Hamar at a glance
Hamar, Norway, lies on the east shore of Lake Mjøsa, on the RE10 train line between Oslo and Lillehammer. Most visitors come for three things: the museum at Domkirkeodden with the ruins of the old cathedral, the Vikingskipet Olympic hall and the Norwegian Railway Museum. In summer the Skibladner paddle steamer calls here too. See our Skibladner timetable and tickets for the 2026 season.
The town works as a day trip from Oslo or as a stop on the way to Lillehammer. Both museums lie on Strandvegen, the history centre at number 100 and the railway museum at number 161, so check the address before you set out.
Hamar sights compared
Adult prices for 2026. Each row is a separate visit.
| Place | What it is | Address | Adult ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domkirkeodden | Museum at the cathedral ruins; the glass cathedral is closed | Strandvegen 100 (history centre) | NOK 170 |
| Vikingskipet | Olympic hall, national speed skating centre, fairs and events | Check locally | Depends on the event |
| Norwegian Railway Museum | Indoor exhibition and museum park | Strandvegen 161 | NOK 145 in winter, NOK 175 in summer |
| Koigen | Beach with a diving tower | Check locally | Ask locally |
For most day visitors, Domkirkeodden and the railway museum make a full visit. Add Koigen on a warm summer day. Vikingskipet is mainly worth the trip when an event is on.
Tours and tickets around Hamar and Lake Mjøsa
Boat trips, museum visits and day trips around the lake, with live prices and availability.
Vikingskipet: the Olympic hall, not a ship museum
Vikingskipet means the Viking Ship, and the name misleads some visitors. It is the Hamar Olympic hall, built for the Winter Olympics in 1994, and it serves as Norway's national speed skating centre. Outside the skating season it hosts fairs, exhibitions and cultural events.
There is no museum of a historic Viking ship inside. If you want to see the building from within, check the event calendar and the ticket terms of the event before you go, because access depends on what is on that day.
Norwegian Railway Museum: prices and hours
The museum has an indoor exhibition and a museum park. The summer price applies from 8 June to 16 August 2026, the winter price for the rest of the year.
| Ticket | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, 16 and older | NOK 145 | NOK 175 |
| Child, 4 to 15 | NOK 75 | NOK 105 |
| Child, 0 to 3 | Free | Free |
| Concession, student, conscript | NOK 125 | NOK 145 |
| Family, 1 adult + 2 to 4 children | NOK 270 | NOK 335 |
| Family, 2 adults + 2 to 4 children | NOK 410 | NOK 510 |
| Group of 10 or more, per person | NOK 125 | NOK 145 |
Opening hours 2026
From 2 January to 5 June the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00–15:00. From 8 to 30 June it is open daily, 11:00–15:00, and from 1 July to 16 August daily, 10:00–16:00. From 17 to 31 August it is open daily, 11:00–15:00, and from 1 September to 22 December Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00–15:00.
Closed days
The museum is closed from 23 to 31 December, on 1 January, 1 May and 17 May, and from Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday.
City bus B25
Take bus B25 Martodden from Hamar bus station or Strandgata and get off at Arvid Østbys veg. B25 does not run on Sundays.
Swimming at Koigen and along the shore
Koigen has a beach and a diving tower, and the shore towards Domkirkeodden is another bathing spot. The town samples the water from June to September, and the multi-year rating is good to excellent.
- Green water: do not swim in it.
- Outlets: stay away from places where streams or pipes enter the lake.
- After heavy rain: avoid the first 24 hours.
A good rating does not mean every beach is clear on every day. More on bathing and rules in our guide to fishing and swimming in Lake Mjøsa.
Getting to Hamar
By train from Oslo and, in summer, by paddle steamer.
By train
RE10 stops in Hamar on its way between Oslo S, Oslo Airport, Eidsvoll, Brumunddal, Moelv and Lillehammer. In a sample run of the timetable valid from 10 August to 12 December 2026, the train leaves Hamar at 10:11, reaches Oslo Airport at 11:03 and Oslo S at 11:26. Check the current timetable for your day. The Oslo to Lillehammer guide has the details.
By Skibladner
The 2026 season ran from 23 June to 16 August, with no scheduled trips on Mondays. Hamar is a stop on all three routes. Hamar to Lillehammer costs NOK 395 one way, Gjøvik to Hamar NOK 345. The steamer runs in summer only, and it is due back in 2027. Check the 2027 timetable before you plan around it.
More around the lake
Pages that fit a trip to Hamar.
Hamar: frequently asked questions
Can I visit the glass cathedral at Domkirkeodden?
No. The glass building over the cathedral ruins is closed for safety reasons, with no reopening date. The museum is a separate visit. Details are on the Domkirkeodden page.
Is Vikingskipet a museum about Viking ships?
No. It is the Hamar Olympic hall, built for the 1994 Winter Olympics and used for speed skating, fairs, exhibitions and cultural events.
How long does the train from Oslo to Hamar take?
In the sample run above, the train leaves Hamar at 10:11 and reaches Oslo S at 11:26. Times differ by departure, so check the timetable for your day.
Does the Skibladner run to Hamar in autumn and winter?
No. The paddle steamer runs in summer only. The 2026 season ended on 16 August, and the Skibladner returns in 2027.
Is this the official website of Hamar?
No. This is an independent guide. It is not run by the municipality, a museum or any operator, and it is not connected to them.