Drammen

Drammen is a city in Viken, previously Buskerud, 40 km (25 mi) southwest of Oslo. Drammen is where the Drammen river runs into the Drammensfjord, an arm of the Oslofjord. The part north of the river is called Bragernes, the part south of the river is called Strømsø. Drammen is promoted as "the river city". Drammen earlier had a reputation for being a grim industrial town. The city was also dubbed the biggest road intersection in Norway, due to the heavy traffic. Today the industry is gone or cleaned, and the traffic passes on highways outside the city. So Drammen today is a nice city, and a pleasant side-trip from Oslo. Or a destination of its own. The city has a long history as a centre for timber-trade and paper production. The paper mills however are closed today.

Drammen was created in 1811 when the small towns Bragernes and Strømsø were officially merged into one town.

Get in

By plane
For more information on facilities at and around Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, see the Oslo Airport, Gardermoen article.

Either Oslo Airport, Gardemoen (OSL IATA) or Sandefjord airport Torp (TRF IATA). They are both approximately one hour driving from Drammen. From Oslo Airport, Gardermoen there are several direct trains. There are 3 airport express trains per hour, these cost 250 kr one way and take exactly one hour. Then there's one InterCity and one regional train per hour, leaving the airport at 08 and 38 respectively, which take about 1 hr 15 min and cost 182 kr one way. There are also bus connections to Drammen from both airports.

By rail

Most long-distance trains from Oslo travelling in the western and southern directions pass through Drammen. The following line passes Drammen: the Oslo-Skien line, the Oslo-Bergen line and the Oslo-Kongsberg-Kristiansand-Stavanger line. Drammen also has frequent local trains from Oslo. The railway station, 🌍 Drammen Stasjon is located at Strømsø Torg 1, across the river from the central square.

By car

E18 from Oslo, Larvik and Kristiansand. It is a 40-min drive from Oslo, depending on the traffic. E134 connects Drammen with Kongsberg. E134 continues to Notodden and Haugesund. Norwegian National road 23 leads through a sub sea tunnel from Drøbak at the east side of the Oslofjord.

Get around

By bus

Local buses are operated by Nettbuss.

By foot

The city centre is compact and easy to get around by foot. The river separates the two halves of the city. There are two main bridges for pedestrians: the old city bridge, which often carries heavy traffic, and the new Ypsilon bridge which is for pedestrians and cyclists only, and therefore makes a pleasant alternative. The city of Drammen has many walking paths along the river on both sides. These are very popular and pleasant. In addition, there are many walking trails in the hills behind the city, including the Zig-Zag path up to Spiralen, which is accessed just behind the main church.

By taxi
  • Norgestaxi. Smart phone app offers address based routing and calculates price according to them. (updated Aug 2020)

See

The central square is Bragernes Torg, one of Europe's biggest town squares. It was laid out very wide after the great fire of 1866 to prevent future fires from spreading from one half of the city to the other. It has a small market on most days, and is the focal point for the city's pubs and clubs, with plenty of outdoor drinking in summer.

  • 🌍 Bragenes Church, Cappelens gate 9. The city's beautiful main church. 
  • 🌍 Drammens Museum, Konnerudgate 7, ☏ +47 32200930, . Tu W 11:00-15:00, Th 11:00-20:00, Sa Su 11:00-17:00. Town museum, with different exhibitions, an open-air museum at Spiralen and the Austad estate from 1808 overlooking the city. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Drammens Teater (Drammen Theatre), Øvre Storgate 12, ☏ +47 32213100 (Box Office), . Theater built in new renaissance style. 
  • 🌍 Spiralen. A vehicle tunnel in the hills, built like a corkscrew. It provides easy access to the hills above Drammen, for those coming by a vehicle. From the top it is a magnificent view of the city and its surroundings. The at the top of the spiral is also an excellent starting point for hiking, and cross-country skiing, in the winter. Entry inside the tunnel is permitted to vehicles only; attempting to walk in the tunnel will result in a stop by the police. Those on foot should hike towards the end of the tunnel. A local bus makes trips through the tunnel. A nice photo can be taken of the Spiralen sign at the entrance on the bottom. 
  • 🌍 Ypsilon. Cable-stayed pedestrian bridge over Drammenselva, connecting Bragernes and Strømsø. Its name is from its special Y-shaped form. 

Do
  • 🌍 Union Scene, Grønland 60 (a short walk from the Ypsilon bridge on the Strømsø side of the river, close to bus and train stations), ☏ +47 32213100. Drammen's cultural hotspot, situated in the old paper-factory Union's production halls. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Bowling 1, Austadgata 21, ☏ +47 32260040, fax: +47 32260049, . Bowling hall. (updated Jun 2017)
  • Downhill skiing. Drammen has two ski centres. The Haukås centre is on the west side of the river in the city centre offering one relatively steep and short run and a children's/beginners' slope. Drammen Skisenter, also known as Aron, on the east side offers multiple runs and a park. Both centres have flood lights for evening opening hours. Aron also has a cafe and ski shop with rental, and offers high class downhill biking during summer season on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Full bike and gear rental. 
  • 🌍 Skoger Golfbane (7 km south of the city), ☏ +47 32880303, . 18-hole golfcourse, par 71. Greenfee: 350-400 kr. 
  • 🌍 KinoCity (City Cinema), Bragernes Torg 2, ☏ +47 820 30 080. 
  • 🌍 Galleri Athene, Gjetergata 8 (by Grev Wedels plass), ☏ +47 32 89 18 09. W-Su 12:00-18:00. Galleri Athene is one the largest private galleries in Norway. 5 floors makes 500 m² in Gjetergata 8 at Grev Wedels Plass i Drammen. The gallery exhibits art of different tecniques and artists, both wellknown, established and the unknown but talented and ambitious. Welcome to an art experience in the heart of Drammen. 
  • Mountain biking. Drammen is known as a very good bike spot, especially for the varied mountain bike trails on both sides of the river. Trails range from flat gravel paths along the water to rocky technical single trails in the 600 m (1900 ft) high hills surrounding the city. Local guides are available on a voluntary basis if contacted in advance though the terrengsykkel.no forum or local bike shops. 

Buy
  • 🌍 Glasshytta, Grønland 57, ☏ +47 91619270. M-F 11:00–17:00, Sa 11:00–15:00. Glasshytta in Drammen makes art out of glass - drinking glasses, carafes, candle sticks, vases, saucers, plates and so on. Run by artist Kari Ulleberg since 1982. Studio and shop on the same premises (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Magasinet Drammen, Nedre Storgate 6, ☏ +47 32213990. M-F 09:00-20:00, Sa 09:00-18:00. A mall with 65 shops, including a pharmacy, book store and optician (updated Jun 2017)

Eat

Drink
  • 🌍 Aass Brewery, ☏ +47 32 26 60 00. The city has Norway's oldest brewery with a somewhat embarrassing name when said in English. But if you like beer it's well worth a try. And the name: it is the name of the family who owns the brewery, Aass or Ås is Norwegian for hill. This is the only brewery in Norway which hasn't been sold to a foreign company. 

Sleep

Connect
  • 🌍 The Tourist Office (Drammen turistinformasjon), Engene 1, ☏ +47 32 21 64 50. (updated Oct 2022)

Go next
  • Blåfarveværket in Åmot. An old mining industrial complex, made to museum and art galleries. The old mines are also open to the public. In the period 1770-1857 cobalt blue was manufactured here.
  • Drøbak along Norwegian National Road 23 on the other side of the Oslofjord through a sub sea tunnel. Visit this picturesque, small town and the historical Oscarsborg fortress.
  • Kjøsterudjuvet

Try gorge jumping at Kjøsterudjuvet The Kjøsterudjuvet is a 10,000-year-old gorge just ten minutes from downtown Drammen. This ravine in the mountain side is 1,300 metres long with a rise of 250 metres. The vertical walls are up to 60 metres high and the ravine is only 4 metres wide at its most narrow part. Contact arrcom.no.

  • Visit a farm

Bring the children to one of the many open farms in the region. Here, they can go riding and play in the hay. At Sand Farm in Hurum they have hens, sheep, pigs, ducks, rabbits, turkeys, horses and cats. The farm also has a small café selling delicious cakes and bread.

  • Arena Vestfossen

Arena Vestfossen in Øvre Eiker gives room to several contemporary artists. Paintings, photos, installations, furniture, design, performances and other visual art. Studios and galleries with possibilities of direct sales.

  • Haugiani Glass/Maria og Magnus Hesslid

At Haugiani Glass in Øvre Eiker you can see the making of glass and buy goods directly from the artists’ own store. They accept all kinds of commissions, also hand engraving. Haugiani Glass lies in Shoddyhuset, where also Galleri Møllabekken is located.

Routes through Drammen
Kristiansand ← Horten ←  W  E  → Oslo → Karlstad
Haugesund ← Notodden ←  W  E  → End


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