The neighbourhood
Villa Røykås sits on the edge between forest and city. Three minutes to the metro, five minutes to the woods, eight minutes to a year-round indoor ski arena, twelve minutes to a manor house from the 1700s. This is an honest list of what we recommend ourselves, built on local knowledge rather than tourist brochures.
Outdoors and forest
Østmarka opens directly behind the house. You can walk straight from the terrace onto a marked trail, or take the metro three minutes to Ellingsrudåsen and start there. No car needed.
30 to 60 min walk · Year-round · Family
A traditional forest cabin deep in Østmarka. Fresh waffles with sour cream and jam, coffee, ice cream in the sun. Follow the blue-marked trail from Rustadsaga or Ellingsrud. A 1.5 to 2 hour return trip the whole family can do.
30 min walk · Summer · Family
A small swimming lake just inside the forest border. A diving platform, a tiny sandy beach, warm water from June to August. Pack waffles and a thermos.
5 to 15 min walk · Year-round · Romantic
The trail follows the river past the ruins of an 1800s mill. Moss, maple, birch. Short loops of half an hour or full day hikes deeper into the woods.
45 min walk · Year-round · Adults
Steep climb, but short. From the top you see Lørenskog, the Oslo fjord and the mountains towards Drammen. Best at sunset in summer, or after fresh snow in winter.
10 min by car · Year-round · Family
Groomed cross-country ski trails in winter, easy gravel roads in summer. Start at Losby Gods and walk towards Sandbakken or Mariholtet.
Indoor experiences
When the weather changes, Lørenskog has more to offer than most Norwegian towns. SNØ is one of Europe's largest indoor ski centres. Megafun is Norway's biggest play park.
8 min by car · Year-round · All ages
The world's most spectacular indoor snow arena. A 500 metre alpine slope, a 1 km cross-country loop, a terrain park with rails, an ice castle. Open year-round at minus four degrees inside. Day pass NOK 370. Closed Mondays. Equipment rental on the ground floor.
5 min by car · Year-round · Family
Norway's largest indoor play centre, 5,000 square metres across five floors. Trampoline park, climbing wall, ninja course, wind tunnel and a 6D cinema. NOK 249 per child on weekdays, NOK 279 on weekends. Adults NOK 65.
12 min by car · Year-round · All ages
The municipal cultural centre. A library with family events, a cinema, a concert hall, and the children's own programme called Mylder. Check the schedule before you come.
12 min by car · Year-round · Family
A small, comfortable cinema inside Lørenskog hus. Smaller halls, shorter queues, the same premieres as in central Oslo.
7 min by car · Year-round · Practical
Large shopping centre with food, clothes, a pharmacy and Lucky Bowl bowling. Practical for a stop between trips.
For couples
A cabin in the forest without leaving the Oslo region. For couples who want to spend a weekend on each other rather than rushing.
12 min by car · Year-round · Romantic
Voted World's Best Historic Hotel in 2019. A manor house from the 1740s with a fireplace lounge, a restaurant and two golf courses. Book a table for dinner even if you don't stay overnight. Traditional manor lunch from 12 to 15 weekdays.
16 min by car · Year-round · Romantic
Scandinavia's largest spa and bathing complex, in Sofiemyr. 11,000 square metres with eleven saunas, fifteen pools, eight quiet rooms. Reserve a day pass and combine with dinner. Adults only.
26 min by metro · Year-round · Romantic
A medieval fortress from the 1290s above the Oslo fjord. The sunset from the fortress wall is one of the city's best views. Free access to the grounds.
30 min by metro · Year-round · Romantic
Oslo's oldest wooden houses on a hidden lane, with the Lovers' Path between them. A quarter hour in a vanished city. Best from May to September.
45 min by metro · Year-round · Adults
Above the Holmenkollen ridge, looking down across the Oslo fjord. A sunset hike from May to September.
Families with children
Combine nature and indoor activities. Few towns in Norway offer this much for kids in such a small radius.
5 min by car · Year-round · Ages 2 to 14
Climb, jump, slide, fly in a wind tunnel, watch a 6D film. All under one roof. The best rainy-day plan in Lørenskog.
8 min by car · Year-round · Ages 4 and up
Professional ski instructors in an indoor arena. Perfect for children learning to ski in May or August, or warming up before the winter holiday.
12 min by car · Year-round · Toddlers
Family events on weekends and holidays. Read-alouds, creative workshops, free to attend. Watch the Mylder schedule.
30 min by car · May to October · Ages 4 and up
Norway's largest amusement park. Roller coasters, doll museum, water park. A full day here is a tradition.
30 min by metro · Year-round · All ages
212 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland in a park in central Oslo. The Angry Boy, the Monolith, the Wheel of Life. Free, open all hours.
30 min by metro · Year-round · Family
Blue whale skeletons, dinosaurs, emeralds and a botanical garden. An 1800s building, calm and welcoming for children.
Friends and bachelorette parties
The spa suite in the basement holds four at a time. The pizza oven outside takes twenty. Here is what we recommend filling the rest of the weekend with.
16 min by car · Year-round · Hen do
Book a day pass for the whole group and combine with treatments. The Well has dedicated bachelorette packages with a private lounge and lunch. Adults only.
12 min by car · Year-round · Group
Hold dinner at a manor house. Private dining rooms for groups, a wine cellar, candlelight. It feels like a weekend on an English estate.
26 min by metro · Year-round · Group
A spy-themed scavenger hunt through Oslo. Three to ten people per team. Two to three hours, runs both outdoors and in pubs.
26 min by metro · Year-round · Adults
Several venues in central Oslo offer private tastings for groups. Ølakademiet, the Vinmonopolet wine club, or sommeliers who travel to you.
45 min by metro · Year-round · Group
The ski jump tower with a view across the entire city. Restaurant Holmenkollen Park at the top for a pre-dinner drink. Take the metro all the way up.
0 min · Year-round · Group
We have our own outdoor pizza oven. Bring the dough, the wine, the cheese. The pergola seats twenty. This is often the night the group remembers most.
Food and café
A list of restaurants we go to ourselves. No compromises, no fictional reviews.
12 min by car · Fine dining
Norwegian fine dining at a manor house. Reservations recommended on weekends. Lunch 12 to 15, dinner 18 to 21:30. A separate café if you want coffee and something sweet.
12 min by car · Asian and European
Inside Lørenskog hus. Exotic fusion cooking with clean flavours. A solid choice after a film or a concert.
30 to 60 min walk · Waffles and coffee
Fresh waffles, homemade carrot cake, coffee, ice cream. Open weekends and holidays year-round. Inside by the fireplace in winter, outside in summer.
10 min by car · Italian
Family-run Italian in Lørenskog. Handmade pasta, real parmesan, no shortcuts. Family-friendly and works for a date.
8 min by car · Indian
Authentic North Indian cooking. Tandoori grill, sharp biryani, fresh naan. Take-away works for a dinner at home.
7 min by car · Asian
Quick, good Asian fusion food at the Metro centre. Stir-fry, sushi, dim sum. Useful for lunch or take-away.
Inquire
Every guest receives a personal welcome guide at check-in, with current suggestions based on the weather, the season and what you are looking for. Ask us for our favourites.