Maybe the Geirangerfjord and the Sognefjord are the most famous, but lots of renowned and less famous places are well worth a visit here. Here are 13 photos showing the best of what a holiday in Western Norway has to offer, from Møre og Romsdal in the north to Rogaland in the south.
1. Hjørundfjord
Surrounded by the majestic Sunnmørsalpene mountain range. A favourite place for hikers, mountain climbers, skiers and kayakers, as well as royalty. Beautiful little fjord communities, and perhaps one of our most popular Instagram images – the swing at Trandal. Explore the Hjørundfjord together with a few days in the Art Nouveau town of Ålesund.
2. Geirangerfjord
One of the country’s most famous attractions. The Geirangerfjord is a 15-kilometre long arm of Storfjorden, and one of the fjords that makes up the West Norwegian Fjords, with UNESCO World Heritage status. A trip through the fjord from Hellesylt to Geiranger will allow you to see some of the most widely photographed waterfalls we have – Brudesløret, De syv søstre and Friaren.
3. Fjærland
Where glacier and fjord meet. The Fjærlandsfjord is an arm of the Sognefjord, which ends in Fjærland at the point where it meets the Jostedal Glacier – the largest glacier in mainland Europe. From Balestrand, you can take a half-day excursion with a fjord cruise through the fjord to Fjærland, stop off at the Norwegian Glacier Museum for a visit and then take a coach trip to the glacier.
4. Sognefjord
The king of the fjords. It extends 205 kilometres, all the way from the coast to Skjolden in the municipality of Luster. Not only is the Sognefjord Norway’s longest fjord, at 1300 metres below the surface it’s also the deepest. Did you know, you can take a fast boat from Bergen to Flåm through the Sognefjord in summer?
5. Flåm Railway
One of the world’s most beautiful train journeys. People come from all over the world to experience the Flåm Railway. The railway runs from the Aurlandsfjord in Flåm to Myrdal, 867 metres above sea level. The journey through the steep, fertile Flåmsdalen Valley takes about 50 minutes, with a stop for photos at Kjosfossen. You can combine your railway journey with Flåm Zipline – Scandinavia’s longest zipline.
6. Rallarvegen
Our most popular cycling tour. From Haugastøl or Finse to Flåm, you cycle from the high mountain and down to the fjord. If there’s one cycling tour you have to do at some point in your life, it’s this one. It’s a relatively gentle cycling tour that anyone with a little cycling experience can do. If you take the morning train to Finse, you’ll be in Flåm in the afternoon with lots of experiences under your belt.
7. Nærøyfjord
World heritage at its most beautiful. This arm of the Aurlandsfjord and the Sognefjord is our narrowest fjord, surrounded by mountains that extend over 1000 metres directly up from the fjord. Along the Nærøyfjord, you’ll find idyllic fjord communities, tiny and untouched and with no road links. Together with the Geirangerfjord, the Nærøyfjord makes up the West Norwegian Fjords, with UNESCO World Heritage status.
8. Myrkdalen
The mountain community that is most famous for snow. Green meadows and lovely farms can be seen when the snows of winter melt. Here, you can take the ski lift into the mountain in summer as well, challenge yourself to an 850-metre pumptrack or join in with a guided fly fishing trip. Myrkdalen Fjellandsby is a great base for active families.
9. Hikes with fjord views
When the view makes you forget the effort it took to get there. Western Norway has lots of wonderful peak trips to enjoy, with magnificent views all the way down into the fjords. If you want to hike mountains with views over the fjords, Breiskrednosi is one of the highlights of Western Norway. Here, you can look 1.100 metres down into the Nærøyfjord – it really doesn’t get any more spectacular than this.
10. Stegastein
650 metres straight down. The Stegastein viewing platform projects 30 metres out into the air, directly over the Aurlandsfjord. This viewing platform, which is made of steel and clad in pine, has attracted a lot of attention for its design and is located on the National Tourist Route between Aurland and Lærdal – the section known as “Snøvegen”, Snow Road. The National Tourist Routes are a hot tip for your holiday in Norway.
11. Aurlandsdalen Valley
Norway’s answer to the Grand Canyon. The Aurlandsdalen Valley is on many people’s bucket lists as far as mountain trips in Norway go, and there’s every reason for that. You can walk all the way from Finse to Vassbygdi in Aurland in three stages, spending the night in various locations on the way, or you can take a day trip from Østerbø. It’s a powerful experience either way. Tip: take a detour into the Vetlahelvete pothole, and head past Bjørnstigen for the best views.
12. Voss Gondol
To the mountain in no time. Voss Gondol opened in the summer of 2019 and quickly became a firm favourite among all kinds of people, from families with children wanting a simple mountain trip and joggers wanting to continue to Lønahorgi or towards Stølsheimen, to pensioners who just want to enjoy a nice cup of coffee and some breathtaking views. The Hangurstoppen Restaurant offers panoramic views over the Vossefjell mountains. The trip takes less than 9 minutes from Voss station to Hangurstoppen.
13. Lysefjord
Beautiful nature and exciting rock formations. Maybe Preikestolen in particular has put the Lysefjord on the map for many people, but the area is so much more than just this rock formation. You’ll find a selection of wonderful mountain trips, lovely villages and magnificent nature. Besides Preikestolen, Kjeragbolten in the heart of the Lysefjord is a must if you enjoy trips. It’s also a well-known exit for base jumpers, so don’t forget to look up when you’re at the fjord!