More About Resort

A real family resort, the Norwegian Hemsedal piste map brings you true traditional Alpine charm.  Rated as one of the top ski resorts in Norway, it offers superb skiing and some great après ski to match.

Let’s Talk Skiing in Hemsedal  

For the ski area of Hemsedal, it’s split into two areas.  You’ve got the main resort where you’ll find some fast lifts to use your Hemsedal lift pass, although there are some slower drags to be found here.  A great benefit of Hemsedal is that it is quiet in the week so you’re unlikely to find any queues, however it does get busier at the weekend.  The other ski area is to be found 8km up the valley.  You can get a ski bus here to Groondalen, where you’ll find the Solheisen ski centre.

Families have the brilliant children’s area which is packed full of fun activities.  Here you’ll find seven slopes, a mini snow park and eight lifts to get you around.  The Hemsedal ski schools are particularly good, especially Valles which runs dedicated classes for children and adults.

Beginners have a good choice of pistes to try here.  Up at the mountain’s high point at Tinden and Totten, you’ll find some lovely gentle greens, which will take you right back to the base.  And Solheisen has some great slopes where you’ll be able to build your confidence.  Once you’ve found your confidence you can join the intermediates on the reds and blues, although they are quite limited.  They do have nine floodlight slopes though, so can you enjoy the beauty of evening skiing for a bit of a change.

Expert skiers have a few black runs to discover here, especially at Tottenloypa which presents a 1km challenge.  If off-piste is what you’re looking for, you’ll find several black pistes to try.  Plus there’s a jump off-point which is lovely and quiet, particularly if you visit midweek.  You can also venture further afield to the sunny Solheisen Skisenter, where you’ll find a variety of slopes to try too.

The Resort of Hemsedal 

Hemsedal is definitely a family-friendly resort, and the bus network that gets you to the slopes is very convenient; saving weary little legs.  In the week, the resort is a lot quieter, but it’s the weekend when the party scene really hots up.  And if partying is what you’re looking for, the top location for DJs is Stavkroa.  You’ll also find some great entertainment at Hollvin and Skistua.  If you fancy trying something different from the pistes, there are also some great cross-country slopes to try in the Hemsedal valley.    

Staying in Hemsedal 

When you’re looking at Hemsedal ski accommodation, you’ve got two different choices.  You can either stay in the old town of Hemsedal Sentrum or in the newer Alpin Village.  It’s more of a self-catering location.  You’ve got a good mix of apartments and holiday homes here, plus you will find some Hemsedal hotels.  It’s worth bearing in mind though that Hemsedal is rather an expensive resort, and you will find that prices are high for food and alcohol.

Hemsedal Snow Conditions 

Traditionally, Hemsedal is recognised for its good snowfall record thanks to its high altitude.  March is the best month for Hemsedal weather, with an average snow depth of 103cm at the top of the ski area.  And at the other end of the scale, November is the lowest, with 23cm at the top.

Hemsedal Resort Life 

A great family resort, you’ll find that most people speak English here.  Kids will love the Gaupeland activity park which has a carousel and tobogganing.  There’s a lot for non-skiers in Hemsedal to do too, why not try husky dog sledding – you can even try your hand at mushing.  There are also horse-drawn sleigh rides to take in the views of this lovely resort.  If you’re a thrillseeker, you could try ice-climbing, snowmobiling or snowshoeing. 

For party fans, the bars and nightclubs tend to get pretty busy at weekends.  The Scandinavian food is excellent although it is very expensive.  Make sure you visit Fossheim or Kiokken Kroken, which has some really good local delicacies to try.

What’s Good About Hemsedal? 

We like Hemsedal as it’s a great family resort that has some excellent children’s nursery slopes.  They’ve thought about the layout here, with some convenient accommodation to be found slope-side.  Although it tends to be more of a resort for beginners and intermediates, you will find some quite challenging slopes too.  Hemsedal is quite compact which is beneficial, and you’ve got some great long runs and a good vertical to take in the wonderful Norwegian views.

The SnowResort Verdict 

There’s no doubt that Hemsedal is a great ski resort to choose. Situated in between Bergen and Oslo, you’ve got the The Netbuss Express which will get you to the resort from the airport.  The original village of Sentrum has a good mix of Hemsedal bars and restaurants, plus shops and bars to visit.  You’ve also got the Mountain Village, or Skisenter, which is conveniently laid out so that you can enjoy the shops, bars and restaurants too.

There’s also the Skigarden, which is a newer village where you’ll find some great opportunities for doorstep skiing.  If you’ve got families, make sure you head for the Alpin Lodge.  It’s a brilliant venue that has everything that you’ll need for your ski trip, both on and off the slopes.  You’ll also find the Skarsnuten apartment hub here.