34 km of slopes, both sides of the valley
500 km of cross-country trails
3,5 h by train from Oslo
07:30 sunrise skiing on selected days

Why Geilo

Wide, forgiving runs and no car in the equation.

Geilo has two sides of the valley, Geilosiden and Vestlia, and about 400 metres of vertical between them. That modest number is the point: long, wide, forgiving runs where a beginner never has to commit to a descent they regret. It is the resort the World Ski Awards have called Norway's best seven times, and the only one you can reach from two cities without a car.

Two sides, one pass

Thirty-four kilometres of piste and 20 lifts across Geilosiden and Vestlia, linked by a free ski bus.

Ski early, ski late

Sunrise skiing from 07:30 on selected days, and night skiing every Tuesday and Friday through the season.

The plateau behind the village

Up to 500 km of groomed cross-country trails from the village onto Hardangervidda, where the season runs into May.

Where to stay

Mountain hotels in the village, ski-in at Vestlia, cabins on the hillside.

Geilo is the one place on this list where a classic mountain hotel still makes sense – dinner included, pool, and the lift a few minutes away. If you would rather cook, the apartments and cabins sit closer to the snow.

Mountain hotels

In the village: half board, pool and spa, and the station a short walk away.

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Ski-in/ski-out at Vestlia

Apartments and lodges on the Vestlia side: lift outside, own kitchen, quiet in the evenings.

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Cabins on the hillside

Havsdalen and above the village: sauna, space for the group, trails from the door.

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Getting there

Take the train. The station is in the village.

The Bergen railway stops in the centre of Geilo: 3.5 hours from Oslo, 3 from Bergen, five or six departures a day. By car it is about 3.5 hours from Oslo on Route 7. A free ski bus links the two sides once you are here.

Full travel guide to Geilo →

Other resorts

Season 2026/27

Snow from early December. The quiet weeks are the good ones.

January and March give you the mountain almost to yourself, and the plateau keeps skiing long after the lifts close for the season. Pick a week above.