With the New Year already started, many of us are considering ways to make the most of the powder season and are planning skiing trips to places like Norway. It is no secret that the country is famous for its skiing, with the most popular resorts being Grouse, Lillehammer, and Storsteinen, but just how many actually exist? Let’s find out together.
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The Biggest And The Best
The largest and best-known ski resort in Norway is Storsteinen, a true bucket-list destination famous for its chairlift that gives you access to endless snowy mountain terrain, featuring the country’s longest ski run. It is located in Telemark, surrounded by majestic mountains and lots of wildlife, offering stunning panoramic views. Daily ski passes range between ยฃ52 and ยฃ67 at the top of the mountain. The smaller yet equally scenic Holmenkollen lies in Nordmรธre, close to the border with Sweden. In the summer, the area’s winding streets are filled with tourists as it is one of the nation’s most popular attractions. Daily ski passes there cost ยฃ42.
The Grouse Mountain Resort in the country’s largest city, Oslo, is one of the longest-running ski resorts in Europe, having first opened its doors in 1962. It is a classic Norwegian mountain with spectacular views of both the city and the fjord. The resort also prides itself on its child-friendly policies, with children’s ski passes available and childcare provided on the slopes. In addition to the standard ski runs, the area also features a snow park and a heli-skiing operation that gives you access to even more remote and spectacular terrains.
Another popular resort with both locals and tourists is Lillehammer, located in the northern part of the country. It is the second largest resort in Norway and home to the legendary Hammerfest Ski Festival, one of the biggest and most exciting winter sports festivals in the world. The annual event features a cross-country skiing marathon, biathlon, orienteering, and more! If you are looking for an intimate ski experience away from the crowds, then Lillehammer is the place to be. Daily runs cost ยฃ42 and take around an hour to an hour and a half to complete, depending on the slope. There is also an apres-ski bar that serves snacks and drinks, as well as a restaurant that serves traditional dishes from all over Europe.
Last but not least, we have the Little Canada, located in Nordland. One of the smaller and less frequented resorts, it was actually built as a ski-in/ski-out replacement for the nearby Hvitabrekka, but has since developed its own identity and offers a really unique skiing experience. The area is known for its steep slopes, with the 1.8 km-long Hvitabrekka being the longest single run in the country. It features some fantastic panoramic views, as well as a snow palace that was built in 1974 and is listed as a protected monument.
The Lesser Known Yet Still Worth A Visit
Besides the ones mentioned above, there are a number of other lesser-known but still quite beautiful and popular resorts in Norway. Some of these include:
- Kvitfjord: Located in the Arctic Circle, the resort features a spectacular view of the fjord and surrounding mountains.
- Fjellhamar (Serveen): One of the lesser-known ski resorts in Norway, Fjellhamar is located in the northern part of the country. The area offers some magnificent panoramic views of the city and surrounding valleys.
- Froland (Sunnfjord): The smallest yet most charming of the Norwegian ski resorts, Froland is located in the Sunnfjord area, in the southern part of the country. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the resort features spectacular views of the fjord and a popular ice cream parlor that serves as the focal point of the village.
- Dombรฅs (Sarpsborg): The largest of the Norwegian ski resorts, located in the middle of the country, Dombรฅs offers some amazing panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains, with the largest vertical drop in the area being 1,220 m (4,012 ft) and some of the longest slopes in the country.
- Rรธros (Romsdal): This quaint Scandinavian town located on the border with Greenland is best known for its ski village, which features some amazing snow sculptures by the local artists.
When To Visit?
The best time to visit any of the Norwegian ski resorts is from mid-June until the end of August. During this time, the snow stays on for longer and the mountains are at their best. Days are long and light, with plenty of sunshine and blue skies, and nightlife is at its peak. In addition to this, the temperatures are usually in the low twenties, which makes for some truly fantastic skiing. If you are visiting Lillehammer, be sure to book your accommodation well in advance, especially in the off-season, as the town goes through frequent renovations.
How Do I Get There?
Those traveling to Norway by air will most likely arrive at the country’s two biggest cities, Oslo (in the south) and Bergen (in the north). While they each have a small airport, all other major towns and cities have bus connections to the above-mentioned ones.
Norway is well connected to the rest of Europe by rail. The main train station in Oslo is called Oslo Skipsgate, and has direct connections to London, Paris, and Amsterdam, among other major European cities.
There are also regular flights to smaller towns and villages, as well as to some of the more remote and outermost ones, making travel within the country quite easy. For those looking for a truly unique and breathtaking ski experience, Norway truly does offer that and much more.