On the doorstep of Norway’s main international airport at Gardermoen, Jessheim is a commercial hub north-east of Oslo. It’s home to one of the biggest shopping malls in the country and a lively cultural centre, as well as one of the largest burial mounds in Scandinavia.
Things to do in Jessheim
On the western edge of Jessheim is Rakni’s Mound, which is the largest free-standing prehistoric monument in the country. Dating from the Migration Age, the 77-metre-diameter mound was constructed using 75,000 logs piled in three pyramid-shaped layers. Learn about the archaeological excavations in the mid-19th century and the mound’s associations with King Rakni.
You can get your retail fix at one of Norway’s largest shopping centres, the Jessheim Storscenter, which is home to around 150 retail stores and restaurants. Browse the clothing for sale at the international chains or shop for homewares at one of the locally-owned stores before settling in for a meal at the Kaffebrenneriet, Castello or TGI Friday’s.
Want to stretch your legs? You can explore the trails that hug the shores of Nordbytjernet, a sprawling lake north of Jessheim’s centre. If you’re visiting in the summer months, take a dip at the small swimming beach in the lake’s southeastern corner. Keep your eyes peeled for reed hens, coots and whooper swans that are regularly spotted here.
Getting around Jessheim
Jessheim is around 35 minutes’ drive from Oslo and just 10 minutes from Oslo Airport. Regular trains connect to the Jessheim railway station, from where buses depart for destinations throughout the town. The centre of Jessheim is compact enough to explore on foot.