Discovering the Nature and History of Norway on the Way From Oslo to Gjovik

Your first stop will be a short photo break by the Nordbytjernet Lake in Jessheim. This postcard perfect lake is a great spot to take photos and stretch your legs a little bit before continuing the road.
There is a trail around the lake for walking and a small kiosk, but you'll find it open only on sunny days.

This gas station is absurdly famous for selling an incredible number of buns in Norway! So, why not try a "boller" while you are passing by? They have many variations, and you could be surprised to find a fresh warm bun with cardamom, or you can choose a traditional chocolate bun, too. They sell around 2 million buns per year, so you can be sure you'll have a freshly baked bun and reenergize for the long day ahead!
The gas station is open 24 hours.

Park your car here for taking a short stroll along Lake Mjosa.

It's time for a view break. Although a part of your scenic drive up until Espa had breathtaking views overlooking the Lake Mjosa, it's worth a stop by this lake and have a short stroll.
Mjosa is Norway's largest lake and in Hamar, there is a public recreational area for everyone to enjoy the amazing views of this lake. Take in the natural beauty of this huge lake before you head back to your car.

Head back to the parking lot and take your car to continue your road trip.

Just a short drive later, stop at this architecturally famous building for a photo. Mjostarnet in Brumanddal is world's tallest wooden building with 18 floors. This timber tower was built using cross laminated timber and was designed by the Norwegian architecture firm, Voll Arkitekter. It has been recognized for using sustainable wood.

Welcome to the compact and cute city of Lillehammer, which most people recognize from the famous TV show Lilyhammer. It was home to the Olympics in 1994, being the smallest city ever to host the Olympics.
Therefore, no visit to Lillehammer is complete without seeing the Norwegian Olympic Museum. The museum highlights the important aspects of Olympics history in general, and there are some video installations as well.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, but opening hours vary by season. Make sure to check the official website.

You'll come across many open air museums in Norway, but Maihaugen, just next to the Norwegian Olympic Museum, is one of the best. It has a modeled village to reflect Lillehammer from the past century, and it is so realistic because some of the houses were actually carried from the town piece by piece. For example, Olsengarden is a residence that housed three generations before. Additionally, there is a rural farm section that shows how life was during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, but opening hours vary by season. You can check the opening hours on their official website.

After so much sightseeing, it's time to head to the cute city center of Lillehammer and have lunch. You can park your car here and enjoy the compact town.

You'll have lunch with a view! Lillehammer Art Museum is where art and architecture meet, and the newly added building of Weidemann Gallery is an architectural marvel. It was a collaboration between the famous architecture firm Snøhetta and the Norwegian artist Brad Breivik. The art museum has a collection of Norwegian art and a café to have lunch.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 11:00 and 16:00 during winter, and it is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00 during summer.
Make sure to check out their official website for specific dates.

After lunch, take a stroll along the Storgata, main street of Lillehammer and head to the church. This impressively large and serene church was built in 1882, and it is right in the center next to an attractive park. Visit this typical Norwegian church and admire the peaceful surroundings.

Right in front of the Lillehammer church, this perfect park awaits you to fulfill with energy for the next part of your day. Enjoy the flowers, trees and the small pond that completes the perfect picture.

It's time to get your car back to continue the journey. The last leg of your journey is almost 50 km and the evening is here.

You can charge your car here before heading to Gjovik for the night. Only a 10-minute drive from Lillehammer, Vingnes has a perfect spot to charge your car. There are also restrooms and a shop.
Type: CCS 2 stations, 2 plugs Power: 50 kW

While charging your car, take a short walk to the Vingnes Bridge and take in the incredible view. You'll see Lillehammer from afar and be inspired by the majestic Lake Mjosa.

Now that you have charged your car, hop back in and head to Gjovik.

After a long day of driving, it's time to head to your hotel in Gjovik. The best thing about Hotel Grand is that the dinner and breakfast are included, so you can have your dinner at your hotel and go to your room without losing any time to rest!