Fredrikstad is a city and municipality in Østfold county in Norway, home to around 85,000 people (2023). Its old town is Northern Europe's best preserved fortified town.

Understand

The city of Fredrikstad was founded and named in 1567 by King Frederick II of Denmark-Norway. The oldest part of the city was built as a fortified town behind protective walls. The city's location is at the estuary of Glomma, the largest river in Norway and not far from the Swedish border. The river was used for transporting timber. The city still has a significant wood processing industry. The main settlement is along the river banks. Today, the city has an important trading business and is a popular tourist city.

• Fredrikstad city website

Get in

Riverside promenade in Fredrikstad

By train

Fredrikstad is served by the Norwegian State Railway on the Oslo-Halden line. Also some trains to Gothenburg and onward connections, and almost as long (plus waiting time in Oslo) between the airport and the central station of Oslo to Fredrikstad.

By plane

There are two main airports serving eastern Norway, the larger one is Oslo Gardermoen (OSL), which is 50 km north of Oslo while Fredrikstad is about 90 km (56 mi) south of Oslo. Nevertheless, there is a bus service (line FB11 between Fredrikstad and the airport taking slightly over two hours.

Some people find a good deal if they fly to Gothenburg instead, and take the train or drive from there.

About 230 km to the south, Gothenburg airport Landvetter is even further from Fredrikstad than OSL is (though the difference in driving time is less than an hour), but sometimes the tickets might be better there.

By bus

Hourly to Oslo via Moss by TimEkspressen. Several daily to Strømstad in Sweden, corresponding with a ferry to Sandefjord.

Get around

It is fairly easy to get around the city as public transportation in form of bus is frequent and goes around town and to the suburbs in all directions from the centre of downtown.

Taxi is available from the main taxi central in downtown, just opposite of the main walking street.

There is a ferry from downtown to the old town which is quite frequent. It is an affordable and scenic means of transportation, and you get to see the city from a different view as well, as the river offers a unique view of town. It also goes to the neighboring suburb Gressvik.

If you have a rental car, traffic is usually unproblematic, but there may be some traffic jams in the main entry roads to town around 16:00-17:00 (rush hour).

See

• 1 Fredrikstad Cathedral.  

Old Town

Kongsten Fort from north

The old fortified city, founded in 1567, and Kongsten fortress.

• 2 Fredrikstad Museum, Tøihusgaten 41 (Fredrikstad's Old Town). 

Do

• 1 Gamlebyen (Old Town). Take a walk around the Old Town, on a sunny day it is beautiful. Especially great for kids as there are grass to run on, old cannons to climb, a playground and lots of ducks to feed. Go for a cup of hot cocoa and a cinnamon "snail" at Mormors Café afterwards. Daily guided tours (summer).  
• 2 Gamlebyen Modelljernbanesenter, Voldgaten 8 (Old Town), ☏ +47 90 50 98 74, kontakt@gbmj.no. Claims to be the largest model train system of its kind in Scandinavia. Great fun for kids of all ages. 30 kr.. 
• 3 Fredrikstad stadion. Go see Fredrikstad Fotball Klubb (FFK) play a game of soccer at their brand new stadium across the river from the riverwalk. Fredrikstad is beyond a doubt one of the most devoted cities in Norway when it comes to supporting their local team and the strong history of the sport in the city is well felt. (updated Jan 2019)

Activities

• Go swimming. There is a plethora of swimming south of downtown just waiting to be discovered.
• 4 Gamle Fredrikstad Golfklubb, ☏ +47 958 555 00. Play golf at this centrally located golf course. 

Buy

• 1 Torvbyen

Eat

• 1 Divan, Storgata 3, ☏ +47 934 70 909. A Turkish restaurant. (updated Mar 2018)
• 2 Mother India, Storgata 20, ☏ +47 69 31 22 00. As you might have guessed from its name, it is an Indian restaurant. (updated Mar 2018)
• 3 Restaurant Slippen, Verkstedveien 12, ☏ +47 994 69 988, post@restaurantslippen.no. A fish and seafood restaurant. (updated Mar 2018)
• 4 St. Raw Fredrikstad, Storgata 8, ☏ +47 474 79 417. A sushi restaurant. (updated Mar 2018)
• 5 Majorens Kro og Stue (Majorstuen), Gamle, Voldportgaten 73 (Fredrikstad's Old Town), ☏ +47 69 32 15 55. 

Drink

There are three coffee shops in the city centre that make very good coffees, milkshakes, smoothies etc. One is Verdensspeilet (World Mirror) right opposite the cinema. The second is Syversen Tea and Coffee and the third is Malenki, next to the cinema. All three have friendly staff and great coffee, and are great for a quick bite. If you want to stay a little longer, maybe have a beer and play a board game then Verdenspeilet is the best choice.

The riverwalk has a lot of restaurants and bars, and in the summertime, especially, it is a very busy area where people go to eat, drink a beer in the sunshine by the water and in general have a good time. People also come by boat, staying directly at the guest pier.

Pubs

• 1 Dragen Pub, Nygaardsgata 35. 
• 2 Gulating Pub Gamlebyen, Kirkegaten 28 A (Fredrikstad's Old Town). Great selection of craft beer. 
• 3 Tamburen, Færgeportgaten 78B (Fredrikstad's Old Town). 
• 4 West End Pub, Brogata 17. 

Sleep

• 1 Fredrikstad Motel & Camping, Torsnesveien 16/18, ☏ +47 99 22 19 99. 

Hotels

• 2 Quality Hotel Fredrikstad, Nygata 2-6, ☏ +47 69 39 30 00, q.fredrikstad@choice.no. A five-star hotel next to the cinema. It is a short walk and a ferry trip to the old city and 0.5 km to the train station. 172 rooms with two design themes; Urban and Ocean. Expensive. (updated Mar 2018)
• 3 Gamlebyen Hotell, Voldportgaten 72 (Fredrikstad's Old Town), ☏ +47 400 53 909, post@gamlebyenhotell.no. This historical hotel is in an old, picturesque wooden building, snugly in the old fortified town. 
• 4 Scandic City, Gunnar Nilsens gate 9 (next to the bus station and a few minutes walk to Brygga and 0.5 km to the train station), ☏ +47 69 38 56 00, resepsjon@hotelcity.no. 4-star hotel. Hotel facilities: garage, internet, restaurant, bar, nightclub, fitness room, sauna and animals allowed. (updated Mar 2018)
• 5 Hotel Valhalla, Valhalls gate 3, ☏ +47 69 36 89 50. An old building made of wood in 1870 and run by a family. The building has been totally rebuilt and contains 24 modern rooms, divided into single/double and family rooms. The outside of the building is now like it was at the beginning of the century. All rooms contain TV and private shower/wc. The hotel's website says that staying at this hotel is like living on the roof of the city, because of the great view. The hotel has its own park and is within walking distance to the city centre. (updated Mar 2018)
• 6 Hotel Victoria, Turngaten 3, ☏ +47 69 38 58 00, resepsjon@hotelvictoria.no. This central and traditional hotel is next to the Cathedral Park, the city's main street and the Old Town. It offers free Wi-Fi and an on-site restaurant with bar. 

Stay safe

Norway is a fairly safe country in general, and Fredrikstad is no exception.

Go next

• Oslo - The capital of Norway
• Bohuslän - Cross the border into Sweden
• Gothenburg - The second largest city in Sweden

Routes through Fredrikstad

Oslo ← Moss ←

N  S

→ Halden → Strömstad