Region
Hallingdal
Base in Geilo (or Hemsedal) for ski or summer hikes; use rail or road 7 for day trips to Hardangervidda and Hallingskarvet.
More: share, save offline, report a correction
More
Key facts · Norway
- Currency
- Norwegian krone (NOK, kr)
- Language
- Norwegian and Sámi in the north
- Plugs
- C · F · 230 V
- Time zone
- CET, summer CEST
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
- Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
- Norway ↗Norway is not in the EU but is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources.
- Norway ↗Wine and spirits are sold only at the state Vinmonopolet shops; supermarkets sell beer, and not in the evenings or on Sundays.
- Norway ↗The right to roam (allemannsretten) lets you hike and camp on most uncultivated land, keeping a distance from homes and leaving no trace.
Hallingdal offers alpine skiing at Geilo, Hemsedal and other resorts, plus access to extensive hiking on Hardangervidda and Hallingskarvet. Stay in a valley town and use rail or road 7 for day trips.
Where to sleep
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 4 nights
- Geilo 4 nights, day trips to Hardangervidda and Hallingskarvet
- 5 nights
- Hemsedal 3 nights, Geilo 2 nights, ski and hike mix
- High mountain passes (e.g., 1250 m near Eidfjord) may close in winter storms; check road status before travel.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardangervidda | Geilo | 45 min | unknown | Train to Finse then hike; check train schedule for return. |
| Hallingskarvet | Geilo | 30 min | unknown | Bus or car via road 7; trailheads near Finse. |
Bags between cities
Luggage forwarding between valley towns is available via local post offices; arrange in advance.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geilo | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | ok | go |
| Hemsedal | go | go | go | ok | ok | go | go | go | ok | ok | ok | go |
| Norway (country-wide) | ok | go | go | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | go |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hallingdal valleyValley floor | cold | cold | cool | cool | warm | warm | warm | cool | cold | cold | cold | cold |
- Hallingdal valley
- Continental climate; dry summers, cold winters; snow reliable Dec–Mar.
Best for skiing Dec–Mar, hiking Jun–Aug. Check road closures on high passes in winter.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
Regional passes
Norway Rail Pass
checkMay cover Bergensbanen trips; compare with point-to-point tickets.
AutoPASS toll tag
buyNeeded for toll roads; works on all Norwegian highways.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Rømmegrøt | Geilo restaurants | Traditional dairy porridge, served with butter and sugar. |
| Reindeer stew | Local lodges | Seasonal, often with cloudberries. |
Go next
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 2 bases
- Day trips
- 2, 30 min to 45 min
- Nights suggested
- 4–5 nights
- Ways in
- 2 listed
- Best months
- No month rated best
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Sources
Ask about Hallingdal
Loading…
Was this useful?