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TravelTips24 : Europe : Northern Europe : Norway : Lillehammer

Lillehammer

Lillehammer [1] is a small town in the county of Oppland in south-central Norway.

Culture and History

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.

Orientation

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.

Travel to Lillehammer & Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Lillehammer

Lillehammer does not have its own airport, but Oslo's Gardermoen is well connected by train with departures once hourly (1:40, 227 Kr each way).

By train

Lillehammer is along the main train line from Skien and Oslo towards Trondheim. The trip to Oslo takes about two hours and there are departures hourly.

Tours & Getting around Lillehammer

Central Lillehammer is best covered on foot. Buses to various regional destinations depart from outside the train station.

Lillehammer attractions and sightseeing

Olympics

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, [2]. 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 9 AM to 8 PM summer, 9 AM to 5 PM spring/fall, 11 AM to 4 PM winter.
  • Norwegian Olympic Museum, Håkon Hall, Olympiaparken.

Other

  • Maihaugen, [3]. Northern Europe's largest open-air museum with 185 traditional Norwegian buildings. Open daily in summer 10 AM to 5 PM, daily 11 AM to 4 PM except Monday in winter. Admission 90/75 kr peak/off-peak.
  • Lillehammer Art Museum, [4]. Modern Norwegian art.

Lillehammer city tours

There are excellent skiing and other winter sports opportunities in winter, as well as some decent hiking in summer.

Lillehammer souvenirs & shopping

Lillehammer's main shopping street is the rather inaptly named Storgata ("Big Street"), a pedestrian street lined with wooden houses, boutiques and restaurants.

Lillehammer Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Budget

  • Oylsund Kafe , Storgata 52. Kebabs, fish products and similar fare from 50 kr. Open daily.

Mid-range

  • 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.

Splurge

  • Paa bordet, Bryggerig. 70. Gourmet-restaurant with an excellent wine cellar. Menu ca. 300-400 Nkr.

Lillehammer nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

Lillehammer cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

Contact

There is an informative tourist office in the railway station building.

Tourist Information Office in Lillehammer All the information you need on Lillehammer and the area in one place. Lillehammer's Tourist Information Centre is at the Bus and Train station.

The Tourist Information office arrange accommodation in hotels, guesthouses and private lodgings in Lillehammer and surrounding areas Souvenirs of Norway See display of Norway products for purchase in Tourist Information. We also have a small souvenir shop with a good selection of traditional souvenirs and gifts. You can also purchase stamps and postcards. Free brochures All the brochures you may need on Lillehammer and area are freely available as well as exhibitions giving information on journeys further away. They sell also walking, skiing maps.

Open

Monday-Friday 09.00-16.00 Saturdays 10.00-14.00 Sundays Closed In Summer longer opening hours Phone: +47 61289800 Internet: http://www.lillehammerturist.no

This page was last edited at 21:48, on 5 January 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Jani Patokallio, Geir Kollstroem, Ravikiran Rao and Steffen Mokosch, Wikitravel user(s) Janki and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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