Discover Vossevangen

Vossevangen combines a compact town centre with cultural attractions, events and experiences in nature. For orientation, the railway station and gondola are important landmarks; at the same time, several sights and recreational activities are located in the centre of Voss. You can shape your stay around your own interests, choosing between history, events and outdoor activities.

Finding your way around town and the mountain

Voss railway station is the town’s transport hub, and local bus routes depart from there. The Voss Gondola starts right next to the station. The ride takes you from the centre of Voss to Hangurstoppen, at an altitude of 818 metres, in less than nine minutes. This connection makes the town centre and the mountain two clearly distinct points of interest, without requiring a long journey between them.

Church, cultural trails and museum

In the centre of Voss stands Vangskyrkja, a stone church whose construction is dated to the years 1271 to 1277. Another way to explore local history is via the Bergsliløypa: this cultural trail runs through the centre and has seven stops about the history of the three Bergsli artists. On a cultural walk in Voss, you will also encounter statues around town; the stories of the various figures are told in their own voices.

The Voss Folk Museum also offers historical points of interest. Mølstertunet, an authentic, listed farmstead with sixteen buildings, is a central part of the museum. The main building houses the exhibition “A view at Voss”, which traces the history of the town from the 16th century to the present day.

A street-art work is located in the underpass at Voss railway station, on the way to platforms 2 and 3. Vossa Jazz and the Vangsgryto Youth Club were involved in its creation; Doyenne Art and Papa Paul provided professional support to the young artists. The cultural offering thus ranges from historic church architecture to a work in the station’s contemporary surroundings.

Festivals and culinary traditions

The Osafestivalen has been running since 1992 and takes place over four days in late October at several venues in the centre of Voss. Its programme combines traditional Norwegian folk music with new compositions and international artists. It includes formal concerts, open sessions, dance evenings, an art exhibition and events for children. If you are travelling for the festival, check the dates and programme details for your planned stay.

Smalahovesleppet has been held in Voss every autumn for decades and fills the town centre for an entire weekend. Local food culture also reflects traditional influences: dishes to try in Voss include Vossafår, a salami, and Smalahove, a sheep’s head dish. The two dishes represent different sides of regional cuisine; you should not assume that specific festival or food offerings will be available.

Lake, recreation and activities

Vangsvatnet has a mostly flat beach. Behind it are a recreational area and a park with outdoor fitness equipment, a pump track and a concrete skate park. The combination of beach and various outdoor facilities offers different ways to spend time outside. As outdoor facilities can change, it is worth checking current local information before visiting.

For indoor activities, there is Voss Bowling, a large activity centre with several indoor offerings in the centre of Vossevangen. Voss Aktivitetspark is a free outdoor playground in the centre of Voss. The Vossabadet indoor swimming pool has three different pools, as well as a sauna, a water slide and a café. This makes it easy to choose between activities in the town based on whether you are looking for an outdoor activity, an indoor activity centre or an indoor swimming pool.

For a nearby nature outing, you can plan a visit to Bordalsgjelet: this natural landscape is within walking distance of the town centre. Visitors will find an information board, a viewpoint and benches there. Unlike the facilities in the centre, Bordalsgjelet is specifically a destination in the surrounding area; the phrase “within walking distance” does not specify a walking time.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Myrkdalen, Myrdal, Bolstadøyri, Evanger, Skulestadmoen, Vossestrand.

Return to the main travel overview: Voss.