Wondering which fjord to visit during your stay in Norway ? You’ve come to the right place!
Norway is famous for its spectacular fjords, natural wonders offering breathtaking scenery.
To help you make your choice, we present the 5 most beautiful fjords we visited during our stay in Norway. We detail the various activities to be enjoyed by fjord, as well as itinerary ideas for your road trip in the Norwegian fjords.
Norway’s most beautiful fjords on our map
We spent 2 months in Norway exploring the country’s many points of interest, including the fabulous fjords.
You’ll find the best ones (in our opinion) on our interactive map. Let’s be honest, it wasn’t easy to decide between them! Below are our tips for exploring them, as well as our itinerary for a fjord road trip.
1. Geirangerfjord: the most beautiful fjord
Let’s start with one of the fjords we recommend you visit: The GeirangerfjordThe Geirangerfjord, with its adorable village nestled between immense cliffs and surrounded by turquoise waters, is a magnificent natural spectacle and, above all, a highly photogenic one.
We’re not the only ones to have fallen under the spell of this sublime natural landscape, which has been declared a World Heritage Site byUNESCO.
- By cruise: this is obviously the ideal option for exploring the fjord. Departing from the town of Geiranger, we boarded a motorboat to discover the fjord and admire up close the 7 waterfalls (also known as the 7 sisters) for which the fjord is famous. Find out more by clicking here.
- Viewpoints: the best-known is Dalsnibba, at around 1,500 m above sea level, with spectacular views over the village of Geiranger and the fjord.
- Hiking: the most famous in the area, to the old Skageflå farm (approx. 8km round trip and 500M elevation gain).
2. Lysefjord: At the height of adventure
The Lysefjord in southern Norway, near the town of Stavanger, is a fjord not to be missed. The fjord is 42 kilometers long. The special feature of this fjord is its luminosity, and its name means ” fjord of light “.
The light-colored granite on its flanks contrasts beautifully with the deep blue of the water. With its deep waters and high rock faces, some of which reach 500 metres.
Lysefjord is famous for the Preikestolen and Kjeragbolten, two sites that attract hiking and climbing enthusiasts. These rock formations offer breathtaking views of the fjord and its surroundings.
- Cruising: once again an ideal option for exploring a fjord. Departing from the port of Stavanger, we embarked aboard a silent electric silentto discover the Preikestolen, the famous rocky promontory, and other natural wonders of the region, including the impressive Rogaland waterfalls.
- Hiking: of course, the must-do hike in the area is to the famous Preikestolen or ” Pulpit Rock”, which rises to over 600 m and offers the best views. We’ve written an article to help you organize your visit and avoid the crowds at the Preikestolen. Key information: 8KM round trip, 500M elevation gain and 3h30 on average
3. Sognefjord: The peaceful giant
The Sognefjord stretches over 200 km inland and is Norway’s longest and deepest. It is one of the fjords to visit from Bergen.
Its many arms, such as the magnificent Aurlandsfjord, are jewels of nature offering tranquillity and adventure. A panoramic road runs alongside it, and we recommend Stegastein ‘s superb viewpoint for admiring the fjord. Norway knows how to showcase its natural heritage!
- The Aurlandsfjellet scenic route (Nasjonal turistveg Aurlandsfjellet): Connecting Aurlandsvangen to Lærdalsøyri over 47 km, this road offers breathtaking views, especially from the Stegastein viewpoint.
- Aurlandfjord is home to picturesque villages such as Undredal and Flåm.
4. Osterfjord: the most accessible from Bergen
Osterfjord is a fjord that can be reached in just a few minutes by boat from Bergen.
A shallow fjord, many cruises leave from the port of Bergen to reach the village of Mostraumen at the end of the fjord. As always, this fjord is surrounded by cliffs from which waterfalls cascade.
- Cruise: Departing from the port of Bergen, we boarded a beautiful boat and spent 3? hours cruising along the tranquil waters of the fjord, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. The company operating the cruise, Rødne Fjord Cruise, has an excellent reputation. Navigation is possible in summer and winter.
5. Oslo Fjord: the city dweller
This was the first fjord we visited on our trip. Unlike other fjords, which are often located in remote areas, Oslo Fjord is directly accessible from the Norwegian capital, Oslo.
The fjord is home to several small islands easily accessible by ferry from Oslo. These islands offer tranquil getaways, with beaches, picturesque villages with wooden houses, hiking trails, and even historical relics.
Road trip in Norway to explore the most beautiful fjords
As you can see, most of the fjords are located in western Norway. Here’s the itinerary we followed in the fjord region.
Be prepared to drive, as distances between points of interest are long and speed limits very low (on average, we drove at 60km/h).
Road trip 1: 10 days between Bergen and Geiranger, the central fjords
D1 Bergen city
J2 Fjords Bergen
J3 Fjords by road
D4 Nasjonalpark glacier, Nigardbreen hike
D5 Lake Lovanet, off the beaten track
D6 Eagle Route to Geiranger Fjord and other viewpoints (check road opening beforehand)
D7 Geiranger Fjord
D8 Trollstigen, the route to take in Norway (possibility of going to Dovrefjell Park)
D9 Alesund to return the car and catch the plane
Road trip 2: The loop, Oslo, Stavanger and Bergen: the southern fjords
D1 and 2 Oslo and its fjord
D3 Southern route from Oslo to Stavanger
D4 Stavanger and Lysefjord
D5 Preikestolen hike
D6 Sea route to Bergen (with ferry)
D7 Bergen and its fjord
D8 Return to Oslo
What is a fjord?
This was obviously one of the first questions we asked ourselves when planning our stay in Norway. So, a fjord is an arm of the sea wedged between mountains or cliffs (it’s salt water, all right).
The fjords are the result of thousands of years of glacial erosion, creating valleys submerged by the sea. In Norway, these natural formations are not only sites of breathtaking beauty; they are at the heart of the country’s history and culture, bearing witness to man’s adaptation to this grandiose landscape.
As you can see, each fjord has its own unique character and wonders to discover.
Practical tips for exploring the fjords
The best time to visit the fjords is from May to September, when the days are long and nature is in full bloom. Some scenic routes are closed outside this period.
Note, however, that some cruises remain open all year round. As you can see from this article, a trip to Norway requires advance preparation to avoid any surprises once you’re there!
The fjords can be visited in 3 ways: on a cruise, on a hike or on one of the roads that run alongside them.
A quick note: obviously, we haven’t visited all the fjords in Norway, and this selection has been made from those we have. Feel free to leave us a comment at the end of the article with your favorite fjords to share with other readers.
We hope this article will help you plan your road trip to the fjord region.
Don’t hesitate to leave us a note or 5 stars below, to let us know if you’re planning this trip, to ask any questions you may have, below we’ll answer you with great pleasure. Vous pouvez consulter nos stories sur Instagram de notre voyage en Norvège, pour vous donner un avant gout de ce qui vous attend !
