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Voykit pocket guide · Norway
Dalen
Spend a half‑day in Dalen to see the historic hotel and canal, then add a short trip to nearby Eidsborg stave church or Åmdals Verk mines.
Dalen is a small village on the Telemark Canal with a historic wooden hotel and easy access to open‑air museums and a medieval stave church. One half‑day covers the main sights; a full day allows a museum visit and a short hike to nearby heritage sites.
- Country
- Norway
- Best months
- May–September
- Avoid
- December–February (cold, limited daylight)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- NOK
- Money
- Currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK, kr); the euro is not used. About 11.5 NOK to €1 — check.
- Daily spend
- Budget 800 kr excl. bed · Mid 1 200 kr excl. bed · High 1 800 kr excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EEA roaming applies: EU and EEA SIMs work at home prices.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Ambulance 113 · Fire 110
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Included; round up or add 5–10% for good service.; Café and bar: Nothing expected.; Taxi: Round up.; Guides: Optional.
- Water
- Tap water is excellent; streams in the mountains are usually drinkable, but avoid water below farms and grazing.
- Toilets
- Free or card-paid (NOK 10–20) in towns; trailheads often have pit toilets.
Get in
By air
- NTB · Notodden Airport
- about 70 km (43 mi) by road, check shuttle or rental carabout 43 mi (70 km) by road, check shuttle or rental car
Typical fares
- Car rental (local)
- ≈ 500 kr per day, fuel extra (check rates)
- Museum entry
- 130 kr adult, 110 kr senior, 65 kr child (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk or bike in the village; rent a car for trips to Eidsborg (3 km (1.9 mi)) or Åmdals Verk (8 km (5 mi)). Public buses are infrequent – check local timetables.Walk or bike in the village; rent a car for trips to Eidsborg (1.9 mi (3 km)) or Åmdals Verk (5 mi (8 km)). Public buses are infrequent – check local timetables.
See and do
Known for
- Telemark Canal
- Dalen Hotel
- West Telemark open‑air museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Eidsborg stave church | Local road, 3 km (1.9 mi) north, about 5 min by car or 30 min walkLocal road, 1.9 mi (3 km) north, about 5 min by car or 30 min walk | ≈15 min |
| Åmdals Verk mines | Road south, 8 km (5 mi), 10 min by car; guided tours in seasonRoad south, 5 mi (8 km), 10 min by car; guided tours in season | ≈30 min |
| West Telemark open‑air museum (Eidsborg) | Same as Eidsborg stave church, plus museum buildings | ≈30 min |
Sleep
- Dalen Hotel
- Historic wooden hotel, rooms from 3000 kr; dinner packages 6000–14000 kr.
- Birdbox Tokke
- Glamping hut by lake, 3500 kr per night, 100 m walk from road.
- Vidsyn Midjås
- Glamping cabins, 2500 kr per night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Unnskyldunnskyld |
| Thank you | Takktahk |
| How much is it? | Hvor mye koster det?vohr mee-eh koh-ster deh |
| Where is the museum? | Hvor er museet?vohr er moo-seh-et |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, first names; avoid: Small talk that is too personal
- Nature: Greet other hikers, close gates, carry litter out; avoid: Loud music on trails
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring flowers or chocolates; 'takk for maten' after the meal; avoid: Arriving late
- Conversation: Modest, factual, humorous; avoid: Showing off wealth — Norwegians are rich but understated
- 17 May: Dress up, join the crowds, wave a flag; avoid: Treating the parades as a tourist show
- Queues: Take a number; avoid: Pushing in
Scams and watch-outs
- Museum opening hours are May–mid‑September; verify exact dates before travel.
- Winter temperatures in the mines can be around 6 °C; bring warm clothing.
Dalen is low‑risk; standard Norwegian safety applies—keep an eye on road conditions in winter and lock doors in night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Dalen yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Telemark Canal
- Dalen Hotel
- West Telemark open‑air museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Telemark – West Telemark museum: www.visittelemark.no/vest-telemark-museum/informasjon/produkt/vest-telemark-museum-eidsborg-p515293
- Visit Telemark – Eidsborg stave church: www.visittelemark.no/vest-telemark-museum/informasjon/produkt/eidsborg-stavkyrkje-p530843
- Visit Telemark – Åmdals Verk mines: www.visittelemark.no/vest-telemark-museum/informasjon/produkt/amdals-verk-gruver-p515303
- Dalen Hotel official site: www.dalenhotel.no
- Birdbox Tokke glamping: www.birdbox.no/tokke
- Vidsyn Midjås glamping: www.vidsynmidjas.com
- Wikidata – Dalen: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Dalen, revision 5032648 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5032648
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/dalen). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.