Norway is a paradise for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts, with its snow-covered mountains, breathtaking landscapes, and thrilling slopes. With over 200 ski resorts, Norway offers an unparalleled skiing/snowboarding experience, ranging from beginner-friendly slopes to expert-level challenges. Here is a list of the best (and my favorite) ski resorts in Norway. As I go to these places, I will continue to update the information and put my personal experience and review.
Note: I’m a snowboarder, so if I indicate a resort saying “ski” (and only ski), it doesn’t mean that it’s not fun for snowboarders. It just means that I got the feeling that it was more of a skiers terrain (meaning flatter in some areas, or lifts close together – it can be annoying sometimes, as a snowboarder to strap-in and strap-out, for shorter/flatter runs or close together lifts).
Trysil
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ski • snowboard | SkiStar| AXCESS Key Card | skistar.com | piste map
Located in eastern Norway, Trysil Ski Resort is the largest ski resort in Scandinavia. The resort boasts 31 lifts, 75 slopes, and an extensive network of cross-country trails. The resort has a family-friendly atmosphere, with a range of activities for kids and adults alike. This is definitely one of the best resorts in Norway!
Kvitfjell
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ski • snowboard | AXCESS Key Card | kvitfjell.no | piste map
Located just two hours from Oslo, Kvitfjell Ski Resort is a popular destination for alpine skiers. The resort has hosted several international skiing events, including the 1994 Winter Olympics. With 11 lifts and 29 slopes, the resort has a range of skiing opportunities for all levels. The resort’s top elevation is 1,032 meters, and it has a vertical drop of 854 meters.
Kvitfjell actually has the steepest slope in all of Northern Europe! For comparison, Trysil’s steepest slope is 45° (which is steep as hell), but in Kvitfjell, there’s a slope that is 64°!!! It’s insane – they train for the Olympics there. I did it, and I’m still alive (but my palms are literally sweating while I type this and thinking about it). It wasn’t the most fun run at Kvitfjell – there are so many great off-piste options there – I was smiling all day! Definitely a rival for best resort in Norway.
Hafjell
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ski • snowboard | AXCESS Key Card | hafjell.no | piste map
Located in the picturesque Gudbrandsdalen valley, Hafjell Ski Resort is a popular destination for families and beginners. With 19 lifts and 32 slopes, the resort has a range of skiing opportunities for all levels. The resort also has a range of off-slope activities, including a water park and a bike park.
Hemsedal
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ski • snowboard | SkiStar| AXCESS Key Card | skistar.com | piste map
Located in the heart of Norway, Hemsedal Ski Resort is the country’s largest ski resort and one of the most popular. With 21 lifts and 49 slopes, Hemsedal offers a range of skiing opportunities for all skill levels. The resort has a vibrant après-ski scene with restaurants, cafes, and bars that cater to all tastes.
Oslo Winter Park
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ski • snowboard • city dwellers | SkiMore | skimore.no | piste map
Just a short journey via subway, on the west end of Oslo, is Oslo Winter Park (aka “Tryvann”). It’s really an amazing resort for be so close a capital city – I mean, that’s really kind of special and amazing to be in capital city and be able to take public transportation to the mountain in about 30-45 minutes.
Oslo Winter park has a great variety of slopes for beginners, a few different park areas, 2 half-pipes, jumps of all sizes, and more.
There are two sides: (1) Tryvann, and (2) Wyller. Tryvann has 1 beginner run and where all the park stuff is located, where as Wyller has the red and black slopes (much wider as well).
Disclaimer: I know for sure, 100%, that someone will disagree with me giving Oslo Winter Park more stars than Geilo or Norefjell, but I’m trying to rate these resorts overall – with as many things in mind. Other places are great, no doubt, but Oslo Winter Park is just really special for being as great as it is and still within Norway’s largest city.
Other SkiMore Resorts: Drammen, and Kongsberg
Geilo
⭐⭐⭐ | ski • kite-skiing • outdoor activities | AXCESS Key Card | geilo.com | piste map
Located in the scenic Hallingdal valley, Geilo Ski Resort offers skiing opportunities for all levels, from beginner to expert. With 20 lifts and 39 slopes, the resort has a diverse terrain. The resort also has a range of off-slope activities, including dog sledding, ice fishing, snowmobiling, kite-skiing, etc.
Geilo Ski Resort is that it is split into two areas where a bus is needed to get from one side of the valley to the other. It’s not a huge inconvenience, but it still means waiting for the bus, and then driving 10 minutes to the other side of the valley. Also, the bus stops running when the lifts close, so you need to keep that in mind if you parked on the other side – there’s no other way back. But as long as you have it planned, this split-resort is kind of cool. Ski half in the morning, have lunch, and then take the bus to the other side and finish the day in, what feels like, a completely different resort!
Norefjell
⭐⭐⭐ | ski | norefjell.com | piste map
Located just an hour’s drive from Oslo, Norefjell Ski Resort is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. The resort boasts 13 lifts and 28 slopes, with a range of skiing opportunities for all levels. The resort has a range of après-ski options, including restaurants, bars, and spas.
Beitostolen
⭐⭐ | beginners
Located in the Jotunheimen Mountains, Beitostolen Ski Resort offers stunning mountain views. Beitostolen Ski Resort is a great option for families and beginners. With 21 slopes and 11 lifts, it’s a smaller resort, but it still offers plenty of skiing and snowboarding options. The resort’s top elevation is 1,100 meters, and it has a vertical drop of 320 meters. The resort has a relaxed atmosphere and a range of off-slope activities, including ice fishing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
When I was there, I wasn’t actually in the resort, but just down the road at the tallest mountain to splitboard. The views were amazing.
Skeikampen
⭐⭐ | ski • snowboard | AXESS Key Card
Approximately 2.5 hours north of Oslo. The ski resort has 11 lifts and 21 slopes, with a range of skiing opportunities for all levels. The resort has a vertical drop of 350 meters, with the longest run being 2.5 km.
Skeikampen Ski Resort has a family-friendly atmosphere, with a range of activities for kids and families. The resort has a ski school for children and beginners, and there are also several childcare options available.
Voss
Located in western Norway, Voss Ski Resort is a popular destination for freestyle skiing enthusiasts. With 11 lifts and 22 slopes, the resort has a range of jumps, rails, and halfpipes for skiers to practice their tricks. The resort also has a range of family-friendly activities, including tobogganing and snowmobiling.
Rauland
Located in southern Norway, Rauland Ski Resort is a popular destination for cross-country skiers. With over 150 km of cross-country trails, the resort has a range of opportunities for skiers of all levels. The resort also has a range of alpine skiing opportunities, including 10 lifts and 25 slopes.
Myrkdalen
Located in western Norway, it is situated in the heart of the Fjord region of Norway, surrounded by stunning mountains and valleys. The resort offers a wide range of ski and snowboard terrain for all levels, with 28 runs and 9 lifts, including a high-speed chairlift. The resort’s top elevation is 1,260 meters, and it has a vertical drop of 620 meters.
Myrkdalen Ski Resort has won numerous awards for its facilities, including being named Norway’s Best Ski Resort in 2017 by World Ski Awards. It is located just a 30-minute drive from the town of Voss and is easily accessible by car or public transportation.
S U M M E R S K I
Norway also offers summer skiing opportunities, particularly on its glaciers. Some of the popular summer skiing destinations in Norway include:
Stryn Summer Ski Center
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ski • snowboard
Located in western Norway, the Stryn Summer Ski Center is another popular summer skiing destination. The center offers skiing opportunities on the Tystigbreen Glacier, with runs suitable for both beginners and advanced skiers/snowboarders.
When I was there, it was one of the most amazing days I’ve had on my snowboard. It might be because the conditions were absolutely perfect, but I still thinking it’s amazing. I went the last weekend of June in 2022, so the temperature was warm, the sun was shining, and the stoke was high. I was only wearing sunglasses on my face and every run I told myself I would put sunscreen on, but every time I reached the bottom, I was so unbelievably happy and laughing, that I forgot every time! It was one of the worst sunburns I’ve had on my face.
There is a campsite nearby (where I stayed with a friend), and it’s really fun because everyone camping there are skiers and snowboarders just hanging out waiting until they can shred in the morning.
Folgefonna Glacier
Located in western Norway, the Folgefonna Glacier is a popular summer skiing destination. The glacier offers a range of skiing opportunities for all levels, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and ski touring.
Galdhøpiggen Summer Ski Center
Located in the Jotunheimen Mountains, the Galdhøpiggen Summer Ski Center offers skiing opportunities on the Galdhøpiggen Glacier. The center has runs suitable for all levels, and also offers ski touring opportunities.
Fonna Glacier Ski Resort
Located in western Norway, the Fonna Glacier Ski Resort is a popular summer skiing destination. The resort offers skiing opportunities on the Folgefonna Glacier, with runs suitable for all levels.
Summer skiing in Norway is a unique experience, with stunning views and challenging skiing opportunities. However, it’s important to note that the weather can be unpredictable, and conditions may vary depending on the time of year. It’s always recommended to check with the ski resort before planning a summer skiing trip.
So what do you think? Have you skied in Norway? Do you want to ski in Norway? Have I left any major ski resort out? Do you disagree with any of my reviews? Let me know in the comments of what you think!
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