East Norway - East Norway

East Norway (Norwegian: Østlandet) is a region in south-eastern Norway, which contains the capital Oslo, as well as half of the country's 5 million inhabitants.

Understand

Slidre lake in the Valdres uplands

This region has about half of Norway's population including the larger Oslo metropolitan area. Locally known as Østlandet (or Austlandet), literally the east country, and is defined by the border with Sweden and mountain ranges creating watersheds with Trøndelag and Western Norway. East Norway includes the densely populated lowlands around Oslofjord (and lake Mjøsa) and the more sparsely populated valleys, forests and highlands in the hinterland. The most populated lowlands/flatlands are greater Oslo, around Oslofjord and around lake Mjøsa is informally referred to as Central East Norway - this area is home to well over ⅓ of the people of Norway.

A number of long valleys (notably Gudbrandsdalen, Valdres, Østerdal and Hallingdal) and rivers converge in the lowlands around Oslo. Oslo itself is separated from these rivers and valleys by forests and hills known as Oslomarka (the Oslo woodlands). Areas around Oslofjord and lake Mjøsa are mostly lowlands or flatlands, while upstream along the big valleys and rivers the gently rolling landscape gradually gives way to steep hills, barren highlands (such as Hardangervidda) and alpine summits such as Jotunheimen. These valleys also host transport corridors (rail and road) to West Norway and Trøndelag. Western parts of Telemark, Buskerud and Oppland are part of the central mountains/highlands, while northern parts of Oppland and Hedemark includes wide mountain areas such as Reinheimen, Dovrefjell and Rondane. These mountain areas separate East Norway from West Norway and Trøndelag, and is a major transport barrier particularly in winter. These mountains create Norway's main watershead as well as a crucial weather divide. Climate differs notably and there can be great differs in weather between valleys on either side of the watershead within few kilometers, particularly in winter.

East Norway is home to a large number of lakes, including several of Norway's largest, and Norway's biggest rivers. The shores of southern Oslofjord with myriads of polished islands and bays are popular summer resorts for city residents.

Typical "svaberg" (polished cliffs) at Tjøme

Climate

The interior of Eastern Norway generally enjoys relatively dry continental climate (warm summers and cold winters). Winters can be bitterly cold in the interior. Closer to Oslofjord the winters are milder, although temperatures below minus 10° C are common in Oslo, and summers are slightly warmer in sheltered valleys. Large parts of East Norway enjoys the rain shadow created by the central mountains, and some of East Norway gets less than 300 mm precipitation annually (less than Madrid).

Regions

Map of East Norway
Map of East Norway
 Buskerud
Buskerud county stretches from the urban and agricultural lowlands at Oslos western suburbs through great valleys to popular ski resorts and the barren Hardangervidda.
 Hedmark
The landlocked county in East Norway's deep interior, great valleys, rivers and forests
 Oppland
From lakes and lowlands to uplands and the highest mountains in Scandinavia.
 Oslo region
Norway's capital and the surrounding region, with about ¼ of Norway's population.
 Østfold
Lowlands east of Oslofjord
 Telemark
From urban lowlands through green valleys to rugged highlands - a mini-Norway.
 Vestfold
Lowlands west of Oslofjord

Cities

Fredrikstad old town is a fortress at the big river.

Towns

Hemsedal ski slopes.

Other destinations

Krøderen lake with road 7 at the entrance to Hallingdal
  • 1 Trysil – Norway's largest ski resort
  • 2 Gudbrandsdalen - the great central valley from lowlands at Lillehammer to the highest mountains
  • 3 Hallingdal - a major valley from fertile lowlands at Drammen into Hardangervidda
  • 4 Jotunheimen - Scandinavia's highest mountains
  • 5 Rondane - Mountain range and Norway's first national park
  • 6 Dovrefjell - Mountain range and high plateau
  • 7 Valdres - picturesque highlands, lakes and valleys beneath Jotunheimen
  • 8 Hardangervidda – Europe's largest highland plateau
  • 9 Gardermoen - Oslo International Airport, main entry point for overseas visitors and hub for domestic flights

Talk

Most people will respond in English to any question you may have. Some Norwegians also speak some German, due to the proximity of the language, and that they study it in school. Migrant workers from Sweden, Poland, and elsewhere may not even speak Norwegian.

Norwegian

Those interested in dialects can observe the diversity of Norwegian dialects spoken in Eastern Norway, especially the differences between urban areas and peripheries. The differences can be observed even if you do not understand Norwegian. There are differences in the tone of language and words used. Even within the capital, Oslo, there are dialect differences between the east end and west end.

In some inland municipalities, a writing form of Norwegian usually associated with West Norway known as Nynorsk is the official form.

Get in

In Norway, transport is a key part of the trip and best way to do sightseeing. Visitors should consider scenic routes and not merely the merely the fastest and most convenient transport.

By boat

Arriving by ferry along the Oslofjord.
  • Oslo is connected to Kiel and Copenhagen by ferries. The ferry from Kiel in particular is an effective way of skipping the less interesting transport leg through Sweden.
  • Larvik is connected to northern Denmark by ferry, whereas Sandefjord is connected to Strömstad (Sweden) by ferry.

By plane

East Norway has two international airports:

By train

  • International: From Stockholm and Gothenburg
  • Domestic:
    • Bergen line
    • Sørlandsbanen from Kristiansand and Stavanger
    • Dovre line from Trondheim
    • Røros line from Trondheim and Røros
    • Rauma line from Åndalsnes to Dombås

By car

Road 15 at the mountain pass to Stryn and Geiranger. At these altitudes there can be occasional snowfall even in May.
  • Road 3 (Østerdalen road) is the alternative road from Trondheim and runs through all of Hedmark nort-south.
  • The E6 is Norway's main road and a key reference for road trips in Norway.
    • The E6 is the main access from Sweden, at Svinesund border point near Halden.
    • The E6 is the main access from Trøndelag and Northern Norway.
    • E136 from Ålesund and Åndalsnes connects to E6 at Dombås
  • Road 15 is the east-west main road from Stryn with connections from Geiranger.
  • Road E16 is the east-west european route Bergen-Oslo Airport, Gardermoen-Oslo.
  • Road 7 through Hardangervidda is the main alternative from Bergen
  • Road E18 is the main access from Stavanger and Kristiansand, but generally considered the less scenic option.

Get around

Train on Bergen line near Geilo heading for Finse
Jotunheimen range includes Norway's highest mountains and separates east and west. It is a the most popular hiking destination with hikes at all levels of difficulty.
Perfectly groomed cross country trails near Gol, Hallingdal.

Oslo totally dominates this region. Oslo and its airport at Gardermoen is the transport hub for East Norway. Roads and railway lines have Oslo as their focal points. All railway lines, including the airport express train, terminate at Oslo Central Station ("Oslo S"). Main roads E6, E18, E16 and Road 4 meet at or near Oslo S. Regional and long distance buses depart from the bus station next door to Oslo S. Oslo Subway (T-banen) has a main station underground next to the train station.

By plane

  • Fagernes Airport (Leirin - operated by DOT) (10 minutes from Fagernes).  The local airport with daily connections to Oslo (30 minutes)
  • Sandefjord Torp Airport (Torp) (1 hour 50 minutes with the Torpekspressen coach from Oslo).  Rygge mainly caters to travelers to/from Oslo, Akershus and Østfold. Most flights are with Ryanair.

By bus

By train

By car

For more details see: Driving in Norway

Most of Norway's motorways are around Oslo. There is one car ferry across Oslofjord at Moss-Horten and one across Randsfjorden lake.

See

Lake Mjøsa - East Norway's small inland ocean

Gjøvik and Lake Mjøsa seen from Oeverby September 2016 a.jpg
Lake Mjøsa sits in the middle of East Norway and is shared between Oppland, Hedmark and Akershus. The south end is surrounded by fertile lowlands, while the north end intersects with Gudbrandsdalen and beginning of the uplands. This is the widest in Norway (about the size of Lake Garda) and at 453 m the 4th deepest lake in Europe. The average depth is 150 m, such that most of the lake is in fact below sea level. Despite the big rivers flowing into the lake, its large volume means that it takes 6 years for water to pass through. There are about 20 species of fish in the lake. Åkersvika, a bay and wetland at Hamar, is a nature reserve create to protect birds in particular. The 120 km long and partly narrow lake can be mistaken for a river or a western fjord. Mjøsa is largley frozen in winter and often used for skating. After the construction of Mjøsa bridge at Moelven car ferries across the lake were discontinued. Skibladner is still in operation and is now the world's oldest paddle steamer in service. Norway's first railway ran from Oslo to Mjøsa, still today the shores of Mjøsa host Norway's main transport corridor north-south.

Do

  • All kinds of winter sports, even some at summertime. In the interior and in the uplands skiing season is usually long.
    • Alpine ski resorts often operate until late April or early May
    • The ski resort at Galdhøpiggen is open in summer only
    • Cross-country skiing is possible all over East Norway, usually from late November in the high areas. There are countless groomed trails and many loops are floodlit for the dark mid winter evenings.
    • Back country skiing is possible virtually anywhere. In the uplands and high mountains such as Jotunheimen and Hardangervidda back country skiing usually continues until mid May, some years well into June.
  • Sailing
  • Fishing in salt water and fresh water (rivers & lakes). Fishing in fresh water requires a permit from the landlord.
  • Canoeing or kayaking on the long lakes in Telemark, Hedmark and Østfold. In Østfold (Halden canal) and in Telemark (Telemark canal) several lakes are connected by locks. Some lakes and rivers are shared with Sweden and are connected to the large Swedish lakes.
Climb or hike mountains

East Norway includes gentle sloping highlands such as Hardangervidda as well as alpine peaks such as Jotunheimen.

  • The Gausta summit (1883 meters) near Rjukan in Telemark gives the best outlook, on a clear day on can see one sixth of Norway (or an area twice that of Belgium). Easy hike 2-3 hours, possible for children aged 10 . Very popular.

Eat

The Norwegian cuisine is known for eclectic food with a good supply of many local ingredients. Try Norwegian seafood!

Drink

Local Norwegian beer, aquavit and cider. Or simply clean and fresh water.

Stay safe

Eastern Norway is experienced as generally very safe, with few exceptions in parts of Oslo and the larger cities. Just take normal precautions.

Go next

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