Gol
Municipality · Buskerud
About Gol
A full-size copy of Gol stave church on Storeøyne (the 1200s original now stands in Oslo), and the open plateau of Golsfjellet.
What to do and where to stay in Gol
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Gol stave church replica (Gol stavkyrkje)History & culture
A full-size copy of Gol's 1200s stave church, finished in 1994 after about ten years of work, mostly with timber from the valley; the original stands in Oslo.
Storeøyne island, by Gordarike, just outside Gol centre (visible from Rv7) · 30–60 min · Summer; check opening hours before you go
2Nystølvarden, Gol's highest topHike
Gol's highest point at 1,296 m, an easy rise over open mountain with views on clear days to Jotunheimen, Hallingskarvet and south to Gaustatoppen.
Golsfjellet / Søråsen, south-east Gol · About 2–3.5 h (10 km return, 436 m ascent from Frøystølane) · Summer and autumn (snow-free)
3Gol bygdemuseum at SkagaHistory & culture
The Skaga farm with roots in the 1600s, a loft from 1750, a stream mill, a sauna and a mountain dairy hut, with the Hallingstue kept as its last owner left it.
Skagavegen 3, west of Gol centre · 1 h · Grounds all year; buildings with guided tours in summer; check opening hours before you go
4Tjuvkjellaren and Farsetberget on the ski-lift walkLocal oddity
A walk up past Gol's ski slope to the Farsetberget viewpoint, with Tjuvkjellaren at its foot, a rock cave where the thief Rotneims-Knut is said to have hidden loot.
Above Gol centre, from Gol Skisenter by the bygdemuseum · About 2 h (to the top of the lift) · Snow-free season
5Grov, the abandoned villageHike
A walk of about three hours from Rotneim past old farms to Grov, a mostly abandoned hillside village with a schoolhouse and houses slowly falling into ruin.
Hillside above Gol, from Rotneim · About 3 h (one way; car must be fetched, or bike there) · Snow-free season
6Buksebrune bridge over the HemsilaLocal oddity
A copy of the old bridge that once stood on the same spot, high above the Hemsila river at Gjesthus, on a round walk of just over three hours from Gol.
Gjesthus, above the Hemsila river, north of Gol centre · Just over 3 h (round walk) · Snow-free season
7Mjølkevegen from GolActivity
Gol's train station is one end of a 250 km bike route over Golsfjellet, Vaset, Tyin and Jotunheimen to Vinstra, mostly on gravel roads.
Starts at Gol station; climbs onto Golsfjellet · Several days for the whole route; a day on the Golsfjellet stages · Summer (snow-free)
8Tisleifjorden round by bikeActivity
A mostly flat 37 km family loop round Tisleifjorden lake at 821–972 m, from Oset Høyfjellshotell, with kiosks at Oset and Langestølen and lakeside swimming spots.
Golsfjellet, north-east Gol · Half a day (37 km, 446 m ascent) · Summer
9Tropicana BadelandActivity
A water park at Pers Hotell with a wave pool under a glass roof, indoor slides of 106 and 98 m, a 35 cm-deep jungle pool and the outdoor Wild River in summer.
Pers Hotell, central Gol · Half a day · All year
10Skaraåsen and SyningenHike
An easy, marked ridge walk to Syningen at 1,047 m with views in all directions and toward Hemsedal, past Feten mountain dairy farm.
Ridge above Gol, top of the ski lift · Just over 3 h · Snow-free season