Telemark

From coastal idyll to mountain views

From one of Norway’s most charming coastal towns to tall mountains and highlands, the county of Telemark is as diverse as it is beautiful. Go on a trip on the Telemark Canal and get a taste of what the county has to offer.

To find peace, the famous Norwegian painter Edvard Munch would go to Kragerø on the Skagerrak coast with its clear, blue sea. He named it the “Jewel of the coastal towns”, and Norwegians surely agree: In the summer, the small town’s population quadruples.

Far from being defined by its coastline, though, the county of Telemark stretches inland all the way to the huge, largely treeless mountain plateau of Hardangervidda, Norway’s largest national park.

Dynamic Variation:

In the valley beneath the mountain lies the charming town of Rjukan, a place with an incredibly rich industrial and wartime history and which has been added to UNESCO’s world heritage list.

Historically, Western Telemark around Dalen and Seljord is an important area for folk music and traditional storytelling, its dialect even retaining much of the Old Norse language. This is where the Norwegian tradition of skiing has its roots. The area around Bø in Midt-Telemark is also known for its cultural traditions within traditional music and artisanship, as well as for the largest water park in Scandinavia, Bø Sommarland.

There are plenty of accommodation options in Telemark, including a wide variety of camping possibilities. Getting to and around the area is easy.

Find more inspiration on Telemark’s official website.

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visittelemark.com

Gaustatoppen in Telemark.
Photo: Mediateam/VisitRjukan

Skiing in Telemark.
Photo: CH/Visitnorway.com

Kragerø in Telemark.
Photo: Hanne Blesvik Andersen / Visit Kragerø

Heddal stave church in Notodden.
Photo: Johan Berge/Visitnorway.com

Vemork in Rjukan.
Photo: Hans-Dieter Fleger

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Getting here and around

Get in-depth travel information at Telemark’s official website.

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By train

The Norwegian State Railway (NSB) stops at several stations in Telemark.

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By bus

An extensive express bus network covers the entire county of Telemark. Visit Telemark’s official website for prices and timetables.
By car

The E18 runs through the southern part of Telemark when you drive between Oslo and Kristiansand or Stavanger, whilst the E134 goes through the middle/upper parts of the county to Hardanger and Haugesund.

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By boat

Telemark is only a short distance from the gateways of Oslo, Kristiansand, Larvik, Sandefjord and Langesund, which have daily ferry connections to different European destinations. Find more information about travelling by boat.
Local travel

A number of local buses will take you around all of Telemark county. Find timetables and prices on Farte.no.

Inland boats traffic the Telemark Canal all summer.
By plane

The nearest airport with international flight connections is Torp Sandefjord Airport. Check out Telemark’s official website for more information.

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