High above Oslo, visible from much of the city, stands the Holmenkollen ski jump, one of the most recognisable landmarks in all of Norway. The first ski competition here was held on 30 January 1892, when somewhere between fifteen and twenty thousand spectators watched jumpers fly distances of 15 to 21 metres. In those early years there was no proper structure; the jump was simply a natural hillside with a takeoff ramp built from snow and twigs.
Over the decades the jump was rebuilt and expanded many times to keep up with the sport's development. It hosted the ski jumping events at the 1952 Winter Olympics and four FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. But the structure that stands today is entirely new. Between 2008 and 2010, the old jump was completely demolished and replaced with a sleek steel design by the architecture firm JDS Architects, selected from 104 competition entries. It was built for the 2011 World Championships and comprises roughly 1,000 tonnes of steel.
The project also became one of Oslo's most spectacular cost overruns. The initial budget was 310 million kroner. By the time the architectural competition was held, it had risen to 653 million. By 2008 it reached 1.2 billion, and the final cost landed at 1.8 billion kroner, nearly six times the original estimate. The city commissioner responsible for the project had to resign over the cost explosion.
Below the jump tower is the Skimuseet, founded in 1923, making it the oldest ski museum in the world. It was completely renovated for its 100th anniversary and reopened on 3 December 2024 with a new facade and foyer designed by Snøhetta. The renewed exhibitions cover over four thousand years of skiing history, from the oldest ski ever found in Norway to the polar expeditions and the modern Olympic sport. There is also a children's activity exhibit called Blåkollen, where kids can play in caves with gnomes and fog trolls from Norwegian children's literature. From the museum, visitors can access the viewing platform at the top of the jump tower, which offers an incredible panoramic view over Oslo, the fjord and the surrounding forests. If there is a queue for the lift, visit the museum first and check back later.
From the top, you can also look straight down the in-run and see what ski jumpers see before they launch. For those who want to feel it more intensely, there is a zipline. Further up the road from Holmenkollen lies Frognerseteren, with its famous log restaurant from the nineteenth century. Another popular winter attraction nearby is Korketrekkeren, a toboggan slope that runs from Frognerseteren down to Midtstuen. Sledges can be rented at the top, and at the bottom you take the metro back up for another run. To reach Holmenkollen, take metro line 1 to the station Holmenkollen and follow the signs.
Over the decades the jump was rebuilt and expanded many times to keep up with the sport's development. It hosted the ski jumping events at the 1952 Winter Olympics and four FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. But the structure that stands today is entirely new. Between 2008 and 2010, the old jump was completely demolished and replaced with a sleek steel design by the architecture firm JDS Architects, selected from 104 competition entries. It was built for the 2011 World Championships and comprises roughly 1,000 tonnes of steel.
The project also became one of Oslo's most spectacular cost overruns. The initial budget was 310 million kroner. By the time the architectural competition was held, it had risen to 653 million. By 2008 it reached 1.2 billion, and the final cost landed at 1.8 billion kroner, nearly six times the original estimate. The city commissioner responsible for the project had to resign over the cost explosion.
Below the jump tower is the Skimuseet, founded in 1923, making it the oldest ski museum in the world. It was completely renovated for its 100th anniversary and reopened on 3 December 2024 with a new facade and foyer designed by Snøhetta. The renewed exhibitions cover over four thousand years of skiing history, from the oldest ski ever found in Norway to the polar expeditions and the modern Olympic sport. There is also a children's activity exhibit called Blåkollen, where kids can play in caves with gnomes and fog trolls from Norwegian children's literature. From the museum, visitors can access the viewing platform at the top of the jump tower, which offers an incredible panoramic view over Oslo, the fjord and the surrounding forests. If there is a queue for the lift, visit the museum first and check back later.
From the top, you can also look straight down the in-run and see what ski jumpers see before they launch. For those who want to feel it more intensely, there is a zipline. Further up the road from Holmenkollen lies Frognerseteren, with its famous log restaurant from the nineteenth century. Another popular winter attraction nearby is Korketrekkeren, a toboggan slope that runs from Frognerseteren down to Midtstuen. Sledges can be rented at the top, and at the bottom you take the metro back up for another run. To reach Holmenkollen, take metro line 1 to the station Holmenkollen and follow the signs.