Lillehammer is a small town in the county of Oppland in south-central Norway. The town sits at the intersection of the lake Mjøsa and Gudbrandsdalen, the great valley of East Norway.
Lillehammer is best remembered as the site of the 1994 Winter Olympics, but it's also worth a visit in the summer for its beautifully preserved late 19th-century wooden houses. In the 2010s, it has become famous for the Lilyhammer TV series.
Lillehammer is on the shores of Lake Mjøsa, with the bulk of town on the east bank. From the train station it's just two blocks to Storgata, the main pedestrian shopping street in the heart of the old city center.
Lillehammer (25.000 inhabitants), considered Norway's oldest winter sports resort and host of the 1994 Winter Olympics. Lillehammer region provides you with a combination of long-standing tradition and modern activities and services. You will find excellent museums and galleries, Olympic venues, a large number of restaurants and wide selection of shops and accommodation. The Lillehammer region is also famous for its ski terrain and excellent winter sport facilities. Nearby at Nordseter and Sjusjøen, you will find the best network of cross-country ski trails in Northern Europe, comprising 350 km. The excellent ski centre is located at Hafjell, 15 minutes away by ski bus, and offers a mountain village feel with full amenities and ski in/out accommodation.
- Tourist office, +47 61289800. Monday-Friday 09.00-16.00, Saturdays 10.00-14.00, Sundays closed. In the summer there are longer opening hours.. The Tourist Information office can arrange accommodation in hotels, guesthouses and private lodgings in Lillehammer and surrounding areas. All the brochures that you may need on Lillehammer and nearby area are freely available as well as exhibitions giving information on journeys further away. There are also walking and skiing maps for sale. In addition you can see a display of Norwegian products for purchase in the Tourist Information, and there is also a small souvenir shop with a good selection of traditional souvenirs and gifts and stamps and postcards can also be purchased.
Tourist office, +47 61289800. Monday-Friday 09.00-16.00, Saturdays 10.00-14.00, Sundays closed. In the summer there are longer opening hours.. The Tourist Information office can arrange accommodation in hotels, guesthouses and private lodgings in Lillehammer and surrounding areas. All the brochures that you may need on Lillehammer and nearby area are freely available as well as exhibitions giving information on journeys further away. There are also walking and skiing maps for sale. In addition you can see a display of Norwegian products for purchase in the Tourist Information, and there is also a small souvenir shop with a good selection of traditional souvenirs and gifts and stamps and postcards can also be purchased.
Many of Lillehammer's newer sights are related to the 1994 Olympics and are located in the commemorative Olympic Park (Olympiaparken).
- Lysgårdsbakkene Ski Jumping Arena. Olympiaparken. The ski jumping site for the Olympics, now a year-round attraction with a chairlift to the top (or, if you're feeling frisky, a hike up 954 steps). Visit the ski jump tower to gaze down at the K120 jumping hill and an excellent view of Lillehammer and Lake Mjøsa. Chairlift 40 kr return incl. ski jump tower admission, plus an optional 25 kr for the bobsled simulator. The site is a solid 20-30 min uphill hike from central Lillehammer, walk up Fossgatan and follow the signs for Olympiaparken/Chairlifts. Open 9AM to 8PM summer, 9AM to 5PM spring/fall, 11AM to 4PM winter.
- Norwegian Olympic Museum, Håkon Hall, Olympiaparken.
Lysgårdsbakkene Ski Jumping Arena. Olympiaparken. The ski jumping site for the Olympics, now a year-round attraction with a chairlift to the top (or, if you're feeling frisky, a hike up 954 steps). Visit the ski jump tower to gaze down at the K120 jumping hill and an excellent view of Lillehammer and Lake Mjøsa. Chairlift 40 kr return incl. ski jump tower admission, plus an optional 25 kr for the bobsled simulator. The site is a solid 20-30 min uphill hike from central Lillehammer, walk up Fossgatan and follow the signs for Olympiaparken/Chairlifts. Open 9AM to 8PM summer, 9AM to 5PM spring/fall, 11AM to 4PM winter.
Norwegian Olympic Museum, Håkon Hall, Olympiaparken.
- Maihaugen. Northern Europe's largest open-air museum with 200 buildings. Among the traditional Norwegian buildings is the Garmo stave church from 1200 ac. Modern times are also represented at the museum. In the Residential Aerea there are one family homes from almost every decade of the 1900s. Open daily in summer 10AM to 5PM, daily 11AM to 4PM except Monday in winter. Admission 140/80 kr peak/off-peak.
- Lillehammer Art Museum. Modern Norwegian art.
Maihaugen. Northern Europe's largest open-air museum with 200 buildings. Among the traditional Norwegian buildings is the Garmo stave church from 1200 ac. Modern times are also represented at the museum. In the Residential Aerea there are one family homes from almost every decade of the 1900s. Open daily in summer 10AM to 5PM, daily 11AM to 4PM except Monday in winter. Admission 140/80 kr peak/off-peak.
Lillehammer Art Museum. Modern Norwegian art.
There are excellent skiing and other winter sports opportunities in winter, as well as some decent hiking in summer.
- Hafjell - Lillehammer's own alpine slopes, 1994 olympic venue
- Kvitfjell - alpine slopes further the valley, 1994 olympic venue
- Sjusjøen and surroundings - excellent cross-country slopes in easy terrain
Lillehammer's main shopping street is the rather inaptly named Storgata ("Big Street"), a pedestrian street lined with wooden houses, boutiques and restaurants.
- Oylsund Kafe, Storgata 52. Open daily. Kebabs, fish products and similar fare from 50 kr.
Oylsund Kafe, Storgata 52. Open daily. Kebabs, fish products and similar fare from 50 kr.
- Kanten Kro, Lysgårdsbakkene (top of ski jump chairlift. Rustic turf-roofed Norwegian house serving up daily specials from 100 kr and beautiful views over Lillehammer.
- . offers a selection of pizzas and other dishes around 50-250 kr and a selection of drinks.
Kanten Kro, Lysgårdsbakkene (top of ski jump chairlift. Rustic turf-roofed Norwegian house serving up daily specials from 100 kr and beautiful views over Lillehammer.
- Paa bordet, Bryggerig. 70. Gourmet-restaurant with an excellent wine cellar. Menu ca. 300-400 Nkr..
Paa bordet, Bryggerig. 70. Gourmet-restaurant with an excellent wine cellar. Menu ca. 300-400 Nkr..
Most hotels offer free Wi-Fi.
(Known from 1994 Lillehammer Olympics)