Ytre Hvaler National Park is Norway’s first marine national park and covers 354 km² of coastline and archipelago. Within the park, the archipelago forms large, connected areas with rich biodiversity both on land and underwater. Hvaler offers several ways to explore: take in its marine nature and landscapes, as well as its coastal history, art and cultural sites.
Marine Nature and Trails in the National Park
Tislerrevet is part of the natural landscape and is considered one of the world’s largest coral reefs within an archipelago. Together with the biodiversity on land and underwater, it highlights the variety of natural features in the park. The national park also has a network of trails suitable for hiking. The Coastal Trail (Kyststien) is part of the adapted trail system in Ytre Hvaler National Park. The reef, habitats and trails offer different perspectives on the protected area, though no single route covers all its facets.
Finding Your Way Around Ytre Hvaler National Park
The Ytre Hvaler Visitor Center provides information about the national park, nature, culture and outdoor activities in Skjærhalden and Storesand. At Kornmagasinet in Skjærhalden, you’ll find a national park exhibition, brochures, paper maps, digital mapping services, information and literature. Visitors can also get advice and tips there about trips and activities in the national park. Offerings and schedules may vary by season; check the latest information before your visit.
Coastal Culture, History and Art
Hvaler Church is one of Norway’s oldest churches and was probably built sometime in the 11th century. Brottet Kystkultursenter offers another way to explore history: it is a visitor attraction dedicated to coastal history, in a beautiful seaside setting. Brottet Open Air Theatre was also built in an old quarry.
On Spjærøy, at Nordgården Dypedal, the Hvaler Coastal Museum is dedicated to coastal culture. Museum access is seasonal; check the latest visitor information before your visit. The museum includes the exhibition “Hewn in granite,” housed in a protected quarry along with the associated workers’ barracks. On Herføl, Langrøsset is considered Norway’s longest burial cairn; it is around 100 metres long.
Art can also be discovered at several other locations. Stenkunst Hvaler displays artworks in an old quarry, with views stretching far out to sea. The Art Road at Hauge on Vesterøy includes studios and galleries by local artists. The art forms represented there range from ceramics, glass and jewellery to wood carvings, textiles and tapestries. Some galleries are seasonal. Each place has its own focus, from coastal culture and historic buildings to art in the quarry and creative crafts.
Ferry and Bus Connections
The Hvaler ferry runs from Skjærhalden to the eastern islands of Herføl, Lauer, Søndre Sandøy and Nordre Sandøy. Passengers and bicycles travel free of charge. Check the latest timetable before you travel. Vy6 express buses connect Hvaler with Oslo and Fredrikstad several times a day, year-round; it is also worth checking the latest timetable. When planning, you can weigh up a trip to the eastern islands against the bus connections to Oslo or Fredrikstad, without assuming a particular route or length of stay.
Discover more destinations: Hvaler, Skjærhalden, Nedgården, Vesterøy, Fredrikstad, Eidsberg, Rygge, Moss.
Back to the main travel overview: Østfold.
