Dovre
Accommodation in Dovre
Dovre shows several sides of the Norwegian highlands: peaks and valleys shaped by the Ice Age, wide plateaus, wetlands, and historic places. The region is also of interest to cyclists: the 130-kilometre Tour de Dovre circular route follows gravel and asphalt roads through the mountain landscape between three national parks in Dovrefjell and Rondane. If you are looking for a holiday rental, you can start by considering whether your trip will focus more on long cycling tours, hiking trails, wildlife watching, or culture.
High Mountains, Marshes and Birdlife
The northern part of Rondane National Park in Dovre includes the peaks of Høgronden and Digerronden. The Ice Age shaped a high-mountain landscape there, with wide-open spaces, deep valleys, and rows of jagged peaks. Dovre National Park has a different character: it lies between the E6 highway across Dovrefjell and Grimsdalen; its landscape features include wide plateaus, rounded peaks, and some of Norway’s southernmost palsas, with permafrost. Part of Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park also lies within Dovre Municipality.
Grimsdalen is one of Norway’s longest summer-farm valleys. Wild reindeer live in the Snøhetta wild reindeer area; wolverines and Arctic foxes are also found in Dovre Municipality. Fokstumyra Nature Reserve offers a different natural environment: it is a Ramsar wetland protected for its importance to migratory and breeding birds. A purpose-built trail and birdwatching tower provide specific points of interest for anyone interested in birdlife.
Cycling and Hiking Routes with Different Starting Points
Tour de Dovre is a 130-kilometre circular route combining gravel and asphalt roads. It is a useful reference for a trip focused on cycling; its length also makes clear that this is an extensive tour, not a short detour. For a different kind of outing, the National Park Trail runs between Dombås and Hjerkinn: this dedicated gravel path is intended for pedestrians and cyclists, and motorised traffic is not permitted.
The hikes also vary in their routes. Dombåsmorkje rundt is a family hike from Trolltun Gjestegård or the Dombås ski area, following the old Fjellvegen road to Hjelle seter. The return route follows a trail and Liadroget. Jøndalsrunda is a marked circular hike through varied terrain with numerous cultural heritage sites. It begins at the confluence of Ilka and Lågen, climbs to Jønndalen, and returns to the starting point via Jønndalsvegen. There is a car park at Ilka on the E6. When planning your day, you can therefore choose between a circular hike with a climb and a route that follows the old Fjellvegen and has a separately described return journey.
Churches, Pilgrim Routes and History
Dovre Church is a wooden cruciform church clad in large slate slabs. It was completed and put into use in 1736, and officially consecrated in 1740. In Hjerkinn stands Eysteinkyrkja, also called Eysteinskyrkja, built in 1969. Its fan-shaped floor plan makes it architecturally distinctive. The church is named after King Eystein and serves as a pilgrim church on the route across Dovrefjell; it is also used in part as a parish church. It is also the meeting point of the three administrative districts that converge in Hjerkinn.
Another historic place is Budsjord, a listed farm first mentioned in 1400. The farmyard includes 17 listed buildings; historic furnishings and old tools have been preserved. Budsjord lies on the Pilgrim Route and the old King’s Road towards Dovrefjell. In Hjerkinn, the Besøkssenter villrein is dedicated to wild reindeer: its exhibition includes reconstructed trapping structures and a replica of a shelter for travellers crossing Dovrefjell. The trail at Besøkssenter begins just outside the Norsk Villreinsenter building and offers insight into trapping and travel in earlier times.
Choosing a Location for Your Holiday Rental
When looking for a holiday rental, it helps to first group your planned excursions by their starting points: Dombåsmorkje rundt begins near Dombås, the National Park Trail runs between Dombås and Hjerkinn, and the trail at Besøkssenter villrein starts in Hjerkinn. Jøndalsrunda has its own starting point at the confluence of Ilka and Lågen. These differences provide a practical basis for matching your accommodation search to the activities you actually plan to do, without treating all the destinations as one shared circular route. For further orientation, find Dombås, Dovre, Hjerkinn and Dovreskogen here.
For the wider travel overview: Oppland.
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