Hvaler
Municipality · Østfold
About Hvaler
Skerry-hopping in Ytre Hvaler, Norway's first marine national park, the sands of Storesand, and a stone church on Kirkøy from before 1100.
What to do and where to stay in Hvaler
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Kirkøy coastal path (Kyststien) from SkjærhaldenHike
11.4 km blue-marked loop from the national park centre past Homlungen lighthouse, Storesand, the old pines of Prestegårdsskogen and a sculpture park in the Rødshue quarry.
Start at the national park centre, Skjærhalden, Kirkøy · 3 h (11.4 km loop, 110 m ascent) · May–October
2Island-hopping on the Hvaler ferryActivity
Ferry from Skjærhalden, free for passengers all year, to Lauer, Herføl and the car-free Sandøy islands; Herføl has one stop, so walk it and take a later boat.
Ferry quay, Skjærhalden · Half a day to a day · All year (timetable from 17 Aug 2026 published)
3StoresandSwim
Large sandy beach on Kirkøy inside the national park, with a summer beach café, volleyball courts and the coastal path running past.
Kirkøy, near Hvaler church, 1680 Skjærhalden · 2–4 h · June–August
4Hvaler churchHistory & culture
Medieval stone church on Kirkøy, probably begun around 1000–1100, with nave, narrow choir and apse, a 1600s pulpit and a 1759 altarpiece.
Kirkøy, near Storesand · 20–30 min · All year (inside on open days/services)
5Ytre Hvaler National Park visitor centreNature
Exhibition at Skjærhalden on Norway's first marine national park, mostly sea, with Europe's largest inshore coral reef at Tisler; an outdoor aquarium is in the harbour.
Skjærhalden harbour, Kirkøy · 30–60 min · All year; check opening hours before you go
6Kystmuseet Hvaler (Hvaler Coastal Museum)History & culture
Museum on an old Spjærøy farm about island life, sailors' own stories from both world wars and a protected granite quarry with workers' barracks; café under fruit trees.
Dypedalsveien 37, Spjærøy · 1–1.5 h · Summer season; otherwise by appointment
7Nordre Sandøy and TordenskjoldsbuktaLocal oddity
Car-free island with a summer café at Makø quay; legend says Tordenskjold buried treasure by Tordenskjoldsbukta, and in 1997 a boy diving nearby found three gold coins.
Nordre Sandøy, by Hvaler ferry to Makø or Sanne · Half a day · May–September
8Vesterøy coastal path, Papperhavn to UtgårdHike
6 km coastal trail on Vesterøy from Papperhavn, with its much-photographed boathouse, past the shallow bays of Kuvauen and Guttormsvauen to Utgård.
Papperhavn, Vesterøy · 2 h one way (6 km) · May–October
9LauerSight
A short ferry hop from Skjærhalden to an old fishing community of close-set painted houses, now mostly holiday homes.
Nordre Lauer, Hvaler ferry · 1–2 h · All year
10HerfølHike
Southernmost island on the ferry route, a saga island whose highest point is Linnekleppen; one ferry stop, so it suits a walk between boats.
Herføl, Hvaler ferry · 2–3 h · May–September