Our ski resort guide to Beitostolen, Norway. Beitostolen is a beautiful little mountain village in the middle of Norway. It’s about three and a half hours drive from Oslo. We visited as part of our trip skiing in Beitostølen with kids and fell in love with this sweet little resort. It is perfect for the beginner / intermediate skier. It’s also unbelievably beautiful with breathtaking views everywhere you look. In fact we loved it so much we returned for a second ski trip to Beitostolen.
See also – our guide to Norway with kids
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Table of Contents
Getting there
Getting to Beitostølen is straightforward, whether you are travelling by car, bus, or a combination of transport options from major Norwegian cities.
By car
Driving is the most flexible way to reach Beitostølen. From Oslo, the journey takes around 3–3.5 hours, covering approximately 220 km. The main route follows the E16 highway northwest towards Fagernes, before turning onto Rv51, which leads directly to Beitostølen. The roads are well-maintained year-round, though winter conditions may require snow tyres or chains. We drove from Gothenburg as the flights were significantly cheaper and found it a really straighforward journey.
By bus
There are regular bus services from Oslo to Beitostølen, operated by Valdresekspressen. The journey takes around 3.5–4 hours, with comfortable coaches departing from Oslo Bus Terminal and stopping in Fagernes before continuing to Beitostølen. This is a convenient option for those without a car, offering scenic views along the way.
By air
The nearest major airport is Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL). From there, travellers can rent a car or take the Valdresekspressen bus, which connects directly to Beitostølen. Although Fagernes Airport, Leirin is the closest airport (40 km away), it no longer operates scheduled flights.
With its well-connected transport links, reaching Beitostølen is easy, making it an accessible destination for a mountain getaway.
What to do with kids in Beitostolen – Our guide to Beitostolen
There are plenty of activities in Beitostølen to keep the whole family occupied during the winter, including.
Skiing
Most people travelling to Beitostølen in the winter will be visiting to ski. Beitostølen is particularly well geared up for the beginner or intermediate.
It is a really safe resort and all the ski slopes lead back to the one place in the centre of the village.
There are plenty of gentle slopes and it’s a really great place for all of the family to enjoy together. You can take individual ski lessons or join in with the ski school both of which we did.
The Ski school at Beitostølen is absolutely fantastic, I can’t recommend it highly enough. There were also remarkably few queues, read that as none, for the ski lifts and slopes which was great.
There are some great cross-country ski routes here too and we saw lots of families taking part in this.
Husky dog ride – ski resort guide to Beitostolen
Beito Husky Tours offers husky dog rides of everything from a few hours to a few days.
The dogs take the sleds down to the frozen lake and out into the countryside. It’s a great way to see more of the beautiful Norwegian landscape around.
Definitely pre-book as early as you can as they do fill up. Find out more here.
Horse ride in the snow – ski resort guide to Beitostolen
Myhre Gard offer horse rides through the week.
You can choose the length of time you go horseriding from hour-long trips to longer periods. They can also custom make an itinerary for you.
It’s definitely another one that’s best to pre-book. Find out more here.
Swimming
The Radisson Blu Hotel has a pool which is free to use for guests staying there. But you can also buy a weeks membership (it was around 100 kr for adults and 50 kr for children when we visited).
Riddergaarden Mountain Lodge also have an amazing pool with a special kid’s version. This has a little slide and lots of sprays and fountains. We thought this was amazing.
This is a great way to spend some time out of the snow.
We loved coming to the pool and hanging out.
Ice Fishing
Organised by Beito-Activ, the people who run the ski school – ice fishing takes you down onto the lake to demonstrate this tradition of caching fish. And anything you catch you can take home with you to cook up for dinner.
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing in Beitostølen is a fantastic way to explore the stunning winter landscape. BeitoAktiv offers guided snowshoeing adventures for all levels. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker, this activity provides a peaceful and scenic way to immerse yourself in the beauty of Norway’s mountains.
Beitostølen sits at the edge of Jotunheimen National Park, offering breathtaking views and untouched snow-covered trails. With Beito Aktiv, you can choose from a range of guided tours, including daytime treks through snowy forests and open plateaus, or evening tours where you can experience the magic of the mountains under the stars.
The guides at Beito Aktiv provide all necessary equipment, including modern snowshoes and poles, and share insights into local wildlife, history, and Norwegian outdoor traditions. The tours are tailored to suit different fitness levels, making snowshoeing a perfect activity for families, couples, or solo travellers.
We went on a three hour guided snowshoe walk and it was one of the best things we did. Really evocative and great fun. The kids loved it too.
Find out more here.
Our ultimate ski resort guide to Beitostolen, Norway: Where to eat –
For a small town there are some really great places to eat in Beitostolen.
Caféen Restaurant
​Caféen Restaurant in Beitostølen is a my favourite restaurant in the town.
The restaurant’s interior exudes a cosy charm, with rustic wooden furnishings and soft lighting that create a homely ambiance.
The menu features a variety of dishes that cater to diverse tastes, including traditional Norwegian cuisine and international options. They also have some wonderful vegetarian choices which I particularly enjoyed.
Caféen also boasts an impressive selection of wines and local beers.
ILocated right in the centre of Beitostølen this is one not to miss.
Read our review of Caféen Restaurant here.
Lodge 900
Lodge 900 is a great spot for family dining.
Set in a beautiful building that does feel like a lodge it’s the perfect relaxed location.
The menu is a fusion of Norwegian and international (largely Italian) flavours, with an emphasis on innovative dishes crafted from high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. There are plenty of choices for vegetarians.
Also set right in the centre of Beitostolen it’s a great apre-ski choice.
 Read our review of Lodge 900 here.
Casa Montagna
The Italian restaurant in Riddergaarden, Casa Montagna, brings a warm and authentic taste of Italy to the heart of Beitostølen. Situated within the Riddergaarden Mountain Lodge, it’s perfectly placed for a relaxed meal after a day on the slopes or exploring the surrounding mountains. The restaurant has a cosy, alpine-inspired interior with wooden beams, soft lighting, and a welcoming atmosphere that suits couples, families, and groups alike.
Casa Montagna offers a menu centred around classic Italian cuisine, with favourites such as wood-fired pizzas, fresh pasta dishes, and seasonal salads. The use of high-quality ingredients and generous portions make this a satisfying stop, whether you’re popping in for a quick lunch or settling in for a longer dinner. A well-curated wine list complements the dishes, and there are also non-alcoholic options and a children’s menu available.
 Read more about Casa Montagna here.
Peppes Pizza – ski resort guide to Beitostolen
We absolutely loved Peppes Pizza.
This cosy restaurant has open fires and a play room for the kids. On top of that the pizzas are absolutely delicious.
The veggie version had artichokes, spinach, garlic mushrooms and avocado and was just fantastic. Definitely recommended for a night out.
You can find out more here.
Hytta Mat & Vinhus – ski resort guide to Beitostolen
We didn’t eat here but heard reports from others that the food was really good. It’s a little bit out of the main town but by all reports it’s worth the walk to get to it.
Cafe
The cafe above the souvenir shop in town is a lovely, welcoming space. It is perfect for somewhere to come for coffee and waffles or a sandwich.
Beitostølen, Norway: Where to shop
If you’re self-catering there’s a great Co-Op which is huge and also a Spar supermarket that is a great size.
Both shops will give you everything you need for a week or two weeks stay in Beitostølen. We were really impressed by the variety on offer from wraps and salsas for Mexican to everything to cook up a curry.
There’s a great ski hire shop and also an Intersport which also has absolutely everything you could need to kit you out. Including fleeces to goggles and ski boots to snowboards.
We loved the big souvenir shop at the top of the town. And in the complex that houses the Co-Op supermarket there was a small clothes shop and bookshop.
Beitostølen, Norway: Where to stay – ski resort guide to Beitostolen
Riddergaarden Mountain Lodge
We loved staying at this amazing self catering resort. There was plenty of space for our family of five with three bedrooms. We also had a sauna within the bathroom. With an on-site breakfast to fill us up each morning and a fabulous spa. This is a fantastic place to stay in Beitostolen.
Read our review of Riddergaarden Mountain Lodge here and check prices and availability here.
Stølstunet Apartments
We loved these apartments. We were so comfortable here with everything to relax including three bedrooms, a large kitchen diner and lounge, two bathrooms with underfloor heating and a large kit room when we came in from a day out on the snow.
They were a great stay. Find out more at our review of Stølstunet Apartments here and check availability and prices here.
Radisson Blu – ski resort guide to Beitostolen
If you’re looking for a more traditional hotel stay then the Radisson Blu at the top of the town is a great one.
With the pool, fitness room and restaurants for all your meals it’s a great traditional hotel stay. We loved the open fire and lounges around reception.
Check availability and prices here.
Read more about our week skiing in Beitostolen with older kids here and also our skiing trip to Beitostolen which also has a video of our time in Beitostolen from the first time we went. And see our ultimate guide to skiing with kids for lots more inspiration.
Please let us know if there’s anywhere we’re missing off, or if our reviews help your plans. We love to hear from you!
More skiing reviews:
A ski trip packing list for all the family
Top tips for first time skiers
Best ski resorts in Europe for families
