Notodden

Travel Guide

Notodden
Photo by Paige Spee
Photo by Paulien De Gaspari
Photo by Paige Spee
Photo by Anna W Gustafson

Once a prosperous industrial center and now part of a UNESCO-protected area, this town is also famous for its annual blues festival. 

Nestled amid the pristine Telemark countryside is the blues capital of Scandinavia, Notodden, a town with a strong industrial history. For many years a quiet rural town, Notodden experienced extreme growth when a hydroelectric power plant was established on its outskirts and neighborhoods were set up for its workers. The industrial days have since gone but together with Rjukan the town is a designated UNESCO area called the Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Site.

Start your discovery of the town in Tinfos, a cultural district home to industrial buildings from the 1800s and 1900s. Browse works by Christian Skredsvig and Theodor Kittelsen, among other artists, at the Telemark Art Gallery. In the same 20th-century building the Lysebuen Industrial Museum recounts the evolution of the region’s industry. The neighborhoods of Grønnebyen, Hydro Admini and Villamoen provide a glimpse into the residential life of factory workers.

Showcasing the town’s diversity is August’s Notoddeen Blues Festival. Since its inauguration in 1988 it has welcomed performances by blues legends such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Taj Mahal. Further cultural events take place at the Bok and Blueshuset, home to a blues-themed café, cinema, record store and recording studio. Multimedia exhibits and original artifacts at Notodden Blueseum highlight the growth of blues music from its beginnings in the Mississippi cotton fields.

Just a short drive to the west is the Heddal Stave Church, a medieval wooden church erected in the 13th century. Guided tours are available during the summer months. While here, visit Heddal Local Museum. It features examples of typical Norwegian buildings dating from the Middle Ages to the 1900s.

Be sure to spend time appreciating the unblemished mountain landscapes. The summit of Blefjell Mountain is accessible via a trail that winds around forests and marshlands. Go swimming and fishing at Lake Follsjø. Gronkjaer Skisenter is a free ski area with 11 groomed trails.

Notodden has its own airport, which has daily flights to and from Bergen. From Oslo you can take a bus and a direct train service operates from Porsgrunn.

 Thon Partner Hotel Notodden
Thon Partner Hotel Notodden
3 out of 5
Torvet 8, Notodden
The price is ¥22,929 per night from Jul 8 to Jul 9
¥22,929
¥25,680 total
Jul 8 - Jul 9
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Notodden. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Heddal Stave Church ...
8/10 Very Good! (22 reviews)
"It’s right in the center of town, very convenient and close to dining and attractions"

Reviewed on Jul 3, 2025

Thon Partner Hotel Notodden
Notodden Sentrum Apartment No 1
Notodden Sentrum Apartment No 1
3.5 out of 5
Telegata 3 A, Notodden
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in Notodden. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and in-room washers/dryers. Popular attractions Heddal Stave Church and Heddal Rural ...
9/10 Wonderful! (52 reviews)
"Property was fine but parking not marked well. Internet was out during our stay. Everything else was fine."

Reviewed on Jun 17, 2025

Notodden Sentrum Apartment No 1
Notodden Sentrum Apartment NO 3
Notodden Sentrum Apartment NO 3
3 out of 5
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnsons gate 8A, Notodden, Vestfold og Telemark
The price is ¥19,167 per night from Aug 3 to Aug 4
¥19,167
¥21,467 total
Aug 3 - Aug 4
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Notodden. Enjoy free WiFi and free parking. Popular attractions Heddal Stave Church and Heddal Rural Museum are located ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (39 reviews)
"Nice place, perfect for my one nights stay. Has everything an normal apartment has."

Reviewed on Jun 4, 2025

Notodden Sentrum Apartment NO 3
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.
Notodden Sentrum Apartment No 1
Notodden Sentrum Apartment No 1
3.5 out of 5
Telegata 3 A, Notodden
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in Notodden. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and in-room washers/dryers. Popular attractions Heddal Stave Church and Heddal Rural ...
9/10 Wonderful! (52 reviews)
"Property was fine but parking not marked well. Internet was out during our stay. Everything else was fine."

Reviewed on Jun 17, 2025

Notodden Sentrum Apartment No 1
Notodden Sentrum Apartment NO 11
Notodden Sentrum Apartment NO 11
3 out of 5
Aasmund Vinjes gate, Notodden, Vestfold og Telemark
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Notodden. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Heddal Stave Church and Heddal Rural ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (7 reviews)
"Easy to find, quiet and safe location for my vintage car. Easy access to the town. Good local tourist sights a short drive away."

Reviewed on Aug 14, 2024

Notodden Sentrum Apartment NO 11
Notodden Sentrum Apartment No 2
Notodden Sentrum Apartment No 2
3.5 out of 5
Telegata 3 B, Notodden
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in Notodden. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and cable TV channels. Popular attractions Heddal Stave Church and Heddal Rural Museum ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (45 reviews)
"Great space, spacious living area. Only draw back was no dryer for laundry."

Reviewed on Jun 17, 2025

Notodden Sentrum Apartment No 2
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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