Hamar

The Viking Ship, officially known as Hamar olympiahall (Hamar Olympic Hall), is a modern speed skating arena, and was built for the 1994 Olympic Winter Games. Its name comes from its appearance: an upside-down Viking ship. It regularly hosts major speed skating events, such as world championships. Also known for hosting The Gathering each Easter, a computer gathering mainly for young people which has had over 5,000 participants. Each spring and fall, the Vikingship also hosts a very popular 3-day long market for second-hand/ antique goods. The Viking Ship is near Åkersvika, a nature reserve, known for its rich bird life. At the parking lot there is a "bird tower", where you can get a good view of the bay.

A must-see. Medieval cathedral and folk museum along Lake Myøsa. The ruins of the cathedral are encased in a glass house. Lovely walks and beaches by the lake. The open air museum is free and open year round, all the time. The opening hours of the museum vary according to season. There's a nice cafe there as well. Concerts and theater productions are often held in the glass house, but be sure to bring a blanket with you in the evenings- even in the summer, it gets cold there after the sun sets! The Medieval Festival usually takes place here over a long weekend in June.

Documents the history of the Norwegian railway system. Lots of child-friendly exhibits. Also has its own library.

Museum showing emigration from Norway, with a collection of six buildings (amongst them a church built in 1896 in Minnesota).

Museum dedicated to Norway's most famous opera singer, Kirsten Flagstad.

Vang church at Ridabu just outside the centre is one of Norway's biggest church buildings, seating about 1,000 persons - bigger than Hamar cathedral downtown and nicknamed Hedmark cathedral. It is a popular concert venue known for its light interior and wide octagonal centre space. Until Hamar cathedral was built in 1866 this was the parish church of Hamar. Vang church stands prominently on a small hill just east of road E6. The basic design is octagonal as was popular in Norway at the time (1810) and the centre space is more than 500 square meters without any supporting columns for the roof. Huge but hidden beams span the 25 meters in each direction. One visitor at the time noted that the church is perfectly symmetrical and all details are designed according to mathematical principles. Vang church was designed and built by Abraham Pihl, the local priest and well-known polyhistor. Pihl was royal astronomer in the kingdom of Denmark (including Norway), mechanical engineer, optician, farmer and watchmaker. The famous German geologist Leopold von Buch visited Pihl and was impressed by Pihl's technical and scientific knowledge, and noted that Pihl was the most unusual and remarkable men in Norway.

Hamar cathedral is white, masonry structure with a German-Romanesque design by the German architect Heinrich Ernst Schirmer. The exterior is modest except for a prominent entrance portal. Hamar's first cathedral has been a ruin since 1567 when Swedish troops sacked the town. Hamar officially became a city in 1849 and a diocese in 1864, and the cathedral was built in 1866 for the new diocese.

HamKam were promoted in 2021, so they now play soccer in Eliteserien, Norway's top tier. Let's see how long it lasts this time - HamKam are the perennial yoyo club, oscillating between the top and second tiers. Watch the emotions of the normally reserved Norwegians yoyo-ing along with them. Their home ground Briskeby Arena (capacity 7600) is 1 km northeast of city centre. The playing season is Mar-Nov.