Drøbak grew in the 18th century as a winter port for Oslo, but gained its charm in the 19th century as a popular summer destination along the fjord. The town, which got its name from the many steep hills, has an interesting coastal cultural history and is one of the best-preserved wooden towns in the Oslofjord area.
Fun Facts About Flekkefjord
Latitude: 59.4 degrees north
Population: 13,409
Hottest Month: July
Coldest Month: February
Wettest Month: October
Windiest Month: January
Annual precipitation: 1155mm a year
Flekkefjord Municipality
In this Travel Guide...
Things to See & Do
Here’s an overview of some of the best things to see and do in Flekkefjord
Looking to go for a hike or take part in a unique experience? Here are our recommendations!
Brufjell Potholes
A popular hike is to the horizontal potholes at Brufjell. They were created during the Ice Age around 20,000 years ago when the sea level was higher. The mountains are located in Åna-Sira, a small village just outside Flekkefjord.
Follow our road-trip guides for scenic trips around Drøbak
Self-Guided Walks
Drøbak on YouTube
Watch our YouTube videos featuring Drøbak
Uniquely Drøbak
Here are some things that you must do and try in Drøbak
Hollenderbyen
The Dutch Quarter is where Dutch people settled during the height of the trading period. Today it is a charming area with wooden houses and some nice cafes or small boutique shops. There is also some street art in this area.
History of Drøbak
Flekkefjord is first mentioned in historic documents in 1580, but it was already a place then. The town is also mentioned in reference to King James VI of Scotland, who in 1589 landed at Flekkefjord before travelling to Oslo to marry Princess Anne of Denmark.
When the southern city of Kristiansand was founded in 1641, King Christian IV wanted to ensure the economic survival of the new city by forcing the Flekkefjord residents there. Many did, but not all of them and the remaining residents continued to trade. By 1660, Flekkefjord got trading rights.
The major trading partner with Flekkefjord has always been the Dutch, and this shared history goes back hundreds of years. The first major export from Flekkefjord was stone thanks to the large amounts of stone on this part of the coast. In 1736, over 300 ships were reported to have exported stones from Flekkefjord. In the late-18th century, Flekkefjord was the most important export harbour for herring.
After the war, timber export became important and most houses in Amsterdam from the 19th century are resting on timber foundations from the Flekkefjord region.
Flekkefjord Today
Today Flekkefjord is an important hub for south-west Norway and has a hospital.
Travel Information
Getting Here
Fly: No airport
Drive: Flekkefjord is located on the E39 highway that goes between Kristiansand and Stavanger (and onwards to Bergen and Trondheim)
Train: Flekkefjord is a station on the Sørlandsbanen that goes between Oslo and Stavanger (via Kristiansand).
Ferry: No ferry access.
Getting Around
Flekkefjord is a small town and easily accessible on foot.
Shops
Places to Eat
Cafes & Bakeries
Tollboden Bakeri is famous for their woodfire oven pizzas.
Kaffebørsen is a nice café located in the harbour area.
Quick Bites
Reasonable Restaurants
Elva Bistro is part of the Maritim Fjordhotel
High End & Unique Eats
Central Bybryggeri is Flekkefjord’s first and only brewery. It is a brewpub with local beer, wine, cocktails and snacks.
Places to Stay
Camping
Egenes Camping is surrounded by beautiful nature.
Cabins & B&Bs
Kongshamn Gjestgiveri guesthouse is a historic home that has been transformed into a guesthouse.
Chains & Mid-Range
The Maritime Fjordhotel is a reasonably priced place to stay.
High End & Unique Properties
The Grand Hotel Flekkefjord is a Swiss style building from the late 19th century and it’s the towns historic hotel.
All Posts About Flekkefjord
Sunrise/Sunset & Weather Averages
January
Sunrise: 9:03am
Sunset: 3:50pm
Average Temperature: 2C (35F)
February
Sunrise: 7:55am
Sunset: 5:08pm
Average Temperature: 1C (34F)
March
Sunrise: 6:32am
Sunset: 6:20pm
Average Temperature: 3C (38F)
April
Sunrise: 6:00am
Sunset: 8:35pm
Average Temperature: 6C (44F)
May
Sunrise: 4:41am
Sunset: 9:47pm
Average Temperature: 10C (50F)
June
Sunrise: 3:57am
Sunset: 10:39pm
Average Temperature: 13C (55F)
July
Sunrise: 4:25am
Sunset: 10:20pm
Average Temperature: 16C (61F)
August
Sunrise: 5:34am
Sunset: 9:07pm
Average Temperature: 16C (60F)
September
Sunrise: 6:46am
Sunset: 7:37pm
Average Temperature: 13C (56F)
October
Sunrise: 7:57am
Sunset: 6:08pm
Average Temperature: 10C (49F)
November
Sunrise: 8:14am
Sunset: 3:49pm
Average Temperature: 6C (43F)
December
Sunrise: 9:11am
Sunset: 3:13pm
Average Temperature: 3C (38F)
Flekkefjord Photo Diary
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