Hamar

This lakeside town on the shores of Mjøsa, Norway's largest lake, Hamar has a walkable centre with a good spread of cafés and restaurants, and scenic surrounds that reward photographers. The county capital of Innlandet, it hosted speed skating events during the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics at the Vikingskipet arena, and short-track and figure skating at the Hamar Olympic Amphitheatre. The national lottery operator Norsk Tipping has been headquartered here since 1975.

• Population29,479
• Nearest water from center1.6 km
• Nearest mountain from center3.8 km