The hotel
Venabu Fjellhotell is a family run hotel with a reputation for friendly, attentive hospitality. Venabu is well known for its excellent food and its high-quality activity holidays. Many guests return year after year, summer, autumn and winter.
Venabu sits in the centre of the Venabygdsfjellet plateau, at the southern edge of the Rondane National Park. We are on the mountain crossing between Østerdalen and Gudbrandsdalen, near the start of the Norwegian Scenic Route for the Rondane. The views are spectacular. This is an open landscape of lakes, mountains and forest. Peace and nature surround the hotel. You can hike and ski right from our door.
Venabu is a ‘fjellhotell’. This term holds a special place in Norwegian hearts. It conjures the image of a warm, cosy cabin in the mountains, down to earth and with a focus on its place in nature.
Built in the Norwegian architectural style, Venabu’s rooms are light and airy. Traditional colours, textiles and features contribute to the mountain style. Venabu has an extensive collection of Norwegian art displayed around the hotel. There are superb mountain views from the dining room and many of the bedrooms.
The spacious lounge or ‘stua’ has an open fire and grand piano. Guests gather to share stories of their adventures and enjoy a drink from the bar. There is plenty of space for everyone.
Read a book in our library, play one of our board games, have a game of pool, watch TV or just relax. During the main holiday seasons our musician plays before dinner and in the evening.
Complimentary teas, including loose leaf, Yogi and herbal teas, and coffee are always available in the lounge. You can order espresso, cappuccino, coffee latte or hot chocolate.
“A piece of paradise”
“A piece of paradise, I wish I lived here. Thank you so much I will be back!!”
Beata (UK)
“Wonderful time”
“Thank you for providing us with a wonderful time and such happy memories.”
Martin and Annie (UK)
“Wonderful visit”
“Thank you to everyone at Venabu for yet another wonderful visit …. We will return!!”
Anne and Chris (UK)
“A special place!”
“Thanks for the wonderful stay. Food delicious, rooms great and good entertainment.”
Janet (USA)
Our rooms
Venabu has fifty-six ensuite rooms, six of which are suitable for wheelchair users. Our rooms are simple and comfortably furnished with the traditional colors and fabrics of a mountain hotel.
Our food
Eat well at Venabu
Venabu is well known for its delicious food and generous servings. As a mountain hotel we like to share Norwegian and local food traditions and culture with our guests. In addition, we offer a full vegetarian menu every day, you can find our seasonal menus here.
Norwegian cuisine often favours meat and fish. Traditional cooking methods include curing, drying and smoking and our chefs are expert in these. Good quality, local ingredients and healthy, homemade food are important to our food philosophy.
Every Wednesday, in high season, we serve our special menu: ‘A Taste of Norwegian Tradition’.
We also host seasonal dinners and events. These include lunch at the summer farm, autumn game weekends and ‘Julebord’ Christmas meals.
Our kitchen is happy to cater for special dietary requirements and allergies. Please let us know when you book..
facilities
Your stay at Venabu
- Fully licensed bar.
- Two television rooms.
- Two saunas.
- Fully equipped gym.
- Yoga studio and yoga classes during the main seasons.
- Dedicated massage room. Massages are offered during the winter season and part of the summer season.
- Sunny terrace with warm blankets for enjoying the afternoon sun.
- Drying room for boots and clothes.
- Skistall and shop for expert advice and ski servicing. The ski room is open every morning. We make your ski day easier with wax recommendations and up to date information on track cutting. We hire cross country skis, pulk and snowshoes.
- Games room with a pool table, table football, shuffleboard and darts.
- Table tennis.
- A library where you can find a good book or borrow a board game or puzzle.
- Meeting room with space for up to 50 people, adapted for wheelchair users. The premises have a projector, whiteboard, sound system and windows with daylight.
- Small shop stocking carefully chosen gifts to help you remember your stay.
- One kilometre from Venabu, at Lundes, there is a KIWI supermarket and an outdoor clothing shop.
Welcome to our hotel!
“Our family has built up the hotel since 1950 on the motto ‘friendliness & helpfulness’. We look forward to welcoming you to Venabu, and the mountains!”
The Tvete Family
A hotel stay with your dog
Dogs are allowed in some of our rooms, so you can bring your four-legged friend on holiday. Venabygdsfjellet is well suited for walks with a dog both in summer and in winter. Dogs are required to be on a lead on Venabygdsfjellet from 1st April until 15th October.
On ski trips it’s recommended that dogs are kept on leads, out of consideration for other skiers. The hotel is home to the allergy-friendly, poodle-mix, Pepp. Pepp lives with hotel manager, Line Tvete.
Venabu is eco-certified
Venabu holds Norway´s Miljøfyrtårn environmental certification and is also Green Key certifed. This is an ongoing process and one which we are committed to continuing, you can find out more about sustainability at Venabu here.
Accessibility
Venabu has several rooms adapted for wheelchair users. The rooms in the West Wing are accessible by lift.
We have a 50 year tradition of hosting events for disabled guests. At the end of the winter we hold our “Vintersportsuke”. This is an “activity week for everyone”. We also work with other associations for people who are differently able.
Allergies
As an allergy sufferer, traveling on holiday can be challenging. We have several rooms without carpets, and we can supply synthetic pillows and duvets. Most of our rooms are kept dog-free.
Our kitchen is happy to adapt the menu for allergies and dietary requirements. Please let us know when you book if you have any specific requirements.
Travel to Venabu
It is easy to get to Venabu by car and public transport from Oslo and Trondheim. We offer minibus transfers from Ringebu to connect with public transport.
We also offer transport to various hiking destinations in the summer. You can enjoy a car-free holiday in the mountains. Every Saturday during the winter season, Venabu runs a direct bus from Oslo Gardermoen airport.
So much to discover – on one of our guided holidays, or independently
Located in the heart of a beautiful mountain area, Venabu is an ideal base for mountain activities, all year round. Step out of the door and into tranquility.
In summer the hiking is gentle and yet wild: small peaks, big views. Nearby are the bigger peaks of the Rondane, accessible for day tours, with transport.
The hotel is ski in/ski out, located in an excellent cross country ski area. The variety of tracks and terrain makes this a good choice for every level of skier. You can spend a week’s ski holiday here and enjoy a different tour every day. The snow record is excellent. For the adventurous there are many off-track opportunities. We offer Cross Country Ski Courses and lessons too. During the winter holidays we also offer snowshoe tours, horse drawn sleigh rides and dogsledding.
Venabu has an established programme of popular holidays. These include horse riding, cross country skiing, hiking, photography, yoga and mindfulness. It’s also an area you can explore independently in summer and winter.