Nesbyen
Municipality · Buskerud
About Nesbyen
Still holder of Norway's heat record, 35.6 °C in 1970, with flowing mountain-bike trails and old farm buildings at the Hallingdal Museum.
What to do and where to stay in Nesbyen
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Gardnos meteorite crater (Meteorittparken)Nature
A 5 km wide crater left by a meteorite some 200–300 m across, confirmed as an impact in 1990; a road runs right into its centre and nature trails show the shattered rock.
Gardnos, about 10 km north of Nesbyen · 1–2 h · Trails snow-free season; guided tours in summer
2Hallingdal MuseumHistory & culture
One of Norway's oldest open-air museums, founded in 1899 at the foot of Rukkedalen; its buildings include Staveloftet, a storehouse from Ål dated 1340.
Møllevegen 18, Nesbyen (lower end of Rukkedalen) · 1–2 h · Summer (staff hired 1 June – 15 August 2026); grounds visible all year
3Gamle NesHistory & culture
Old Nesbyen, with over 40 buildings from before 1900 where the priest, judge and sheriff lived, Hallingdal's first pavement and shop, and a free audio guide.
Between Hallingdal Museum and Alfarvegen, western Nesbyen centre · 45–60 min · All year
4Hans Gude art walk (Kunstlandskap Nesbyen)History & culture
A walk under 1 km above the museum with large copies of Hans Gude's paintings set where he painted them, up to the mill-pond waterfall on the Rukkedøla.
From Hallingdal Museum or Sorenskrivergården, Nesbyen · Under 1 h (<1 km) · Snow-free season
5HallingSprangetActivity
Billed as Norway's longest flow trail: 17 km of bike path from Nesfjellet down to the valley, made for families as well as experienced riders.
From Nesfjellet down to Nesbyen · 2–3 h · Summer half-year (season starts late April)
6TrytetjernSwim
A lake 10 minutes' drive from Nesbyen with a sandy beach, an accessible swimming pier, a water trampoline and a step-free path round it; its water is known for being warm.
About 10 min drive from Nesbyen centre · 2–3 h · June – August for swimming
7Hallingnatten from ImlanHike
An 11.8 km loop to Nesbyen's highest top at 1,314 m, with views to Hallingskarvet, the Hemsedal mountains and on clear days Gaustatoppen.
From the lowest car park at Imlan · About 4 h (11.8 km loop, 456 m ascent) · All year; best June – October
8Åkrefjell and TrommenattenHike
Two tops in one walk on Nesfjellet, Åkrefjell (1,209 m) and Trommenatten (1,176 m), starting near 1,000 m with views to Hallingskarvet.
Car park at Båtstjernlia, Nesfjellet (or from Nystølkroken café) · About 5 h (14.7 km return, 431 m ascent) · June – October
9Nes chapelLocal oddity
A 1953–54 chapel at Nes cemetery built to imitate Nes stave church, which had been pulled down almost a century earlier.
Nes cemetery, Nesbyen · 10–15 min · Outside all year
10Lancaster crash site at SaupesetHistory & culture
An easy walk to where an RAF 617 Squadron Lancaster crashed on the night of 16–17 September 1944; the crew's first grave and an info board are on the hill.
Saupeset, Rukkedalen above Nesbyen · About 1 h (2.4 km, about 120 m ascent) · May – October