Ferry operator · Norway
Forsvarsbygg Oscarsborgfergen
- Routes
- 4
- Terminals
- 3
- Regions
- 1
- Avg crossing
- 6 min
Authority and ship operator
The Oscarsborg ferry is the only way to reach the island fortress that sank the German cruiser Blücher on 9 April 1940. Tickets must be bought before boarding, and once validated they stay valid for seven days.
Official site: billett.forsvarsbygg.no — always confirm the current timetable there before travelling.
Timetables
Routes operated by Forsvarsbygg Oscarsborgfergen
Showing the 1 most-searched of the 4 routes Forsvarsbygg Oscarsborgfergen runs.
| Route | Crossing | Sailings/day | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drøbak → Oscarsborg østre | 4 min | 6 | Oslo og Akershus |
Buy before you board, and the ticket lasts a week
The Oscarsborg ferry runs on a stricter ticketing rule than most Norwegian crossings. You must buy the ferry ticket before going on board, and a QR code has to be shown when boarding — there is no paying the crew at the rail.
In exchange the ticket is unusually generous with time. It is a return fare, and it remains valid for seven days from the moment you start your journey and the ticket is validated. If you cross to the fortress and decide to stay in the area, the return leg does not expire that evening.
The island the ferry serves stopped an invasion
Oscarsborg was built from the mid-1800s to protect the capital, then Christiania, against attack from the sea. Its decisive moment came on 9 April 1940: as Germany invaded Norway, the fortress sank the German cruiser Blücher. The delay this caused to the German advance gave the Norwegian government time to evacuate and organise resistance.
The site is older than the fortress itself. In 1641 King Christian IV ordered a blockhouse built on the Kaholmene islands, completed in 1643; the first building of the fortress as it is known today was finished in 1847.
A military heritage site since 2004
After the war the fortress served various military purposes, and in 2004 Oscarsborg opened to the public as a military cultural monument and visitor destination. It no longer has any operational defence function, though the buildings on Kaholmene remain a setting for presenting the history of the Norwegian armed forces.
Parking and ferry timetable information are published alongside the ticketing, since almost everyone arriving does so by road to the quay and crosses from there.
The network
Where Forsvarsbygg Oscarsborgfergen sails
Paying aboard
Fares with Forsvarsbygg Oscarsborgfergen
Driving with Forsvarsbygg Oscarsborgfergen? Its road-ferry fares use AutoPASS for Ferries — vehicles are billed automatically by length and foot passengers usually travel free. There is normally no ticket to buy in advance.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a ferry ticket to Oscarsborg on board?
No. The ticket must be bought before boarding and a QR code shown when you get on.
How long is the Oscarsborg ferry ticket valid?
Seven days from the moment you start your journey and the ticket is validated. It is a return fare, so you are not tied to coming back the same day.
Why is Oscarsborg famous?
On 9 April 1940, as Germany invaded Norway, the fortress sank the German cruiser Blücher. The delay gave the Norwegian government time to evacuate and organise resistance.
How old is the fortress?
King Christian IV ordered a blockhouse built on the Kaholmene islands in 1641, completed in 1643. The first building of the modern fortress was finished in 1847, and it was constructed through the mid-1800s to protect Christiania — now Oslo — from attack by sea.
Can visitors go to Oscarsborg?
Yes. It opened to the public in 2004 as a military cultural monument and visitor destination, and no longer has an operational defence role.