Hamar is a lakeside city of around 32,000 people on the western shore of Lake Mjøsa, with medieval roots as a 12th-century bishopric and a modern town founded in 1849. Its signature sight is Domkirkeodden, where the glass-sheltered cathedral ruins anchor the Hedmark Museum above the water, while the 1994 Winter Olympics left the striking Vikingskipet (Hamar Olympic Hall) on the shoreline. Summer brings cruises on the 1856 paddle steamer Skibladner and easy swims at the Koigen beach park; year-round options include Ankerskogen’s indoor pools and lakeside walking and cycling paths. The compact centre clusters cafés, bars and venues around the station, with festivals and gigs through the year. Getting in is straightforward via the Dovre Line and E6, with Oslo about 1½ hours away by rail and Oslo Airport roughly an hour.
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