The most important reason we added Norway to our Scandinavia tour route was to see, live and experience the Norwegian fjords. Everyone should see wonders of nature like these! We know fjord trips aren't one of the commonly travelled routes, but we'd love for everyone to at least hear about them. We talked about fjords before in our Bergen trip, but let's explain briefly again.
During the fourth ice age, ice masses coming down from the mountains opened huge cracks in the rocks before meeting the Atlantic Ocean, forming deep, steep slopes. When the ice age ended, the melting glaciers released themselves into the sea. As a result, steep-sided valleys and these wonderful formations called fjords today were formed.
There are 1,190 fjords in Norway in total. Of these, large fjords like Sognefjord, Aurlandsfjord, Nærøyfjord and Osterfjord are usually on the list of places to visit. Without a doubt one of the most beautiful natural views you can see.. We visited the fjords written above except Osterfjord.
Sognefjord, as it's known, has gone down in history as the second largest fjord in the world. The fjord is 200 km long and about 1300 metres deep. The main starting point of our route is a wonderful village founded where Sognefjord's branch, Aurlandsfjord, ends.
So how do you visit these beautiful formations, or how should you? Since we tried to visit the places we could reach by train without renting a car, some places were left out; in this post we'll tell you about the experience we gained from the places we did visit, as a guide to the Norwegian fjords.
Looking at the Fjords from a Mountain Top
If you're flying into Bergen, definitely try to get a window seat. You'll look at the fjords from a different place, even higher than the mountains. We're not joking, we're serious! Another way to see the fjords is to watch them from the mountain tops surrounding them. If the sky is clear as the plane lands, the view is an absolute treat. So what did we, who came to Bergen by ferry, do?
In Bergen, going up Fløyen Hill to catch the view looking down on Bryggen is a must. Like us, you can buy a one-way ticket and walk back down to the city. Bergen of 7 Hills is where we talked in detail about Fløyen Hill; the one-way ticket for the funicular up it is 50 NOK per person. For those who want to buy tickets online, I'm leaving the link here.
Outside Bergen, you can visit Stegastein for the magnificent view of Aurlandsfjord near the town of Flåm. If we were enchanted looking from 320 metres in Bergen, looking down on the fjords from 650 metres must be a priceless feeling. We saw this fjord, but unfortunately couldn't do it from Stegastein.
Those who want to do it can get here on buses leaving from the town of Flåm. At first it seemed expensive to us because it was 325 NOK per person. But when we got to Flåm, I changed my mind. Just as we were thinking we should see this place too, by the time our turn came in the ticket queue there were no seats left on the bus we wanted to take. So we couldn't go.
Those travelling by car should definitely stop by. If you'd like to buy tickets for the buses leaving from Flåm, you can buy them here . If you buy tickets online, you remove the risk of the bus filling up.
Bergen - Flåm Ferry
Many people, as we chose to as well, reach the town of Flåm using the popular train or bus routes via Voss, Myrdal and Gudvangen. Instead, if budget and time allow, you can choose the fast ferry. That way you can see Sognefjord too.
The deepest and largest of the Norwegian fjords, Sognefjord is known, so to speak, as the King of the Fjords. Photographing the changing fjord views throughout the journey is a real pleasure.
The boats on this route stop at places along the way where you can take photos, letting you enjoy the view.
Since it's usually rainy, you may have to enjoy the view from inside the ferry along the route.
The ferries make 2 trips a day, and the journey takes about 5-6 hours. When I looked at tickets, selecting 1 person gave 865 NOK, and 2 people 1300 NOK. Of course these prices are for one way on the Bergen - Flåm journey. If you'd like to look at tickets and ferry departure times, you can find them here.
Half-Day or Full-Day Ferry Tour from Bergen
We said in our earlier posts that the first stop for starting to explore the Norwegian fjords should be Bergen. From Bergen you can join the North and South tours, with many little islands.
If you like, you can take a half-day trip from Osterfjorden, in Bergen (55 km from central Bergen), towards Mostraumen. The ferry, heading northeast from Bergen, passes very close to small settlements to offer the most beautiful views. On the tour we joined in Flåm too, in the same way, they gave us the best views by passing slowly very close to the fjords.
Waterfalls flowing from mountains that rise suddenly within 50 metres will amaze you, and you'll marvel at the magnificence of the landscape. If you want to see the fjords by joining this tour, you can get your tickets from the tourist office at Bryggen Harbour. Ferries leave every day at 10.00 and 14.00.
You can also join the full-day ferry trip to Rosendal, a tour of about 8 hours. This tour, at 670 NOK per person, starts from Bergen.
Fjord Safari & Fjord Cruise
On to seeing the fjords on the water. Here there are two options: the first is the boutique and somewhat more expensive Fjord Safari, the second is the Fjord Cruise on ships for 50-100 people, relatively cheaper than the safari. The main aim of both tours is to see and explore Nærøyfjord, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List..
Both tours have the same route, as follows: Flåm, Aurland, Undredal & Gudvangen. There are other, shorter tours too; if you like, you can look at all the tours here .
As with the Flåm train, these tours are in heavy demand, and when the places fill up no extra trips are added.
Fjord Cruise, if you're thinking of doing it, starts from 335 NOK per person, but prices go up as places run out. The price also changes depending on the ship you choose. If the ship type is classic it's 335 NOK, premium is 390 NOK. There was a classic at a time that suited us, so we went for that. The tour's last stop is the town of Gudvangen. If you like, you can go back to Flåm from here by cruise again or by bus. To make the times work, we did the reverse of the route we just described.
Flåm Train
Imagine an amazing journey of about 1 hour. You won't believe where this journey, just 20 km long, will take you! We loved this journey. Its views, its stops for photos: in every way it's a wonderful journey and a chance to see the Norwegian fjords.
The train runs between Myrdal and Flåm; built for local people's transport, over time it became a tourist attraction. Today it's even listed first or second among the train journeys with the best views in the world.
For such a wonderful journey, you can buy train tickets in advance. We made all the bookings and ticket purchases needed for the Scandinavia tour on the ACP Rail website. If you like, you can also buy them on the website of NSB, run by Norwegian State Railways. You can also buy tickets at any train station in Norway with cash or a credit card.
As for 2018 ticket prices: one person one way is 390 NOK, return 550 NOK. With the Interrail discount, one way is 273 NOK, but there's no discount on the return option. In fact, if you're buying a return, the Interrail ticket makes no difference. If 2 people go there and back, you need to pay €115 in total for tickets. If you ask whether it's worth it, we think that having come that far, you shouldn't miss this view, this journey!
Seeing the Fjords by Canoe
Wherever we went in Norway, we came across canoeists everywhere. Later, in our research, we realised that those who want to see the fjords can also see them by kayaking, that is, by canoe. During our ferry journey we kept watching people paddling. We were a bit jealous and wanted to be in their place. If we'd known earlier and were staying here, it would be at the top of the must-do activities.
On fjord trips by both safari and cruise, you can't go wherever you like. You have to follow a set route. But by canoe there are day or half-day tours, and if you like, even canoe options with overnight stays.
In the town of Flåm, 4 hours of canoeing costs 810 NOK, and the 2-day journey from Flåm to Gudvangen, including breakfast, meals and accommodation, costs 3290 NOK.
There are many ways to see the fjords, but unfortunately they're a bit costly. Which would you, or will you, choose?
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