Booking choice: The island hopping walk. Check dates Tour details
Ruter, Oslo's public transport company, runs small electric boats from the City Hall waterfront to the islands of the inner fjord. Locals use them to swim, picnic and get to their cabins. Visitors can do the same on the same ticket as the metro.
This guide covers the lines, the tickets, which island to pick and what changes in winter. Details come from Ruter, Visit Oslo and Oslo municipality, checked in October 2026.
The quick answer
The island boats leave Rådhusbrygge 4, by City Hall. B1 loops round Hovedøya, Lindøya, Gressholmen, Bleikøya and Nakkholmen all year; B2 adds Langøyene's beach in summer. An ordinary Ruter ticket or the Oslo Pass covers them. There is no commentary and no water taxi: check the last boat before you go.
Where do the Oslo island ferries leave from?
Rådhusbrygge 4, the City Hall pier on the Aker Brygge side of the harbour. Old guides that say Vippetangen are out of date.
The boats moved from Vippetangen to the City Hall waterfront in spring 2015. Visit Oslo describes the spot as the waterfront at Aker Brygge, beside City Hall. Look for Ruter's signs and the departure screens at Pier 4; platform E, next to the Fisketorget building, is also where the guided island walk and the Bygdøy-stop cruise meet.
Ruter's boats are run under contract by Boreal Sjø. Five new electric boats went into service in summer 2022, and each carries up to 350 passengers. The service has a long history: the island boat concession dates from 1917.
Which lines go where: B1, B1X and B2?
B1 is the all-year island loop. B2 runs to Langøyene in summer. B1X is a high-summer shuttle to Hovedøya.
The line pattern changes with the season, so check the timetable on ruter.no for your date.
| Line | Route | Season |
|---|---|---|
| B1 | Rådhusbrygge 4, Hovedøya, Lindøya øst, Gressholmen, Bleikøya, Nakkholmen, Lindøya vest, Hovedøya, back | All year; winter timetable from 19 October 2026 |
| B2 | Rådhusbrygge 4, Hovedøya, Gressholmen, Langøyene | Summer schedule |
| B1X | Rådhusbrygge 4 to Hovedøya and back | Summer only; in 2026, every 20 minutes from 4 July to 30 August, 10:00 to 21:00 |
One trap in high summer: while B1X runs, B1 skips Hovedøya and Gressholmen between 10:00 and 21:00. For Gressholmen in that window, Ruter says to take B2, which runs every half hour. Ruter expands its summer boat service from mid-May through August.
What ticket do you need for the island boats?
An ordinary Ruter ticket or the Oslo Pass. The Bygdøy museum ferry and the Oscarsborg ferry are different: Ruter tickets do not work there.
Ruter states that its regular tickets are valid on all its boat routes. Buy in the Ruter app before you board. The Oslo Pass includes public transport, so it covers the island boats as well.
| Boat | Ruter ticket | Oslo Pass | Who runs it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island boats B1, B1X, B2 | Yes | Yes | Ruter |
| Nesodden boat B10 | Yes | Check zones | Ruter |
| Drøbak boat B22 (summer) | Yes, with zones to Drøbak | Check zones | Ruter |
| Bygdøy museum ferry | No | Yes | Båtservice (private) |
| Oscarsborg fortress ferry | No | No | Forsvarsbygg |
| Sightseeing cruises | No | Not included | Private operators |
Drøbak and Son are in zone 4, so you need a ticket covering every zone you travel through; the Ruter app works this out for you. The wooden sailing ship ticket also covers the Bygdøy ferry the same day.
Island hopping with a guide: two islands on foot, public ferry ticket included, rain gear provided.
Check dates for the island hopping walkWhich island is best for what?
Hovedøya for history and swimming, Lindøya for painted cabins, Gressholmen for nature, Langøyene for the sandy beach and camping.
Each island has its own character. Here is how we would choose.
| Island | Go for | Line | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hovedøya | Monastery ruins from 1147, bathing spots, nature reserves | B1, B2, B1X | Restaurant Klosterkroa; closest island to the city |
| Lindøya | About 300 red, yellow and green summer cabins from 1923 | B1 | Two landings, east and west; private cabins, so be respectful |
| Gressholmen | Nature reserve and Oslo's first airport, a seaplane harbour from 1926 to 1938 | B1, B2 | Summer restaurant; paths are nature trails |
| Langøyene | Sandy beach, the only island campsite, naturist area | B2 (summer) | Toilets, showers, kiosk and an accessible bathing area |
| Bleikøya and Nakkholmen | Quiet cabin islands | B1 | Little visitor information published; bring supplies |
Sources: Oslo municipality, SNL on Lindøya, SNL on Gressholmen and SNL on Langøyene. Island cafés, kiosks and toilets may close out of season or early in bad weather, so bring water and food.
When is the last boat back from the islands?
It changes with the season, so check the timetable for your day. Oslo has no water taxis, and missing the last boat is a real problem.
Visit Norway and Visit Oslo both warn about it in capital letters. There is no water taxi service in Oslo, and the police and fire services do not ferry stranded visitors. Plan your return before you leave the pier.
Some reassurance for summer days: Ruter says that if the last departure from the islands fills up on a hot day, the boats keep running until everyone is home. You still have to be at the jetty by the departure time.
Our rule: aim for the boat before the last one. If you miss it, you still have a way home.
Do the island ferries run in winter?
B1 runs all year on a winter timetable, with fewer departures. B2, B1X and the Langøyene service are summer only.
Ruter's 2026 timetables switched to an autumn pattern on 31 August and a winter one on 19 October 2026. The winter PDF for B1 is on Ruter's ferry page. Expect longer gaps between boats and an earlier last departure.
Winter on the islands is quiet, often icy and very beautiful on a clear day. Island cafés are usually closed, so pack a thermos. Daylight is short: around the winter solstice the sun is up from about 09:18 to 15:12. A sightseeing cruise with a heated saloon is the more comfortable winter choice; see the best time to go.
Island ferry or sightseeing cruise: which should you pick?
The ferry to land and walk, a cruise to hear the stories and see the Opera House and the city front.
We like both, for different days. The ferry is public transport: no commentary, no route past the Opera House, but you can get off anywhere on the loop and stay as long as you like. A cruise is a tour: someone explains what you see, and you take in the whole harbour in 1.5 to 2 hours, but you stay on board.
The island hopping walk sits in between. A Viking Biking & Hiking guide takes you by public ferry to two contrasting islands, one with forest paths and history, one with cabins and gardens. It takes 3 h 15 min and covers about 7 km on gravel and dirt paths, so it is not for wheelchair users or children under 9. The ferry ticket is included, and so is rain gear.
Two islands on foot with a guide who knows their history, travelling on Oslo's electric public ferry.
Explore the island hopping walk Tour detailsWhat other public boats can you take from Oslo?
The Nesodden boat all year, the Drøbak and Son boats in summer, and the private Bygdøy museum ferry from spring to autumn.
- B10 to Nesodden: Ruter's boat from Aker Brygge across to the Nesodden peninsula runs all year. The boats are battery-electric and seat about 600.
- B22 to Drøbak: a summer boat down the fjord to Drøbak, daily from June to early September and on weekends in spring and autumn. From Drøbak, the Forsvarsbygg ferry crosses to Oscarsborg fortress.
- B21 to Son: a seasonal Ruter boat; in 2026 it ran from 27 March to 4 October.
- Bygdøy ferry: run privately by Båtservice from Rådhusbrygge 3 to the museum peninsula, every 20 minutes in season. The 2026 season was 14 March to 4 October. More in the Bygdøy by boat post.
The wooden sailing ship ticket includes the Bygdøy museum ferry the same day, from the same pier.
Check dates for the wooden sailing shipFrequently asked questions
Can you use a Ruter ticket on the Oslo island ferries?
Yes. Ruter's regular tickets are valid on all its boat routes, including B1, B1X and B2. The Oslo Pass covers them too.
Where do the island ferries leave from in Oslo?
From Rådhusbrygge 4, the City Hall pier on the Aker Brygge side. They no longer leave from Vippetangen.
Which Oslo island is best for swimming?
Langøyene has the sandy beach, reached by B2 in summer. Hovedøya has several bathing spots closer to the city.
Is the Bygdøy ferry part of Ruter?
No. It is a private ferry run by Båtservice. Ruter tickets are not valid; the Oslo Pass is, and so is a same-day Båtservice sightseeing ticket.
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Island Hopping Walk by Public Ferry
Get off the boat: two islands on foot with a guide, by electric public ferry
Electric Fjord Cruise with a Bygdøy Stop
Two hours on an electric boat, with the option to step off at the museum peninsula
Two Hours on a Wooden Sailing Ship
- Two-hour round trip from City Hall Pier 3
- English commentary plus an app in 13 languages
- Heated main deck, blankets, toilet and bar
