You want to explore the famous Geiranger fjord, one of Norway’s most charming fjords. Are you wondering about the various options for exploring this fjord (hiking, cruising…)? You’ve come to the right place! We had the same questions when planning our trip.
Geirangerfjord is one of our favorite fjords in Norway, with its breathtaking panoramas and deep blue waters. Whether you’re sailing through its calm waters or admiring the panorama while hiking to the village of Skagefla or from the incredible Skywalk viewpoint, there are plenty of activities to discover the fjord.
To help you prepare, we’re sharing with you all the options for exploring Geirangerfjord. From discovering the fjord by boat, to the various viewpoints offering breathtaking panoramas, we’ll cover it all. We’ll give you some tips for discovering the fjord off the beaten track.
Our opinion of Geirangerfjord
Geirangerfjord is one of our favorite Norwegian fjords. 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.
And victim of its success, many cruise ships stop here. There were 2 of them on the day of our visit, which we tried to hide using the trees in our many photos. Still, we found this fjord really photogenic and managed to find a few secluded viewpoints.
Now that you know more about this little Norwegian nugget, we’ll give you the different options for discovering it and avoiding the crowds!
Map of the most beautiful places in Geiranger
Geiranger Fjord is a fjord nestled among mountains in thefjord region of southwest Norway, 100 km south of the town ofAlesund and 80 km fromAndalsnes.
To make your preparation easier, we’ve listed all the points we talk about below on our map.
Boat cruise on Geirangerfjord
As always, when we talk about fjords, we like to start with a little definition, so what exactly is a fjord? For the space of a few lines, we’re transformed into Jamie from “C’est pas Sorcier”. So a fjord is an arm of the sea wedged between mountains or cliffs (it’s salt water, all right). It’s the result of millennia of glacial erosion. It’s a thing of beauty and, in our opinion, a must-see once in your life!
No road runs along the entire length of the fjord, so if you want to explore the fjord in depth, one of the best options is to set off by boat to explore all its riches. It’s also a great way to get away from the crowds.
This is the boat option we recommend, as we wanted to go with a company offering small capacities on its boats.
- Favourite ❤️: The guided tour of the fjord on a motorboat, 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. At the same time, the guide shared with us useful information about the region and the Norwegian fjords.
For 1h30 we enjoyed sailing along the calm waters of the fjord, surrounded by impressive cliffs and breathtaking scenery.
➡️ A word of advice: don’t forget to book your tickets online in advance (around €59 per person), especially during the tourist season, as these excursions are very popular and the number of places is limited.
What to do in the village of Geiranger
As usual, we’ll be honest: we don’t advise you to linger in the village of Geiranger, as it’s a very small village and very touristy, with 2 cruise ships parked in the fjord when we were there in mid-June (photos below).
We did take note of the Fjord Museum, which traces the history of the fjords and explains in detail the tsunami of 1934. A good option if the weather is rainy. We just stopped off at a store called Geiranger Sjokolade Fjordnær, which produces great chocolate and was recommended to us by other travelers. Since we’re gourmets, we couldn’t resist the temptation!
Skagefla, the hike to do
For our first stay in Norway, we opted for the most famous hike in the area, to the old Skageflå farm. You have several options for getting there.
- Options 1 and 2: The trail starts at the Homlong pay parking lot, 2km from the village, payment via PayPal, the parking lot is small and there are also spaces on the roadside (6km – D+ 500m). Or you can start from the village of Geiranger (add 2km of hiking on a road).
- Option 3: You can take a ferry from the Geiranger terminal to Skagehola. The climb up to the belvedere takes 45 minutes.
The highlight is the abandoned Skageflå farm, with its lovely green-roofed buildings perched precariously on the fjord’s flanks, accessible via a path that winds through breathtaking scenery.
The descent is steep and the trail muddy in places (to be done in dry weather), so be prepared for a hike that requires effort and perseverance. An interesting option for greater peace and quiet is to take the ferry below the farm to the village of Geiranger.
Key information about the hike: 8KM round trip (from Geiranger), altitude gain 500M and 4h on average
In southern Norway, don’t miss the Trolltunga hike and the Preikestolen hike.
The most beautiful viewpoints: Skywalk
- Skywalk, a first viewpoint located at Dalsnibba, at around 1500 m altitude, offers spectacular views of the village of Geiranger and the fjord. It’s possible to drive up to the top of the hill, but the last stretch is subject to a fee (150 NOK/car), and the view is incredible. The road is open from mid-May to October.
The access road is also very hot: in mid-June, the snow was still deep and the lakes completely frozen. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast – it was very overcast when we were there, so we weren’t able to make the most of it.
➡️Si If you’re not travelling by car, all these viewpoints are accessible by bus. Here are the different excursion options.
- Flydalsjuvet: this viewpoint is located on the narrow Route 63 to the south of the fjord, and offers a lovely view of the fjord. The parking area is very small, which means it’s impossible to park a bus, so this viewpoint is a little protected from the crowds. We spent some time with our daughter picking the little wildflowers, soft little buds that look like tufts of absorbent cotton.
- Viewpoint: Ørnesvingen lookout. Located on the north side of the fjord, once again on Route 63, the Norwegians have built a beautiful platform from which to observe the fjord. Once again, we’re pleasantly surprised by the Norwegians’ ability to showcase their natural heritage. Of course, it’s a very touristy place where many buses stop. To avoid the crowds, we recommend a stopover during the lunch break.
- Point de vue korsmyra, north of Belvède dØrnesvingen, is a great place for a picnic, with tables available and several hiking trails starting from the parking lot. But we had no energy left to go hiking.
Kayaking off the beaten track
For greater peace and quiet, the ideal way to explore the fjord is by kayak. It’s an experience we’ve tried out in another fjord, and we loved sailing at our own pace and exploring a fjord on our own. Some fellow travelers lent us their Packraft (inflatable kayaks), so ciao Justine and Rénald if you happen to be passing by. It’s not as easy as it sounds, because it’s often windy in Norway, as your arms will remind you.
Guided kayak tours are available, suitable for all levels of experience, and allow you to explore hidden corners of the fjord otherwise inaccessible.
➡️En find out more about organized kayak tours in the fjord.
Practical information for your visit
Unusual accommodation in Geiranger
You can either choose to stay overnight in the village of Geiranger, with its sublime views over the fjord (a must), or in one of the two nearest towns, Alesund or Andalsnes. We advise you to book your accommodation several months in advance to get the maximum choice and the best prices.
We’d just like to point out that, as in the rest of Norway, the cost of accommodation may come as a surprise . Note that the cost of living in Norway is around 30% higher than in France.
To find suitable, well-located accommodation, you’ll generally need to budget around €150-€200 per night.
- Our favorite: Hotel Union Geiranger Bad & Spa: this accommodation is simply incredible, with exceptional views over the fjord from the pool (with children’s pool area inside) perfect for relaxing after a day hiking or exploring the fjord. We recommend you take a look at the photos here.
How to get to Geiranger fjord on your road trip?
Car
We recommend arriving via Route 63 (or Route des Aigles) from the south, where you’ll experience a spectacular descent, losing 1,000 meters of altitude over just 10 kilometers. We slept in a parking lot near the Dalsnibba viewpoint, so that we could make the descent in the morning and enjoy the panoramic views of the fjord from the road.
Remember to check whether the road is open at the time of your stay.
If you’re arriving by Route 63 from the north, we recommend a snack stop at the Gudbrandsjuvet Café, a great café with excellent cinnamon rolls, fully glazed to allow you to admire the superb waterfall opposite the glacier.
Airplane
There are many small airports in Norway, making it easy to get around this immense country. Internal links are well developed.
The nearest airport is in the town of Alesund, around 100km away. There are several daily flights from Oslo to Alesund in high season.
Rent a car
Public transport is virtually non-existent outside the cities. Hitchhiking doesn’t seem to be very developed in 8 weeks, and we only met and picked up hitchhikers 2 times.
The best thing about Norway is to have your own vehicle, so you can discover this incredible country at your own pace and stop for photo breaks.
Don’t plan to cover large distances at once – speed limits are quite low (60km/hour on average) and roads are often narrow, so you’ll have to wait on the side for another car to pass, plus the constant ups and downs demand a lot of concentration.
➡️Pourto compare rental prices, we recommend the RentalCars website. For example, you can collect your car fromAlesund airport. Remember to book in advance, and expect to pay around €50 per day on average.
How long can I stay?
Of course, the ideal length of your visit to Geirangerfjord depends on what you want to see and do.
We recommend staying 2 days to explore the surrounding area.
- D1 cruise on Geirangerfjord and afternoon hike to the village of Skagefla (weather permitting).
- D2 Explore scenic routes such as the Route des Aigles (Route 63), with its impressive views of the fjord (see our list above). Add a visit to the Geirangerfjord Museum to understand the geology and history of this unique region.
When should you go to Geiranger? What’s the best season?
Summer is undoubtedly the best time to visit Geiranger. During these months, the climate is at its mildest, offering pleasant temperatures that generally vary between 13°C and 20°C, and the days are long as you approach the Arctic Circle.
Other periods to consider :
- Spring (mid-May to June): The melting snow makes the waterfalls particularly impressive. It’s also ideal for avoiding the crowds. As mentioned above, there were already 2 liners in the fjord when we visited in June (around 6,000 passengers per boat…).
- Autumn (September to October): You can enjoy autumn colors and a still pleasant, if cooler and more unpredictable, climate.
- Winter (November to February): Geiranger is much quieter, and many attractions may be closed. However, for those looking for an authentic Norwegian winter experience and not afraid of the cold or the dark, this is a magical time of year, especially for activities like cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in the surrounding area.
Road trip around Geirangerfjord
We recommend spending at least 1 week exploring the area around Geiranger. We’re going to devote 1 article to our Norwegian road trip in detail.
Here are a few ideas of things to do and see around Geiranger – as always in Norway, the standard is very, very high!
To the south :
- Lovanet: about 2 hours to the south, this little-known lake with its transparent waters is nestled between snow-capped mountains. We took the only road along the lake, then picnicked at a small beach to get a closer look at the pure water, fed by numerous waterfalls. Another little corner of paradise away from the crowds in Norway.
- Nigardsbreen glacier: around 5 hours to the south, Jostedalbreen is Europe’s largest glacier. As you’ve probably gathered by now, everything in Norway is bigger and more impressive than anywhere else. We were able to get very close to one of its tongues after a 6 km round trip and 300M D+ on sometimes slippery rocks. The hike was simply sublime, with a view of a pastel-green lake on one side and the bluish glacier on the other. Another photo selection that’s not easy to make. Lison, accompanied by Licorne, walked 2.5km, with one goal in mind: to touch the snow on the glacier.
- Bergen: about 6 hours to the south, Bergen is a charming town to visit in Norway. Although we’re not big on cities, our curiosity led us to explore the country’s second-largest city (which looks more like a small village), and we were won over by its adorable residential areas and the funicular ride up to Mount Floyen. Don’t forget to explore the fjords from Bergen.
To the north
- The unmissable Troll Road– we’re going to devote an article to this incredible road. After many kilometers on a plateau, this series of dizzying switchbacks drops steeply into the valley. Platforms allow you to fully appreciate the panorama, with the gentle sound of the waterfalls making the place peaceful despite the world.
We hope this article will help you plan your visit and take full advantage of all the fjord has to offer. And who knows, maybe, like us, you’ll be enchanted by the unique charm of this fjord. The Fjords around Bergen and the Lysefjord at Stavanger are among the most beautiful in Norway.
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 !
