You can't miss it. Whether you're on the E6 or the train, Vikingskipet stands out - a massive hall shaped like an overturned Viking longship. It was built for the 1994 Winter Olympics and cost 228 million kroner.
The design by architects Niels Torp and Biong & Biong isn't just for show. The curved roof reduces air turbulence, which helps create fast ice. Four world records were set here during the Olympics. It's still Norway's national arena for speed skating and one of the fastest tracks in the world.
The hall holds 10,600 spectators for sporting events and up to 20,000 for concerts. U2, Metallica and the Rolling Stones have all played here. Every Easter since 1996 it has hosted The Gathering, one of the world's largest computer parties - though after COVID disruptions and a cancelled 2024 edition, it returned in 2025 in a smaller format.
During winter, the ice is open for public skating. You can hire skates and glide around the same 400-metre oval where Olympic champions raced. The ice season runs from early November to late February. Hamar IL Bandy also plays home games here during this period. Outside ice season, or when major events are on, it's just an empty hall.
If you want ice hockey, the neighbouring CC Amfi hosts Storhamar Hockey, one of Norway's most successful teams with eight championships. That's a separate building right next door, also built for the 1994 Olympics.
You can visit Vikingskipet during opening hours for a small fee. There's a café and a small exhibition. But honestly, unless there's an event on or ice to skate on, the building is more impressive from outside than in.