Your tour starts at our tour center in central Oslo. After meeting your guide, you will hop on a train bound for Maridalen Lake. This lake is one of Oslo's main drinking water sources and also the headwaters of the Akerselva River. We begin next to the Technical Museum at Kjelsås, and wind through forested areas and colorful wooden houses, where you'll learn about the river’s natural and cultural significance.

Soon you will see a change in the landscape surrounding the river as we move into the industrial heart of the city. Here old factories harnessed the power of the Akerselva through dams, leaving beautiful waterfalls behind for us to enjoy. Just like much of the world, the Industrial Revolution completely changed Norway and nowhere in the city is it more evident than along the banks of the “Aker River” (Akerselva). Along the way, your guide will tell you about some of this history, as well as its impact on the river itself.

If time allows we will take a detour up to the beautifully preserved wooden houses and community gardens of Telthusbakken and Damstredet (Oslo's “most instagrammed” streets!)
The tour ends in the vibrant Vulkan district, home to the much-loved Mathallen food hall. Here, your guide will take you inside of the food hall and drop you off at one of the food vendors called Helt Vilt (Translation: Totally Wild) for an optional food tasting. Don´t worry - our guide will give you their best recommendations on what to try from the huge variety of local Norwegian food!

Before saying goodbye, we will give you a public transport ticket and explain the easiest way back to the city center. Alternatively, we encourage you to spend some more time in this wonderful part of the city, possibly exploring the hip Grunnerløkka neighborhood, or continuing along the Akerselva footpath to where it empties into the fjord.
This tour is one of the best ways to spend a few hours with the perfect blend of city and nature!