Location
The Sognefjord is located located in the southern part of the county of Sogn og Fjordane, in the middle of Fjord Norway. Sogndal is the regional centre of the Sognefjord area with 3,100 inhabitants.
Top things to do and see
- Fjord cruises/fjord safaris
- The Flam Railway
- Aurland Mountain Road and Stegastein View Point
- Cycle Rallarvegen (the Navvies' Road)
- Urnes Stave Church
What to do
Fjord cruises on the Sognefjord and its two branches Aurlandsfjord and Naroyfjord
Go a fjord cruise and see snow-covered mountain peaks, waterfalls and idyllic farms clinging to the mountainsides.
Join one of several organised cruises/round trips with for example:
A cruise on the Naroyfjord is included on the popular Norway in a nutshell® round trip.
Boat trips are particularly thrilling in winter, when the mountains are covered in snow and the waterfalls freeze to ice. There is a daily boat service between Flam and Gudvangen during the winter, and you can combine a boat tour with the Flam Railway.
Fjord safaris
An exciting, insightful and aesthetic experience in secure and comfortable RIB boats with Flam Guide Service will give you the opportunity to experience the beautiful Norwegian fjord landscape and its rich wildlife at close range.
Stegastein Viewpoint
At Aurlandsvegen Mountain Road, 650 metres above sea level, you will find the breathtaking viewpoint Stegastein. Situated 6 kilometres from the centre of Aurland, you have a fantastic view of the Aurlandsfjord and the surrounding mountains. Can be combined with a walk to the Prest Mountain.
Kayaking on the Sognefjord
The feeling of silently gliding on the fjord in untouched nature is fantastic. In a kayak, you will also easily find hidden places that are great starting points for walks along the fjords, in the surrounding valleys or on the mountains. There are several possibilities for guided kayaking trips.
The Fjarlandsfjord
Leads you to the outskirts of the Jostedalsbreen Glacier. At the head of the fjord you'll find interesting attractions such as the Norwegian Glacier Museum and Fjarland (the Norwegian book town). From the ferry quay in Mundal it is a short drive by car or bus up to the Supphellebreen and Boyabreen Glaciers. Or you can join a guided kayak trip on the Fjærlandsfjord.
Urnes Stave Church
The church was built in 1150, and is the oldest stave church in Norway. It is situated in Luster, beside the Lustrafjord. Urnes Stave Church is the only stave church in the world to be included on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Feigumfossen Waterfall
The 218 metre high Feigumfossen Waterfall is in an idyllic setting on the southern side of the Lustrafjord. Take the short walk in to Feigumfossen or admire the view of it from the northern side of the fjord.
The village of Undredal and Undredal Stave Church
The village by the Aurlandsfjord is renowned for its long tradition in the making of goat's cheese, both white and brown. Undredal has 80 inhabitants, 500 goats and the smallest stave church in Scandinavia.
The Viking Village in Gudvangen
Walk the streets and alleys between reconstructed workshops, smell the fireplaces and tar covered walls in Gudvangen.
The Magic White Caves of Gudvangen
Inside the white mountain of Anorthosit, the Magic White Caves of Gudvangen welcomes you with colours and darkness, silence and music, magic ponds, Grieg, Trolls and Vikings.
What to do and see in the Sognefjord area
The Flam Railway
Enjoy a ride with the Flam Railway (Flamsbana), one of the world's steepest railway lines, which takes you past cascading waterfalls and in and out of snow-capped mountains.
Rafting
Go rafting down the Jostedalselva River.
Cycling Rallarvegen (the Navvies' Road) and the Flam Valley
One of the most popular and most scenic bicycle rides in Norway. Following the Rallarvegen, you cycle from the vast mountain plateau of Hardangervidda right down to Flam and the Aurlandsfjord, or Voss.
Stalheimskleiva Road
Stalheimskleiva is the name of the 1.5-kilometre long stretch of road that winds its way up the mountainside from the end of the Naroydalen Valley to the top at Stalheim. On its way to the top, the road winds its way up 13 sharp hairpin bends.
The Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre
Visitors are given an insight into the life history of the Atlantic salmon and the traditions of salmon fishing. You can also observe wild salmon and sea trout in the currents. The Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre is located in Lardal.
Borgund Stave Church in Lardal
Built around 1180 and dedicated to the Apostle Andrew. Borgund Stave Church is exceptionally well-preserved and is one of the most distinctive stave churches in Norway.
The Sognefjell Mountain Road
This is the highest and most impressive mountain pass in Northern Europe (highest point 1,430 metres above sea level). Along the Sognefjell Mountain Road you will find more records: Galdhopiggen, Norway's highest mountain, and mainland Norway's largest glacier, Jostedalsbreen.
Hiking
Historical Trails in Lardal
The many Historic Trails in Lardal are splendid hiking trails and national tourist attractions in their own right.
Molden Mountain
Molden has an amazing view down to the Lustrafjord, small villages, waterfalls, valleys and mountains. The walk up to Molden takes around two hours.
Walking the Aurlandsdalen Valley
It is wild and breathtaking, rich in plant and animal life, cultural treasures, history and geological features. The Aurlandsdalen Valley is known as Norway's Grand Canyon.
Nigardsbreen Glacier
Go hiking on the Nigardsbreen Glacier.
Island hopping
A journey with the post boat between the array of islands and bays in Solund. Experience the idyllic island of Gasvar or disembark at Bulandet, where you can enjoy the local art gallery, theme park and nice ocean views.
Where to stay
Kviknes Hotel
Beside the Sognefjord lies Kviknes Hotel - a beautiful and romantic hotel in the centre of Balestrand, with traditions back to 1752.
Walaker Hotel
Adjacent to the Sognefjord in the idyllic hamlet of Solvorn lies Walaker Hotel. The hotel, which has been in the same family's hands since 1690, is a charming hotel and an attraction in itself.
Eplet Bed & Apple
A small and friendly guest house and a small scale apple juice farm in Solvorn beside the Sognefjord. The atmosphere at Eplet is a mix between a family-run guest house and a modern hostel.
Fretheim Hotel
Mountains and the fjord surround Fretheim Hotel, a hotel in Flam with a history that dates back to 1870.
Flamsbrygga Hotel and Agir Brewery
Serving a variety of beers made on site along with meals made from local organic producers. Flamsbrygga Hotel and Agir Brewery are located in Flam.
Stalheim Hotel
Stalheim Hotel has a spectacular location at the top of the Stalheimskleiva, overlooking the Naroydalen Valley.
Facts
- Length: 204 kilometres, making the Sognefjord Norway’s longest fjord and the second longest in the world
- Depth: 1,308 metres
- The Naroyfjord, a branch of the Sognefjord is included on UNESCO's World Heritage List
- The national parks Jotunheimen and Jostedalsbreen Glacier are partly situated in the Sognefjord area
Getting to the Sognefjord
From Oslo
The Sognefjord lies approximately 350 kilometres northwest of Oslo.
- By car:
The drive from Oslo to the Sognefjord takes approximately five hours. Follow the E18 from Oslo to Sandvika. From Sandvika you follow the E16 to Tyinkrysset, via Honefoss, Fagernes and Vang. Continue on the E16 and shortly after passing Tonjum, follow rv. 5 down to Lardal beside the Sognefjord.
- By bus:
Daily departures to Lardal (approximately six hours). For timetables and booking, please contact Nor-Way Bussekspress.
- By train:
Take the Bergen Railway from Oslo to Myrdal. Then change to the Flam Railway that will take you down to Flam. Total travel time six hours. For timetables and booking, please contact the Norwegian State Railways (NSB) and the Flam Railway.
- By plane:
Direct flights between Oslo and Sogndal. Flight time approximately 50 minutes. For timetables and booking, please contact Wideroe.
- By bus:
Daily departures between Oslo and Lardal (approximately six hours). For timetables and booking please contact Nor-Way Bussekspress.
From Bergen
The Sognefjord lies approximately 170 kilometres north of Bergen.
- By car:
The drive from Bergen to the Sognefjord takes approximately three hours. Follow E16 and continue to Voss and Stalheim. From Stalheim you can drive the steep and spectacular hairpin bends of Stalheimskleiva. The road down from Stalheim Hotel has 13 steep bends before you get down to the Naroy Valley. You pass the Naroyfjord in Gudvangen and then you continue to Flam and Aurland.
- By bus:
Daily departures to various places in the Sognefjord area, for example Lardal (approximately four hours), with Nor-Way Bussekspress.
- By train:
Take the Bergen Railway from Bergen to Myrdal. Then change to the Flam Railway that will take you down to Flam. Total travel time a little under three hours. For timetables and booking, please contact the Norwegian State Railways (NSB).
- By plane:
Direct flights with Widerøe between Bergen and Sogndal. Flight time approximately 40 minutes.
- By boat:
Modern express boats depart Bergen city centre for Sogndal daily throughout the year. On the trip up the fjord the boats call at several villages including Vik, Balestrand and Leikanger. From 1 May to 30 September express boats also run daily from Bergen all the way to Flam. These boats connect with ferries to Gudvangen, Kaupanger and Lardal and transfer passengers out in the middle of the fjord. For timetables and booking, please contact Fjord1.
From Trondheim
The Sognefjord lies approximately 450 kilometres southwest of Trondheim.
- By car:
The drive from Trondheim takes approximately six hours. From Trondheim follow the E6 south to Strand, via Dombas. Then follow rv. 15 to Lom, via Vagamo. From Lom you follow the beautiful Sognefjell Mountain Road (rv. 55) to Sogndal.
Organised trips
You can travel with organised roundtrips from Oslo and Bergen with Sognefjord in a nutshell®.
Season: 1st May – 30th September. Duration: 1 day or more.
For more information about the Sognefjord and its surrounding areas, please visit the following sites: