10 Best Places to Ski in Oslo

For the residents of the districts Nordstrand and Søndre Nordstrand, Sloreåsen slalom run is the natural place to go for a few hours of fun skiing. This is a slope run by local volunteers, and also the home slope of Ljan Alpinklubb.

The facility itself is floodlit, and consists of one descent served by two lifts. One lift is a conveyor belt in the lower part of the hill, while the other is a bowl lift to the top. If you're looking for a nice and easy hill that is suitable for beginners and families, you've come to the right place.

Oslo Winter Park has slowly but surely taken over much of the space in the shadow of Tryvannstårnet. Where once there was only a car park, forest and Wyllerløypa in solitary majesty, it has now become a fantastic facility.

Unlike many other ski resorts near the city, Oslo Winter Park is open in the mornings during peak season. This means you can pitch up early for an early-morning training or wellbeing session just after breakfast, even on a Tuesday. The slopes have varying degrees of difficulty, but the Wyllerløypa is the crown jewel. This is also the only challenging run here.

Holmenkollen is not known as an alpine centre as such, but more as a ski jumping and cross-country skiing centre - if not in the whole country, then at least in Eastern Norway.

Although this is a facility you'll see on many TV broadcasts with all the most famous and well-trained ski stars of the world, it's free for everyone to use. This certainly doesn't apply to the ski jumps, but who wants to risk life and limb anyway? Holmenkollen is a perfect starting point for cross-country skiing across the local terrain.

With Grefsenkollen restaurant as the main attraction, Oslo Ski Centre extends over the hill in two directions towards Grefsenkleiva and Trollkleiva. It provides four lifts and six slopes of varying difficulty.

Grefsenkleiva gives you a beautiful panoramic view of Groruddalen and Østmarka. This side has two runs, one black and one red, so this is the slope for speed-loving and advanced skiers. Trollklevia is far more family-friendly, with a green run through large parts of the slope. Nevertheless, the exterior terrain can be challenging even for the most advanced skiers.

Liabakken offers the most accessible ski and toboggan run in Oslo, and is perfect for anyone who hasn't tried these activities before. For many children and young people from Østkanten, this very slope was their first experience of skiing.

But this slope will be familiar to themeven before they put on their skis, because this place offers a whole host of activities. The opening hours make the place a favourite after-school play area on weekdays, and on weekends locals flock here to enjoy some skiing.

Before there were any other ski resorts in Oslo, there was Nordmarka. Quiet and vast. Peppered with a large selection of both serviced and unserviced cabins, driving and hiking opportunities, Nordmarka is the ultimate outdoor paradise whatever the season.

If you take the bus to Hammeren and strap on your skis, you can look forward to two and a half magical miles up to popular Katnosa and their unsurpassed coffee and waffles. If you want to avoid the crowds, head towards an uninhabited slope with packed lunch and maybe a thermos of hot toddy.

Conveniently located near Oslomarka and offering lifts up to the ski slopes, Trollvann is a great starting point for skiing activities for the whole family. Oslo Ski Centre is located here, but there are also many well-marked trails that take you inwards towards Linderudstua, Lillomarka and the east side of Nordmarka.

Some of the easiest trips you can take from Trollvann take you to Lilloseter, Sandermosen and Skar. You can also cut across the nearby Maridalsvannet if you want to aim for Ullevålseter, Skjennungstua and the west side of Oslo's fantastic outlying areas The options are endless, whether you want to go for long walks or enjoy the local area with the family.

Head just outside Oslo and you'll come to Nittedal and the Varingskollen Alpine Centre - great for both hiking and skiing.

This hidden gem doesn't have many slopes, but offers varied runs for all skill levels, even for the most avid and advanced skiers in the family. The facility has also served as a training slope for professional alpine skiiers for many years, as reflected in the opening hours. Find your way here and you'll be rewarded with demanding slopes and great opportunities for a ramble at the top, and there is also a child-friendly area at the bottom of the slope.

Some of the best ski slopes in Oslo are located just outside the city - and SkiHurdal is one of them. There are three lifts that operate throughout the winter so that skiers of all ages can have fun on the slopes.

There are levels to suit everyone. Even though there is a children's slope at the bottom of the facility, even the newest alpine skiers in the family will be able to manage on their own after a couple of trips up the main slope. From the top you can choose between green, blue, red and black runs - so there's something for those who need speed too.

Kolsås ski centre is located at the back of the popular and clearly distinctive peak that dominates the horizon when you look towards Bærum from Oslo. Getting to the ski centre is easy, and well worth the effort.

Once there, you can choose between three different slopes, two of which are specially adapted for little ones. The main slope has a double lift on one side, but you can choose the degree of difficulty depending on where on the slope you want to ski. Remember to stop by the cosy pitstop café to sample the popular coffee and toddy!