Norway Fjords - visit the most spectacular fjords in Norway

Bergen is the perfect starting point for exploring Norway fjords - the biggest attraction in Scandinavia. But what is a fjord? And how were they created? And how do I get there?  

Fjord Norway has some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world with their deep valleys and high mountains that make up the fjords running through the wild nature of Norway. You can find the fjords pretty much all over the Norwegian coastline. However, it is on the west coast you can find the most characteristic ones – like the Nærøyfjord marked on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.

What is a fjord?

Over millions of years the glaciers have dug deep valleys between high mountains and created the Norwegian fjords. You can still see some of these glaciers that are located between the peaks and are reflected in the crystal-clear waters of the fjord. In summer the outer ice melts into the fjord and gives the water a unique green color that shows that the water has been frozen for hundreds of years.

Gudvangen / Nærøyfjorden. Photo: Fjord Norway / Paul Edmundson

The word Fjord comes from the norse "fjörðr", meaning "where you travel across". You can find the Norway fjords in locations where current or past glaciers extended below current sea level. As the glaciers retreated, a typically U-shaped valley was formed and the sea filled the resulting valley floor – forming a narrow inlet connected to the sea.

Along the fjord arms there are small picturesque villages and farms that have existed for generations and have inspired many of Norway’s most important artists and painters. Even from the top of the tallest mountains, with peaks as high as 1700 meters above the water, you only see the fjord that extends indefinitely in front of you. The fjords in Norway is the perfect example of how the landscape has been shaped by the wild Norwegian nature.

Aurlandsfjord (a branch off Sognefjord). Photo: Sverre Hjørnevik - fjordnorway.com

Where are the Norwegian fjords?

The fjords can be found all over Norway, but the largest are in the West of Norway, where you find Norway's longest and deepest fjord Sognefjorden, which is over 204 km long and some places over 1300 meters deep. Sognefjorden is located just north of Bergen. In one of the fjord arms in the Sognefjord you find Flåm, the famous fjord village with the spectacular Flåm Railway, that takes you up the steep mountains towards Myrdalen. The fjord arm next to Flåm, Nærøyfjorden, is protected as a UNESCO world heritage site and is a unique experience, even among the Norwegian fjords. Tours like Norway in a nutshell take you through the Nærøyfjord on a fjord cruise and up the mountain side with Flåmsbanen on a fantastic round trip.

Further south you will find the Hardangerfjord, Norway's second longest fjord, 179 km long. The fjord is famous for its high mountains, but also the unique cultural areas that have enormously inspired Norwegian art. At the beginning of the fjord is the castle Barony Rosendal. In the summer the gardens at the Barony are covered with beautiful flowers giving the area a uniquely romantic air. Visit Baroniet on a day trip to Rosendal  for a truly unique experience.

And if you travel further into the fjord area and are willing to take the long walk to Trolltunga, you can see one of the most famous views in Norway. Take the trip through the fjord and look at the huge Vøringsfossen waterfall on the Hardangerfjord in a nutshell tour.

Bergen is known as the Gateway to the Fjords of Norway. Perfectly located between the two biggest fjords – the Sognefjorden and the Hardangerfjord.

North of Sognefjord is Geirangerfjorden, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its waterfalls and spectacular views. Geirangerfjorden is also known for incredible roads such as Trollstigen that climbs up the mountainside. Geirangerfjord is not possible to visit on a day cruise from Bergen. However, if you travel around the Fjord Norway area, it is a great place to include.

How to experience the fjords of Norway for yourself:

If you want to experience the fjords of Norway, you can see them on one of the many fjord tours that go from Bergen. Take a boat trip through the famous fjords and really get the feeling of the huge mountains along the fjords. Visit the UNESCO fjords Nærøyfjord and take the trip to Flåm and enjoy views of the fjord from one of the best viewpoints in Sogn. Take a roundtrip through the Hardangerfjord, have an activity trip in one of the fjords or go by boat though the entire Sognefjord. If you have less than one day, a half a day trip to Mostraumen outside of Bergen provides a complete fjord experience through the narrow and beautiful Mostraumen. The fjords of Norway welcomes you to gorgeous scenery, exciting activities and wonderful fresh and clean air.

Book your fjord cruise experience in advance:

We advice you to book your fjord cruise online before arriving in Bergen, as the most popular tours often gets fully booked. Here on visitBergen.com you can book your cruise online easily and safely. See the large selction of fjord tour here. You can also buy tickets in the Tourist Information in Bergen.