Drammen residents embrace record warmth as city sheds old reputation

Drammen has shattered its outdated stereotype as residents and visitors basked in near-20°C temperatures this week, with the city’s mayor comparing the warmth to Barcelona. Local meteorologists confirm the heatwave—peaking at 17.9°C in Drammen on Tuesday—marks the highest April temperature in 17 years, with more sunny days ahead.

Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet reported from the city’s bustling outdoor spaces, where short sleeves and sunglasses dominated as cafés filled with patrons soaking up the sun. “It’s insanely nice,” said influencer Anna-Safia Moholdt Ismail, pausing between moving tasks to enjoy the weather. “I’d stay here all day if I could.” She dismissed the old joke—“better a dram [of liquor] per hour than an hour in Drammen”—as outdated: “That saying must be from when Drammen wasn’t as beautiful as it is now. Today, it’s a gem.”

Meteorologist Siri Wiberg at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute noted Hvaler recorded the national high of 19.2°C on Tuesday, but Drammen’s 17.9°C still stood out. “We’re looking at several more warm days,” she said, highlighting Drammen, Drøbak, Grimstad, and Kongsberg as top spots for outdoor enjoyment. “If you’re chasing the best utepils [outdoor beer] conditions, Drammen is a safe bet.”

Longtime residents echoed the pride in the city’s transformation. Anne-Lise Tidemann-Andersen and Monika Strøm, relaxing on Bragernes Square, called the weather “perfect” and praised Drammen’s evolution. “The industrial past—the timber floating, the paper mills along the river—that’s gone,” Strøm said. “The city is so much cleaner and more attractive now.”

Teens Josef Holm and Karolis Petrikas planned to spend the day “sunbathing with boller og brus [pastries and soda],” while Rune Lundberg, another local, pointed to new green spaces like Elveparken: “Drammen today is nothing like it used to be. This is a taste of spring at its best.”

Mayor Kjell Arne Hermansen celebrated the shift in perception. “I’m thrilled,” he told Dagbladet. “Right now, Drammen feels as warm as Barcelona.”