to the northwest corner of the forest Østmarka. Only a small part of the Østmarka is located in the municipality of Oslo, but you can achieve much more if you hike from the Ellingsrudåsen train station to the south towards marish -off Sportsstue. The 6 km long route follows the beginnings of the North Elvåga seas to the sports hut and the café, where you can enjoy pastries and a hot drink before you decide how to proceed.

You can move the same way to Ellingsrudåsen, turn line 3 6 km west towards Bøler or lead a loop to the west and then north to another station on line 2. Trosterud, for example, is 7.5 km (4.7 miles) from the maroiled Sportsstue. Both routes take you along the pretty lake Nøklevann.

Further information: visitoslo.com or ut.no

Nordmarka: Skjahnstua

Distance: 9 km (5.5 miles) Time: 2-3 hours of transport: subway line 1 to FrognerSeeteren

Alt = "Oslo hiking trail sky"

Approach to the inviting Skjahnstua hut and the café in the Nordmarka

North of Oslo is the forested region of Nordmarka. During our last trip to Oslo, we took a long afternoon to complete a circular hike from Frogners -Seteren to Skjahmstua. There are many different route options available - everyone is well signposted.

We got a few more kilometers by taking a longer route on the way to a small lake named Tryvann. At Skjahnstua there is a small log cabin with toilets, a café, sitting outdoors and a great viewpoint over the forest.

Further information: Skjahnstua.no

Kolsåstopfen

Distance: 13 km (8 miles) Time: 3 hours of transport: subway line 3 to Kolsås

Alt = "Oslo hiking trail-Kolsåstoppen-Kolsts"

Kolsåstopten has hundreds of climbing routes (picture: Chell Hill, CC BY 2.5)

A hike to the summit of the 387 m high Kolsåstopfen (Kolsås-Kamm) offers an excellent view of Oslo. It takes about an hour and a half to hike the 5 km (3 miles) to the tip of the ridge. You can drive back the way you have come or choose another route to another subway line. It is a good option to drive further east to Østerås at the end of line 2.

The Kolsåstopfen Naturgeservat (nature reserve) is not as forested as many of the other Oslo regions, since pine forests are not well suited for the hard volcanic stone in the area. However, it is ideal for climbing on the rock. The wall Øvre Sydstup alone on the south wall of Kolsåstopten has more than 200 climbing routes.

More information: wandermap.net

Lillomarka

Distance: 15–22 km (9.3–13.7 miles) Time: 4.5–6 hours of transport: metrolinia 5 to Grorud or Vestli

Alt = "Oslo hiking trail Steinbruvannet-See"

See Steinbruvannet in the Lillomarka (Image: Mathias Stang, CC BY 2.5)

You don't necessarily have to go to the end of the snake to gain access to the excellent Lillomarka forests. Each of the last seven or eight stops on the line is a good starting point for a hike to the Lillomarka recreation area. A good route leads over the lake Steinbruvannet and the Slattumsrøa nature reserve to the north to the Lilloseter Sportsstue Skihütte and Café. If you start from the Grorud metro station, the route is shorter and more direct.

Further information: lilloseter.no

Nordmarka: Ullevålseeter

Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles) Time: 3 hours of transport: subway line 5 to Sognsvann

Alt = "Oslo hiking trail-Sognersvann See north of Oslo"

See Sognsvann in the north mark north of Oslo (picture: Dreamstime)

Another excellent hike through the Nordmarka is the route from Sognsvann to Ullevålseeter. The forest is a little more open here, especially because of the Sognsvann lake. It has a quiet environment surrounded by pine forests on all sides. The lake is well used all year round because it is (just) warm enough to swim in summer, while in winter when it is frozen it can be driven on with ice skates. There are several routes around the lake to the popular and cozy hut on Ullevålseeter.

Further information: Ullevalseeter.no

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Oslo hiking trails: the most important

What: Exploration of the Oslo hiking trails from the city's subway system.

Where: We stayed in the Scandic Vulkan Hotel, a modern and environmentally friendly hotel in the pulsating district of Vulkan, not far from the center of Oslo. The hotel is Norway's first hotel in energy class A - which means that it produces almost all of its energy itself.

The stylish rooms have room-high windows with a view of the surrounding quarters, while breakfast-complete with waffle iron and cappuccino machines-is plentiful! Next door is the Mathallen Food Hall with a series of boutique restaurants and bars as well as the Akerselva river, which is perfect for walks after breakfast.

When: I visited Oslo in summer and autumn and, like most European cities, can be visited all year round. For the best weather, however, spring and summer (May to August) are the best travel times. The weather in Norway is as bad as that in Great Britain, so that you can count on cold and wet days under dark sky outside of the season.

Alt = "Oslo hiking trail-u-Bahn card"

How: It is worth buying an Oslo Pass that includes the free ride on all public transport. This can be used to access each of the OSLO hiking trails mentioned above with a single trip from one of the subway stations in the city center such as Jernbanetorget, Stortinget and National Heaf and Majorstuen.

The passport is available in three pieces:

24 hours: 335 NOK (40 USD) 48 hours: 490 NOK (58 USD) 72 hours: 620 NOK (74 USD) - we chose this

We flew from London to Oslo with a low -cost airline. Book through Skyscanner at the best prices.

Oslo is flown in by three airports: Gardermoen, Torp Sandefjord and Rygge. If possible, we recommend using wardrobes because the other two are further away and require a longer and more expensive transfer. All airports are hit by trains and buses. For more information, see the Visit Oslo website.

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You can find more activities in Oslo in the Lonely Planet Guide to Norway.
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