The Best of Fornebu: Where to Eat, Drink, and Explore

Hidden away on the forested island of Tjøme, this historic estate feels like a refined country manor. The kitchen serves a brilliant, hyper-seasonal lunch inside a beautifully restored barn where the focus is on local seafood and estate-grown herbs. It is the absolute definition of a lunch worth driving for.

A short hop over to Høvikodden brings you to this brutalist masterpiece of an art center, nestled right on the water's edge. Wander through the quiet sculpture park where works by Henry Moore meet the shoreline, then head inside for world-class avant-garde exhibitions.

On the loop back north, detour onto the rugged Hurum peninsula to find this historic hotel hugging the shoreline of the Drammensfjord. Grab a coffee and a slice of traditional cake to enjoy on the terrace overlooking the quiet water. It’s a peaceful, slow-paced finale before the final stretch back to Fornebu.

End your day on a wood-fired floating sauna boat moored in the fjord. Alternate between the intense, dry heat of the sauna and immediate, deep-water plunges directly into the sea. It is an earthy, restorative ritual that leaves you completely relaxed and clear-headed.

Start with a shock to the system at Rolfstangen's sandy coves. Walk the pine-fringed paths of the nature reserve before committing to a quick, bracing dip in the Oslofjord. It is the local way to wake up, and it works better than a double espresso.

Housed in Fornebu's historic 1930s seaplane terminal, this waterfront spot serves up uncomplicated, satisfying classics with a view of the water. Grab a window table, order a classic open-faced shrimp sandwich, and watch the boats slide across the fjord.

Literally translating to 'World’s End,' this is the southernmost tip of Tjøme where the land crumbles into the Skagerrak sea. The iconic 1930s vippefyr (bascule light) stands sentinel over smooth, glacier-carved granite rocks that are perfect for a post-lunch scramble. The wind here is fierce, bracing, and thoroughly cleansing.

Edvard Munch spent his summers in this sleepy seaside town, and it’s easy to see why. The light reflecting off the Oslofjord illuminates rows of pristine white-clapboard houses that feel entirely frozen in time. Park the car and take a brisk walk down to the harbor to see the landscapes that inspired his most famous paintings.