Destinations > Norway > Central Norway

Central Norway

Central Norway stretches north from Bergen and Oslo towards Trondheim. This region also includes the area between Bergen and Oslo.

Flåm

Flåm is accessible via the impressive Flåm railway, which runs from Myrdal (on the Oslo-Bergen line).

There isn't a lot to do here, however there are some good hiking trails that depart from the town.

Practical Information

Flåm Tourist Information Centre

in the train station, Flåm

Tel 57 63 14 00

Website www.visitflam.com

Coming and Going

The spectacular train journey is the major reason most people visit Flåm. The Flåm Railway (tel 57 63 21 00; website www.flaamsbana.no/eng/) isn't included on the Inter-rail, Eurail, ScanRail or Norway Rail Pass, however these rail passes do allow a 30% reduction on the fare. Travellers without a rail pass will pay NOK 160 one-way or NOK 250 return.

Flåm is also the departure point for ferries on the Sognefjord - Norway's longest and deepest fjord. Fylkesbaatane (website www.fylkesbaatane.no/eng/) operate the most scenic ferry route, which goes to Gudvangen, ferry tickets are available from the tourist office and cost NOK 195.

Many travellers take the train from Oslo to Myrdal, then transfer to the Flåm Railway, then take the ferry to Gudvangen and a connecting bus to Voss where they rejoin the train to Bergen. This itinerary makes the most of Norway's most scenic boat and train journeys allowing you to see some of Europe's most spectacular scenery en route between Norway's two largest cities. This itinerary is marketed in Norway by the name "Norway in a Nutshell", you can buy tickets from train stations and tourist information centres for NOK 1075 for the complete trip between Bergen and Oslo.

Accommodation

Flaam Vandrerhjem

5742 Flåm

Tel 57632121

Voss

Located on the Oslo-Bergen rail line, this small town is a popular spot for outdoor activities including horseriding, kayaking, paragliding and whitewater rafting.

Practical Information

Voss Tourist Information Centre

Hestavangen 10, Voss

Tel 56 52 08 00

Coming and Going

The train station is right in the town centre and most travellers arrive by train. However there are also buses to Bergen, Gudvangen, Lillehammer, Oslo and other destinations.

Accommodation

Bavallstunet

Bavallsvegen 272, 5700 Voss

Tel 56 51 13 10

Mjolfjell Vandrerhjem

Mjølfjell, 5700 Voss

Tel 56523150

Voss Vandrerhjem

Evangervegen 68, N-5700 Voss

Tel 56 51 20 17

Lillehammer

This popular ski resort burst into the limelight in 1994 when it hosted the Winter Olympics.

Practical Information

Lillehammer Tourist Information Centre

Elvegata 19, Lillehammer

Tel 61 25 02 99

Website www.lillehammerturist.no/english/

Coming and Going

Lillehammer lies on the shorter of the two rail linkes that run between Oslo and Trondheim. There are very frequent train services to Oslo and six trains a day north to Trondheim.

Accommodation

GjesteBu Overnatting

Gamleveien 110, 2615 Lillehammer

Tel 61 25 43 21

Mary and Inge's Bed Breakfast

Jernabnetorget 2, 2609 Lillehammer

Tel 61248700

Sights

Maihaugen

Europe's largest open-air museum features more than 185 restored buildings as well as farmyards where traditional farming methods are on display.

Maihaugvegan 1, Lillehammer

Tel 61 28 89 00

Website www.maihaugen.museum.no

Admission NOK 75 (winter), NOK 90 (summer), students NOK 60 (winter), NOK 70 (summer)

Open 1 Jan-17 May Tue-Sun 11am-4pm; 18 May-30 Sep 10am-5pm daily; 1 Oct-31 Dec Tue-Sun 11am-4pm

Norwegian Olympic Museum

The Olympic Museum has exhibits on the history of the Olympic Games.

Tel 61 25 21 00

Website www.ol.museum.no

Admission NOK 60, students NOK 50

Open 1 Jan-18 May Tue-Sun 11am-4pm; 19 May-31 Aug 10am-6pm daily; 1 Sep-31 Dec Tue-Sun 11am-4pm

Olympic Park

Aside from the Olympic Museum, which is housed in the hockey arena, you can tour other parts of the Olympic Park. There is quite a lot to see and do here including a bobsleigh simulator, wheeled bobsleigh rides, a chairlift and scenic views from the ski jump tower. During winter activities include bobrafting, bobsleigh, luge and skeleton.

Tel 61 05 42 00

Website www.olympiaparken.no

Admission bobsleigh simulator NOK 40; chairlift NOK 35; ski jump tower NOK 15; combination ticket for the simulator, chairlift and tower NOK 60; wheelbob (wheeled bobsleigh) rides NOK 160; bobrafting NOK 145; taxibob (real bobsleigh with a professional driver) rides NOK 700. Ski jump tower open: Mar-May 11am-4pm daily; 1-14 Jun 9am-5pm daily; 15 Jun-18 Aug 9am-8pm daily; 19 Aug-8 Sep 9am-5pm daily; 9-30 Sep 11am-4pm daily; 1 Oct-28 Feb Sat-Sun 11am-4pm; chairlift & simulator open: 1-14 Jun 9am-5pm daily; 15 Jun-18 Aug 9am-8pm daily; 19 Aug-8 Sep 9am-5pm daily; 14-29 Sep Sat-Sun 11am-4pm; separate opening hours apply to other activities.

Ålesund

Situated by the entrance of the Geirangerfjord, Ålesund is renowned for its art nouveau architecture. Ålesund was rebuilt in the art nouveau style after a fire swept through town in 1904.

Practical Information

Ålesund Tourist Information Centre

Keiser Wilhelmsgata, Ålesund

Tel 70 15 76 00

Website www.visitalesund.com

Coming and Going

Ålesund is not on the train network. To get here you can either arrive by bus or take the train to Åndalsnes and then complete your journey by bus.

Accommodation

Aalesund Vandrerhjem

Parkgata 14, 6003 Ålesund

Tel 70115830

Annecy Centrum

Kirkegata 1B, 6004 Ålesund

Tel 70 12 96 30

Sights

Ålesund Museum

Ålesund Museum gives an insight into the town's history including the fire of 1904.

Rasmus Rønnbergsgate 16, Ålesund

Tel 70 12 31 70

Website http://aalesunds.museum.no

Admission NOK 30

Open Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, Sat-Sun noon-3pm

Aksla

The vantage point at the top of Ålesund's mountain offers excellent views of the city centre. A staircase leads up the hill from Kongensgate in the centre of town.

Atlantic Sea Park

One of Europe's largest aquariums is located 3km west of the centre of Ålesund. The Atlantic Sea Park features huge tanks built into the coastline, the largest containing around 4 million litres.

Tueneset, Ålesund

Bus 18

Tel 70 10 70 60

Website www.atlanterhavsparken.no

Admission NOK90

Open Jan-May 11am-4pm daily; Jun-Aug Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 10am-7pm; Sep-Dec 11am-4pm daily

Sunnmøre Museum

The regional museum in the Sunnmøre district features an outdoor museum with 50 preserved buildings, a collection of distinctive boats (both in an exhibit hall and moored at the museum's pier) and a museum building with archaeological artifacts.

Borgundgavlen, Ålesund

Bus 13, 14, 18, 24

Tel 70 17 40 00

Website www.museumsnett.no/sunnmore/engelsk/e-index.htm

Admission NOK 60, students NOK 45

Open 23 May-26 Jun Mon-Fri 11am-4pm, Sun noon-4pm; 27 Jun-21 Aug Mon-Sat 11am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm; 22 Aug-11 Sep Mon-Fri 11am-4pm, Sun noon-4pm; 12 Sep-31 Dec Mon-Tue & Fri 11am-3pm, Sun noon-4pm

Trondheim

Norway's third-largest city was the country's original capital. Trondheim is a pleasant university city with a thousand years of history, yet few tourists visit here compared to destinations farther south.

Practical Information

Trondheim Tourist Information Centre

Torvet, Trondheim

Tel 73 80 76 60

Website www.visit-trondheim.com

Coming and Going

Trondheim is well connected with a busy airport as well as buses, trains and the coastal ferry.

Trondheim has good train connections with several daily trains to Oslo and trains north to Bodø. There is also two daily trains to Stockholm, Sweden. Most budget travellers will be travelling by either bus or train - both terminate at the train station in the city centre.

Trondheim Værnes Airport is located 35km northeast of the city centre. An airport bus (website www.klaburuten.no) runs every 15 minutes between the airport and the city centre; the bus fare is NOK 55.

The coastal ferry (website www.hurtigruten.com) stops in Trondheim every morning at around 6am.

Local Transport

Trondheim has good public transport for such a small city. Local buses are handy for getting to the InterRail Centre and some attractions. All the bus routes stop in Munkegata and Dronningens gate in the city centre. Local bus fares are NOK 22 and a one-day pass costs NOK 55.

Trondheim has 300 city bicycles that anyone can borrow to ride around the centre of Trondheim. You can find the green bikes at stands in central locations in the city; you just need to insert a NOK 20 coin into the bike lock to release the bike. You'll get the deposit back when you return the bike to any of the city-bicycle stands. Trondheim is a hilly city so cycling can be a little difficult once you leave the central area, however there is a bike lift to help you get up the hill in Bakklandet. If you want to try out the lift, insert your key card (which is available from the tourist office), put your right foot on the foot rest and sit on your bicycle while you get pulled up the 130 metre hill at around 2 metres a second.

Accommodation

Trondheim InterRail Centre

Elgesetergate 1, Trondheim

Bus 41, 44, 46, 48, 49, 52, 63

Tel 73 89 95 38

Trondheim Vandrerhjem Rosenborg

Weidemannsvei 41, 7043 Trondheim

Tel 73874450

Sights

Archbishop's Palace

Like the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Place has played a major role in Norway's history. From the 1100s, the Archbishop's Palace was the centre of the Norwegian archdiocese, which included the Faeore Islands, Greenland, Iceland, the Isle of Man and the Shetland Islands and in the 16th century, the palace became the residence of the King's Lord Lieutenants. Over the years the palace has been destroyed and rebuilt several times and it now is home to a museum which features temporary exhibits as well as a permanent collection of items from Nidaros Cathedral as well as archeaological finds from the site and exhibits on Norway's armed forces in the adjoining Army Museum.

Kongsgårdsgata, Trondheim

Bus 2, 5, 6, 7, 9

Tel 73 99 58 31

Website www.nidarosdomen.no/english/archbishopspalace/

Admission NOK 35, admission ticket is also valid for admission to Nidaros Cathedral

Open 20 Jun-20 Aug Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-3pm, Sun noon-5pm; 21 Aug-19 Jun Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, Sat 11am-3pm, Sun noon-4pm; Army Museum open Mar-May Sat-Sun 11am-4pm; Jun-Aug Mon-Fri 9am-3pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm; Sep Sat-Sun 11am-4pm

Kristiansten fort

Built in the 1680s, Kristiansten fort played a key role in repelling the invading Swedish forces in 1718. The fort is situated high on a hill overlooking the city and offers panoramic views.

Open whenever the flag is raised; buildings open Jun-Aug

National Museum of Decorative Arts

Trondheim's Museum of Decorative Arts displays a collection applied art including furniture and textiles and also hosts a variety of temporary exhibits.

Munkegaten 3-7, N-7013 Trondheim

Tel 73 80 89 50

Website www.nkim.museum.no

Admission NOK 50

Open 1 Jan-31 Mar Tue-Wed 10am-3pm, Thu 10am-5pm, Fri-Sat 10am-3pm, Sun noon-4pm; 1 Jun-20 Aug Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm; 21 Aug-31 Dec Tue-Wed 10am-3pm, Thu 10am-5pm, Fri-Sat 10am-3pm, Sun noon-4pm

Nidaros Cathedral

Trondheim's star attraction is the huge Nidaros Cathedral, which was built in the 11th century on what is claimed to be St Olav's burial site. This is Scandinavia's largest medieval building and has been the site of imporatant events including Norwegian coronations. The cathedral is home to important artefacts and artworks, including the country's largest collection of medieval grave artefacts and the Norwegian crown jewels.

Bispegaten 5, Trondheim

Bus 2, 5, 6, 7, 9

Tel 73 53 91 60

Website www.nidarosdomen.no/english/

Admission NOK 35, admission ticket is also valid for admission to the Archbishop's Palace

Open 1 May-19 Jun Mon-Fri 9am-3pm, Sat 9am-2pm, Sun 1pm-4pm; 20 Jun-20 Aug Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-2pm, Sun 1pm-4pm; 21 Aug-14 Sep Mon-Fri 9am-3pm, Sat 9am-2pm, Sun 1pm-4pm; 15 Sep-30 Apr Mon-Fri noon-2.30pm, Sat 11.30am-2pm, Sun 1pm-3pm; crown jewels on display Apr-May Sat noon-2pm; 1 Jun-20 Aug Mon-Fri 9am-12.30pm, Sun 1pm-4pm; 21 Aug-31 Oct Sat noon-2pm

Ringve Museum

This museum is housed in a manor with expansive gardens that is located around a 10-minute drive from the centre of Trondheim. The museum houses Norway's foremost collection of musical instruments with over 1800 exhibits.

Lade Allé 60, 7041 Trondheim

Bus 3, 4

Tel 73 92 24 11
Website www.ringve.com

Admission NOK 70, students NOK 40

Open 1 Jan-17 May Sun 11am-4pm; 18-31 May 11am-3pm daily; 1-18 Jun 11am-3pm daily; 19-8 Aug 11am-5pm daily; 9 Aug-12 Sep 11am-3pm daily; 13 Sep-18 Dec Sun 11am-2pm

Sverresborg - Trøndelag Folk Museum

This open-air museum features the ruins of King Sverres medieval castle along with more than 60 buildings from Trondheim and the Trøndelag region, which has been set up to show how people in Trondheim have lived over the centuries.

Sverresborg Allé, Trondheim

Tel 73 89 01 10

Website www.sverresborg.no

Admission Jun-Aug NOK 80, students NOK 55; Sep-May NOK 50, students NOK 35

Open Jan-May Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, Sat-Sun noon-4pm; Jun-Aug 11am-6pm daily; Sep-Dec Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, Sat-Sun noon-4pm

Trondheim Kunstmuseum

This art gallery has a large collection of Norwegian art dating from 1800 to the present day. International art is also representing, including an impressive collection of Danish art.

Bispegata 7B, Trondheim

Bus 4

Tel 73 53 81 80

Admission 40 NOK, students 20 NOK

Open Jan-May Tue-Sun 11am-5pm; Jun-Aug 10am-7pm daily; Sep-Dec Tue-Sun 11am-5pm