Vestby: The Kyststien, an old railway line and coastal culture

Hiking trails, an old railway line and cultural sites along the coast give Vestby a range of options to consider when planning a trip. The Kyststien runs through the municipality, while Smaalensbanen and historic structures tell the story of the railway. In Son and Hvitsten, local history, art and coastal themes add to the picture.

Hiking and cycling on the Kyststien

The Kyststien runs through the entire municipality of Vestby and offers both long and short hikes across varied terrain. Along the route, gravel paths, partly paved roads, tracks and trails alternate. Cyclists are asked to use a specially marked bicycle route on the Kyststien. When planning an outing, both the different hike lengths and the changing surfaces are therefore part of the route’s character.

Smaalensbanen and historic bridges

Smaalensbanen is an old railway line through the municipality of Vestby. It runs from Kjenn and Kjennstjernet through Hølen, across the Hølenviadukten, and on to Sonsveien station. The route is flat and accessible to everyone. This gives it a different character from the Kyststien, where varied terrain and trail surfaces are the main features.

The Hølenviadukten is a protected railway viaduct that has crossed the Såna high above the river since 1879. Hølen is also home to Rafsal Bru, a stone arch bridge dating from before 1850. The structures differ in type and age: since 1879, the Hølenviadukten has crossed the Såna as a railway viaduct, while Rafsal Bru is a stone arch bridge dating from before 1850.

Coastal culture in Son and Hvitsten

The Son Coastal Culture Centre is in the heart of Son, on the site of the former Soon Baadbyggeri. At its centre, Jostushuset tells the story of a fisherman’s house in Son. Two specific connections to local history thus come together here: the former Baadbyggeri site and the story of a fisherman’s house.

Hvitsten also brings together coastal themes and cultural history. The old boathouses at the quay are Vestby municipality’s Millennium Cultural Monument. Hvitsten is also home to Ramme Art Gallery, an underground art gallery with two underground floors. It exhibits works by Norwegian artists of the 19th and 20th centuries who lived in the local area and created art there. The boathouses and the gallery thus represent different cultural themes: the built heritage at the quay and the area’s art history.

Beach, harbour and getting there

Hvitsten strand is a swimming beach in Hvitsten. Son Havn offers boat tourists several facilities in a safe harbour. The beach and harbour appeal to different interests: the focus here is on the swimming beach, and there on the facilities for boat tourists.

Trains stop at Sonsveien station. Son and the coastal trail are a little more than 3 km away. Check the current timetable before travelling.

Choose the focus of your stay

When searching for a hotel in Vestby, you can first consider what you want your stay to focus on: hikes along the Kyststien, the flat Smaalensbanen route, the railway and bridge structures, or coastal culture in Son and Hvitsten. These different themes offer practical guidance when choosing your destination and planning your stay.

Discover more destinations: Son, Vestby, Gjerdrum, Asker, Frogn, Lørenskog, Rælingen, Ski.

See the full travel overview: Akershus.