Lysaker: Coastal Paths, Cultural Heritage and Rail Connections

Lysaker is interesting for travelers with a range of plans: the area combines a station on the Drammen Line with paths along the fjord and the Lysakerelva, as well as a distinctive cultural history. If you’re looking for a hotel in Lysaker, these themes can help you decide what to focus on during your trip. Rail connections are relevant for your arrival and onward travel; coastal and riverside paths offer a different emphasis from the historic sites.

Travel by train

Lysaker station is on the Drammen Line. Trains from there serve large parts of eastern and western Norway. Check the timetable for your travel day before departure, as services and routes can change. This lets you consider long-distance rail travel as a separate part of your trip planning, regardless of whether you’re more interested in paths by the water or cultural history while you’re there.

Coastal path and riverside walks

In Lysaker, there are walking trails upstream along the Lysakerelva, as well as a coastal path by the fjord. This brings together two distinct landscapes: the river and the coast. Kyststien runs for 23 kilometers from Bjørnsvika to Lysaker and ends at Lysakerbrygge, where the Lysakerelva flows into Bærum. The stated distance also makes clear that Kyststien refers to more than a single stretch of waterfront.

Tides matter for the section by the water. At low tide, you can follow Kyststien along the water from Fornebubukta via Svartebukta to Lysaker; at high tide, you can use Dicks vei instead. Plan your route according to the appropriate option and check the tide times for your visit. This makes clear the difference between the waterfront route at low tide and the stated alternative at high tide.

Pilegrimsleden and historic sites

The Pilegrimsleden pilgrimage route reaches Bærum at Lysaker. The section described in Bærum runs from Faabro, at the border with Oslo, to Haslum kirke. This offers a different kind of orientation from Kyststien: here, the focus is on the cultural route description and its named endpoints, while the coastal path also has a tide-dependent alternative.

The buildings also tell the story of Lysaker. Furuvik is a house built in 1897 at Dicks vei 12 and is part of the historic buildings in Lagåsen. It is designed in the National Romantic style and features numerous ornate carvings and turned posts. The date and architecture give the house a distinct historical significance within Lysaker.

Polhøgda in Lysaker was the home of Fridtjof Nansen (1861–1930), known as a polar explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Since 1958, Polhøgda has housed the Fridtjof Nansen Institute. Together, Furuvik and Polhøgda illustrate two different aspects of local history: a late-19th-century house with National Romantic details, and a place associated with Nansen’s life and the institute based there since 1958.

Bærum as a wider destination

Beyond Lysaker itself, Bærum also offers its own nature and culture. The route to Kolsåstoppen passes through the Kolsås-Dælivann Landscape Protection Area and the Kolsåsstupene Nature Reserve. At Høvikodden in Bærum, you’ll find the Henie Onstad Art Centre, an important institution for international contemporary art; its grounds are surrounded by a large sculpture park. These regional examples complement the coastal, riverside and historical themes that define Lysaker itself.

Discover more destinations: Sandvika, Haslum, Snarøya, Stabekk, Høvik, Fornebu

Go to the broader travel overview: Bærum.