Fjord Norway

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The Aurlandsfjord in autumn colours .
Photo: M. Dickson / Foap / Visitnorway.com

Pinch yourself; it is real.

Fjord Norway actually looks like this – full of surreal viewpoints that could be taken straight out of a fairy tale, like Preikestolen in Ryfylke …

Preikestolen .
Photo: Paul Edmundson

… and jaw-dropping waterfalls, like Vøringsfossen.

Vøringsfossen in Hardanger .
Photo: Statens Vegvesen / Nasjonaleturistveger.no Architect: Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk AS arkitektkontor

The region is full of wild glaciers to explore on a guided trip …

Nigardsbreen glacier in Fjord Norway .
Photo: Fjord Norway

… and roads that seem impossible until you drive them – like The Atlantic Road in the Northwest, named ‘the world's best road trip’ by The Guardian.

The Atlantic Road in Northwest .
Photo: Jacek Rózycki

The western part of Norway is also home to the iconic fjords. See the mountains and waterfalls cascade down to the green-blue water.

The most famous ones are the world heritage listed Geirangerfjorden and Nærøyfjorden, Hardangerfjorden, Nordfjord and the 205 kilometres long Sognefjorden. But you will also love the less-visited fjords. The region has hundreds of them!

They are beautiful in summer …

Fjord cruise on the Nærøyfjord .
Photo: Fjord Tours AS

… but even more stunning in spring, when the hills are filled with colourful flowers in the orchards. Or in autumn, when the trees are covered in red, orange and yellow leaves.

Agatunet in Hardanger .
Photo: Robin Strand / Fjord Norge

Fruit blooming in the Hardangerfjord region .
Photo: Øystein Haara

Explore the fjords in all their serenity from water level in a kayak or on a boat trip …

Kayaking in Tafjord .
Photo: Fjord Norway / Magnus Roaldset

… or put on your hiking boots for an active day full of sweeping views. Great hikes can be found almost everywhere in Fjord Norway.

Some of them are tough, even for experienced hikers. Other walks are both short and easy – and equally stunning.

Explore the best hikes in Fjord Norway.

Hiking Dronningstien in the Hardangerfjord region, Fjord Norway .
Photo: Visit Hardangerfjord

Hiking Dronningstien in Hardangerfjord, Fjord Norway .
Photo: Visit Hardangerfjord

In winter, you can even ski down the mountainside – all the way to the fjords. Yiiihaaa!

Fjord Norway has excellent ski resorts where you find everything from challenging off-piste skiing to family-friendly slopes, like Stranda, Sogndal, Myrkdalen and Voss. On some glaciers, you can even go summer skiing.

Skiing in Sogndal .
Photo: Sverre Hjørnevik / www.fjordnorway.com

But relax.

Great views don't need to involve adrenaline or muddy boots at all.

Let the gondola take you to the top in Loen (pictured), Voss or Bergen …

Loen skylift in Fjord Norway .
Photo: Falkeblikk, Lars Korvald, Eirik S Bruvoll, Fotofalken, Bård Basberg, Loen Skylift

… or see the majestic mountains rise towards the sky on a fjord cruise.

(Check out the winter highlights in Hardanger and on the route between Bergen and Flåm.)

Flåm in Fjord Norway .
Photo: Berge / Knoff / Natural Light / Visitnorway.com

Or hop on the Flåm Railway, voted one of the world's most spectacular train journeys.

In fact, the Bergen Line and the Rauma Line also qualify for Lonely Planet's list of Europe's most scenic rail journeys.

The Flåm Railway .
Photo: Visitflam.com

Another highlight is to enjoy the views along one of the Norwegian Scenic Routes that zigzag their way through the rugged landscape of mountains and fjords.

Imagine driving up here, at Trollstigen.

Of course, driving roads like these take time. Fjord Norway is much larger than it looks on the map, so take your time – or concentrate on one part of the region.

Trollstigen in Fjord Norway .
Photo: Natural Light Earth

And make plenty of stops to enjoy the food.

The fresh catch from the sea. Meat as tasty as the pasture is scenic. And the crunchiest, most juicy fruit you have ever tasted – eat it fresh or sip the cider from the farms in Hardanger or the Sognefjord region.

Syse gard in Hardanger .
Photo: Toke Mathias Riskjær

The outer coastline is an adventure in itself, full of fascinating islands, like Grip. Here, many houses were washed out to sea in 1804, but they were rebuilt since the island is an important fishing community.

Grip Island in Northwest .
Photo: Johan Wildhagen

Fjord Norway is also a region of beautiful towns.

For many tourists, Bergen is the natural starting point. As a former Norwegian capital and Hanseatic city, it’s full of historical treasures like Bryggen – and a vibrating cultural scene with theatres, concerts and festival year-round.

Bryggen in Bergen .
Photo: Visit Bergen / Endre Knudsen

But Bergen is not the only urban marvel in this part of Norway.

Fascinating towns are scattered all along the coast, like the art nouveau beauty Ålesund (pictured), the foodie city Stavanger, and Haugesund with its rich Viking history.