Leira is where Valdres does its shopping. The Amfi Valdres centre and large chain stores have drawn most commerce away from Fagernes town centre, just three kilometres up the road.
The name comes from the river Leira, which means "clay river" – a common river name across Norway. About 940 people live here, making it the second largest settlement in the area after Fagernes.
This is a practical crossroads. The E16 passes through, and road 51 branches off towards Gol in Hallingdal. The old Fagernes Leirin airport is nearby – it closed for commercial flights in 2018 but still handles small aircraft.
The Valdres railway once ran through here. When the line closed in 1988, the tracks between Fagernes and Leira were torn up in 1991 despite protests from environmental groups. The old station building still stands – it now houses a workshop restoring antique stoves. The former railway bed has become a walking and cycling path running south towards Aurdal and Bjørgo.
Valdres Storhall opened in 2016 – a large indoor sports facility with a full-size football pitch, athletics track and climbing walls. Outside there's a pump track, mountain bike trails and a 21-hole disc golf course in the surrounding forest.
Several campsites along lake Strandefjorden offer beach access and boat rental. Valdres Folkehøgskule and the regional secondary school are both here.
For most travellers, Leira is simply where you stop for supplies. But if you're staying in the area, the sports facilities and lakeside campsites make it worth knowing about.