🌊 Oslo Fjord and suburbs: a quiet workation near the metropolis

Want peace, greenery and water — but still within easy reach of the city centre? The Oslo Fjord offers a rare balance: live near a park and the waterfront, commute to work by train/metro without traffic jams and end the evening with a run with a view. Below are three practical answers: where to stay for a month near the train and walking trails, which travel pass is best for 2–3 weeks, and which ‘nature corridors’ are suitable for 5–8 km after 6 p.m.

🏡Where to stay for a month near the metro/train and parks? [Lock: Oslo]

Sandvika (Berrum). A hub for trains and buses, 12–15 minutes to the centre on Vy, with Kadettangen beach and Kalvøya island with running/walking loops right outside your window. A bridge connects the park and the city waterfront — convenient for living ‘by the water and by the rails’.

Asker sentrum. Trains run frequently (about 20–25 minutes to Oslo S), and 10 minutes from the station is a loop around Lake Semsvannet (~4.7–5 km) for morning and evening walks. For longer walks, there are cultural routes and forest trails nearby.

Lysaker / Fornebu. A working-class neighbourhood with offices and fast trains/buses, and on the peninsula there are flat embankments and Nansenparken. A good compromise between ‘office and sea’. (Lysaker station is in zone 1 and has frequent suburban trains.)

Drammen (as a ‘quiet base’ by the river). River park Elvepromenaden and pedestrian bridge Ypsilon make the centre pleasant for living and daily walks/jogging. Keep tickets in mind: this is no longer the Ruter zone (see the section on travel passes).

🎫 Which travel card is best for 2–3 weeks of remote work?

If you live within Oslo/Akershus (Asker, Bærum, etc.).

— For 2 weeks: buy two 7-day tickets for the zones you need (activated in the Ruter app).

— For 3 weeks: a 30-day ticket is usually the best option; the basic price for adults in zone 1 is 985 NOK (there is a 40% student discount on 30-day tickets). Tickets are valid on buses, trams, the metro, city ferries, and Vy trains within Oslo and Akershus.

When you need to travel outside your zone occasionally. You can purchase additional zones (extension tickets) for the 7/30-day pass on the day of travel, which is convenient for occasional trips. Example prices for additional zones: 1 zone — 44 NOK, 2 — 72 NOK, 3 — 101 NOK. Can be purchased in the app/from a ticket machine before travel.

If you are based in Drammen. This is zone 5V (operator Brakar). For regular trips, purchase Vy/Brakar season tickets (7/30/365 days) and check the transfer rules with Ruter: some routes overlap, but Ruter's overall ‘zone’ only covers Oslo and Akershus.

Useful: check the current zones and maps on the Ruter website (there is also a planner that will calculate the zones for your trip).

🏃 What evening routes are suitable for a 5–8 km run?

Sandvika ↔ Kalvøya ↔ Kadettangen (Berrum). A loop along the waterfront and the island (basic loop ~2.5–3 km) + extension along the coast to Sandvikselva — this makes 5–7 km on flat terrain with views of the fjord.

Asker — Lake Semsvannet. A classic for every day: ≈4.7–5 km around the water on mixed surfaces. You can add the approach to the lake from the station — this will make a total of 6–7 km. There are few lit areas — take a headlamp outside of summer.

Fornebu loop. A flat loop around the peninsula through Nansenparken and the Storøyodden coast — 6–7 km (variable). Great for tempo runs: few elevation changes, lots of open areas by the water.

Drammen — embankments and Ypsilon. The two sides of the river, parks and the Ypsilon bridge offer a 5–8 km route without cars. You can start from the museum/university quarter and complete the loop along Elvepromenaden.

For a quiet workation, stick to the ‘rail and green corridors’: Sandvika and Asker offer a fast train + a park near your home, Lysaker/Fornebu has offices and flat embankments, and Drammen has a wide river and promenades. A 7-day ticket is convenient for 2 weeks, a 30-day ticket for 3 weeks; for occasional trips, purchase a ‘supplementary zone’ ticket. In the evenings, you can loop around Kalvøya, circle Semsvannet, take the flat Fornebu loop, or jog through Ypsilon: 5–8 km of fresh air close to home and away from the hustle and bustle.