A fjord (or fiord) is a sea bay that is deeply cut into the mainland by a giant mountain corridor. In the middle of the straight and winding corridors, there is a piercing emerald-blue expanse of clear and deep waters. The waters reflect the steep cliffs and lush greenery. Along the shores, there are villages, small towns, and farms. This is how Geiranger Fjord (Norway) is seen by those who have had the privilege of visiting it.
This sparkling gem in the great Norwegian necklace of fjords also has a white cap of snow-capped mountain peaks, and beautiful waterfalls fall from the cliffs into the abyss.
Geiranger location and features
The picturesque 15-kilometer fjord, an arm-branch of the Storfjord, is located in the south-west of Norway, 280 km from the capital Oslo and two hundred kilometers north of Bergen – the “gateway” of the Norwegian fjords. The closest port city to Geiranger is Aalesund, just 100 km away.
The widest part of the fjord is 1.3 km from shore to shore (or rather, from rock to rock).
Researchers claim that the name of this fjord in Norway is meaningful: it is derived from the combination of the words “geir” and “anger.” The first word in Old Norse means an arrowhead, while the second refers to the fjord itself.
Indeed, the map shows how the top of the Geirangerfjord looks like an arrow piercing the high mountains.
The first fjords in Norway appeared as a result of glacier movement about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. These tectonic formations have carved out almost the entire Norwegian coastline. Each fjord has its own unique features and distinctive landscape, giving it a distinct identity and character. The Geirangerfjord is no exception. Some of its features have already been mentioned, while others will be discussed later.
At the point where the river Geirangelva flows into the fjord, there is a village of the same name, with a population of only 300 people. Both the fjord and the surrounding area are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The village is home to the Fjord History Center, which is a must-visit attraction for cruise ship passengers and independent travelers alike.
To see most of the sights in Geiranger, you need to spend 2-3 days at the fjord. There are several dozen hotels of varying comfort and price. If you plan to stay longer and relax, you should book your room in advance.
Sightseeing in Geiranger Fjord: What, How, and Where to Visit
Every year, about 600,000 travelers visit Geiranger. Even the largest ocean liners with thousands of passengers on board enter the port. Every year, there are between 140 and 180 of them. However, the tiny village in Norway never seems overcrowded with tourists, as the tourism infrastructure is well-organized, and all the tourist flows are successfully dispersed along various routes.
And not all travelers come here by sea – only a third of them do. The rest get here by other means. Judging by numerous reviews and photos on the network, it is Geiranger-fjord that tourists and travelers visit more than other fjords in Norway.
Trollstigen
Mountain “Troll Road” (Troll Stairs) was built in the 30s of the last century, but engineering and design solutions during its construction were developed at a fairly high level, and the road still performs its functions properly.
This is a road for experienced drivers: there are 11 sharp and sudden zigzag turns, and the road is only 3-5 meters wide at any point. Vehicles longer than 12.4 meters are prohibited.
On the map of the Geiranger Fjord (Norway) and its surroundings, you can see that Trollstigen connects the town of Ondalsnes and the town of Norddal and is part of the RV63 national highway.
In the early 2000s, repairs and fortifications were carried out, and the road’s safety improved significantly.
At the top point, at an altitude of 858 m, there is a parking lot, souvenir shops, and a large platform with views of the road loops and the powerful 180-meter Stigfossen waterfall.
Trollstigen is not open in autumn and winter, tourists can travel along it only from May to October inclusive. The dates of opening and closing vary slightly every year, about the exact ones can be found on the websites of local travel companies.
Useful tip! Almost every attraction and tourist destination in Norway has its own official website, and they are all easily accessible online. The official website for Geirangerfjord is www.geirangerfjord.no.
Waterfalls and Glaciers of Geiranger Fjord
Norway’s beautiful waterfalls can be found throughout this fjord. The large Stigfossen (180 m) waterfall is particularly impressive and can be seen from the Trollstigen observation deck.
The most famous and memorable are the three waterfalls 6 km west of the village:
- The Seven Sisters Waterfall (in Norwegian: De syv søstrene)
- Waterfall ” Groom “(norv. Friaren)
- Waterfall “Bridal veil” (norv. Brudesløret).
All of them are located close to each other and are united by a single legend. However, the legend exists in two versions, but the outcome is the same in both.
A young, brave Viking was captivated by the beauty of seven sisters and decided to propose to them. He purchased a veil and set out on his journey, but he was unable to choose a single bride among the seven. All of them were dazzlingly beautiful, and the Viking was forever frozen in indecision, his veil in his hands.
According to the second version, on the contrary, all the sisters refused the young man, and the Viking drowned his grief in a bottle – it is clearly visible in the outlines of the waterfall “The Groom”. A little further away, the abandoned “The Bride’s Veil” sprays small sparks, and opposite, on the other bank, is the waterfall “The Seven Sisters”: looking at this picture, the inconsolable sisters cry bitter tears in seven streams from a height of 250 meters.
There are several glaciers in the vicinity of Geiranger Fjord.
You can see them in Norway’s Jostedalsbreen National Park.
Viewpoints of the Geiranger Fjord
Of the most famous and visited sites in Geiranger, two (Fludalsjuv and Ernesvingen) are very close to the village, and the third is high up on the mountain of Dalsnibba.
Flydalsjuvet
This is a platform 4 km from the village near the highway, which goes to another village, Grotli. Most of the spectacular photos of tourists traveling along the Geiranger Fjord are taken from this platform, or rather, from the steep cliff below two parts of the platform equipped at different levels, connected by a walking trail.
The subject of all the pictures is the same: the subjects are jumping, standing on a steep cliff with their arms raised, or sitting with their legs dangling over the abyss, either alone or in pairs.
But it’s better not to take risks and sit admiring the scenery on the “Queen of Sonia’s” throne: just above it is an excellent viewing platform equipped with a stone throne, which was opened by the Queen herself in 2003.
And from the throne, it’s not a problem to walk along the trail and get even higher, to the main observation point of Geiranger, which is the first stop for sightseers by car. The views of the fjord and the port are wonderful in the summer: white boats and cruise ships dock and sail one after another.
Ørnesvingen
2 km from the village, a serpentine road (the Road of Eagles) begins in the opposite direction, rising higher to the ferry crossing. It can be seen from the first platform. The road first follows the coast of the Geiranger Fjord, then snakes up the slope, and near its last loop, at an altitude of over 600 meters above sea level, there is the Ernesvingen observation deck.
From here, the kilometer-wide fjord looks like a wide blue stream squeezed between the mountain slopes. And the cruise ships sailing along it look like toy boats.
Both sites are fenced, and there are toilets and parking lots, with a large one at Flydalsjuvet.
Useful tip! It is impossible for independent travelers to walk along the motorway serpentine to both sites, only by transport.
What’s the way out?
- Buy a Panorama bus ticket at the tour office for 340 NOK, they run regularly from one viewpoint to another. You can order a ticket on the website www.geirangerfjord.no.
- Or rent an eMobile – a green 2-seater electric car. The cost of an hour of rental is 800 NOK, for 2 hours – 1500 NOK.
It is a good idea to drive to the viewpoints of Geranger Fjord in the early morning or two or three hours after lunch. At this time, there are fewer tourists, and the light is excellent for taking great photos.
Dalsnibba
In the ranking of professional photographers, Dalsnibba takes one of the first honorable places, it is a real paradise for photo masters. In addition to the wonderful long-range panoramas of Norway, there are also many winning objects for shooting the foreground. This observation deck is located on top of a mountain at an altitude of 1500 m.
You can get there by taking a branch off the main highway, the Nibbevegen toll road (Fv63). The road is open from May to the end of October.
Cost of the session:
- By local bus, round-trip ticket — 450 NOK (stop 15 min.)
- 550 NOK/1 person on a panoramic bus, which first stops at Flydalsjuvet. The ticket booking website is www.dalsnibba.no, where you can also view the schedule.
- The entrance to the mountain is paid by car — 250 NOK.
As you climb, the temperature drops, and there can sometimes be snow on the summit even in the summer. There is a cafe, a small shop, and a service building at the top. There are many hiking trails from here, and the summit itself can sometimes be cloudy.
Exploring the Fjord by Water
There are several options for exploring the Geiranger Fjord (Norway), and tickets for tours and rentals of watercraft and equipment are available in many locations in the village of Geiranger. The season runs from April to the end of September.
The ferry goes to Ålesund, Valdall Hellesylt (at the opposite end of the arrow), and Strand.
Sightseeing boats depart from the pier every hour or hour and a half. The boat ride lasts the same amount of time, and it takes you across the fjord between the cliffs. The cost for one person is 400 NOK.
Rafting safari on an inflatable RIB boat is slightly more expensive – 495-695 NOK depending on the month, but extreme sports enthusiasts will not refuse the opportunity to try this option.
Kayaking is another opportunity to walk along the most beautiful fjord in Norway and see its interesting places. You can do it yourself, or in the company of a guide, which will cost 950 NOK for 2 hours.
Fishing from a rented boat is also an option for exploring Geiranger Fjord from the water. There are various boats to choose from, including small inflatable boats and motorboats of different power. The rental price starts at 350 NOK per hour. For more information, please visit geirangerfjord.no.
Tracking
There are more than a dozen tracking routes in the vicinity of the village.
There are very simple walks that start right outside the village and follow straight paths along the fjord.
There are also more difficult multi-hour tracks that go high and steep into the mountains, and you will have to drive to the beginning of these tracks. You can get a map of the trekking routes at the hotel or tourist center.
The most popular route among experienced travelers is to the old, long-abandoned Skagefla farm in the fjords.
Some start it from the Homlonq camping 3.5 km from the village, and other travelers part of the way from the fjord overcome a water taxi (boat), and then from a small pier on a steep path up to the farm, so that from this place to see the amazing view of the waterfall “Seven Sisters”. Then follows another equally steep climb and already further 5 km along the trail to the camping, from which others, on the contrary, start their way on this route.
Useful advice. It is up to the travelers to decide which of the two options for trekking to the old farm to choose. However, it is important to keep in mind that the descents on this route are much more challenging than the ascents.
How to get
You can get to the surroundings of Geiranger Fjord by almost any means of transportation.
Train
The nearest train station to Geiranger is in Ondalsnes. Trains depart from Oslo Central Station and Trondheim. The journey from Oslo takes 5.5 hours, and from Trondheim it takes 4-5 hours. There are many stops along the way. You can check the ticket price and schedule on the website www.nsb.no.
Bus
There are comfortable express trains from Bergen, Oslo, and Trondheim to Geiranger every day. You can plan the most convenient route for you on the Norwegian travel planner website: https://entur.no/.
Water transport
In the summer, you can take the Hurtigruten cruise ship from beautiful Bergen to Geiranger, which goes north. In the winter, these ships go to Ålesund and do not stop in Geiranger. Once in Ålesund, tourists can take a bus to the fjord.Car
From Bergen and Oslo, it takes 5-8 hours by car to reach the fjord area. From Ålesund, it takes 3 hours to reach the center of Geiranger.
You can also get to Geiranger by car ferry from Hellesjult, combining two modes of transportation.
By air
The nearest airport to Geiranger is also in Alesund. You can get here by air from anywhere: Alesund Airport Vigra – AES has regular flights to many Norwegian cities.
Geirangerfjord (Norway) – many travelers who have visited this place admit in their reviews that among these breathtaking sparkling pristine waterfalls, alternating small plains and high calm silent mountains, they felt like heroes of a Norwegian saga … And this is not surprising: the majestic Norwegian Geirangerfjord is among the ten most beautiful fjords in the world.
