Lillehammer Overview

Lillehammer (pop. 27,000) cherishes the laurels it earned as host of the O 1994 Winter Olympics. Travelers strap on their skis to hit the slopes here, as well as to indulge in the city’s other outdoor adventures. The Norwegian Olympic Museum in Olympic Park traces the history of the Games. It’s a 20min. walk from the train station; head two blocks uphill, turn left on Storgata, right on Tomtegata, go up the stairs, and follow the road uphill to the left. Or take bus #2 or 3 from the train station (5min., 28kr). The museum is in Håkons Hall, the 1994 hockey rink. (☎61 25 21 00; www.ol.museum.no. Open June-Aug. daily 10am-5pm; Sept.-May Tu-Su 11am-4pm. 75kr, students 60kr. AmEx/MC/V.) Climb the steps of the ski jump in Olympic Park for a view of Lake Mjøsa (“shining lake”) Norway’s largest, or simply take the   chairlift. Give your spine a jolt on the bobsled simulator at the bottom of the hill and take time to view some summer ski jumping, daily from mid-June to mid-Aug. 10am-noon and 2-4pm. (☎61 05 42 00; www.olympiaparken.no. Open from early May to early June and from mid-Aug. to late Sept. 9am-5pm daily and from mid-June to mid Aug. 9am-8pm daily. Ski jump tower 15kr. Chairlift 45kr. Simulator 50kr. Combination ticket including chairlift 80kr.) The Maihaugen open-air museum chronicles rural Norwegian life over the past 300 years. From the train station, head up Jernbanegata and turn right onto Gågata. Turn left on Søndre gate., follow it to the end, and make a right on Sykenes. Travel uphill and make a left on Maihaugvegan. (☎61 28 89 00; www.maihaugen.no. Open June-Aug. daily 10am-5pm; Oct.-May Tu-Su 11am-4pm. Summer 100kr, students 80kr; low-season 80/70kr. Combination Ticket with the Ski Jump Tower and two local authors’ homes 130kr, students 105kr. AmEx/MC/V.) To the north, Hafjell, Aaslettvegen 1, boasts some of the best ski slopes in the country. In summer, the trails are used for mountain biking. Buses to the complex leave from the train station. (☎61 27 47 00; www.hafjell.no. Bikes 750kr per day.) You can also travel to Kvitfjell, another ski resort, or Hunderfossen, the Olympic bobsled course 14km north of the city. Daring individuals may try the bobsled (or wheeled bobsled in the summer) with professional drivers.

Lillehammer Vandrerhjem Stasjon , Jernbanetorget 2, a new hostel above the train station, features great rooms with bath and TV. (☎61 26 00 24; www.stasjonen.no. Breakfast, linens, and laundry included. Free Internet and Wi-Fi. Reception 7am-10pm. After 10pm check in at the Breiseth hotel across the street. Dorms 325kr, HI 275kr; singles 695kr/590kr; doubles 820kr. AmEx/MC/V.) Pizzerias and candy shops line Gågata, which runs north-south through the town center, changing names to Storgata at both ends. Picnic in Søndre Park or relax with a beer in the Bokhandel park, which also serves small sandwiches and cakes. (☎61 25 08 85. Open May-Aug. daily 11am-3am. Beer 55kr.) Buy groceries at Kiwi on the end of Gågata, in the center of the city.

Trains run to Oslo (2hr., every hr. 4am-8pm, 322kr, student 242kr, can book online for mini pris tickets) and Trondheim (5hr., 4 per day, from 199kr if booked ahead). The tourist office and the bus terminal are both in the same station. (☎61 28 98 00; www.lillehammer.com. Open June and Aug. M-Sa 9am-6pm, Su noon-5pm; July M-Sa 9am-8pm, Su 11am-6pm; Sept.-May M-F 9am-4pm, Sa 10am-2pm.) If you’re looking for free Internet, check out the attractive public library (☎61 24 71 40; www.biblioteket.lillehammer.kommune.no. Wiesesgata 2. Open from late June to mid-Aug M-Th 11am-5pm, F 11am-3pm; from late Aug. to mid-June M-Th 11am-6pm, F-Sa 11am-3pm.)