"The heartland of Scandinavia", home of the Vikings and one of Norway’s oldest inhabited regions. Located between Oslo Fjord and Sweden in the North Sea, Østfold is Norway’s second smallest county. Considered Norway’s gateway to Europe, summertime is an excellent opportunity for a vacation full of sunbathing and swimming.
It is a region full of diverse nature such as forests, lakes, rivers and a fantastic coastline. All cities in the county have their local forests making it the perfect place for hikes in the meadows.
Petroglyphs and burial mounds place Østfold among Norway’s oldest inhabited regions. This area was part of Vingulmark during the Viking Age. The countryside is full of ancient monuments and historical landmarks such as The Ancient Road (Oldtidsveien) between Fredrikstad and Skjeberg. “20 kilometers further on and you are 3,000 years back in time.” Until the time of Harald Fairhair, Østfold was partly under the Swedish rule, leaving a cultural mark in the county. Nowadays you can admire Fredriksten Fortress in Halden where King Carl XII of Sweden died in 1718. It is still intact and makes a perfect place to get in touch with Østfold historical heritage.
The region has six cities Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg, Halden, Moss, Askim and Mysen, Sarpsborg is the oldest. They all provide unique sceneries and attractions, making a trip to Østfold well worth it. Fredrikstad was founded in 1567 by King Fredrik II and will take you back through time as it is the best-preserved fortress town in Scandinavia. Visit the birthplace of famous polar explorer Roald Amundsen. Sarpsfossen offers an insight to Østfold’s history where you can visit the medieval church in Skjeberg or the powerful Sarpsfossen Waterfall, which was created by nature 4000 years ago.
Halden is an idyllic town nestled down by the Fjord, on the border with Sweden- A perfect place to relax while touring Fredriksten Fortress or Rød Manor or enjoy fishing on the rocky banks. Moss offers one of the most traditional institutions for contemporary art in Norway. Enjoy the famous “Alby” pastry in the café while admiring a broad range of books, art, and prints. In Mysen, you can experience Norway’s biggest inland fortress - that was built between 1912–1918. You can visit the dark halls, enjoy the spectacular views, all a part of thrilling history.
Østfold will also satisfy even the most demanding culinary taste. Its wide variety of restaurants will bring a bit of spice into your holiday, allowing you to choose from a variety of dishes. From seafood to sushi, Østfold will not disappoint. The top rated restaurants in the region are Vertshuset Curtisen (Halden), St. Raw Fredrikstad (Fredrikstad), Festiviteten (Sarpsborg), Bare Spiseri Mollebyen Moss (Moss), Thai Market AS (Fredrikstad).
Decided to visit? Here are hotels that will take care of your every need: Hotell Jeloy Radio (Moss), Quality Hotel Fredrikstad (Fredrikstad), Hotell Refsnes Gods (Moss), Thon Hotel Halden (Halden). Prepare yourself for an unforgettable experience. Make sure that you have your camera ready to immortalize a life changing journey into Østfold.
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