Location
The Hardanger National Tourist Route is a 194-kilometre-long stretch of road east of Bergen, in the county of Hordaland in Fjord Norway. Norheimsund, Kinsarvik and Odda are the three region centres in the area.
The road
The drive alternates between the dramatic and the gentle: the moorland landscape, the steep mountainsides with thundering waterfalls and the fjord, flat as a mirror, with peaceful harmony and space for contemplation. The area offers many opportunities for walking, fishing and bathing.
The Hardanger National Tourist Route also includes the Steinsdalsfossen Waterfall - Halne and Jondal - Utne stretches, as well as the future Tourist Route section from Tyssedal to Kinsarvik.
The road has been awarded the status national tourist route because of the landscape it goes through, which is for many the very essence of the national romantic nature of the west country. These lush green hillsides, the waterfalls, the mountains and the glaciers have been attracting tourists for more than 100 years.
Viewpoints along the road
There are several panoramic view- and rest areas along the Hardanger National Tourist Route. The locations offer magnificent views of the Hardangerfjord. Some of them have picnic areas and possibilities for fishing and swimming in the fjord.
What to see
Vøringsfossen Waterfall dazzles tourists with its multiple waterfalls all converging at the head of Måbødalen in Hardanger. Most people will view the falls from the upper and lower lookouts. A path from the national tourist route leads to the foot of the waterfall.
Steinsdalsfossen Waterfall has a fall of 50 metres, and is special because you can walk behind it. It is located 2.5 kilometres west of Norheimsund.
In the Odda Valley there are five great waterfalls, with the Låtefossen Waterfall as the most picturesque.
The Hardanger region is known as the "Orchard of Norway". If you travel there in late spring you will see the thousands of fruit trees in full bloom - quite a sight. Later in the season the cherries are on sale by the roadside (you can gorge on them to your heart’s content) and there is even a Sweet Cherry Festival held in Lofthus at the end of July every year.
If you would like to find out more about cider and apple juice production, visit the Hardanger Juice and Cider Factory in Ulvik, or the Hardanger Cideri in Jåstad.
Hardanger Museum Warf in Norheimsund is a living museum where boat building and boat preservation are in focus. Alternatively you can explore the history of the local culture at the open air museum Hardanger Folk Museum in Utne.
What to do
Experience the Hardangerfjord by joining a Hardangerfjord cruise connected by bus from Voss and Bergen. The fjord cruise starts in and returns to Norheimsund, and calls at the villages of Herand, Utne, Lofthus, Kinsarvik, Ulvik and Eidfjord.
Enjoy summer skiing on the Folgefonna Glacier, the third largest glacier on mainland Norway. Here you can go cross-country skiing, alpine skiing or try tricks and jumps in the centre’s terrain park. From the slopes at Folgefonna Summer Ski Centre you have view over fjords and mountains.
Do not miss a glacier walk on the Folgefonna Glacier. Three daily walks are available: a blue ice hike in Juklavassbreen; a walk along Sundalsvegen, a historical tourist road along Folgefonna between Sundal and Odda; and an educational walk along the edge of the glacier.
The vast mountain plateau of Hardangervidda is Europe's largest. Here there is an abundance of well-marked trails for hiking and cycling. In the Buer Valley it is possible to walk to the edge of the Buarbreen Glacier, which is a part of the Folgefonna Glacier.
Different kayaking trips are offered by FlatEarth Adventures, for example kayaking on the Eidfjord (an arm of the Hardangerfjord).
There are good fishing opportunities in local rivers, lakes and in the fjord. Fjord fishing is free. Fishing cards for rivers and lakes can be bought at the tourist information centre and other tourist venues.
Car walk is a combination of car trips with well-prepared and signposted walks of variable duration. Car walks in Hardanger consist of a touring map with suggestions for round trips by car combined with walks. The touring maps for cars are clearly marked with starting points for the walks, which begin where you park your car.
Where to stay
Located in beautiful surroundings in Lofthus, Hotel Ullensvang is a first-class hotel, owned by the same family for five generations throughout more than 160 years. There are stunning views over the Hardangerfjord and the Folgefonna Glacier from the hotel.
Travellers have been enjoying food and shelter at Utne Hotel since 1722. It is one of the oldest hotels in Norway to have operated continuously as a hotel in the same building.
Brakanes Hotel is situated uniquely by the fjord in Ulvik. The hotel is surrounded by high mountains, fruit orchards, a sparkling fjord and a varied cultural landscape. Many of the rooms have a balcony and a fjord view.
Tyssedal Hotel dates back to 1912 and the development of the hydroelectric industry in the region. This historical hotel is home to a large art collection. The hotel is renowned for its excellent cuisine.
Pick your own cherries, plums, apples and pears at Lofthus Camping, picturesquely situated in an old orchard, overlooking the fjord and with a view of the Folgefonna Glacier. Four minutes walk to the fjord. Perfect starting point for hikes into the Hardangervidda National Park.
Where to eat
Enjoy a good meal at Utne Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in Norway (see above), where the focus is on seasonal local food.
Hardangerviddahallen Restaurant/Café in Øvre Eidfjord is a modern café featuring traditional local cuisine. It serves typical Norwegian food made from local ingredients from Eidfjord and Hardangervidda.
Dyranut Fjellstove is the highest mountain lodge along fv. 7 (1,245 metres above sea level). There you can get accommodation and homemade, traditional food, with ingredients from the mountain plateau.
Read more about Food in Hardanger.
Facts
- Road: Fv. 7 between the Steindalsfossen Waterfall at Norheimsund and Halne as well as fv. 550/rv. 13 between Jondal and Kinsarvik.
- Length: 194 kilometres.
- Highest point: 1,250 metres above sea level.
Getting to Hardanger National Tourist Route
Hardanger is a one-hour drive from Bergen. The area is easily accessed by car or public transport. Read more about Getting to Hardanger and around.
More information
National Tourist Routes in Norway
Hardanger