Hamar
Municipality · Innlandet
About Hamar
Medieval cathedral ruins under a glass shelter at Domkirkeodden, the Norwegian Railway Museum and the Viking Ship, the 1994 Olympic skating arena.
What to do and where to stay in Hamar
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Domkirkeodden (Anno Domkirkeodden)History & culture
Ruins of Hamar's 12th-century cathedral, burnt in a Swedish raid in 1567, on a Mjøsa headland with 60+ old buildings, a 400-plant herb garden and Sverre Fehn's Storhamar barn.
Strandvegen 100, Domkirkeodden, north of the centre · 2–3 h · 2026: 1 Sep–23 Dec daily 10–16; check opening hours before you go
2Norsk Jernbanemuseum (Norwegian Railway Museum)History & culture
The national railway museum, in Hamar since 1896, with indoor halls and a lakeside park of old stations and engines where the narrow-gauge steam train Tertitten runs in summer.
Strandvegen 161, by Mjøsa north of the centre · 2 h · All year; 1 Sep–22 Dec 2026 Tue–Sun 11–15; Tertitten in summer
3Vikingskipet (Hamar Olympic Hall)Sight
The 1994 Olympic speed-skating hall, opened in 1992, whose roof is shaped like an upturned Viking ship's keel; Norway's national speed-skating and bandy venue by Åkersvika.
Åkersvikvegen 1, south-east of the centre · 15 min outside; longer at an event · All year (inside only at events)
4D/S Skibladner from HamarSight
The world's oldest paddle steamer in scheduled service, built in 1856, calls at Hamar on summer runs up and down Mjøsa, serving salmon and strawberries on board.
Skibladnerbrygga, Hamar centre · Half a day or more · 2026 scheduled route 23 June–16 August, Tue–Sun
5Åkersvika nature reserveNature
A Mjøsa bay protected in 1974 and Norway's first Ramsar wetland, where 196 bird species have been recorded; a bird tower looks over it next to Vikingskipet.
South-east edge of Hamar, by Vikingskipet and Stangebrua · 30–60 min · Spring and autumn migration best
6Strandpromenaden (Mjøsa lakeside promenade)Hike
A 7 km lakeside path from Espern to Jessnes, fine for prams and bikes, passing Koigen beach, the diving tower, Domkirkeodden and the Railway Museum.
Hamar waterfront; start at Skibladnerbrygga or Domkirkeodden · 1–2 h (7 km one way) · All year
7Koigen beach and the diving towerSwim
Hamar's town beach on Mjøsa, with sand, lawns and a skatepark nearby, and a lakeside diving tower from 2015 reached by a footbridge.
Koigen, by Hamar station · 1–3 h · June–August
8Furuberget hillfort and the 'Vokterne' stonesHike
A 3 km loop from Hamar's day cabin at the foot of Furuberget round the remains of an old hillfort, past two carved stone pillars by the path called 'the Guardians'.
Furuberget, north of Hamar by Mjøsa; start at Dagsturhytta (end of Snekkerstuvegen) · 1–1.5 h (3.1 km loop) · All year
9Vang kirkeHistory & culture
An octagonal stone church from 1810 at Ridabu, drawn by the parish priest Abraham Pihl and seating about 1,000, one of Norway's largest churches.
Ridabu, east of Hamar centre · 20–30 min · Outside all year; inside at services and concerts
10Gåsbu nature trail and viewing towerNature
The gateway to the Hedmarksvidda forest plateau: a 3 km gravel nature trail for prams and wheelchairs, a viewing tower by Gåsbubakken and about 300 km of winter ski tracks.
Gåsbu, about 12 km up Gåsbuvegen from E6 at Vien · 1 h (3 km trail) · All year; skiing in winter