It starts at Maridalsvannet in Oslomarka, and traverses the boroughs of Nordre Aker, Sagene, Grünerløkka, central Oslo and Grønland, whereby it finally ends at Paulsenkaien and Oset in Bjørvika.

[3] Akerselva has largely been rehabilitated is now "Oslo’s green lung" and along the bank of the entire river from Grønland to Maridalsvannet there are park areas.

The softer rocks further south hard formed the basis for brickwork on Myraløkka and Øvre Foss (Våghalsen), which in the 1840s was the country's largest, and large slides in the river, hence the street name Leirfallsgata at the bottom of Grünerløkka.

In Øvre Foss lies a slab of solidified volcanic melt that has come up in a crack, which is tougher and harder than lime and slate and a reason why the waterfall is here.

The river has cut its way through thick masses of gravel, sand and clay that formed in front of the inland ice that receded about 9800 years ago (the Akert Step).

At the largest bathtub at Stilla and at the gutters between the grasslands at Brekkedammen, there is visible syenite (circular swab) with clear scouring strips from the glacier.