Sandvika: Cultural history and paths by the water

Sandvika brings together a railway station, cultural heritage and paths by the water. If you’re looking for a hotel in Sandvika, you can plan your stay around whether travel connections, architectural and local history, or outdoor walks are your priority.

Getting here and finding your way

Sandvika station is on the Drammen and Asker railway lines. It is served by the Airport Express Train (Flytoget), local trains and some regional trains. There is also a bus station for regional bus routes in the station area. Train services and regional buses therefore meet in the same station area—a clear landmark for planning your journey.

Cultural history by the river

Løkke Bridge is Norway’s first cast-iron bridge. It was completed on 19 December 1829 and replaced an older wooden bridge over the Sandvikselva. Another historical landmark is the listed Malmskrivergården: dating from around 1640, it is considered Sandvika’s oldest building. The bridge and the building represent different chapters in the area’s history.

Løkkehaven is situated on the Sandvikselva in the middle of an old conservation area. Three old houses that once stood at Løkketangen were rebuilt here. The park is also home to Løkke Bridge, painted by Claude Monet. Paths lead south from there to Løkketangen river park and west across the Sandvikselva to Kjørbotangen Park. This makes it possible to combine a visit to the park with a walk along the river.

Engervannet is also one of the historic stops on Sandvika’s central cultural trail. King Sverre watched a peasant army there, which had held a council on the night before the bloody battle on the ice near Hovedøya on 6 March 1200. At Bærum Culture House in Sandvika, visitors can enjoy music, dance and theatre; the cultural offering thus extends beyond historic sites to the performing arts.

Coastal path, Kadettangen and ferries

The coastal path runs through Sandvika and continues to Kadettangen and Kalvøya. Kadettangen has a beach, a park and a recreation area. These destinations give the route a different focus from the historic buildings and riverside landscape of Løkkehaven.

In summer, the Rigmor and Rigfar ferries take swimmers from the western pier at Kadettangen to the islands of the Bærum archipelago and back. If you’re planning a trip, check the current timetable in advance. Rigmorbryggen is accessible, so everyone can take part in the trip.

Understanding the landscape and paths

Sandvika’s historic centre lies topographically between ridges and the fjord. With a few exceptions, the selected cultural heritage sites are located at an elevation of 0 to 15 metres. Marked routes run mainly along roads, tracks, pavements and paths; most are easily accessible with a pushchair or wheelchair.

For a longer hike, you can walk far into the surrounding area from Sandvika along the Øverlandselva. The coastal path through the town and this hike differ mainly in their direction and route: one continues to Kadettangen and Kalvøya, while the other follows the Øverlandselva into the surrounding area.

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

Back to the main travel overview: Bærum.