Which island can I reach this weekend, without my own boat, where a cabin is still free?

Hovedøya, Oslo · Former military building

Nearest stop: Hovedøya Ferry from Aker brygge, five minutes across. The cabin is a couple of minutes’ walk from the landing.

Hovedøya, Oslo · A ticket kiosk from the Ekeberg tramway, moved out to serve as workshop and shelter by the old main quay

Nearest stop: Hovedøya Ferry from Aker brygge, five minutes across, then a 3–4 minute walk to Revierhavna.

Nesoddtangen, Nesodden · Cabin close to the water

Nearest stop: Nesoddtangen The ferry from Rådhusbrygga to Nesoddtangen, then a ten-minute walk. You have to go around rather than straight up from the landing.

Ytre Vassholmen, Bærum · Cabin

Nearest stop: Bruksveien Bus to Bruksveien on Snarøya, six minutes to the marina. The rowing boat marked Ytre Vassholmen is kept there; the 2.5 km row can be hard going.

Kjeholmen, Bærum · Log cabin

Nearest stop: Bruksveien Bus to Bruksveien on Snarøya, six minutes to the marina. The rowing boat marked Kjeholmen is kept there; a row of just over a kilometre, approved for six people.

Svartskog, Bunnefjorden, Nordre Follo (tidl. Oppegård) · Log cabin with outbuilding

Nearest stop: Bestemorstranda Bus to Bestemorstranda, a couple of minutes on foot. Several departures a day in the school holidays, otherwise weekdays from Kolbotn.

Svartskog, Bunnefjorden, Nordre Follo (tidl. Oppegård)

Nearest stop: Linnebukta Bus to Linnebukta, 200 metres on foot. Several departures a day in the school holidays, otherwise weekdays from Kolbotn.

Langåra, Asker · The old village shop, from the years of the tent camp

Nearest stop: Sandvika stasjon The «Rigmor» ferry from Rigmorbrygga in Sandvika, 500 metres from Sandvika station. Fjordtaxi (900 40 999) also runs out here.

Persteila, Nesodden · Swiss-chalet-style villa, once the manager’s house, restored by Nesodden council

Nearest stop: Landsteila Fast boat B21 or B22 from Aker brygge to Landsteila, then 200 metres on foot. Daily June to August, weekends otherwise.

Fyrsteila, Nesodden · Former lighthouse keeper’s house; the light is decommissioned

Nearest stop: Alværn brygge The Nesodden boat from Aker brygge, then a bus to Alværn and a 10–15 minute walk down to the quay, where two rowing boats are kept for the crossing.

Nordre Ommen, Nesodden · Small cabin

Nearest stop: Ommen/Fjellstrand The Nesodden boat to Tangen brygge, bus to Ommen/Fjellstrand, then ten minutes steeply downhill. Two hundred metres of descent, in steps.

Søndre Ommen, Nesodden · The main house at Søndre Ommen

Nearest stop: Ommen/Fjellstrand The Nesodden boat to Tangen brygge, bus to Ommen/Fjellstrand, then ten minutes down a steep flight of steps.

Søndre Ommen, Nesodden · The little house at Søndre Ommen

Nearest stop: Ommen/Fjellstrand The Nesodden boat to Tangen brygge, bus to Ommen/Fjellstrand, then ten minutes down a steep flight of steps.

Søndre Langåra, Frogn · Listed fog-bell station of 1896, in service until 1967

Nearest stop: Søndre Langåra Fast boat B21 from Aker brygge calls at the island, then 10 minutes on foot. Daily June to August, weekends otherwise. Fjordtaxi (900 40 999) as an alternative.

Lågøya, Frogn · Tidligere bedriftshytter for oljeselskap (Norsk Brændselolje → Norol → Statoil → Circle K)

Nearest stop: Lågøya Fast boat B21 from Aker brygge has its own quay on the island, barely an hour from Oslo. Departures are few. Fagerstrand on Nesodden is the nearest mainland point.

Håøya, Frogn · Cabin beside Gamlegården and the bath house

Nearest stop: Prinsessebrygga Fast boat B21 or B22 to Prinsessebrygga, then 5–10 minutes on foot. Daily June to August, weekends otherwise.

Håøya, Frogn · Historic farmhouse with 17th-century parts, the oldest building on the island

Nearest stop: Prinsessebrygga Fast boat B21 or B22 to Prinsessebrygga, then 5–10 minutes on foot. Daily June to August, weekends otherwise.

Håøya, Frogn · Single-room log cabin in the dragon style

Nearest stop: Prinsessebrygga Fast boat B21 or B22 to Prinsessebrygga, then 5–10 minutes on foot. Daily June to August, weekends otherwise.

Bergholmen, Frogn · Former mine workshop for Oscarsborg’s mine service, in use until 1989

Nearest stop: Sundbrygga, Drøbak The Forsvarsbygg ferry from Sundbrygga in Drøbak via Oscarsborg, leaving at 17:50. Book ahead on +47 900 99 414. The cabin stands right by the ferry quay.

Bergholmen, Frogn · Former officers’ quarters, part of the Oscarsborg minefield installation

Nearest stop: Sundbrygga, Drøbak The Forsvarsbygg ferry from Sundbrygga in Drøbak via Oscarsborg, leaving at 17:50. Book ahead on +47 900 99 414.

Bergholmen, Frogn · Former military store, refurbished in 2015

Nearest stop: Sundbrygga, Drøbak The Forsvarsbygg ferry from Sundbrygga in Drøbak via Oscarsborg, leaving at 17:50. Book ahead on +47 900 99 414.

Sandspollen, Hurumlandet, Asker (tidl. Hurum) · Fisherman’s cabin from 1915

Nearest stop: Storesandtoppen Bus 251 from Oslo towards Tofte, off at Storesandtoppen, 15 minutes downhill on foot. The bus calls at Lysaker and Vollen.

Krokstrand, Vestby · Modern cabin, refurbished in 2017

No public transport. Drive to Krokstrand near Hvitsten; the cabin sits on the north side of the beach.

Ranvikholmen, Hurum, Asker (tidl. Hurum) · Historic cabin

No operator is known to run boats out here. Own boat or kayak, 2.5 km from Apotekerstranda at Tofte.

Gullholmen, Moss · Old boathouse converted into a coastal trail cabin

Nearest stop: Tronvikalléen Bus from Moss to Tronvikalléen. Naustet has no berth, so you must arrange a lift privately or come by kayak.

Gullholmen, Moss · Lighthouse keeper’s house; the light was lit in 1894 and automated in 1984

Nearest stop: Tronvikalléen The bus from Moss to Tronvikalléen brings you to Tronvikstranda on Jeløya, but the last stretch needs your own boat or a kayak. No operator is known to run boats out here.

Mellom-Bolæren, Færder (tidl. Nøtterøy) · Restored coastal smallholding, around 1850

Nearest stop: Husvik brygge The Flybåten service runs to Bolærne every weekend from Husvik quay. Water taxis are listed by Visit Vestfold.

Østre Bolæren, Færder (tidl. Nøtterøy) · Historic military quarters

Nearest stop: Husvik brygge The Flybåten service runs to Bolærne every weekend from Husvik quay, where it has parking for 55 cars.

Håøya, Færder · Coastal trail cabin run by DNT

Nearest stop: Tenvik brygge DNT rents out two boats with outboard motors from the marina at Tenvik, and only to those who have booked. Bus from Tønsberg to Tenvik quay.

Håøya, Færder · Coastal trail cabin run by DNT

Nearest stop: Tenvik brygge DNT rents out two boats with outboard motors from the marina at Tenvik, and only to those who have booked. Bus from Tønsberg to Tenvik quay.

Strømtangen, Fredrikstad · Lighthouse keeper’s cabin on the quay

Nearest stop: Øyenkilen Water taxi from Øyenkilen, Foreningen Onsøbeviset (+47 930 12 902). It is a short walk from the quay at Strømsund.

Strømtangen, Fredrikstad · Lighthouse keeper’s flat

Nearest stop: Øyenkilen Water taxi from Øyenkilen, Foreningen Onsøbeviset (+47 930 12 902). From the quay at Strømsund it is 500 metres along path and bare rock.

Veierland, Færder (tidl. Nøtterøy) · Schoolhouse in the Swiss chalet style

Nearest stop: Vestgården Scheduled ferry Tenvik–Veierland all year, several times a day. Get off at Vestgården. Bus from Tønsberg to Tenvik quay.

Struten, Hvaler · Lighthouse station of 1907, automated in 1985, let as a whole

Nearest stop: Papperhavn Bus from Fredrikstad to Papperhavn, then a water taxi for the last stretch. Contact Gamle Struten Fyr before you go; the place is exposed.

Søndre Karlsøy, Sarpsborg · Old fishing station, main house and annexe, restored at a cost of over 2.5 million kroner

No public transport within reach. Drive from the E6 at Solbergtårnet; parking right below the cabin.

Papper, Vesterøy, Hvaler · Restored fish landing and boathouse

Nearest stop: Bukta Bus from Fredrikstad on weekdays, off at Bukta. From the car park at Bukta Handel it is 150 metres across bare rock.

Spjærøy, Hvaler · Old stonecutter’s cabin

Nearest stop: Dypedalsåsen Bus from Fredrikstad towards Skjærhalden, off at Dypedalsåsen, a little over 400 metres down to Brottet.

Spjærøy, Hvaler · Old stonecutter’s cabin

Nearest stop: Dypedalsåsen Bus from Fredrikstad towards Skjærhalden, off at Dypedalsåsen, a little over 400 metres down to Brottet.

Spjærøy, Hvaler · Purpose-built coastal trail cabin, opened spring 2016

Nearest stop: Dypedalsåsen Bus from Fredrikstad towards Skjærhalden, off at Dypedalsåsen, a little over 400 metres down to Brottet.

Akerøya, Hvaler · Old farm buildings

Nearest stop: Skjærhalden No scheduled boat. Water taxi from Hvaler Innovasjon (+47 468 37 740). Parking and slipways at Brattestø, Utgårdskilen or Vikerhavn.

Kirkøy, Hvaler · Old schoolhouse of 1849

Nearest stop: Hvaler kirke Bus from Oslo to Skjærhalden via Fredrikstad, off at Hvaler church, 1.5 km on foot.

Homlungen, Hvaler · Listed lighthouse station of 1867

Nearest stop: Skjærhalden Bus to Skjærhalden from Oslo or Fredrikstad, then 1.5 km of coastal path, around 30 minutes. The rowing boat is kept on the landward side; the row is 50 metres.

Nordre Lauer, Hvaler · Farmyard; the first coastal trail cabin in Østfold, opened 2008

Nearest stop: Skjærhalden Ferry from Skjærhalden to Lauer. Buses to Skjærhalden from Oslo and Fredrikstad. Water taxis run as well.