Drammen: Culture, Art and Walking Routes

For a stay in Drammen, you can choose from a range of cultural themes and routes. These include historic churches, art and museum collections, as well as waterside walks and routes of varying lengths and seasonal availability. Your interests can help guide the planning of your city break.

Culture, History and Art

A visible testament to early history is the rock carving field at Skogerveien. It dates from the Stone Age and is signposted. Strømsø bykirke, also known as Hellig Kors kirke, is a wooden cruciform church built in 1667 in the early Baroque style. Bragernes Kirke was consecrated on 12 July 1871. During the summer season, guided tours are offered there on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. in Norwegian, English or German. As this is a seasonal offering, it is advisable to check the latest dates before your trip.

The Drammen Museum has extensive cultural and historical collections of objects, buildings and visual art from both earlier and more recent periods. The permanent exhibitions at Marienlyst include Nøstetangen glass, Baroque silver and 18th-century Drammen faience. The museum’s open-air section contains 21 reconstructed old wooden buildings. They illustrate earlier forms of agriculture and building traditions in Buskerud. The museum’s facilities are spread across several locations in the city; its headquarters are in Marienlyst.

Art in public spaces is also among the topics covered: the Street Art walk includes two routes that can be walked year-round, featuring large murals and colourful details on buildings. Buskerud Kunstsenter is located at Grønland 60 in Union Scene, around a ten-minute walk from Drammen station. Its gallery has an extensive exhibition programme and numerous art-related events. Specific programme details may change, so it is worth checking the latest dates.

Compare Walks and Routes

The routes in Drammen vary in length, layout, elevation gain and season. The Honnørbrygga–Zik Zakken route is a year-round out-and-back walk via the Zik-Zakken stairs. It is 2.0 kilometres long and has 61 metres of elevation gain; surface conditions may vary. Kirkerunden is slightly longer at 2.5 kilometres and is a loop. It passes Tangen kirke and has a historical theme.

Nordbykollrunden is an easy 3.4-kilometre forest loop just outside the centre. It has 97 metres of elevation gain, and the stated season runs from March to November. The Strøtvet–Klopptjern route is a 2.1-kilometre forest loop via Klopptjern, with 101 metres of elevation gain. Its season runs from May to October. These two walks therefore offer specific points of comparison in terms of length, elevation gain and season; for seasonal routes, it is worth checking conditions before setting out.

A longer option is the year-round out-and-back route from Strømsø torg to Blekktjern. It is 6.9 kilometres long, starts in the city, passes Andedammen and ends at Blekktjern. For a different focus, Elvepromenaden offers waterside activities: you can walk, cycle and exercise there. Bybrua and Ypsilon make it possible to travel along the promenade between Strømsø and Bragernes on foot, by bicycle or with a pushchair.

Green Spaces and Views

Elvepromenaden runs through the centre and offers green parks, sculptural seating, exercise equipment and rest areas. Drammen Park adds large lawns, old trees and walking paths to this urban setting. Other features include a playground, a fountain and a music pavilion with a “Sansepark.” The park also has the city’s largest playground and a skate and bicycle park for older children and teenagers. Park facilities may change over time, so it is worth checking the latest information when making specific plans.

Spiralen is a spiral tunnel through the mountain leading up to Spiraltoppen. From the summit, you can enjoy a view over Drammen. The tunnel was built between 1953 and 1961. Following a modernisation, Spiralen gained a light show on each level; its operation may change. The view and the tunnel’s history offer a different focus from the city’s churches, collections and routes.

Discover more destinations: Hemsedal, Flesberg, Gol, Flå.

Go to the regional travel overview: Buskerud.