The Garden
Welcome to the gardens at Dalen Hotel
Dalen Hotel opened in 1894 in a romantic Swiss style, with dragon heads, towers, spires and balconies. Today, the hotel is described by the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage as the best-preserved historic Swiss-style hotel in Norway.
The gardens stretch down towards Lake Bandak, while steep mountainsides rise around the water and create a dramatic setting around the hotel grounds. The connection between the gardens, the hotel and the surrounding landscape gives the place its distinctive character.
For more than 130 years, trees and plants have been planted here. One of the most distinctive is a yellow-spotted maple planted when the hotel opened in 1894, which still stands in the gardens today.
Garden games and activities
In the hotel gardens, you will find a selection of activities for both play and quieter moments. Here, afternoons can be spent enjoying simple garden games or simply finding a place in the sun and slowing down for a while.
Garden chairs are available throughout the grounds, with places to sit in both sun and shade.
Boccia
A classic garden game where the aim is to get closest to the target ball. Played individually or in teams, with simple rules and a relaxed pace.
Croquet
A traditional garden game played on the lawn, suitable for both casual rounds and friendly competition.
Cornhole
A social and accessible garden game where players throw bean bags at raised boards, combining precision with relaxed competition.
Kubb
A classic outdoor game for 2–6 players, where the aim is to knock down the opposing team’s blocks before toppling the king.
The Arboretum
The gardens at Dalen form an arboretum — a collection of trees and shrubs cultivated for both enjoyment and knowledge.
The special climate in the area makes it possible to grow species otherwise rare in Norway, and the collection includes both unusual and historic plants. Several of the trees are labelled and described, and maps of the gardens are available at reception.
The hotel gardener cares for the gardens throughout the season and is happy to share knowledge with guests wishing to learn more about the plant life.
The ducks at Dalen
Each summer, the gardens come alive with Dalen Hotel’s Pekin ducks.
The ducks live in the gardens throughout the season and roam freely between the lawns, pathways and pond, where they often stop for a swim. Over time, they become a familiar and charming part of daily life at the hotel — much to the delight of guests of all ages.
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