The Nærøyfjord and Geirangerfjord are Norway's only fjords that are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The beautiful natural and cultural landscape along the fjord is unique, and the fjords in Norway are perhaps Scandinavias biggest tourist attraction.
Where is the Nærøyfjord and what should you know before you visit one of the world's most beautiful places? Here are 10 useful tips for planning your trip.
1. Where is the Nærøyfjord?
The Nærøyfjord (or Nærøyfjorden as we say in Norwegian) is located on the west coast of Norway. The fjord stretches from the Aurlandsfjord, which again is a branch out from the Sognefjord. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to drive from Bergen to the village Gudvangen, located at the end of the fjord. Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, after the capital Oslo and is located in the heart of the Norwegian fjords.
Photo: maps.google.com
2. How long is the Nærøyfjord?
The Nærøyfjord is about 18 kilometers long and has steep mountains on either side of the fjord. In comparison, the Sognefjord is 205 kilometers long.
3. How wide is the Nærøyfjord?
The Nærøyfjord is Norway's (and perhaps the world's) narrowest fjord, only 250 meters wide at its narrowest point.
4. How deep is the Nærøyfjord?
The fjord is about 500 meters at the most and about 12 meters at its shallowest.
5. The mountains along the fjord
The mountains along the fjord are up to 1,800 meters and creates a beautiful and dramatic scenery with its small farms clinging to the mountainside.
6. Gudvangen
At the end of the fjord, nestled in between the mountains, is the village called Gudvangen. Ever since the Middle Ages, the route between Bergen and Oslo passed through Gudvangen, and even today it is a popular place to stop along the route E16 between the two largest cities in Norway. Gudvangen also has a few nice attractions in addition to the fjord itself.
Gudvangen. Photo: Håvard Nesbø
7. Nærøyfjord cruise
The popular tour "Norway in a Nutshell®" from Bergen (or Oslo) includes a beautiful cruise between Flåm and Gudvangen. The cruise takes about 2 hours and runs all year round (the whole tour lasts for minimum 9 hours.). You can take the cruise as part of the tour, or buy tickets only to the cruise. On the journey you get to see the best of both the Nærøyfjord and the Aurlandsfjord. The passenger boat has large panoramic windows and great outdoor areas where you can enjoy the fantastic scenery.
Nærøyfjord cruise between Gudvangen and Flåm. Photo: fjordnorway.com/Fjord Norge
8. Kayaking in the Nærøyfjord
In Gudvangen, you can join a guided kayak tour as a part of the round trip "Standard extra fjord tour from Bergen". This round trip from Bergen includes train, bike from Myrdal down to Flåm, kayaking in the Aurlandsfjord and RIB boat to Gudvangen.
Photo: Øyvind Heen - VisitNorway.com
9. The Viking village of Njardarheimr
In Gudvangen you can also visit the Viking village of Njardarheimr. Here you can see how Vikings lived 1,000 years ago. "Real" Vikings of all ages live in this village just like they used to in the Viking Age.
Foto: Vikingbyen Gudvangen
10. Frozen
Did you know that the town of Arendelle from the Disney movie Frost is inspired by this fjord?
With its dramatic beauty and impressive nature, it is understandable that the fjord inspires both artists and filmmakers and attracts visitors from all over the world. If you want to experience the Nærøyfjord, you can join one of the many excursions from Bergen.
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