Kongsberg
Municipality · Buskerud
About Kongsberg
A mine train deep into the old silver mines, the Royal Mint museum and the Kongsberg Jazzfestival every July.
What to do and where to stay in Kongsberg
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Kongens gruve – the silver mine trainHistory & culture
A small train runs 2.3 km into the mountain to the King's Mine, 342 m below ground, in the silver works that built Kongsberg from 1623 until 1958.
Saggrenda, about 8 km south-west of Kongsberg · 1.5 h tour · guided tours in summer season
2Kongsberg churchHistory & culture
A brick Baroque church built 1740–61 with the silver town's wealth, seating about 2,400, with Nøstetangen glass chandeliers and a 1765 Gloger organ.
Kirketorget, west bank of the Lågen, Kongsberg · 30–45 min · summer opening; rest of year limited
3Norsk Bergverksmuseum (mining, mint and ski museums)History & culture
Three centuries of silver mining in the old smelting works, with the Royal Mint's coins (minted here since 1686) and a ski museum – closed for renovation until June 2027.
Hyttegata 3, Kongsberg centre · 1–2 h · closed from 3 Aug 2026; reopens June 2027
4Skrimfjella and StyggmannHike
Bare rock, cliffs and old-growth forest in a nature reserve, with a 1927 stone fire-watch hut on Styggmann (872 m), Skrim's top, and limestone caves to the north.
South-east Kongsberg, toward Skien and Notodden · Full day (about 11 km each way from Skrim S. via Sørmyrseter); shorter loop 8.7 km from Sørmyrseter · summer hiking; popular for winter skiing
5JonsknutenHike
Kongsberg's highest point at 904 m, with a 1913 concrete fire lookout and a 92 m TV mast from 1961, an easy but steep 2.6 km loop from Knutehytta.
North-west Kongsberg, above the ski terrain west of town · 1 h (2.6 km loop, 174 m climb) · May–October
6LågdalsmuseetHistory & culture
An open-air museum at Glitre farm with a mining official's house from 1811, a street of workers' homes, Norway's only preserved tower barn and its only optics museum.
Tillischbakken 8–10, Kongsberg · 1–1.5 h · summer; grounds free
7KnutehyttaFood & drink
A log hikers' cabin from 1929 at 750 m below Jonsknuten, open all year and reachable by car, with food served on Wednesday evenings and weekends.
Knuteveien, above Saggrenda west of Kongsberg · 30–60 min · All year
8Sakkerhusene, SaggrendaHistory & culture
The restored miners' buildings at the King's Mine in Saggrenda, now holding exhibitions and the museum shop where the mine tours start.
Saggrenda, about 8 km west of Kongsberg centre · 30 min (plus the 90-min mine tour) · Summer (mine tour season)
9Bergseminaret (old Mining Academy)History & culture
The 1786 building opposite the church that housed the Mining Academy, founded in 1757 and counted as Norway's first civilian higher education institution.
Opposite Kongsberg church, town centre · 10–15 min · All year (outside)
10Kronene i Håvet – the royal monogramsLocal secretLocal oddity
A rock face above town carved with royal monograms, from Christian IV in 1624 to Harald V in 1995, and a verse about the silver. A short walk with a view.
Håvet, just outside the centre; easiest from the Funkelia car park via Persløkka · 1 h