Traditional villages, living folk traditions, and activities that will make your heart race. In the Setesdal valley, new adventures await around every corner.
Centrally located in Southern Norway, the Setesdal valley has everything from flat countryside to wild and beautiful mountains. The RV9 motorway takes you through the valley via a number of quaint villages.
Setesdal is best known for its lively folk tradition scene, but you can try your hands at plenty of action-packed activities here too – with or without the kids. Climb a via ferrata, go rafting down the Otra river, or tackle challenging obstacles in a bike park.
Winter can be long in the valley, something skiing enthusiasts are very happy about. Superb cross-country tracks, two alpine centres, and easily accessible mountains perfect for ski touring make Setesdal an excellent winter destination.
If you’re more culture-oriented, you can learn about minerals, visit a folk museum, or see how silver jewellery is made.
Setesdal has achieved the eco-certification Sustainable Destination. Although this does not mean that the destination is sustainable, it does mean that it has made a commitment to working systematically to reduce the negative effects of tourism, while strengthening its positive ripple effects.
Get in-depth travel information on Setesdal’s official website.
Explore all the options below, or go directly to:
Things to do | Where to stay | Food and drink | Getting here and around
Top winter activities in Setesdal
Check out some of the best things to do in Setesdal in winter
Book nowHovden I SetesdalHovden Alpine Centre
The Hovden Alpine Centre is a modern and well-adapted facility for the whole family. The children's area "Tusseland" has become an eldorado for our youngest guests; and the terrain park is more spectacular than ever and is considered one of the best in Norway.
The best summer attractions
Where to stay
Book comfy hotels or cosy cabins. Find your home away from home.
Book nowBykleBykle Hotel
Bykle Hotel is located in charming, rural surroundings approx. 28 kilometres south of Hovden. The new building that was completed in the winter of 2006, adds a modern impression and makes up an exciting combination with the traditional Setesdal style of the old section. Bykle Hotel offers accommodation for 95 persons in comfortable rooms and apartments of various sizes. The hotel has function rooms with a capacity of 20-100 persons, well suited for courses and conferences. Enjoy a high-quality meal in our pleasant restaurant. In addition to our à la carte menu, we offer a variety of dishes, including traditional food. Bykle Hotel is located near the old Bykle Church, one of Norway's oldest and smallest churches.
Book nowByglandsfjordRevsnes hotell
Revsnes hotel is beautifully situated alongside the fjord Byglandsfjorden. It is a hotel with long traditions, surrounded by beautiful scenery and many exciting adventures and activities. Through ages, Revsnes hotel has been a natural stop for travelers on their journey through the beautiful valley of Setesdal. Most hotel rooms come with a view overlooking the fjord or the mountain ridge. The surroundings are tranquil, and after a good night's sleep in comfortable beds awaits an excellent breakfast buffet, all included in the room rate. Parking is free of course, and you have free wifi all over the hotel. With good experiences naturally comes a good meal. The hotels a la carte menu is a mix of continental cuisine and traditional courses from the area, based on local small scale producers. The menu typically varies in line with the natural seasonal fresh supplies. Add a cozy restaurant with an interior in traditional style and fine arts on the walls showing the history of Setesdal, but then you may choose to simply rest your eyes on the fjord and garden outside and enjoy taking time with your meal. In addition to restaurant and conference areas you will find bars, comfortable guest areas with a fireplace, a small library and a nice terrace at the ground floor overlooking the garden and the fjord. The terrace is equipped with heating lamps and comfy blankets for chilly evenings, or maybe you would like to bring your morning tea or coffee down here to start your day. If you are looking for other experiences or activities, you will find a large number offered within short range from the hotel. River rafting, bike park, paintball, rock climbing, canoeing and kayaking, river boarding and fishing, the great mineral park with the mountain hall and climbing forest, karting track, hiking trails, etc. The hotel garden otherwise has a small sand beach for those who would be tempted to try the waters. A trip on the fjord with the old steamer Bjoren is a lifetime experience to remember. During wintertime you may enjoy the ski resort centers at Høgås and Brokke, with ski lifts and tow lift, cross country trails and alpine and terrain parks which offers great mountain experiences for both children and adults. The sites are within close driving range from the hotel. Would you choose to spend your day out, the hotel may supply you with lunch packages and warm drinks. The "pearl of Byglandsfjord" is within reach just one hour drive north of Kristiansand where you may get by comfortable speed ferry connection from Denmark.
Book nowHovden I SetesdalHovden Fjellstoge
On the top of the Setesdal Valley, 2.7 km north of central Hovden, you find Hovden Fjellstoge. In beautiful surroundings close to the river Otra, Hovden Fjellstoge is a perfect place to stay to get memorable days in the mountains. Summer hiking routes and winter cross-country trails are right outside the door. During the winter there is a free ski bus service to the alpine centre. Choose from comfortable hotel rooms with breakfast included and cabins of varying size and standard. The kitchen serves a menu based on local traditions. Welcome to Hovden Fjellstoge!
Book nowHovden I SetesdalHovdehytta
Hovdehytta consists of 22 modern apartments with a total of around 150 beds. The stay is based on self-catering, and the apartments are ideal for families, groups of friends, and larger gatherings. The apartments vary in size, accommodating between four and twelve people in two to five bedrooms. All feature an open-plan kitchen and living room, where the kitchen is equipped with a dining area and the living room has a TV and a cozy sitting area. The bathroom includes a shower and toilet, and several of the larger apartments also offer a sauna and bathtub. The standard and comfort level is consistently high across all units. Hovdehytta enjoys a perfect location, with cross-country ski trails right outside the door and only a few minutes walk to the village center with shops and restaurants. Hovden Fjellbad is located just next door, and in winter you’ll find a charming ice rink between Hovdehytta and fjellbadet. It’s only a ten minute walk to Hovden Alpine Center. Welcome to a pleasant and memorable mountain experience at Hovdehytta!
Book nowHovden I SetesdalHovden Høyfjellsenter og Hyttepark
The cabin rental company Hovden Høyfjellsenter, 1 km north of central Hovden, is beautifully situated in short distance to alpine centre, hiking - and skiing trails. The cabin park consists of 33 separate, well-equipped cabins with up to 12 beds
Food and drink
Taste delicious local food and book a table at a fine restaurant.
Book nowBykleBykle Hotel - restaurant
Bykle Hotel is situated 100 metres from the main road Rv 9 and has a pleasant restaurant and cafeteria. The restaurant normally seats 36 guests, but this can be increased to 50, if required. In connection with the restaurant, there is also a fully licenced bar. In addition to our à la carte menu, we offer a traditional Norwegian food. Our function rooms upstairs are well suited for courses, conferences, weddings, Christmas dinners and other events for up to 130 persons. There is also a group room seating 40 persons.- Book nowByglandsfjord
Revsnes hotell
Revsnes hotel is beautifully situated alongside the fjord Byglandsfjorden. It is a hotel with long traditions, surrounded by beautiful scenery and many exciting adventures and activities. Through ages, Revsnes hotel has been a natural stop for travelers on their journey through the beautiful valley of Setesdal. Most hotel rooms come with a view overlooking the fjord or the mountain ridge. The surroundings are tranquil, and after a good night's sleep in comfortable beds awaits an excellent breakfast buffet, all included in the room rate. Parking is free of course, and you have free wifi all over the hotel. With good experiences naturally comes a good meal. The hotels a la carte menu is a mix of continental cuisine and traditional courses from the area, based on local small scale producers. The menu typically varies in line with the natural seasonal fresh supplies. Add a cozy restaurant with an interior in traditional style and fine arts on the walls showing the history of Setesdal, but then you may choose to simply rest your eyes on the fjord and garden outside and enjoy taking time with your meal. In addition to restaurant and conference areas you will find bars, comfortable guest areas with a fireplace, a small library and a nice terrace at the ground floor overlooking the garden and the fjord. The terrace is equipped with heating lamps and comfy blankets for chilly evenings, or maybe you would like to bring your morning tea or coffee down here to start your day. If you are looking for other experiences or activities, you will find a large number offered within short range from the hotel. River rafting, bike park, paintball, rock climbing, canoeing and kayaking, river boarding and fishing, the great mineral park with the mountain hall and climbing forest, karting track, hiking trails, etc. The hotel garden otherwise has a small sand beach for those who would be tempted to try the waters. A trip on the fjord with the old steamer Bjoren is a lifetime experience to remember. During wintertime you may enjoy the ski resort centers at Høgås and Brokke, with ski lifts and tow lift, cross country trails and alpine and terrain parks which offers great mountain experiences for both children and adults. The sites are within close driving range from the hotel. Would you choose to spend your day out, the hotel may supply you with lunch packages and warm drinks. The "pearl of Byglandsfjord" is within reach just one hour drive north of Kristiansand where you may get by comfortable speed ferry connection from Denmark.
Getting here and around
Get in-depth travel information on Setesdal’s official website.
Plan your trip to Setesdal with Entur.
Local travel
A network of local buses will take you around the Setesdal area.
By plane
The closest airports are Kristiansand Airport and Torp Sandefjord Airport, which have regular flights to many domestic and international destinations.
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By boat
There are good ferry links from Denmark to Kristiansand, Larvik, and Langesund, and from Sweden to Sandefjord.
By road
Setesdal is served by express buses with connections to Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Kristiansand, and other Norwegian towns and cities.
Travelling by car is the most convenient way to get to Setesdal. The RV9 motorway between Bergen and Kristiansand is also called 'the Setesdal road' and crosses the valley from Evje in the south to Hovden in the north.
Towards sustainability
The certification Sustainable Destination is a label given to destinations that work systematically to reduce the negative impacts of tourism. In addition to providing visitors with enjoyable experiences, the destination must strive to minimise its impact on local nature, culture and the environment, and support the local community and economy. The municipality and the travel industry shall cooperate closely to assure that the destination is a great place in which to live as well as visit.
