Nestled in a lush river valley in the beautiful county of Telemark, Rjukan is a popular base for outdoor pursuits. It’s UNESCO listed as part of the Rjukan – Notodden Industrial Heritage Site, with the region playing an important role in the heavy water sabotage missions of World War II.
Get a bird’s eye view of Rjukan and the Måna River from the cable car that leads to the top of Mount Gaustatoppen. On a clear day, it offers spectacular panoramas across southern Norway. Alternatively, you can ride the Krossobanen to the foot of Norway’s largest national park, Hardangervidda.
On the eastern edge of Rjukan is the Tinn Museum, a cluster of antique buildings that showcase the agrarian traditions of the region. Join a guided tour to see how the local farmers once lived, then get up close to vintage agricultural equipment, stave church portals and artefacts dating back to World War II.
Getting there
Rjukan is a 2.5-hour drive from the centre of Oslo and around three hours from Oslo Airport. Buses connect the village to the Norwegian capital while cable cars will whisk you up the surrounding mountains. Rjukan is compact enough to explore on foot.