Lillehammer Travel Guide
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169km (105 miles) N of Oslo; 363km (226 miles) S of Trondheim
Surrounded by mountains, Lillehammer is one of Europe's favorite resorts. The town, at the head (northern end) of Lake Mjøsa, became internationally famous when it hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics. Today, the sports sites and infrastructure benefit greatly from the two-billion-kroner investment that the government put into Lillehammer to make it worthy of the games. Skiers in winter can take advantage of many of these improvements.
Even with all its upgrades, Lillehammer's appeal still lags far behind the popularity of such chic alpine resorts as St. Moritz in Switzerland or St. Anton in Austria. Sadly, "Winter City," as Lillehammer is called, doesn't get much of that famous alpine sunshine.
However, even if you're not considering it for a ski holiday, Lillehammer is an attractive venue for summer vacationers, as it has a number of attractions and a broad appeal for families.
With a population of 23,000, Lillehammer is surrounded by forests, farms, and small settlements. Its main pedestrian street, Storgata, is known for its well-preserved wooden buildings.
At the southern end of the Gudbrandsdal valley, Lillehammer was founded as a trading post back in 1827. Over the years, Lillehammer has attracted many artists, such as Jakob Weidemann, who were drawn to its beautiful landscapes and special Nordic light. The most famous artist who lived here was Sigrid Undset, who won the Nobel Prize for literature.
