HI Norway is a non-profit membership organization, established in 1930. Our network consists of 70 hostels throughout Norway. HI Norway is a member of the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF), the world´s leading provider of budget accommodation, with 4.000 hostels in 80 countries. Our Norwegian hostels offer reasonable accommodation to individual travellers, couples, families and groups. Today hostelling is at the heart of international tourism for a wide age group. IYHF has become one of the world´s biggest international membership organizations for youth, with more than 3 million members. Our mission is the same today as then: to offer safe and reasonable accommodation in an international and friendly atmosphere. HISTORY On April 2nd it is 75 years since the first hostel was opened in Norway! During the 75 years there have been more than 20 million overnights at our hostels. If all our visitors made a chain, they would almost reach around the world! Hostelling International Norway (Norske Vandrerhjem) was founded in Trondheim on April 2nd, 1930. The founding of the organisation was based on ideas of the young German schoolteacher Richard Schirrman. Richard Schirrman wanted to give his pupils and other young people of limited means a chance to experience the countryside and cities of the world. He stressed the need for safe and reasonable places to stay, and thus the idea of establishing hostels for young travellers was born. The first youth hostel was a meeting house in Trondheim, and there was only one, large room. In order to separate boys from girls, there was a line drawn on the floor, which no-one was allowed to step across. This worked well until separate rooms where made. EXPERIENCE NORWAY Norway is a country of great variation and contrast. As you travel from coast to inland or from the south to the north, the scenery will change from majestic fjords and idyllic islands, to snowy mountains and green valleys, quaint villages and modern cities. You will discover the variation also as seasons change. The snow melts and gives way to blossom in spring. Warm summers give way to colourful and sometimes rough autumns. Activities naturally also change with the season, although some can be tried all year round; have you ever tried summer skiing or ice fishing? Hiking, cycling, swimming,canoeing - the opportunities are endless. There are also numerous interesting cultural attractions; music and food festivals, famous historical sites and museums, not to forget the Sami culture in the far north. WelcomeÊto experience Norway´sÊfamousÊnature scenery and cultural richness! Staying with Hostelling International Norway makes it a reasonable and friendly experience. OUR HOSTELS At our hostels you will receive a pleasant welcome and be provided with safe overnight accommodation along with a good bed in clean surroundings. Our priority is to provide reliable, safe and comfortable accommodation to those who wish to visit Norway. We welcome individual travellers, couples, families and groups - with no age restrictions. Our hostels are located all over the country. Some hostels are city hostels open all year round. Others are located in the countryside, in the mountains, or at the seaside. Please note that some have a restricted opening season. No hostels are the same, so standards and facilities vary from site to site. A friendly welcome People working at hostels make the difference - they take care of you and make you feel welcome. The HI Norway team is committed to serve you by providing accommodation and information related to hostelling. The original hostel layout with large dormitories has now given way to shared rooms of limited capacity. The majority of rooms in our hostels today are 2 and 4-bedded rooms, and most hostels also offer single and family rooms. However, we still emphasize the importance of our hostels having pleasant communal areas. Guest kitchens and common areas indoors and outdoors give our guests the opportunity to meet new people and cultures while staying at our hostels. Staying at hostels makes your holiday somewhat special. Not only because of the affordable rates. It´s the right place to meet interesting people. As a guest at our hostels you will find an international and friendly atmosphere, making it easy getting to know others. Our guests are travellers of all ages and nationalities. WeÊemphasize the importance of our hostels having pleasant communal areas. Guest kitchens and common areas indoors and outdoors give our guests the opportunity to meet new people and cultures while staying at our hostels. Comfortable budget accommodation The unique aspect about family and youth hostels is that you may choose to only pay for your bed, not for unnecessary luxury. Your travel costs are therefore kept to a minimum. HI Norway aims to be the best accommodation alternative for people who want to spend their money on activities rather than accommodation. A part of the charm stayingÊat any of the Norwegian hostels is the fact that you cannot find two hostels that are alike. Some of the hostels are top modern, others are in wooden houses or fisherman´s cabins. Alta Andenes Kringsjå Balestrand Bergen Bodø Borlaug Bøverdalen Dombås Evje Feda Flåm Folldal Geilo Gjøvik Grong Gullingen Halden Hamar Lofthus Harstad Hellesylt Helligskogen Hemsedal Horten Hovden Inderøy Jæren Kabelvåg Karasjok Karmøy Kongsberg Kragerø Kristiansand Lakselv Leira Mjølfjell Mosjøen Moss Narvik Nesbyen Norsjø Oppdal Oslo Preikestolen Rjukan Runde Røros Sarpsborg Senja Sjoa Sjusjøen Skarnes Skien Sogndal Stamsund Stavanger Stryn Sunndalsøra Tromsø Trondheim Tynset Tønsberg Uvdal Valdresflya Voss Værøy Å Ålesund Åndalsnes Hellesøy