Tourism in Voss then and now

Voss early developed connections with the outside world. The armed forces established training grounds in the vicinity and a variety of schools and colleges turned Voss into a centre of education. A number of small industrial companies were established towards the end of the nineteenth century. Roads and railways and the range of hotels and places of accommodation opened the area for tourism.

The British were the first tourists that came to Voss (in the middle of the nineteenth century) seeking outdoor activities such as salmon fishing, hiking in the mountains and mountain climbing.

In Voss the authorities soon realised the importance of tourism as an economic sector and in 1929 the local government established "Voss Turistnemd". This was an organisation focusing on the importance of tourism and in charge of marketing Voss in Norway and abroad.

After World War II, tourism developments increased rapidly. The ski lift in Bavallen opened in 1949 and this had effect throughout Voss. Today tourism is one of the most important economic sectors for Voss municipality.

Voss as a regional centre

Today, Voss is a lively community with approximately 14,000 inhabitants. Voss is the largest municipality in the county of Hordaland, covering 1,815 square kilometres, and the town is a regional centre for the inner areas of the county.

Tourism is a main economic activity, alongside agriculture and forestry, as well as commerce and various service industries that provide work for the majority of the residents of the municipality. As a regional centre the town has a variety of shops and services to cover most needs. The shops are located near Vangsgata and in the shopping centre Amfi Voss, extending the shopping area from the heart of the town centre across Langebrua to Amfi.

The landscape and nature in Voss

The landscape was shaped through millions of years, affected by the sea, glaciers and rivers eroding the rock and carving out smaller and larger valleys. Around 9,000 years ago, most of the ice disappeared. All the large plains in Voss were made by glacier rivers, as they ended in the sea or in large glacier lakes.

Voss town centre is situated approximately 57 metres above sea level, which is a surprise to many people finding themselves surrounded by mountains. Visitors to Voss are seeking experiences closely connected to the landscape dominated by mountains, valleys of woodland and farmland, waterfalls, rivers and lakes.

Many of Voss' activity providers make their income from the nature and landscape, from activities such as rafting or river kayaking in Strandelva, sea kayaking on Lake Lønavatnet, mountain riding in Stølsheimen, parasailing above Vangsvatnetn, mountain biking at Hanguren and skiing in Myrkdalen.

Areas of interest

Voss municipality is formed by valleys with Voss town at the centre. In these valleys,  tourists can experience a varied landscape, villages and communities with its characteristic cultural heritage and natural surroundings.

The Myrkdalen Valley and Voss Fjellandsby
Myrkdalen is located approximately 30 kilometres north-east of Voss town centre (a 25-minute drive from Voss town centre), following the road rv. 13 towards Vik in Sogn.

Voss Fjellandsby (Voss Mountain Village) has in recent years been behind the tourism development that has taken place in Myrkdalen, and represents one of the two ski resorts (also Voss Resort). The main goal for Voss Fjellandsby is to develop the area of Myrkdalen into a resort for all seasons, with activities, accommodation, restaurants, shops and other tourism facilities.

In Voss Fjellandsby there are now hotels and cabins accommodating tourists that are seeking nature based experiences, both summer and winter. Myrkdalen lies in close proximity to the mountain plateau of Vikafjellet and Stølsheimen, well known recreational areas for outdoor activities.

Stalheim and Oppheim
The areas of Stalheim and Oppheim are located alongside E16, the main route between Bergen and Oslo, approximately 25 - 30 kilometres east of Voss town centre.

The area of Stalheim, connected with Nærøydalen, is best known. This area, Nærøydalen and the Nærøyfjord, is now on the UNESCO list of World Heritage and are amongst the wildest and most prominent fjord landscapes in the world.

Stalheimskleiva, Sivle- og Stalheimsfossen, the historical Stalheim Hotel, the known Norwegian writer Per Sivle and the internationally known roundtrip Norway in a nutshell® are reasons why approximately 300,000 tourists include Stalheim on their list of places to visit.

5 - 10 minutes towards Voss town centre you find Oppheim, a quiet village located idyllically by Lake Oppheim. From here it only takes 25 minutes to drive to the town centre of Voss.

Raundalen and Mjølfjell

The valley East of Voss, which follows the Bergen railway line, is called Raundalen and stretches 40 km passed Mjølfjell and up to Upsete. From Upsete the known cycle route of Rallarvegen continues to Mjølfjell and on the road to Voss town. Raundalen and Mjølfjell are excellent areas for outdoor recreation, with its deep ravines, vast forested areas and steep mountains.

Evanger and Bolstad (E16 vest for Voss sentrum)

Evanger (20 km from Voss town) and Bolstad (30 km from Voss town) is located along E16 with train stations on the Bergen railway line. Here tourists can enjoy peace and quiet in calm surroundings.

Evanger is one of Norway´s few bona fide villages. The entire downtown area burned to the ground in 1923, a dramatic event that led to a large-scale restoration and created the street pattern that is currently protected as a historical building site and cultural landmark. In Evanger you can find a small supermarket, cafeteria and a used/antique dealer.

The community of Bolstad is a 10 minutes drive, or the next stop by train, from Evanger and is the only place in the municipality where Voss has direct access to the sea. Down by the fjord there is an outdoor recreational area designated for swimming and facilitated sand volleyball courts.

Voss sentrum og Voss Resort

Voss town is the tourist centre in Voss. In the town centre you can find Voss Tourist Information, where you can get assistance when organising your stay in Voss, such as booking a place to stay or booking activities. The town centre is also the pick-up point for a number of activities and Voss station is the starting point for many of the organised round trips, and the main shopping area is located here.

Voss Resort is located in Bavallen, approx. 5 from Voss town, and is one of the two resorts in Voss with access to the resort area by cable car in walking distance from the town. Similar to Voss Fjellandsby in Myrkdalen, the resort offers activities all year round, with accommodation in cabins or apartments. In summer time visitors can experiences Hangursbanen Cable Car bringing you to an excellent area for hiking and biking at mt. Hanguren, and a cafeteria displaying a panorama view of Voss. Access to Hangursbanen is only 10 minutes walk from the town centre.