Finse

Finse is a village on the mountain plateau of Hardangervidda between the western and eastern part of Norway. It is the highest situated railway station in Norway, 1222 metres above sea level.

Get in

Finse is almost exclusively accessible by train by the Oslo–Bergen railway.

The Oslo-Bergen railway is operated by the Norwegian State Railways [3]. If you buy your ticket online well in advance, fares may be as low as kr. 199 for a one-way ticket. For an additional fee of kr. 75 you may upgrade your ticket to NSB Komfort, the equivalent of first class, with slightly better seats, free coffee and tea, power supply and a more quiet spot in the train.

Usually there is a special wheelchair-accessible on the trains between Oslo and Bergen. A reservation is recommended. The train staff will assist you to get the wheelchair on board.

Alternatively, access Finse from Haugastøl by bike in the summer on Rallarvegen (Navvies' Road), the trip is approximately 27 km of steadily climbing (difference in altitude is 234 metres), or by ski in the winter.

Get around

The only way to get around in Finse is by foot, but in many months of the year you can get around by cross-country skis.

See

• Hardangerjøkulen. With its 73 square kilometres, Norway's 6th largest mainland glacier is a popular target for those with decent skiing skills. It features some of the most stunning nature to be seen in Norway, with a view that can not be described by words. In addition, this is where all the exterior shots for the snow Planet Hoth were shot for the film Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Make sure that you are fit and prepared for the journey, ask locals for more information.

• Rallarmuseet (Navvies Museum), (by the train station), ☎ +47 56 52 69 66 ([email protected], fax: +47 56 52 68 36), [1]. A museum over the planning and construction of the Oslo-Bergen railway and the many cultural monuments along it, plus a "Battle Against Snow" snow-clearance feature.

Do

• Finsejazz. Weekend-long jazz festival at Hotel Finse 1222 each year in the end of January. Weather conditions makes it nearly impossible to leave the hotel at this time of the year.

Sleep

For the best experience, camping under the open sky or in a tent is recommended. According to the Norwegian right to access, you may stay for up to two nights in one spot in uncultivated land if you keep away from houses and other buildings and out of the way of other people, provided that you leave no trace. If you move far away from people, you can stay for as long as you want. However, Finse in known for weather changes, and it cam be both stormy and arctically cold!

• Hotel Finse 1222, ☎ +47 56 52 71 00 ([email protected]), [2]. A decent hotel with 44 rooms and 128 beds, sauna, Turkish steam bath, restaurant, and a disco. Open seasonally, January to June and July to October.

• Finsehytta, ☎ +47 56 52 67 32. A two-storey wooden lodge with 200 beds.

Further information

• Check the ABC4Trip page on Finse with some Star Wars re-enactment photos!

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