Discover Fredrikstad with Vy: Tips for a perfect day trip

Choco Loco

If you take the RE 20 train to Fredrikstad station or the Vy express VY6 to Fredrikstad bus terminal, it’s only a short walk to the most popular lunch destination in the city, Choco Loco⁠External link.

Café and flowers

Choco Loco started out as a sweet shop, but both the concept and the shop have been expanded over time. There is now plenty of seating both inside and outside, adapted for wheelchair users and with some space for prams. The atmosphere is relaxed, with sofa groups separated by curtains in muted colours, smaller café tables for two and long benches that will fit a group of friends. The large windows flood the premises with natural light.

You will also find the Bunt flower shop at the same premises⁠External link. You can buy freshly cut bunches of flowers, such as peonies, tulips or germini. They also sell items such as scented candles, pots and other beautiful trinkets.

Brunch in the sun

We were ready for a delicious brunch in the sun after our journey. We ordered the grilled mushroom sandwich served with crispy bacon, red onion marmalade and herb yoghurt (NOK 220) and a blackcurrant juice from Dyre Gård (NOK 49).

The sandwich, filled with delicious cheese, mushrooms and bacon, was served with a large, green salad. Lunch was tasty and filling. The blackcurrant juice was the perfect pairing – fresh, summery and a great thirst-quencher. There were also several other juice varieties from Dyre Gård on offer, including apple, raspberry, beetroot and ginger.

The best desserts in the city 

It is impossible not to find something you like from the dessert counter. There is a tower of macarons in all the colours of the rainbow, sweet, fresh or traditional cakes, cake pops and vast amounts of chocolate confectionery. We were tempted by the lemon tart (NOK 59) when we investigated the dessert counter. It was sweet but tart, and the tart itself was covered in a thin layer of chocolate.

📍Nygaardsgata 45⁠External link

The Old Town, a historic fortress town

The city of Fredrikstad has a rich history and there is plenty of evidence of this in the Old Town. In the best-preserved fortress town in northern Europe, you can walk through beautiful cobbled streets past historic houses. At Fredrikstad Museum⁠External link you can immerse yourself in the city’s history, which spans more than 450 years and includes the city fire, the Nordic Seven Years’ War, the German occupation and Operation Polar Bear.

Make sure to also experience the present day in the Old Town, where the buildings are now home to small local shops, cafés, restaurants, galleries and handicrafts. We visited Galleri B5⁠External link where we looked at photographs, ceramics and paintings. We also had a delicious coffee break at Mormors Cafe⁠External link, a cosy café that also serves lunch.

Free city ferry to the Old Town

You can easily travel to the Old Town on the city ferries. These are free city ferries operating between the Old Town, Smertu, the city centre, Værste, Gressvik and Ålekilene. The ferries are perfect for experiencing as much of the city as possible without having to cover long distances by foot. Bikes and dogs can be brought on board at no cost. The timetables for the city ferries can be found here.⁠External link

📍Gamlebyen brygge⁠External link

Farm animals and adventure centre: Perfect for children

If you have children, why not stop to say hi to Per, Benny and the other cute goats near the playground. There are also some charming hens to look at. You will also be close to the Old Town Model Train Centre⁠External link, the largest of its kind in Scandinavia.

At the adventure centre, you will enter a 400 square metre world of intricate details and fun. There are trains, houses, landscapes, cities, animals and people in different situations and settings, which will appeal to young and old. If you are interested in model railways, you can buy a starter kit from the shop. As well as looking at the impressive miniature model of the Old Town, you can take a trip around the Old Town on the little train. The tickets include everything and cost NOK 60 for children and NOK 80 for adults.

📍Old Town odel Train Centre⁠External link

Restaurant Slippen

Treat yourself to a beautiful dinner at this popular central restaurant during your visit. Restaurant Slippen⁠External link is situated on the quayside with views across the city centre. Here you can also moor a boat if you are travelling by sea, but it is unfortunately not possible to pre-book moorings.

Restaurant Slippen specialises in seafood dishes. You can try oysters from Hvaler, catch of the day or the popular Slippen Bacalao with split, salted and dried cod. We wanted to try the seasonal three-course menu (NOK 695) and one of the few meat dishes on the menu, lamb tenderloin (NOK 458). We paired the food with apple juice from Dyre Gård (NOK 170).

The seasonal menu did not disappoint and we were served generous portions of beautiful dishes. The starter was white asparagus with a hollandaise sauce, the main course was catch of the day served with a beautiful sauce and creamed polenta, followed by a refreshing rhubarb crumble with vanilla ice cream for dessert. The lamb tenderloin was a fantastic taste experience, the meat virtually melted on the tongue and the beautiful garnishes elevated the taste of both the meat and the jus.

Idyllic setting along the quay

During the summer season, the restaurant offers outdoor dining in beautiful surroundings next to the footbridge to Kråkerøy. Here you can enjoy watching the boats going past and the vibrant life in the city centre on the other side. Restaurant Slippen is open for lunch and dinner and has a bar serving a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.

Inside, the premises are warm and welcoming with a fireplace for the colder seasons and large windows that make it feel spacious and open. The restaurant entrance, tables and toilet facilities are wheelchair-accessible. It can be a good idea to book a table in advance⁠External link as the restaurant is especially popular during the summer.

📍Verkstedveien 12⁠External link