Hardangerfjord - the Queen of the fjords

With Sognefjord being regarded as the King of the Fjords, Hardangerfjord is the shining Queen! With picturesque fruit farms and small charming villages lined along the fjord, Hardangerfjord is a worthy carrier of the title.

Where is the Hardangerfjord?

The Hardangerfjord (or Hardangerfjorden in Norwegian), is located south-east of Bergen on the west coast of Norway. The fjord heads in a north east direction and passes several islands including Bømlo, Stord and Tysnes before it is surrounded by only mainland. You can drive from Bergen to Hardangerfjord in just over one hour.

Photo: maps.google.com. Link to map.

How long is the Hardangerfjord?

With just securing its place on the podium, the Hardangerfjord is the third longest fjord in world. In Norway the fjord is a famous runner up, as the second longest, just beaten by Sognefjorden. The Hardangerfjord runs approximately 178 kilometres from the coastline and into the village of Øvre Eidfjord or Odda, depending on which fjord arm you are following.

 Photo: Reinhold Kager

The fruit orchard of Norway

If you ask a Norwegian to pull out a few images to represent Norway, half of them would probably show a picture from Hardanger. And it would definitely be in springtime with all the apple trees along the fjord in full blossom! It is truly a magnificent sight and even Norwegians gets a bit awed. The other half would perhaps show a person with a bunad, also from Hardanger. In the orchard. (A bunad is the Norwegian traditional costume.) Okay, perhaps someone would pull out a picture from Lofoten in northern in Norway, but for this purpose we’ll leave them be.

Apple harvest at Steinstø Farm in Hardanger. Photo: Heidi Steinstø Helgheim  

With the combination of good soil and climate, the fruits from Hardanger is exceptionally tasty. Try the Hardanger cider made from apple or the delicious apple juice. Many farms producing cider also offer tastings. The Hardanger cider has become very popular in Norway and is a typical gift to bring if you’re invited to someone for dinner.

How to visit the Hardangerfjord

So, no need to wait for an invite. The fjord is always open and ready to be explored. Being located south of Bergen, this is the natural place to start your journey. You can join one of the many fjord cruises from Bergen or set off on your own adventure. The choice is yours and the road is your highway. Well, not literally. Rather than express lanes, the roads are more of a scenic take-your-time kind of roads. But it is well worth taking your time. Read more about driving around Hardanger here.

To help you plan your itinerary when visiting Bergen and the fjords, check out Things to do in Bergen.

Hardangerfjord cruise

The fjord is of course the highlight itself. To see the fjord from the road is nice, but to be on the fjord is even better. And there are several fjord tours and cruises to choose from. Check out all the options further down on this page.

You will find the greatest selection during the summer season; however, spring and autumn is also great alternatives. The most popular tours are perhaps the tours called Fjordcruise on the Hardangerfjord or Hardangerfjord in a nutshell. These two tours are quite similar, and both include a detour to the Vøringsfossen Waterfall in Eidfjord. 

 

Another popular tour with great reviews is the tour Hardangerfjord Cruise and Waterfall tour. All tours to Hardangerfjord can be booked online here at visitBergen.com or at the Tourist Information in Bergen.

Vøringsfossen Waterfall – a surprise bonus

Filling up your camera with shots of the fjord, you will perhaps run into trouble when arriving at Vøringsfossen Waterfall in the village of Eidfjord. Because this waterfall you definitely want to show your friends and family back home! The waterfall plunges down 182 meters into the Måbødalen Valley and is one of the most famous waterfalls in Norway, and one of the main tourist attractions in Hardanger.

Vøringsfossen Waterfall. Photo: Visit Hardangerfjord / Simon Sjøkvist 

In 2015 the construction of a larger view platform was started and this is now complete. A further viewing platform in form of a bridge is to be completed by 2022.

Things to do in the Hardangerfjord – top 5 things not to miss

The Hardangerfjord is long and crooked and you might not have the time to explore the whole Hardanger area on one visit. Not to worry, we’ll help you along the way by giving you top 5 things not to miss. 

1. A fjord cruise. No surprise there, but it had to get the first place.
2. Vøringsfossen or Steinsdalsfossen waterfall. It’s hard to choose. The first offers grandness and the second one you can actually walk behind! Why not try to include both?
3. A hike to Trolltunga. It is definitely a hit on social media, but with the 12 hours (and strenuous) hike it is not for everyone.
4. Hardangervidda National Park. A mountain plateau and quite different from the steep mountains along the fjord and great for hiking. 
5. Taste the local cider by joining the Cider Safari in Sørfjorden.

HM Queen Sonja’s panoramic hike – Dronningstien

Some might say that this tour should be on the top 5 things to do in Hardanger. And perhaps rightly so. Much more accessible than Trolltunga and equally great views. Except the actual Troll’s "tongue" rock formation. But instead you get to walk in the footsteps of the Norwegian Queen Sonja, who is a passionate mountain hiker. 

Dronningstien in Hardanger. Photo: Visit Hardangerfjord / Simon Sjøkvist 

Dronningstien hike is still a fairly long hike of 16 kilometres and not for a beginners. However, a lot of travellers come to Norway to hike, and if you are one of them, then add this on your list together with these popular Norwegian hikes. The Queen Sonja’s panoramic hike has a normal duration of about 5-6 hours plus (it is a one way hike). Add a few hours for taking pictures, having a lunch break, and just enjoying the scenery.

If you want to do the hike but prefer a shorter version, you can start the hike at Røte and go the Heng route. This takes about 2,5 hours and is not as tough as doing the whole hike. Read more and see the alternatives for the hike at visitHardangerfjord.

Folgefonna Glacier - from fjord to skiing

Folgefonna glacier is located in Hardanger and is accessible from different locations. You can access the glacier from near the village of Jondal, where you will find the Fonna Glacier Ski Resort. You can also join a guided tour on the glacier. There are several possibilites for seeing the glacier on a day trip from Bergen.

When travelling the Norway fjords, check out these essential packing tips. If there are just too many fjords to choose from, then simply head over to The best fjords in Norway – and why they are awesome!