--- title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Lillehammer, Norway | Wimup" description: "The 10 best things to do in Lillehammer, ranked and mapped. Maihaugen, the 1994 Olympic ski jump, Storgata's wooden houses, Hafjell and where to eat." url: https://wimup.com/city/lillehammer type: City guide updated: 2026-10-24 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Top 10 Things To Do in Lillehammer Lillehammer, Norway · Europe · By Wimup Editorial, 12 min read Lillehammer sits where the Gudbrandsdalslågen river runs into Lake Mjøsa, two hours north of Oslo by train. The 1994 Winter Olympics made its name and the arenas are still in use, but the town is also Maihaugen's open-air museum, Sigrid Undset's home and the door to the Gudbrandsdal valley. ## Quick answer Give Lillehammer two days. Spend the first at Maihaugen and the Norwegian Olympic Museum, which share a ticket, then ride the chairlift up the 1994 ski jump for the view over Lake Mjøsa. On the second, walk the wooden houses of Storgata and see the art museum, or head 15 km north for the bobsleigh track, Hunderfossen and Hafjell. In winter, give the second day to skiing. ## Quick facts - **Best months:** Feb · Mar · Jul - **Ideal length:** 2 days - **Budget per day:** NOK 1,200–2,200 - **Language:** Norwegian, with English widely spoken - **Getting around:** The town on foot, buses to Hunderfossen and Hafjell, a car for the valley - **Tourism board:** [Official site](https://en.lillehammer.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## The 10 best things to do in Lillehammer ### 1. Walk through 200 old buildings at Maihaugen Open-air museum · Maihaugvegen 1, Lillehammer Norway's largest open-air museum: close to 200 buildings, from Garmo Stave Church, moved from Lom and re-erected here in 1921, to farmhouses and town houses, collected by the dentist Anders Sandvig from 1887. Give it a morning, then see the Olympic Museum on the same ticket. - **Time:** 3 hrs - **Cost:** Ticketed - **Best at:** Summer, daily 10:00 to 17:00 - **Tip:** One ticket covers the Olympic and Postal museums too Links: [Website](https://eng.maihaugen.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 2. Climb the Olympic ski jump at Lysgårdsbakkene Olympic venue · Lysgårdsbakkene, Olympiaparken, Lillehammer The 1994 Winter Olympics opened and closed on this jump, in front of the crowds on the slope. A chairlift runs to the viewpoint at the top, over the town and Lake Mjøsa, or you can walk the 936 steps one way. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** Free on foot, chairlift ticketed - **Best at:** Summer, when the chairlift runs - **Tip:** Ride up and walk down: the steps are easier going down Links: [Website](https://olympiaparken.no/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 3. Relive the 1994 Games at the Norwegian Olympic Museum Museum · At Maihaugen, Maihaugvegen 1, Lillehammer Every Olympic Games from the first to today, summer and winter, told with a Norwegian slant and more than 7,000 objects. It moved from Håkons Hall into Maihaugen's main building in 2016, so it shares that museum's ticket. - **Time:** 1.5 hrs - **Cost:** Maihaugen ticket - **Best at:** A wet afternoon - **Tip:** Start here, then walk out into Maihaugen's grounds Links: [Website](https://eng.ol.museum.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 4. See Norwegian art at Lillehammer Kunstmuseum Art museum · Stortorget 2, Lillehammer Over 1,800 works from the 19th century to now, in Erling Viksjø's 1964 building and two extensions by Snøhetta. The 2016 wing, Weidemannsalen, gives Jakob Weidemann's paintings their own rooms behind Bård Breivik's steel facade. - **Time:** 1.5 hrs - **Cost:** Ticketed - **Best at:** Paired with lunch on Storgata - **Tip:** Two foundation museums bought together cost 25% less Links: [Website](https://eng.lillehammerkunstmuseum.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 5. Walk Storgata, the wooden main street Old town · Storgata, Lillehammer Two-storey wooden houses from the late 19th century line the pedestrian stretch, with over 125 shops, galleries and cafes. Walk it from Søndre Park north to the Mesna bridge, then climb to the ski jump from the far end. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** Free - **Best at:** Late afternoon - **Tip:** From Lilletorget, a half-hour walk reaches the Helvetesfossen falls ### 6. Visit Sigrid Undset's home at Bjerkebæk Writer's home museum · Sigrid Undsets veg 16E, Lillehammer Undset lived in this timber house from 1919 until her death in 1949, and wrote the books here that won her the 1928 Nobel Prize. The rooms are kept as they were in the 1930s, and a 30-minute guided tour comes with the ticket. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** Ticketed - **Best at:** Summer, the only season it opens - **Tip:** Tours take 15 people at most, so arrive early Links: [Website](https://eng.bjerkebek.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 7. Ski or ride the Olympic slopes at Hafjell Outdoors · Hafjell, Øyer, 15 km north of Lillehammer The 1994 slalom and giant slalom ran here, and it is now a resort of about 18 lifts. In summer the gondola climbs to Mosetertoppen, and Hafjell Bike Park, Norway's largest, runs 19 trails over about 25 km. - **Time:** Full day - **Cost:** Lift pass - **Best at:** February and March - **Tip:** Winter ski buses run from Lillehammer skysstasjon Links: [Website](https://hafjell.no/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 8. Ride the Olympic bobsleigh track at Hunderfossen Olympic venue · Hunderfossvegen 680, Fåberg The 1994 track runs 1,710 metres through 16 curves and is the only artificially frozen one in the Nordic region. In winter a taxibob takes riders down at up to 120 km/h behind a pilot; in summer the wheelbob carries four at up to 100 km/h. - **Time:** 1 hr - **Cost:** Ticketed - **Best at:** Winter for ice, summer for wheels - **Tip:** Places are limited, so book ahead Links: [Website](https://olympiaparken.no/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 9. Meet the trolls at Hunderfossen Theme park · Fossekrovegen 22, Fåberg A family park 15 km north of town, guarded by a troll that is 14 metres tall sitting down. Inside, Ivo Caprino's Fairy-Tale Cave holds more than 150 trolls and screens his puppet films, among over 60 rides and activities. - **Time:** Half day - **Cost:** Ticketed - **Best at:** Summer, from late May - **Tip:** The free Norwegian Road Museum is on the same road Links: [Website](https://hunderfossen.no/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ### 10. Sail Lake Mjøsa on the paddle steamer Skibladner Lake cruise · Lake Mjøsa, calling at Lillehammer In service since 1856 and billed as the oldest paddle steamer still on a timetable, it sails Norway's largest lake. Northbound runs reach Lillehammer by way of Hamar; there is no round trip, so take the train back. - **Time:** Full day - **Cost:** Ticketed - **Best at:** Late June to mid-August - **Tip:** It does not reach Lillehammer every day, so check the sailing days Links: [Website](https://www.skibladner.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Lillehammer's Olympic venues The arenas the Games left behind, most of them still in use. 1. **Håkons Hall** (Arena · Stampesletta): The 1994 ice hockey arena, seating 11,500, and the Olympic Museum's first home. [Website](https://olympiaparken.no/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Kanthaugen Freestyle Arena** (Freestyle · Olympiaparken): Three hills beside the ski jump that held the 1994 aerials and moguls. 3. **Birkebeineren Ski Stadium** (Cross-country · Birkebeineren): The 1994 cross-country and biathlon stadium, and the start of the Birkebeinerløpet run. 4. **Kvitfjell Olympiabakken** (Downhill · Kvitfjell, 55 km north): The downhill course Bernhard Russi designed for 1994, still on the World Cup calendar. [Website](https://www.kvitfjell.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best museums in Lillehammer Three smaller museums, each worth the detour. 1. **Norwegian Postal Museum** (History · Maihaugen): About 375 years of Norwegian post, in a rebuilt 1860s warehouse inside Maihaugen. [Website](https://eng.postmuseet.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Norwegian Road Museum** (Free · Hunderfossen): Free and open all year, with road history told through over 100 original objects and a tunnel blasted in rock. [Website](https://www.vegmuseum.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 3. **Aulestad** (Writer's home · Gausdal): Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson's farm home, open every summer since 1935, 20 minutes' drive away. [Website](https://eng.aulestad.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best restaurants in Lillehammer A seasonal tasting menu, a bank vault and a brewery cellar. 1. **LYNG mat & bar** (Seasonal Norwegian · Town centre): A 32-seat room with a seasonal four-course menu; each course can be ordered alone. [Website](https://lyngmatogbar.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Hvelvet** (Norwegian-French · Stortorget): Norwegian and French cooking in the 1913 Norges Bank building on Stortorget. 3. **Heim Gastropub** (Gastropub · Storgata): Around 120 beers and pub plates: burgers, mussels, fish and chips. 4. **Bryggerikjelleren** (Steakhouse · Elvegata): A steakhouse in the 1855 cellar of the old town brewery. Book ahead. 5. **Lillehammer Fjellstue** (Mountain lodge · Nordseter): A mountain-lodge buffet of home cooking from local produce, by booking only. ## Best cafes and bars in Lillehammer Speciality coffee by day, a bar on the old grain silo by night. 1. **Brygg Kaffebar** (Coffee · Kirkegata): Espresso, filter and cold brew with breakfast and lunch, weekdays and Saturdays. [Website](https://www.bryggkaffebar.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 2. **Lillehammer Bakeri** (Bakery · Mesnakvartalet): Cinnamon buns and sourdough from a bakery-cafe in the Mesna quarter. 3. **Toppen Skybar** (Cocktails · Elvegata): Cocktails and gin on the 11th floor of the old grain silo. Age limit 20. [Website](https://aksjemollen.no/en/toppen-skybar/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 4. **Wiese** (Bar and live music · Storgata): Bars over two floors and a concert stage on Storgata. [Website](https://www.wiesegaarden.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Where to ski around Lillehammer Groomed trails and slopes within an hour of town. 1. **Sjusjøen** (Cross-country · Sjusjøen): About 350 km of groomed cross-country trails, linked to Lillehammer's own. 2. **Nordseter** (Cross-country · Nordseter): A cross-country hub above town, 11.4 km by trail back down to Lillehammer. 3. **Skeikampen** (Alpine · Gausdal): A ski resort in Gausdal, about 30 km and 35 minutes from town. [Website](https://skeikampen.no/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) 4. **The Birkebeiner trail** (Ski touring · Rena to Lillehammer): The race route from Rena over the mountains, after the 1206 rescue of the infant prince Haakon. [Website](https://birken.no/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) ## Best parks and walks in Lillehammer Short walks from Storgata to the river, its falls and the old park. 1. **Mesna culture trail** (Walk · Stampesletta): An easy 1 to 2 hour walk up the Mesna gorge past falls and river pools, open all year. 2. **Søndre Park** (Park · Town centre): An 1890s park at the south end of Storgata, with a cafe dating from 1933. 3. **Helvetesfossen** (Walk · Lilletorget): A half-hour walk from Lilletorget to the falls, on the way up to the ski jump. ## Best day trips from Lillehammer Lake towns, a stave church and the mountains up the valley. 1. **Hamar** (Lake town · 57 km south): Vikingskipet, the 1994 skating hall, and the cathedral ruins at Domkirkeodden; 50 minutes by train. 2. **Gjøvik Olympic Cavern Hall** (Olympic venue · 45 km south): An ice rink built inside a mountain, which held 16 Olympic hockey games in 1994. 3. **Ringebu Stave Church** (Stave church · 60 km north): One of Norway's surviving stave churches, built around 1220, just off the E6. 4. **Rondane National Park** (Mountains · North Gudbrandsdal): Norway's oldest national park, created in 1962, reached by way of Otta. 5. **Peer Gynt Road** (Scenic drive · Gausdal): A toll mountain road of about 60 km from Skei, open from June until the snow. ## Festivals & annual events in Lillehammer (2026) - **Birkebeinerrennet** (Mar): About 53 km of classic skiing from Rena to Lillehammer, every racer carrying a 3.5 kg pack. - **Amandus Festival** (Mar–Apr): A national film festival for makers under 20, held in the week before Easter. - **Norwegian Festival of Literature** (May–Jun): A week of readings and talks, the largest non-commercial literary festival in the Nordics. - **Birkebeinerløpet** (Jun): A 21 km run on the Birkebeiner course, from the ski stadium to Håkons Hall. - **Birkebeinerrittet** (Aug): An 84 km mountain-bike race from Rena to Lillehammer, with a children's race the day before. - **Dølajazz** (Oct): The town's jazz festival, four days in mid-October. - **Ski Jumping World Cup** (Nov): The FIS season opens on Lysgårdsbakken in late November. - **Christmas markets** (Dec): Maihaugen's market at the end of November, then weekend stalls in the town centre. ## Must-try dishes in Lillehammer, Norway - **Gudbrandsdalsost**: The valley's brown cheese, credited to a dairymaid who added cream to boiling whey in 1863. - **Høgfjellslam**: High-mountain lamb from north Gudbrandsdal, a protected regional product. - **Setersmør**: Butter from the summer mountain farms, protected nationally. - **Rein fra Jotunheimen**: Reindeer from the Lom and Vågå herds, protected since 2021. - **Rakfisk**: Semi-fermented trout from Valdres, the neighbouring valley, with protected status. - **Spekemat**: Cured meats and sausages; Annis Pølsemakeri, up the valley in Ringebu, wins awards. - **Rømmegrøt**: Sour cream porridge topped with butter, sugar and cinnamon, often served with spekemat. - **Vafler**: Norwegian waffles, often eaten with brown cheese; Maihaugen's cafe serves them. ## Lillehammer transport & airports - **Oslo Airport** (OSL): The nearest major airport. Direct trains on the Dovre line reach Lillehammer in about 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45, with no change. [Website](https://www.vy.no/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Trains** (Vy · SJ): Hourly Vy trains from Oslo S take about 2 hours 10. SJ Nord trains continue north up the valley to Trondheim. [Website](https://www.sj.no/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Buses** (Innlandstrafikk): Local and regional buses leave the skysstasjon at the station. In winter, ski buses run to Hafjell, Sjusjøen and Skeikampen. [Website](https://www.innlandstrafikk.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - **Taxis and cars** (06565): 06565 Drosjene runs around the clock across Lillehammer, Øyer and Tretten. By car, the E6 reaches Oslo in about two hours. ## Lillehammer at a glance - **Country:** Norway - **Region:** Innlandet county, where the Gudbrandsdal valley meets Lake Mjøsa - **Population:** 29,636 in the municipality (SSB, first quarter 2026), about 21,700 in the town - **Founded:** Market-town charter granted in 1827 - **Olympics:** Winter Olympics 1994, Winter Youth Olympics 2016 - **Language:** Norwegian (Bokmål), with English widely spoken - **Currency:** Norwegian krone (NOK) - **Time zone:** CET (UTC+1), CEST in summer - **Calling code:** +47 - **Airports:** Oslo Airport Gardermoen (OSL), about 1.5 hours by direct train - **Power:** 230V, type C and F sockets - **Emergency:** 112 police, 113 ambulance, 110 fire ## Interesting facts - The 1994 Games were the first Winter Olympics held two years after the last, splitting them from the Summer Games. - Håkon and Kristin, the 1994 mascots, were the first Olympic mascots in human form, named after 13th-century royals. - The 1994 opening and closing ceremonies were held on the Lysgårdsbakken ski jump, not in a stadium. - The 1913 Norges Bank building on Stortorget, now Hvelvet, held Norway's gold reserves for about ten days in April 1940. - Lake Mjøsa, at the foot of the town, is Norway's largest lake: 117 km long and about 453 m deep at its deepest. ## Lillehammer travel FAQ ### How many days do you need in Lillehammer? Two. One day covers Maihaugen, the Olympic Museum and the ski jump; the second covers Storgata, the art museum and either Hunderfossen or Hafjell, 15 km north. Add days in winter for skiing at Hafjell, Kvitfjell or the cross-country trails at Sjusjøen. ### How do you get from Oslo to Lillehammer? By train. Vy runs hourly from Oslo S in about 2 hours 10, and the same trains call at Oslo Airport, about an hour and a half away, so there is no need to go into Oslo first. By car, the E6 takes about two hours. ### When is the best time to visit Lillehammer? February and March for skiing, with reliable snow from November. June to August for the museums, which run their fullest programme in summer, and for the Skibladner steamer. The Birkebeinerrennet ski race in March fills the town. ### Can you visit the 1994 Olympic venues? Yes. The Lysgårdsbakken ski jump has a chairlift and 936 steps to a viewpoint, the bobsleigh track at Hunderfossen offers rides behind a pilot, and Hafjell and Kvitfjell are working ski resorts. The Olympic Museum is inside Maihaugen. ### Does one ticket cover several museums? Since 2024 one ticket covers Maihaugen, the Norwegian Olympic Museum and the Norwegian Postal Museum. Buying tickets for two or more of the foundation's museums at once, Bjerkebæk or the art museum among them, takes 25% off. ## Nearby guides - [Ålesund](https://wimup.com/city/alesund.md): Norway · 10 picks - [Stavanger](https://wimup.com/city/stavanger.md): Norway · 10 picks - [Kristiansand](https://wimup.com/city/kristiansand.md): Norway · 10 picks - [All of Europe →](https://wimup.com/europe): 158 cities Part of the [Norway guide](https://wimup.com/country/norway.md) · [Europe](https://wimup.com/europe.md) ## Sources - [Lillehammer tourism board](https://en.lillehammer.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Walk through 200 old buildings at Maihaugen (official site)](https://eng.maihaugen.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Climb the Olympic ski jump at Lysgårdsbakkene (official site)](https://olympiaparken.no/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Relive the 1994 Games at the Norwegian Olympic Museum (official site)](https://eng.ol.museum.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [See Norwegian art at Lillehammer Kunstmuseum (official site)](https://eng.lillehammerkunstmuseum.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Visit Sigrid Undset's home at Bjerkebæk (official site)](https://eng.bjerkebek.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Ski or ride the Olympic slopes at Hafjell (official site)](https://hafjell.no/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Meet the trolls at Hunderfossen (official site)](https://hunderfossen.no/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Sail Lake Mjøsa on the paddle steamer Skibladner (official site)](https://www.skibladner.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Kvitfjell Olympiabakken (official site)](https://www.kvitfjell.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Norwegian Postal Museum (official site)](https://eng.postmuseet.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Norwegian Road Museum (official site)](https://www.vegmuseum.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Aulestad (official site)](https://eng.aulestad.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [LYNG mat & bar (official site)](https://lyngmatogbar.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Brygg Kaffebar (official site)](https://www.bryggkaffebar.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Toppen Skybar (official site)](https://aksjemollen.no/en/toppen-skybar/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Wiese (official site)](https://www.wiesegaarden.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Skeikampen (official site)](https://skeikampen.no/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [The Birkebeiner trail (official site)](https://birken.no/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Oslo Airport (official site)](https://www.vy.no/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Trains (official site)](https://www.sj.no/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - [Buses (official site)](https://www.innlandstrafikk.no/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral) - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.