"Saagar's Lillehammer pages" a Lillehammer Travel Page by Saagar

Yes, I still consider Lillehammer my home town, having lived here most of my life. Now, however, drab Oslo is my anchorage.
I'll throw in a few things here that I think could be useful for visitors with a slightly adventurous slant, on a budget. Things you can also do without depending on a car.
And also, some of the best things and worst things - see the relevant tip pages as they develop.

For day hikes from Lillehammer you can generally head eastwards. The western hills are less accessible, even if they also can be attractive. There is an office of the DNT (Hikers' Association) in town, as well as a helpful tourist office at the railway & bus station.
The best thing to do is to get on the bus and head for Nordseter some 15 km east of town at 800 meters and start hiking from there in any direction you fancy. No major mountains here, merely rounded hills and ridges up to 1030 meters. The treeline is at about 850 meter. The hike up to Neverfjell is good, offering great views around, and easily done in a day, summer as well as winter (with skis, though). Just consult your map, find the trailheads and off! The hike back to town could easily take the whole day if you spend some time in the Gropmarka area. Some small lakes there, tussocky marshes, stunted pine trees, some old-growth spruce forests and maybe a chance to see some moose.
For some more "developed" activities you can go to Sjusjoen by bus and get on the lake there by canoe or pedalboat. Better reserve that for late September in Greece, yeah?
Along the Mesna River, from town all the way up to the Lake Mesna, you can enjoy pools, waterfalls, forest and some good hiking. Fishing is also possible (licence).
On the forested plateau behind the Olympic ski jumping hill and just south from the ski stadium there is a small lake "Abbortjernet", totally and deliberately undeveloped, great for picnicing and swimming, away from it all. Warm water in the summer, opposed to that of the glacier-fed lake Mjosa and river Laagen. Take a taxi from town to Kanthaugen or the ski stadium and find your way easily by means of a map. To walk up from town would take you about 1 hour.
The river Laagen that enters Mjosa Lake at Lillehammer has extremely good conditions for several species of fish. The greyling, in particular, is a good catch. You need a licence from one of the sports goods stores in town. Fishing from land is ok, best on the western bank. A boat or canoe is ideal in the delta, but getting hold of a boat isn't easy. The only option might be to contact the Kayak Club which has their open activity day on Mondays and have some rentals.
In the winter, much more land is accessible, with the 400-kms ski trail network east and west of town. Again the best option is to take the bus from town east to Sjusjoen or Nordseter and set out from there. Skiing back to town can be good fun when you're done with the mountain trails. Easy skiing and you can make your own combinations according to your own speed, mood and physique -and the weather, of course. At the settlements mentioned there are hotels, more rustic pensions, restaurants and small shops catering for skiers and people who use their mountain cabins. I have one up there, too, just to keep me locked on to Lillehammer!

Did you hear CBS during the '94 Olympics talk about the mountain village of Lillehammer? Here's the down side: the city center is about 170 meters above sea level... But, come on, it's more than a village, it's a decent, two-street town!
Focus on the main street, Storgaten, and the parallel street closer to the railway station, Kirkegaten, and you've got it. Then there are some intersecting streets. Most of the "action" is on Storgaten, which is for the most part a pedestrian zone. Here you find most things of tourist interest, such as some key shops, restaurants, cafes and benches to sit on and just watch the Lillehammerians paddle on with their lives. On the next level up from town - like a terrace, also in walking distance, are two of Lillehammer's Olympic venues - for ice hockey and ski jumping. There are some museums and galleries to see. Lillehammer is also a good place to stock up on sports gear, food and things for your hiking/ skiing/ mountain cabin tour, if your next stop is, say, Jotunheimen, Gausdal or Rondane mountains. If you are heading from the south (Oslo and the airport) you can forget shopping in Oslo, as most gear will be available in Lillehammer, and definitely more easily available. But, people here value their time more than extending service, so the town closes early for shopping. A shopping mall at the river side (down from the railway station) may serve you in a crisis!
Lillehammer is a student town, which means there is a comparatively lively retaurant and cafe scene. The side street to Storgaten, Elvegaten and generally around that area of the bridge and square you will have some of the cheapest eateries in town.
The park in the southern part of town has a nice cafe and a good place to sit, also for a stretch on the grass.
If you look and head for the ugly landmark of the hospital, you are on straight course for the Maihaugen outdoor museum, which has a good collection of farms and houses from the region showing the development through the ages. There are several exhibitions, permanent as well as temporary, and a Maihaugen visit is always rewarding. What else? Check my tip section as it develops!