Things to Do in Hamar — Lake Mjøsa, Olympic Arenas & Sauna on the Water

Hamar sits on the eastern shore of Lake Mjøsa, Norway’s largest lake, in the heart of the Innlandet region. It’s a city with an outsized sporting legacy — this is where the world came for speed skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics — and a quietly compelling mix of cultural attractions, open water, and a sauna scene that takes full advantage of the lake setting. About 1.5 hours north of Oslo by train, Hamar makes for an excellent weekend escape or a natural stop on a longer journey through inland Norway.

Sauna Experiences on Lake Mjøsa

The lake defines Hamar’s sauna scene in the best possible way. Mjøsa is vast and clean, and the saunas here place you right on its edge or directly on the water.

KOK Mjøsa is the headline act: a floating sauna experience on the lake itself. Sitting in a heated cabin with the wide expanse of Mjøsa stretching out around you, then stepping into the cold lake water, is one of the more memorable bathing experiences in inland Norway. The KOK concept — social, bookable, high quality — translates perfectly to this setting.

FLOAT Sauna Hamar offers another lakeside option with its own distinct character, while TORP Hamar brings a more venue-based approach to the bathing experience. For those staying in the city centre or wanting a more comprehensive wellness offering, Ankerskogen Spa is the established choice — part of the Ankerskogen swimming and sports facility, with sauna access alongside indoor pools and fitness facilities.

The Olympic Legacy

Hamar’s connection to the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics is genuine and tangible. Vikingskipet — the Viking Ship — is the city’s most iconic building, a speed skating arena whose curved roof profile does indeed evoke a Viking longship turned upside down. It hosted the speed skating events at Lillehammer 1994 and remains in active use today. Skating sessions are open to the public during winter months, and simply walking around the building to take in the architecture is worthwhile.

The Olympic legacy extends beyond the ice, too. The 1994 Games are widely regarded as one of the most successful Winter Olympics in the modern era, and the Hamar Olympic Museum tells that story in compelling detail, with original artefacts, footage, and athlete accounts.

Culture & Open-Air History

Hedmarksmuseet, also known as Domkirkeodden (Cathedral Point), is one of Norway’s finest open-air museums. The site occupies a peninsula jutting into Mjøsa and combines the striking ruins of Hamar Cathedral — a 12th-century bishop’s seat partly destroyed in the 16th century — with over 60 historic farm buildings relocated from across the Hedmark region. A glass construction surrounds the cathedral ruins, protecting them while allowing visitors to walk among them: an architectural solution that has aged well. The views from the peninsula out over the lake are genuinely beautiful.

The Hamar Railway Museum (Norsk Jernbanemuseum) celebrates Norway’s rail heritage, fitting for a city whose position as a railway junction shaped its 19th-century growth. The outdoor sections include working steam locomotives and a replica station that captures the atmosphere of early rail travel.

Cycling & Nature

The Mjøsrunden route — a 250 km cycling loop around the entire lake — is one of Norway’s iconic long-distance cycling experiences. Most riders take it over several days, but the sections around Hamar offer excellent day cycling on quiet roads with consistent lake views. Bike rental is available in the city.

For birding, the Åkersvika nature reserve on the southern edge of Hamar is a protected wetland of national importance. The shallow delta where the Furnesfjord meets Mjøsa draws hundreds of migratory species in spring and autumn, including waders, geese, and ducks in large numbers. A network of boardwalks and viewing platforms makes it accessible without disturbing the habitat.

In winter, the frozen lake surface itself becomes a destination: ice fishing, ice skating, and guided snowshoe excursions are all popular.

Planning Your Sauna Visit

Hamar’s sauna options cover a useful range of formats. For the most immersive lake experience, FLOAT Sauna Hamar at Brygga 20 is a modern floating platform with a roof terrace and space for up to 12 people — sessions run for two hours, and the large windows give you a panoramic view of Mjøsa while you heat up. TORP Hamar, located at Furubergstranda among mature pines south of the city centre, takes a more rustic approach: a wood-fired sauna about 50 metres from the lake, with pricing from 150 NOK for a morning session. TORP also runs a Wednesday breakfast cafe with local sourdough and Innlandet produce, making it a natural start to a sauna-and-cycling day.

For those wanting something more comprehensive, Ankerskogen Spa at Ankerskogvegen 7 is a full wellness facility — a traditional Finnish sauna with forest views, an aromatic lakonium at gentler temperatures, a steam bath, and heated pools with massage jets. Entry is 350 NOK and includes complimentary coffee and tea; it’s a good choice for families or for bad-weather days when the lake options are less appealing.

If you’re planning a sauna-focused visit, it’s worth reading how to book a sauna in Norway before you go — sessions at the floating saunas fill quickly on weekends and should be reserved in advance. Hamar is also a strong entry point for the broader eastern Norway sauna scene; the best saunas in eastern Norway covers the full range from the Mjøsa shore to the valleys beyond.

Getting There & When to Visit

Hamar is well connected by InterCity train from Oslo Central Station, with a journey time of around 75 minutes. The city centre is walkable, and the lakeshore is within easy reach on foot or by bike. If you’re driving, the E6 motorway runs close to the city and the journey from Oslo takes around 1 hour 20 minutes depending on traffic.

Summer is ideal for lake saunas and cycling, with Mjøsa warming to swimmable temperatures in July and August. Autumn brings excellent light and the birding season at Åkersvika peaks. Winter means skating at Vikingskipet, lake ice, and a properly immersive sauna-and-cold-plunge experience with snow on the ground — TORP Hamar and Ankerskogen run winter programmes specifically designed around this combination. Spring sees the migratory birds arrive and the cycling season begin in earnest; the section of the Mjøsrunden route around Hamar is particularly good on a clear April or May morning.

Hamar is the kind of place that rewards a slower pace. Take a session at one of the lake saunas as the sun drops over the water, then find somewhere in the city for a plate of local Innlandet produce. It’s a combination that’s hard to improve on.

FLOAT Sauna Hamar and TORP are among the standout options in the region — the best floating saunas in Norway places the Mjøsa experience alongside the Oslo harbour scene and the coastal fleet. Lillehammer, at the northern end of Lake Mjøsa, is Hamar’s natural companion destination — things to do in Lillehammer covers the Olympic legacy, skiing, and the Gudbrandsdalen valley. For the full sauna-and-cold-plunge culture these experiences are part of, our Norwegian sauna culture guide is the best introduction.