Skien

Travel Guide
Skien showing a house and a garden
One of the oldest cities in Norway has excellent galleries, museum and parks and is the eastern starting point for the Telemark Canal.

Skien combines activities in the Telemark countryside with attractions that celebrate industrial and cultural history. Once the site of a monastery, Skien traces its roots back to the 9th century. Its location on the shores of Hjellevannet lake and Skienselva river made it an important staging post for ferrying timber to the hinterland. The city was a favored destination among patricians from the 1500s, was twice destroyed by fire and rebuilt for the last time in the late 1800s.

Architectural masterpieces decorate the city, including Skien Church and the Italian Renaissance-style Frogner Hovedgård. Discover major events in Norwegian history at Brekke Museum, set in the beautiful wooded parkland of Brekkeparken. Get acquainted with contemporary national artists at the Telemark Art Center. Ibsenhuset is a cultural center with a year-round schedule of art exhibitions, concerts and theatrical performances.

The city is the birthplace of the acclaimed playwright Henrik Ibsen, whose childhood home is a few miles from the center. It has since been turned into the Ibsen Museum and has exhibits about his early years. There’s a statue dedicated to the playwright in Ibsenparken square while Teater Ibsen hosts productions of his works.

A visit to Skien isn’t complete without taking a trip on the Telemark Canal. Travel on a boat or rent a kayak to admire wilderness landscapes as you cruise this 65-mile (105-kilometer) long waterway. Keep watch for lockkeepers’ houses, sawmills and timber warehouses. The canal ends at Dalen, in the heart of Telemark county.

Come into contact with more natural beauty by walking the Skotfosstien trail. A collection of 15 interpretive signs provide historical facts. The Bakkestranda-Bryggevannet Trail follows the shores of Hjellevannet lake and the Skienselva river. Go to Fritidsparken for family-friendly sports entertainment such as curling, Frisbee golf, ice skating and miniature golf.

Skien is a 2-hour drive from Oslo. With bus and boat links to Dalen, Notodden and Rjukan, it’s a great place to start your Telemark adventure.

Thon Hotel Hoyers
Thon Hotel Hoyers
3.5 out of 5
Kongensgatan 6, Skien
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is CA $163 per night from Mar. 31 to Apr. 1
CA $163
CA $183 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 31 - Apr 1
Stay at this 3.5-star boutique hotel in Skien. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and onsite parking. Our guests praise the property condition in our reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (608 reviews)
"Nice hotel with a helpful staff and fantastic breakfast."

Reviewed on Jul. 18, 2023

Thon Hotel Hoyers
Clarion Collection Hotel Bryggeparken
Clarion Collection Hotel Bryggeparken
3.5 out of 5
Langbryggen 7, Skien
The price is CA $161 per night from Apr. 1 to Apr. 2
CA $161
CA $180 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 1 - Apr 2
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Skien. Enjoy free breakfast, a fitness center, and onsite parking. Popular attractions Brekkeparken and Skien ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (804 reviews)
Americans in Skien
"Lovely convenient location. Food was good. Service staff friendly and helpful"

Reviewed on May 31, 2023

Clarion Collection Hotel Bryggeparken
Henriks Hotell
Henriks Hotell
2.5 out of 5
7 Prinsessegata, Skien, Vestfold og Telemark
The price is CA $141 per night from Apr. 14 to Apr. 15
CA $141
CA $158 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 14 - Apr 15
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Skien. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Popular attractions Skien Tourist Information and Brekkeparken ...
8/10 Very Good! (374 reviews)
"Everything is fine except some little noise from the road traffickers!"

Reviewed on Mar. 1, 2023

Henriks Hotell
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Frogner Hovedgård
Frogner Hovedgård
4 out of 5
8 Frogner Ring, Skien, Vestfold og Telemark
Stay at this 4-star apartment in Skien. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Telemark Museum and Brekkeparken are located nearby. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (23 reviews)
"Rolig overnattingsted som er flott for barnefamilier."

Reviewed on Aug. 15, 2023

Frogner Hovedgård
Spend wonderful vacations in beautiful nature
Spend wonderful vacations in beautiful nature
Skien
Stay at this vacation home in Skien. Enjoy WiFi, onsite parking, and barbecue grills. Popular attractions Skien Sports Ground and Gimsoy Church are located nearby. ...
Spend wonderful vacations in beautiful nature
Spend wonderful vacations in this luxury holiday home with pool
Spend wonderful vacations in this luxury holiday home with pool
Skien
Stay at this vacation home in Skien. Enjoy private pools, WiFi, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Hjellebrygga and Bakkestranda are located nearby. Discover ...
Spend wonderful vacations in this luxury holiday home with pool
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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