Finse, mountain village in Ulvik in Vestland, Norway
Finse is a small mountain settlement on Norway's Hardangervidda plateau. The village is surrounded by snow-covered terrain and glaciers, accessible only by train or bicycle since no roads lead directly to it.
The train station was built in the early 1900s as part of the Bergen Line and served as a crucial link across the mountains. The location also became a training ground for famous polar explorers like Roald Amundsen preparing for Antarctic expeditions.
The settlement's name comes from its location on the high mountain pass. Life centers around the train station and the historic hotel, where visitors and residents gather after days spent outdoors in the mountains.
The settlement is accessible only by train since there are no road connections. In summer, visitors can also arrive via the historic Rallarvegen bike trail from Myrdal, which offers a scenic alternative approach.
The location served as a filming site for the ice planet Hoth in Star Wars, attracting fans worldwide who visit to see where scenes were shot. It also hosted British polar explorers like Robert Scott as a training ground before their Antarctic journeys.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
