Borgund stave church, Lærdal, Sogn and Fjordane

Lærdal

Catch a glimpse of historical Norway

Situated at the end of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sognefjorden, Lærdal features dramatic mountain tops, unique wooden houses in Lærdalsøyri, and Norway’s best preserved stave church.

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Borgund stave church is the best preserved stave church in Norway, dating back to 1180. The church is built of 2,000 pieces of logs and planks, and although it is no longer used regularly for church functions, it is open to the public as a museum and well worth a visit. Getting to Lærdal and around is easy and accessible by public transportation.

The old city centre in the picturesque village Lærdalsøyri is also a popular sight, with more than 150 well-preserved wooden houses that date back to the 16th and 17th century. Today, Lærdal is a certified Sustainable Destination, a seal of approval given to destinations that work systematically to reduce the negative impact of tourism.

If you want to go for a longer hike, the Vindhellaveien takes you by Borgund stave church, whilst Kongeveien (The King’s Road) crosses the Filefjell Mountains. And these are just two of many hiking options in the area.

Find more inspiration on Sognefjord’s official website.

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sognefjord.no

Salmon fishing in Lærdalselva.
Photo: Sverre Hjornevik

Kongeveien, Filefjell.
Photo: Statens vegvesen

The Nærøyfjord.
Photo: Katrin Moe

Gamle Lærdalsøyri.
Photo: Terje Rakke / Nordic Life AS / Fjord Norway

Towards sustainability

The certification Sustainable Destination is a seal of approval given to destinations that work systematically to reduce the negative impact of tourism. In addition to providing visitors with enjoyable experiences, the destination must preserve the local nature, culture and environment, strengthen social values, and be economically viable. The municipality and the travel industry must cooperate closely to assure that the destination is a great place both to live in and to visit.

Find out more about sustainability in Norway

Sustainable destination

Things to do in Lærdal

Where to stay in Lærdal

Food and drink

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See it for yourself

Getting here and around

Get in-depth travel information at Sognefjord’s official website.

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By train

From Oslo you can take the train to Myrdal which connects with the Flåm Railway, named the world’s most incredible train journey by Lonely Planet in 2014. Flåm has bus connections with Lærdal.

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By car

If you travel by car to the Sognefjord area, follow the E16 from Bergen or the Rv7 from Oslo. Note that car ferries cross the Sognefjord and various fjord arms on several points.

You can choose several Norwegian Scenic Routes on your way to the Sognefjord area.

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By bus

Comfortable express buses run daily all year round to Lærdal from Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Lillehammer.
By ferry

Throughout the year, daily express boats connect Bergen with Sogndal. In the summer, there are also daily express boats between Bergen and Flåm. From Sogndal or Flåm, you can take a bus to Lærdal.
By plane

Sogndal Airport has daily connections with both Bergen and Oslo. Flight times from 30 to 45 minutes.

You can also fly to Sogndal from Sandane and Ørsta/Volda.

From Sogndal, you can take a bus to Lærdal.

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