LILLEHAMMER

Family fun and heritage

In the lush Gudbrandsdalen valley …

…you’ll find Lillehammer.

This UNESCO City of Literature offers an irresistible mix of rich cultural life and urban vibes just 200 kilometres north of Oslo.

The Lillehammer region is known as the host city of the 1994 Olympic Winter Games. Many of the Olympic venues remain open to the public today!

It's the perfect place for outdoor activities, no matter the season. Make the most of the mountains, rivers, and proximity to Norway's largest lake.

You can also enjoy its excellent open-air museum, Maihaugen, and plenty of fun for the whole family at Hunderfossen Adventure Park.

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First, you should travel back in time and explore the Garmo stave church from the 13th century at the open-air museum, Maihaugen.

The church is just one of many beautiful sights here, as the museum is home to around 200 restored buildings.

Another bucket list attraction in the region is the award-winning Hunderfossen Adventure Park – a fairytale in snow and ice …

… and in the middle of summer.

The amusement park is one of the biggest and most popular in the country, with a lot of thrilling rides and attractions.

Not far from Hunderfossen, the youngest kids can enjoy the adventure park Lilleputthammer, designed for kids between one and eight years old.

Here, they are allowed to do most things all by themselves!

Top things to do

Don't miss these highlights.

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Are you ready for some action-packed adventures?

In the Lillehammer region you can try everything from mountain biking in Hafjell and fishing in lake Mjøsa to rafting in the Sjoa river.

When you’re in the city centre, head over to the Lillehammer Art Museum – one of Norway’s leading institutions, located in a building designed by renowned architects Snøhetta for the Lillehammer Winter Olympics in 1994.

Relive the good times at the Norwegian Olympic museum (pictured), which is also an adventure centre where you can time-travel through years of Olympic Games history.

No wonder the Winter Olympics was arranged here – it’s a winter sports paradise!

Enjoy Hafjell and Skeikampen to Kvitfjell, Sjusjøen, and Gålå – five of Norway’s most popular ski resorts – all located within a one-hour drive of Lillehammer.

Many of the Olympic arenas remain in use and are open to visitors. You can even try bobsledding here!

The area is also a great place for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Where to stay

Book comfy hotels or cosy cabins. Find your home away from home.

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Lillehammer is an agricultural area with a rich culinary heritage and lots of tasty treats.

So when it's time to refuel, ask for locally sourced meat of moose, locally grown vegetables, fish, cured meat, or lefse – a traditional soft Norwegian flatbread.

You can't visit the region without trying iconic Norwegian brunost (sweet brown cheese).

The nation’s all-time favourite is Gudbrandsdalsost, a cheese made from goats and cow milk, which originated right here in the Gudbrandsdalen valley!

Food and drink

Taste delicious local food and book a table at a fine restaurant.

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You can also taste local food traditions and get a true winter wonderland experience at Maihaugen’s famous Christmas market, held each December.

Welcome to Lillehammer!

Lillehammer has achieved the certification Sustainable Destination. Although this does not mean that the destination is completely sustainable, it has made a commitment to work systematically to reduce the negative effects of tourism, while strengthening its positive ripple effects.

lillehammer.com

Getting here and around

Plan your trip to Lillehammer with Entur, Norway's official travel planner.

By local transport

The main terminal for buses, trains, and taxis is Lillehammer Skysstasjon. Further north in Gudbrandsdalen, the main hubs are Ringebu Skysstasjon and Vinstra Skysstasjon.

There are frequent bus services from Lillehammer city centre to most nearby attractions, including ski resorts and the Hunderfossen amusement park.

By plane

Oslo Airport is located around 1.5 hours from Lillehammer by car.

All trains between Oslo and Lillehammer stop at Oslo Airport. There is also a bus connection from Oslo Airport to Lillehammer and other locations in the Gudbrandsdalen valley.

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By car

From Oslo and Trondheim, follow the E6 to Lillehammer. Travel time is around 2 hours from Oslo and 5 hours from Trondheim.

You can also drive to Lillehammer from cities in Fjord Norway, such as Bergen, Ålesund, and Kristiansund. Travel time is close to 7 hours from Bergen along E16, about 5 hours from Ålesund along E6 and E136, and around 6 hours from Kristiansund on the E6.

Plan your route, check traffic alerts, ferry information and more at the Norwegian Roads Administration website.

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By bus

There are regular bus connections to Lillehammer and other destinations in the area from Oslo, Trondheim, and Bergen.

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By train

You can take the train to Lillehammer from both Trondheim and Oslo and there are many daily departures. Travel time is around 2 hours from Oslo and 4.5 hours from Trondheim.

If you’re travelling from Northwest, you can take the train from Åndalsnes and change at Dombås for a train to Lillehammer. The journey takes around 3.5 hours.

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