Jotunheimen is mainland Norway's most powerful mountain massif, and offers an extensive trail network, beautiful cabins and accommodation among Norway's highest mountains. There are many opportunities to take the bus to nice starting points for trips.
Published: February 26, 2025
Article
Bus to the cabin
Several of the DNT cabins have a bus service until the summer. On the large lakes Gjende and Bygdin, there are scheduled boats during the summer season. This gives you the opportunity for nice round trips in Jotunheimen. And some of the cabins have snowcat transport in the winter.
Here we give you an overview of public transport options to the most important starting points into Jotunheimen:
Gjendesheim/Gjende
Gjendesheim is beautifully situated at the east end of Gjende. There is a road all the way to the road all year round. Many people make the trip here if they are going to hike Besseggen. This is also a good starting point for trips to Glitterheim, Memurubu and Gjendebu. The boat trip across Gjende starts at Gjendesheim.
Bus
During the summer season, there is a bus service to Gjendesheim. Timetables vary slightly, find your departure here: En Tur
Green card:
If you arrive in Gjendesheim by bus, you will receive a gift card of NOK 100 that you can use for food, non-alcoholic drinks or activities at the cabin. Read more
Boat
Of course, you can get to Gjendesheim by boat! The Gjende boat calls at both Memurubu (Besseggen), Gjendebu and Gjendesheim several times a day from June to October - and can be combined with scheduled buses. The Gjende boat also brings your backpack if you want to go with a lighter daypack over Besseggen or Bukkelægret. Timetables and ticket booking can be found on gjende.no
NB: The historic M/B Bitihorn runs on schedule on the mountain lake Bygdin, and can be combined with hiking stages and luggage transport on the Gjende boat for great round trips in Jotuneheimen. Timetables and ticket booking for Bitihorn can be found here.
Fondsbu/Bygdin
Fondsbu is located at Eidsbugarden, at the west end of beautiful Bygdin. There is a road all the way up to the summer. And snowcat transport from Tyin in winter. Fondsbu is a good starting point for trips towards Olavsbu and Gjendebu and also towards Torfinnsbu, Yksendalsbu and Thomashelleren. The boat trip across Bygdin ends here at Fondsbu.
By bus from/to Oslo
In the summer, the bus goes every day all the way to Eidsbugarden where Fondsbu is located. Take the express bus from Oslo or Årdal with a change at Tyinkrysset. Apply to/from Eidsbugarden.
You can take the boat Bitihorn from Bygdin Fjellhotell to Eidsbugarden/Fondsbu. The boat also has a port of call at the self-service cabin Torfinnsbu. The boat trip across Bygdin is an experience in itself! Daily departures during the summer months of July - September.
Norway Bussekspress runs both to/from Bygdin Fjellhotell and Eidsbugarden Fondsbu.
By bus to Tyin in winter
You can take the bus from Oslo or Årdal to Tyin. Bus change at Tyinkrysset. From Tyin, you can continue with a tracked car all the way to the cabin. Or you can ski across Tyin, along a twig-strewn route.
Search for bus times and book on Norway Buss or on Entur. Search for snowcat times and book at Norway/JVB.
By snowcat from Tyin to Eidsbugarden
In winter, JVB runs daily routes with snowcat transport to Eidsbugarden/Fondsbu. It is an experience to drive with the nostalgic snowcats. Here you have the opportunity to get high in the mountains in a comfortable and exciting way. 12 Bombardier Snowmobile veterans enter service between Tyin and Eidsbugarden in Jotunheimen during the winter season.
In the summer, you can take the bus all the way to Leirvassbu. Then you will be in the middle of the DNT route network and have hiking opportunities in all directions.
By bus in summer
From Oslo you can either take a bus directly to Lom, and bus on to Leirvassbu or the train to Otta and from there bus on to Leirvassbu. You can read more about timetables on Innlandstrafikk's website.
There is bus route 203 that goes from Lom to Leirvassbu.
Sognefjellshytta and Krossbu are good starting points for the trip to Fannaråkhytta and for trips over the Smørstad glacier towards Skogadalsbøen and Leirvassbu. And also for trips north and into Breheimen.
By bus in summer
Throughout the summer season, when Sognefjellsvegen is open, you can take the East-West Express to Korssbu or Sognefjellshytta. Daily departures and also night bus. There is a bus change in Lom.
