Fagernes – Cycling Routes, Culture and Regional Cuisine

Fagernes combines active pursuits with insights into the culture of Valdres: you can walk or cycle along a former railway line, while the Valdres Folkemuseum brings together history, nature and regional cuisine. There is also a cultural centre offering films, theatre and concerts, as well as the Norwegian Rakfisk Festival. If you choose Fagernes as your holiday destination, you can plan your days around whether you would rather spend time outdoors, experience the culture or discover regional specialities.

Getting here and finding your way

The Valdresekspressen connects Oslo Airport with Fagernes and runs up to eight times a day. From Fagernes, there are connections to Beitostølen, to Gjendesheim in summer, and to Årdal via Tyinkrysset. These connections are useful to bear in mind when planning your journey or other destinations in the region. When choosing a holiday apartment in Fagernes, you can first consider whether you want to explore the town itself or continue from there to one of the connecting destinations mentioned above.

Getting around on foot and by bike

Valdresbanevegen runs between Fagernes and Bjørgo along a former railway line and is designed as a walking and cycling path. The route starts at the Shell petrol station in Fagernes and follows the Strandefjorden to Leira. Free parking is available at the petrol station. The round trip along Valdresbanevegen is about 34 kilometres; the route is considered easy to moderately difficult and is suitable for children. This makes it a longer outing to consider when planning your day together.

There is also a walking and hiking path in Fagernesparken. Climbing and play structures, as well as a skate park, offer other activities there. If you want to visit a viewpoint, the path to Kviteberg is well signposted from the town centre. The options range from a path in the park to the signposted climb to the viewpoint and the longer route along the former railway line.

History and nature at the Valdres Folkemuseum

The Valdres Folkemuseum on Storøya near Fagernes comprises more than 100 historic houses and structures. A 1.7-kilometre nature trail along the shore complements a museum visit: information along the path covers wildlife, plants, history and traditions. Its manageable length and variety of topics also make the trail a good choice for a visit focused equally on nature and regional history.

The museum also includes Fjordkafeen, which serves homemade food made with regional ingredients. In the museum shop, you will find products relating to Norwegian cultural history and Valdres, including knitwear, recipe booklets, and silver and wooden products. The museum, shore path, café and shop each offer something different: you can explore historic houses, learn about nature and traditions along the way, or discover regional food and products.

Cultural centre and Rakfisk Festival

Fagernes kulturhus is a regular venue for Riksteatret and Teater Innlandet. Around eight theatre performances are offered there each year; the programme also includes films, concerts and other cultural experiences. The cultural centre is an option for travellers who want to include a film or theatre visit in their time in Fagernes, alongside outdoor activities.

The Norwegian Rakfisk Festival takes place in Fagernes every year on the first weekend of November. It promotes Norwegian food culture, particularly rakfisk from Valdres. Visitors can sample and buy rakfisk from participating producers. In the evening, concerts are held in a large tent in Fagernesparken. If you are planning a stay at this time, food and evening events are special features of the festival programme.

More places to discover: Ulnes, Aurdal, Leira i Valdres, Tisleidalen and Skrautvål.

For the overarching travel overview: Nord-Aurdal.