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We've compiled the best of the best in Central Norway - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
About 60,000 people walk the Besseggen Ridge every year, making this Norway’s most popular day hike. In Jotunheimen National Park, the mountain ridge is between Gjende and Bessvatnet, two clear alpine lakes, and the trail offers beautiful views of the landscape. The best time to visit is when the Gjendebåten boat is running from mid-June to mid-October. Park at Reinsvangen where the shuttle bus takes you to Gjendeosen and the Gjendebåten boat.
Known for its dramatic contrasts, Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park ranges from the almost alpine scenery in the northwest to the rounded mountains and drier climate in the east. Snøhetta, towering a stunning 2,286 meters (7,500 feet) from the plateau below, was for a long time thought to be the highest peak in Norway. (It's now the 24th, falling behind Jotunheimen in Rondane Nasjonalpark.) Both Kongsvold/Reinheim and Hjerkinn are good starting points for the daylong trek up this mountain. Dovrefjell is home to herds of wild reindeer, musk oxen, and Arctic foxes, among other fascinating creatures.
Since the 19th century, Jotunheimen National Park has been one of most popular areas in the country for hiking and mountain climbing. It earns its name (Jotunheimen is Norwegian for "Home of the Giants") by having the largest concentration of peaks higher than 2,000 meters (6,561 feet) in northern Europe. This includes the country's two highest mountains, Galdhøpiggen and Glittertind. Jotunheimen also features several lakes, the largest being Gjende. The national park has an extensive network of tracks and trails, and you will find hikes and treks suitable for everybody.
The spectacular Ringebu Stave Church is one of the largest of the remaining 28 stave churches in Norway. The church dates back to the 1220s, and was rebuilt in 1630 after the Lutheran Reformation. The eye-catching red tower was completed in 1631. In 1717, the church was painted for the first time, and at one point it was completely white. In 1921, the church was renovated and the original colors were brought back. Inside there is a statue of St. Laurentius dating from around 1250.
The country's first official national park, Rondane remains an essential destination for outdoors enthusiasts for its 10 summits towering more than 2,000 meters (6,561 feet) in the north and open moors and rolling hills in the southeast. Rondeslottet and Storronden are two of the most popular peaks in the sprawling park covering much of two counties, but there are countless trails suitable for every level of experience and fitness. Brudesløret, a waterfall known in English as the Bridal Veil, is a particularly beautiful trail running 4 km (2½ miles) from the park's Mysusæter Entrance. Also starting here is an easy trail to a viewpoint atop Ranglarhøe, a peak that rises 1,130 meters (3,707 feet).
The large Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre Pavilion, more commonly known as Snøhetta Viewpoint, offers panoramas of Mt. Snøhetta and Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park. The building was designed by the Norwegian architectural agency Snøhetta and functions as a warm, dry place to sit down, take a break, and enjoy the views. With a bit of luck, you might spot musk oxen and wild reindeer. The building is open from June until mid-October and can be reached via the hiking trail from the Snøhetta parking lot or the train station at Hjerkinn.
Get up close and personal with Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, the writer, politician, and theater director whose home was a 20-minute drive from Lillehammer. He lived at Aulestad with his wife, Karoline, for more than a quarter of a century until his death in 1910, and visitors get to travel back in time to see the whole house as it looked when he lived there, including the smoking room that was nicknamed “the pigsty.” Karoline was greatly inspired by their travels, and the country house is filled with art she collected from near and far.
In the center of Dombås you'll find this small, beautiful church built in 1939. Designed by architect Magnus Poulsson, the cruciform church has a striking wooden altarpiece with 10 elaborate paintings depicting the life of Jesus.
The four Romanesque arches that formed part of the wall of the medieval cathedral that once stood on this spot now form the centerpiece of Cathedral Point. The impressive glass superstructure constructed over and around the ruins makes this one of the most unusual museum buildings in Europe. Also on the grounds sit 50 or so idyllic grass-roof houses from around the region that show what life was like when Hamar was a flourishing town. An organic garden has 350 different types of herbs.
A 50-minute drive south along Lake Mjøsa, Eidsvoll House is one of Norway’s most important national symbols because this was the place where the Norwegian Constitution was drawn up and signed in 1814. It is a beautiful example of neoclassical architecture. Today the museum is made up of the house itself, several ancillary buildings, and the surrounding park. There's a souvenir shop and a café with outdoor seating.
This impressive stadium hosted the speed-skating and figure-skating events of the Lillehammer Winter Olympics in 1994. Shaped like an upside-down Viking ship. The best way to see the interior is to watch a sporting event inside.
The world’s biggest troll sits atop a cave in this tiny amusement park. The glittering gold eventyrslottet, or fairy-tale castle, is a must-see. There’s a petting zoo for small children, plenty of rides for their older siblings, and Epcot-like exhibits about oil and gas.
Hamar's new beach area by the lake of Mjøsa is located a few steps away from the city center. Here you will find the talk of the town---the most expensive diving tower in Norway, as well as a sandy beach with an artificial island, basketball courts, volleyball courts, skate facilities, a barbecue area, and a well-equipped playground. The beach walk is serene and scenic year-round. Amenities: food and drink; toilets Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.
A natural phenomenon of earth and stone, these pillars called Kvitskriuprestein---the White Priests---stand guard in the Uladalen Valley not far from Otta. The only examples of this geological wonder in northern Europe, the highest pillars reach nearly 20 feet and are more than 200 years old.
A three-minute walk north of the Ringebu Stave Church, the 1743 Ringebu Rectory has a beautiful view toward the Gudbrandsdalslågen River and the surrounding mountains. Today the rectory is a museum and a gallery, it consists of six buildings, and the main one is used as a gallery for the works of famous Norwegian artist Jakob Weidemann. There is also a large, lush garden with perennials and more than 150 rosebushes.
On a beautiful peninsula jutting out into the Strondefjord, the open-air Valdres Folkemuseum covers 30 acres and includes more than 100 historic structures, many of them dating back centuries. One of the most interesting is a wooden warehouse that was originally built in the 1300s. Medieval ornaments decorate the doorposts. Inside a striking modern building, the permanent exhibition takes a fascinating look at bunader, Norwegian traditional costumes. Kids will also love the displays of folk instruments and vintage toys. It's a good idea to book the guided tours offered in July and August well in advance.
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