Drammen
Municipality · Buskerud
About Drammen
Spiralen, a road tunnel that corkscrews six times inside the hill to a lookout, and salmon fishing right in the city's river.
What to do and where to stay in Drammen
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Spiralen and SpiraltoppenLocal oddity
A road tunnel dug 1953–61 that turns six times inside the hill and comes out at Spiraltoppen, a lookout over the city with a café.
Bragernes, north side of the river · 30–60 min · all year, 06–23
2Elvepromenaden and Ypsilon bridgeHike
Riverside paths on both banks, named Green Park of the Year 2014, linked by Ypsilon, a Y-shaped steel footbridge from 2008 by Arne Eggen.
Both banks of Drammenselva, city centre · 1 h loop · all year
3Drammens Museum, MarienlystHistory & culture
Art and cultural history around the 1770s Marienlyst manor, with 1800s paintings by J.C. Dahl, Peder Balke and Kittelsen, folk art and Baroque silver.
Konnerudgata 7, Strømsø · 1–2 h · all year; Wed to 18
4KjøsterudjuvetHike
A 1,300 m gorge about 10,000 years old with walls up to 60 m high, walked on a rough path – take sturdy shoes and a helmet.
Åssiden, west Drammen · 1–2 h · summer and autumn; not when icy
5Svelvik and Norway's shortest ferrySight
Small winding streets and white houses at the Svelvikstrømmen narrows, where a ferry often called Norway's shortest crosses the Drammensfjord.
Svelvik, west shore of Drammensfjorden, about 20 km south-east of Drammen · 1–2 h · all year; summer for swimming
6Bragernes torg and Bragernes churchHistory & culture
The big square on the north bank, overlooked by the 1871 Bragernes church, with guided tours on summer Wednesdays.
Bragernes, city centre · 30 min · all year; church tours summer Wednesdays
7Salmon fishing in DrammenselvaNature
Salmon are fished in Drammenselva right through the city, Norway's second most species-rich river after the Glomma.
Drammenselva, city centre · varies · summer salmon season
8Gulskogen gårdHistory & culture
One of Drammen's two largest preserved farms, a museum since 1959, with a period main house and a garden park where peacocks roam.
Gulskogen, west Drammen · 1 h · park 1 May–31 Oct, 09–21; house in summer
9Open-air museum at SpiraltoppenHistory & culture
21 log houses from around Buskerud, moved and rebuilt in the park by Spiraltoppen; several open in summer.
Spiraltoppen, above Bragernes · 30–60 min · outside all year; houses open in summer
10Papirbredden and Marcus Mars' studioLocal oddity
A riverside quarter with street art, the library and the university, and nearby at Union Brygge a steel sculptor you can watch at work through big windows.
Grønland, Strømsø side · 45 min · all year