Welcome to Gjøvik! Check out our guide on what to do in this fascinating place below.
The Gjøvik Olympiske Fjellhall ice rink that was purpose-built for the hockey matches during the 1994 Winter Olympics. The choice at the time was between building an indoor arena in the mountains or a regular outdoor one. There were many reasons for choosing to build the arena in the mountains, right in the centre of town. One of them was that there was already a sports facility here in fact - the world's first swimming arena in the mountains that was completed in 1974.
Calling all playful and curious people of all ages! This science centre is a popular destination for school trips, families and sports teams, as well as teambuilding activities. The exciting, imaginative and beautiful space is filled with activities and experiments to keep all those interested in science entertained for hours!
Eiktunet is like a little 19th century village. The views from Mjösa are stunning and the open-air museum is one of Gjøvik's most popular tourist attractions. There's so much fun to be had here exploring manor houses and small streams. You can even do a spot of fishing and try to catch a ruda fish, a variety of carp! Guided tours for groups can be arranged in advance.
Kauffeldtgården is the only building still remaining of the original glass works dating back to the 1800s. The house was built by Caspar Kauffeldt, founder of the Gjøvik glassworks. Today, Kauffeldtgården is home to a museum, exhibitions and an art centre.
Gjøvik Gård is situated right in the centre of town with a park and a variety of historic buildings. The main building at Gjøvik Gård was constructed in 1810 as the home of the Kauffeldt family. The white house, with the large windows, was a sensation in this landscape of timber buildings. It was once the home of Officer Alf Mjøen, and the family's belongings and furnishings from 1861-1956 remain the house. A number of events and concerts are held at Gjøvik Gård throughout the year, as well as guided tours during the summer months. Guided group tours can be arranged in advance.
Authentic Gjøvik chocolate is so-called couverture chocolate meaning that it contains a higher percentage of cocoa butter than regular chocolate. It also needs to be tempered during production and only the highest quality raw ingredients are used. The factory is one of only a few producers of homemade chocolate in Norway. The special atmosphere of the factory and the unique flavour of the chocolate make it easy to understand why the Gjøvik chocolate factory has become one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. This is a great place to come for all those with a sweet tooth!
The Skibladner steamer is more than 150 years old and gives you the chance to exerience how it might have felt to travel by steamboat during the 19th century! Aboard the boat you can admire the beautiful surrounding landscape and enjoy a delicious meal in the dining room. Many exciting musical events and live performances are arranged on the boat all the year round. You can even post postcards on the Skibladner's own postbox!