Lillehammer, Norway
Home to the 1994 Winter Olympics, Lillehammer has approximately 70 kms of multi-use trails, 5 kms of which are floodlit. But from Lillehammer you have access to around 2000 kms of ski trails via the bus and train networks.
Getting to Lillehammer by Air
You can fly direct from the UK to Oslo Gardermoen Airport. There are daily flights from:
- London
- Manchester
- Birmingham
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On other days of the week you can also fly from Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Train from Oslo to Lillehammer
Trains run regularly to Lillehammer and the station is directly underneath the airport terminal.
There are various websites to pre-book tickets but the best one for the Oslo area is:
By Car from the Airport
Lillehammer is 140 km north of the airport if you are hiring a car.
Bus connection to Birkebeinerrennet Stadium
Once in Lillehammer you will find the bus station is right outside the station door. Download the Entur app beforehand as the buses work on a pre pay system and the ticket is scanned as you enter the bus. Book your ticket to Sjusjøen Langrennsarena, which is near the Supermarket. It is a 30 minute ride and they are used to taking luggage and ski bags in the hold.
Cross Country Ski Maps of Lillehammer
Cross Country Ski Tracks and Routes
Lillehammer is the finish for the Birkebeinerrennet Ski Marathon.
The ski track information is on Skisporet.no and on the downloadable phone app.
Lillehammer's trails are linked to the Sjusjøen and Nordseter network which continues further into the mountains. Birkebeineren Ski Stadium is a natural starting point for cross-country ski trips in the Lillehammer area. A bus runs several times a day from Lillehammer Skysstasjon to "Birkebeineren Skistadion Nordsetervegen". For up-to-date timetables, you should use the national route planner Entur.
The stadium is a 700 metre walk/ski from the bus stop, and it's also possible to ski from Lillehammer town centre if the snow conditions permit. There are cross country maps at all the major junctions.
Other locations accessible from Lillehammer and the Gudbrandsdalen valley, on the map below, are
Sjusjøen,
Nordseter, Hafjell, Øyerfjellet, Venabygdsfjellet, Kvamsfjellet and Rondablikk, Skeikampen,
Kvitfjell, Gålå, Espedalen, Synnfjell and Spåtind.
Cafes on Cross Country Routes
The Birkebeineren ski stadium has the Skistua café in the middle of the ski track. You'll find it just to the right of where you enter the stadium on foot. Depending on the time of the year you can buy hot and cold drinks, toasties and pastries.
Where to Stay
There is a good amount of accommodation options in Lillehammer. The Station Hotel and First Hotel Breiseth are very close to the bus and railway stations for getting about, and I would definitely recommend the breakfast at the latter!
Cross Country Ski Rental/Retailers
There aren't any ski rental shops that we know of in Lillehammer. If you want to rent skis it would be easier to visit Sjusjoen or Nordseter on your first and last day to hire and return skis there. There are plenty of ski shops selling equipment though:
Supermarkets
There is a good supermarket on Weises Gate, about a 10 minute walk from both hotels. The off licence is situated on Storgata, the road going directly up hill from the train station. Here is the location and opening times.
Restaurants
There are many restaurants for different wallets and tastes. All speak good English, and a couple to specifically mention are:
- Station restaurant simple, but tasty ample food if you want a quick meal and fuel after skiing.
- Dinner 68 Good Chinese food, delivered well. If you are a group they have a separate room to accommodate.
- Cafe Toscana AS A Turkish restaurant with a good selection of Mediterranean dishes, vegetarian options, pizzas and fish dishes.
- No. 9 A great place for coffee and cake, but they also have lovely salads and sandwiches for lunch. All in a comfortable atmosphere with gifts around to buy.
Cross Country Ski Races
The Birkebeiner Ski race starts in Rena, East of Sjusjøen, and runs for 54 km through Sjusjøen to finish in Lillehammer. In 2024 it takes place on 16th March.
The Lillehammer Troll Ski Marathon is one of the world's longest ski races and takes place at Easter every year. The race route follows the Trolløypa from Venabygdsfjellet to Sjusjøen and takes in various mountain terrain between 850 and 1050 metres. The distances are 120 kms, 95 kms, 45 kms and 13 kms. Unfortunately it was announced in 2024 that this race will no longer take place as there were not enough volunteers to manage it. But you could always try the route yourself in various stages.
Tour Companies who Feature Lillehammer
None that we know of at the moment.