Valdres is one of the most popular mountain regions in southern Norway. In winter, people come for cross-country skiing and the slopes at Beitostølen. In summer, they come for Jotunheimen, Valdresflye and long walks between lakes and summer farms.
What Valdres does not have is a busy airport of its own. For almost every visitor flying in, the trip starts at Oslo Airport Gardermoen and continues by road. This guide explains the options, how long they take, and what to think about before you land.
Is there an airport in Valdres?
There is a small airport near Fagernes, Fagernes lufthavn Leirin, but it has not had regular scheduled passenger flights for several years. For practical purposes, you should plan as if Valdres has no airport.
That leaves Oslo Airport Gardermoen as the natural gateway. It has the most international routes in Norway, and all the main airlines, including SAS, Norwegian and Widerøe, fly there. Bergen Airport Flesland is an alternative if you are coming from the west, but the road trip from there is longer.
If you are changing planes on the way, our guide to connecting through Oslo Gardermoen explains how transfers and baggage work.
The main ways to get from Gardermoen to Valdres
You have three realistic options:
- A direct express bus from the airport to Fagernes and Beitostølen.
- Train or airport express into Oslo, then the express bus from Oslo bus terminal.
- A hire car from the airport, driving all the way.
Which one suits you depends on your arrival time, how much luggage you have, and whether you need a car once you are in the mountains.
Option 1: the direct airport bus
Valdresekspressen, the express bus line NW150, connects Oslo with Fagernes and Beitostølen. A separate airport service links Oslo Airport directly with Valdres via Fagernes to Beitostølen.
The airport service has very few departures, often just one a day in each direction, and the pattern changes between seasons. Timetables have varied from daily departures to only a few days a week, so check the current schedule on nor-way.no or Entur before you book your flight.
If the times match your flight, this is usually the easiest option. You walk from arrivals to the bus stop, put your bags under the bus and get off in the centre of Fagernes or Beitostølen.
Leave a good margin. If your flight is late and you miss the only departure of the day, you may need to fall back on option 2.
Option 2: via Oslo city centre
The more flexible option is to travel from the airport into Oslo first, then take the express bus north-west to Valdres.
From Gardermoen, the airport express train Flytoget and regional Vy trains run frequently to Oslo Central Station. The journey takes around 20 to 25 minutes on the airport express. Oslo bus terminal is a short walk from the station.
From there, NW150 Valdresekspressen runs daily to Fagernes and Beitostølen. NOR-WAY gives a travel time of about 3 hours and 45 minutes between Oslo and Beitostølen. In summer, some departures continue to Gjendesheim, the starting point for the Besseggen ridge in Jotunheimen.
This route takes longer in total, but it gives you more departures to choose from. It also works well if you want a night in Oslo first. Our guide to your first day in Oslo after landing at Gardermoen has ideas for that.
Option 3: driving from the airport
A hire car gives you the most freedom, especially if you are staying in a cabin away from the bus routes. All the major rental companies have desks at Gardermoen.
The usual route from Oslo and the airport is the E16 via Hønefoss, which leads straight into Valdres. From the airport, some drivers prefer to head north and approach on Rv33 via Gjøvik and Dokka. Expect the drive to Fagernes to take roughly three hours in good conditions, and longer to Beitostølen.
Norwegian roads have tolls, often collected automatically by camera. Rental companies usually add these to your bill after the trip, so ask how they handle them when you pick up the car.
Winter driving to Valdres
From late autumn to spring, you need to be prepared for snow and ice. Rental cars in Norway should come with winter tyres in the season, but it is still worth confirming when you book.
Drive slowly, keep a long distance to the car in front, and take breaks. Darkness comes early in winter, and the last stretch into the mountains can feel long after a flight.
Some mountain roads close for the season. Valdresflye, the National Tourist Route between Beitostølen and Vågå, is closed in winter. Check road conditions with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration before you set off.
Timing your flight
The best plan starts with your flight time. If you arrive in the morning or around midday, you have plenty of time to reach Valdres the same day by any method.
If you land late in the evening, the direct bus will likely have left, and the last departures from Oslo may be gone too. In that case, consider a night near the airport or in Oslo and travel the next morning. Our Oslo Airport survival guide covers what to do if you are stuck there for a few hours.
On the way home, remember that the direct airport bus may leave Valdres early in the day. Book a flight that leaves with a comfortable margin after the bus arrives.
Luggage, skis and other gear
Express buses in Norway generally take suitcases in the luggage hold. Skis and bulky items can usually travel too, but rules and fees vary, so check with the bus company in advance, particularly in the busy ski season.
If you are flying with skis, airlines have their own rules for sports equipment. SAS, Norwegian and Widerøe all publish their policies, and prices are often lower if you add the item when booking.
Getting around once you are in Valdres
Fagernes is the main town and transport hub, with shops, a bus station and connections to other villages. Beitostølen is the main mountain resort, with ski lifts, cross-country trails and hotels within walking distance of the bus stop.
Local buses run between the villages, and in summer there are seasonal mountain routes, for example between Fagernes, Beitostølen and Jotunheimen. Outside the main centres, a car is still the most practical way to explore.
Planning your stay
Once the travel is sorted, the fun part begins: choosing where to stay and what to do. Valdres covers six municipalities, from Sør-Aurdal in the south to Vang near Jotunheimen, and each has its own character.
For ideas on places to visit, hikes, skiing, cabins and cultural heritage, Valdresslekt, an independent travel guide to Valdres, is a good place to start planning before you fly.
A quick checklist
- Check the direct airport bus timetable before you book your flight.
- Have a backup plan via Oslo if your flight is delayed.
- Book a hire car early in the high season, and confirm winter tyres.
- Check road conditions and closures in winter.
- Ask about ski and luggage rules on both the flight and the bus.
With a little planning, the trip from Gardermoen to the mountains is simple, and the views on the last part of the journey are a good start to your stay.
