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Back to Notodden

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Voykit pocket guide · Norway

Notodden

Spend one day to see the lake, UNESCO industrial sites and the Blues Festival; skip if you’re not there for the festival or short on time.

Notodden is a small lakeside town in Telemark, home to the UNESCO Rjukan‑Notodden Industrial Heritage Site, the large Heddal Stave Church and a summer Blues Festival. The sights cluster near the centre and are reachable on foot or by hourly local buses, so a single day covers the highlights. Longer stays are only needed for the festival week or deeper hikes around the lake.

OsloÅlesundAltaArendalAverøyBalestrandBarentsburgBergenBodøDrammenDrøbakFlåmFredrikstadGeiloNotodden500 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Norway
Best months
Jun–Aug (festival and good weather)
Avoid
Dec–Feb (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 NOK 500–700 excl. bed · Mid NOK 800–1,200 excl. bed · High NOK 1,500+ 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.

What things cost

ItemPrice
CoffeeNOK 30–45
Meal at Eyde RestaurantNOK 150–250
Bus ticket (local)NOK 40–60 (check)
Entry Heddal Stave ChurchNOK 100

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

NTB · Notodden Airport
No commercial flights (2024); used for private or charter.

Typical fares

Oslo → Notodden bus (Nettbuss)
about NOK 250–300, 2 h 15 min (check)
Local bus Notodden → Heddal
about NOK 40–60, 10 min
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

The town centre is walkable; local buses run hourly from the central hub to surrounding villages. Taxis are available but pricey.

See and do

Known for

  • Rjukan‑Notodden Industrial Heritage Site (UNESCO)
  • Heddal Stave Church
  • Notodden Blues Festival (July‑August)
  • Lake Heddalsvatnet

Day trips

WhereHowTime
Heddal Stave ChurchBus or taxi 5 km (3.1 mi) west, about 10 min ride≈30 min total
Rjukan (Industrial Heritage Centre)Regional bus from Notodden hub, ~30 min≈1 h

Sleep

Brattrein Hotel
5‑minute walk from centre, lake view, NOK 1,700 per night.
Notodden Hotel
City‑centre, basic rooms, NOK 1,600 per night.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
Excuse me / SorryUnnskyld
Thank youTakk
How much is it?Hvor mye koster det?
Where is the toilet?Hvor er toalettet?
Can I pay by card?Kan jeg betale med kort?

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

  • No regular airline service – plan arrival by bus or car.
  • Blues Festival tickets sell out early; check dates on the official site.
  • Winter roads can be icy; allow extra travel time.

Notodden is generally safe; standard precautions apply—watch for icy roads in winter and keep valuables secure in crowded areas.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Notodden yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Rjukan‑Notodden Industrial Heritage Site (UNESCO)
  • Heddal Stave Church
  • Notodden Blues Festival (July‑August)
  • Lake Heddalsvatnet

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Notodden

Til denne adressen, takk

To this address, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

US consular services are in Oslo; other nations also have Oslo embassies.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/notodden). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.