Geilo
Norway · Europe
About Geilo
Geilo is a small town and ski resort in upper Hallingdal at the edge of Hardangervidda. It is convenient stop on the road or rail between Oslo and Bergen. Haugastøl and Ustaoset some kilometers further east is effectively part of Geilo.
Geilo is one of the best known and most popular skiing resorts in Scandinavia - but is also a popular area for summer and autumn activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, rafting, glacier walk and more. At an elevation of 794 m (2605 ft) the ski season does not end until late April or early May. Geilo is a village or small town and has few shops and entertainment spots. The town centre includes several sport shops, tourist information, supermarkets, cafés & restaurants, newsagents and a range of other shops. Down the road there is a small cinema, library, and school. There is also a large sports hall (Geilohallen), which is also the cross country club (Geilo IL). Behind the building is a floodlit prepared cross country track, and a biathlon shooting range.
For a small town of some 2000 permanent inhabitants there is a good choice of hotels, apartments and restaurants. Because of the large number of visitors there are more services than typical for a small town. One of the hotels is one of Norway’s most famous, Dr Holms. Others include the Bardøla, Vestlia, which is on the door step of Geilolia ski centre, Ustedalen and the Highland Hotel. Visi
Geilo travel guide
Getting there
By plane Earlier there was a small airport at Dagali, this is now only open for small private planes. So the closest option is Fagernes airport (VDB IATA). Or Oslo airport.
By rail
Geilo is on the Oslo-Bergen line. The train use 3 hour and 40 minutes from Oslo. There is one night train daily. Travellers find a waiting room for the night train next to the ticket counter.
By car
Geilo is on route 7 (Hønefoss-Eidfjord) and the road runs right through the centre. Distance from Oslo is 243 km (151 mi), half way to Bergen. Geilo is on the end of route 40 from Kongsberg. Route 40 is connected to route 7 in the centre of Geilo. Another option is route 50 from Flåm/Aurland to Hol.
Eat
Skarvegrotta, Geilolia Summer Park, Bakkestølveien, ☏ +47 3209 0000. Brasserie (Dr.Holms Hotel), Timrehaugveien 2, ☏ +47 32 09 57 00. À la carte restaurant Bowl & Dine (Dr.Holms Hotel), Timrehaugveien 2, ☏ +47 32 09 57 00. Bowling, dine in or take it away. Cafe Leo (Highland Hotel), Lienveien 11, ☏ +47 32096100. Food for the whole family.
Drink & nightlife
Dr.Holms Hotel, Timrehaugveien 2, ☏ +47 32 09 5700. Bowl & Dine (Dr.Holms Hotel), Timrehaugveien 2, ☏ +47 32 09 57 00. Dine in or take away. Brasserie (Dr.Holms Hotel), Timrehaugveien 2, ☏ +47 32 09 57 00. À la carte restaurant Alpinisten Bar (Highland Hotel), Lienveien 11. Offer a wide range of beer, spirits and wine. Here you also can see all the big football matches.
Sleep
Bardøla Høyfjellshotell, Bardølavegen 33, ☏ +47 32094100, fax: +47 32094501, [email protected]. Dr Holms Hotel, Timrehaugvegen 2, ☏ +47 32095700, fax: +47 32091620, [email protected]. Geilo Hotell, Gamlevegen 2, ☏ +47 32090511, fax: +47 32091730. Thon Hotel Highland, Lienvegen 11, ☏ +47 32096100, fax: +47 32096101, [email protected]. Ustedalen Hotell, Gamleveen 32, ☏ +47 32096700, fax: +47 32096701, [email protected]. Geilolia Cabins & Apartments (Geilolia Hyttetun), Solstadvegen 2, ☏ +47 97971414, [email protected]. Check-in: 16.00, check-out: 11.00. Geilolia Cabins are next to Geilolia Ski Centre and Summer Park. Cabins with 6-12 beds. Geilolia Apartments are situated at the town centre of Geilo within walking distance to shops, restaurants and activities. The apartments sleeps 4 people. (updated Sep 2020) Geilo Apartment, Skurdalsveien 14-16, ☏ +47 32 08 83 00. Nice apartments for rent.
Go next
Hallingdal - follow Rv 7 down to Ål, Torpo (with an old stavchurch) and Gol Haugastøl, entrance to Rallarvegen and the Hardangervidda - take a bike for the great trip to Finse. Numedal, nice valley with a lot of old villages and some of the famous stavchurches, like in Nore or in Flesberg Rafting on the Numedalslågen in Dagali
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.