Norway Fjords Itinerary from Bergen: the Ultimate 6-Day Road Trip

Discover the ultimate Norway fjords itinerary from Bergen, an inspiring 6-day road trip featuring scenic drives, iconic viewpoints, unforgettable nature and much more.

Norway is one of our favourite countries in the world. There is something about its majestic nature that is guaranteed to leave you in awe.

Since our first impromptu trip to the Lofoten, we pledged to go back and visit more of the country. While we fell in love with the Lofoten’s arctic landscape, the romantic fisherman’s cabins (or rorbu) and even the exhilarating winter weather, this time we decided to head south to see the majestic fjords.

Our trip objective was essentially to:

• Immerse ourselves in nature but without strenuous activities / treks
• Check off some must-see places while discovering hidden gems
• Have relatively easy access to the main points of interest

We satisfied all those criteria in our six-day trip, but in the hindsight we would have spread the journey further, to enjoy it at a more leisured pace with our six-month old son.

This on-the-road, Norway fjords itinerary represents a sensible plan for those using Bergen as a starting point. It is designed to be a suitable guide whether you are travelling as a family, as a couple or solo. It is also meant to provide you with a balanced experience, including adventure, culture, food and other enjoyable activities.

For each destination, you will find our personal recommendations, insider tips and practical information to sort the logistics. If something is not covered, leave a comment and we would be happy to help you organize your perfect trip!

Beautiful fjords and dramatic scenery are present all over the country. We fondly remember our visit to Nusfjord in the Lofoten, and loved our stay at the Nusfjord Arctic Resort. However, the “typical” Norwegian fjords are a specific geographical area in Western Norway spanning across 3 different counties:

• Møre og Romsdal, with Ålesund as the largest town
• Vestland, with Bergen as the largest town
• Rogaland, with Stavanger as the largest town

If you come from abroad, you’ll most likely have to fly to one of these towns as your starting point.

Generally speaking, Bergen tends to have more opportunities for direct flights (especially from Europe), followed by Stavanger and then Ålesund.

If flying from further away, you’ll probably stop in Oslo, before a domestic flight to one of these towns.

Bergen is the self-proclaimed “Gateway to the Fjords” although Stavanger and Ålesund are closer to their respective fjord systems.

The difference is not huge, so it mainly depends on the fjord systems you want to visit.

We decided to fly to Bergen to start our trip and did not regret it. We loved the city, its location, the well-preserved wooden houses and cobblestones alleys, and find it to be a great choice if you want to have nature at your doorstep while not disregarding city life.

Many people start planning a trip to Norway thinking they could see the country in a week. Even restricting yourself to Western Norway and the fjords area, it will take a long time to visit it properly.

Our Norway fjords itinerary started in Bergen and touched on various spots along the Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord. We haven’t done any specialty activities such as long treks, kayaking, water rafting or similar. If these are of interest, we recommend that you will add a few extra days to fit them in. In hindsight, we had 5 effective days (excluding travelling) and they were ok if visiting as a couple or solo, but a bit rushed when you have an infant. Irrespectively, we recommend using extra days to slow your pace rather than cramming too much in too little time.

We strongly recommend to stick with 1-2 main fjord areas unless having a minimum of two weeks at your disposal. You’ll see beauty everywhere, and don’t really need to drive around like a salesman for the sake of ticking boxes.

The different areas are also relatively similar, despite a few unique distinctions. Each has its own must-see and hidden gems, but travelling between them eats up a lot of time.

The Lysefjord outside Stavanger has the Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) and Kjerag. The Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord outside Bergen have Trolltunga, the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord branch and the stave churches, while Ålesund gives access to the world-famous and spectacular Geirangerfjord. On top of that, there will be many waterfalls, awe-inspiring vistas, glaciers, and trekking opportunities in most of the areas.

If you start your Norway fjords itinerary from Bergen, concentrate your itinerary around Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord.

Unlike Lofoten, there is a valid reason why winter in the Western fjords is not the best time to go. Seeing the Northern Lights is unlikely, a lot of panoramic roads are closed and the bad weather is real.

Summer has decent (Norwegian) weather but is often overcrowded, especially around Flåm and Geiranger due to heavy cruise traffic.

The shoulder seasons (late May/June or September/early October) are the nice sweet spot.

We really enjoyed our trip in late May. We had good weather (with passing showers) and no big crowds (except maybe in Flåm). Also, most of the key activities/attractions were open and did not require significant pre-booking.

However, certain attractions are highly seasonal and it’s worth checking whether these are open if travelling outside peak season. For example, we wanted to drive the Aurlandsfjellet Scenic Route, to later discover that it was opening on June 1^st. As these and other attractions are highly dependent on the weather, we recommend to check them in advance and plan your trip accordingly, if you decide to include them in your itinerary. You can find more information on the roads status and accessibility here.

For maximum flexibility, hiring a car is the best option to see most of the places at your own pace. The roads are generally very good and traffic is almost non-existent.

If you drive from Europe, Fjord Line operates ferries from Hirtshals (Denmark) to Bergen and Risavika (near Stavanger), where you can start your trip.

We hired a car at Bergen airport two months in advance through Booking.com, and spent NOK 7560 including full insurance. Bear in mind that you‘ll have to pay toll charges for certain roads, including the E16 from Bergen to Flåm. If you hire a car, these will be automatically deducted from your deposit (we paid NOK 425 for 5 days).  A few other roads are instead private (like the scenic Tindevegen road), and payment is processed separately.

Bus, train or ferry are also available depending on which fjord you want to visit. They all stop in key hubs but you need a combination of these and/or private tours to maximise exploration. If you prefer joining a tour, the popular Norway in a Nutshell or Hardangerfjord in a Nutshell represent the easiest way to get a taste of the region, with all the pros and cons of organized tours.

The fjords are huge and it could be a bit overwhelming to decide where to stay.

We recommend to stay in a scenic area, strategically close to many attractions, but to avoid the main cruise ports.

We loved Aurland, a tiny village on the Sognefjord, at only 10min driving from Flåm but without the massive crowds. Gudvangen could be another option if you like to feel like a Viking, although the accommodation offer is more limited. These places provide good access to the Southern (and most popular) section of the Sognefjord, at only 2:30h from Bergen. If you prefer staying north, the village of Balestrand is also a great option.

Some Sognefjord accommodation options include:

• Wangen Apartments – Scandi style with fjord and floating sauna at your doorstep
• Aurland 29/2 – Stylish boutique hotel and gourmet restaurant in the heart of the valley
• Kviknes Hotel – Piece of history in Balestrand

The villages of Eidfjord and Ulvik are a good base to visit the Hardangerfjord. However, we preferred to stay in Lofthus due to the great combination of beauty, accessibility and hospitality options. Also, in our opinion, Lofthus is located on the prettiest part of the Hardangerfjord, with spectacular views of the Folgefonna glacier in front and idyllic orchards at your back.

Best accommodation option:

• Ullensvang Hotel –  Historical hotel with the best spa selection in spectacular location.

Bergen is a lovely town, the prettiest we have seen in Norway and one of our favourite in Scandinavia.

We started our trip in late May, benefiting from extended daylight and blessed by proper sunshine on our arrival. We landed just before 5pm, took our pre-booked car and after a short 20min drive, we arrived at our hotel.

The first day is all about settling-in and have an initial feel for the place. The good news is that, if visiting in summer or late spring, the prolonged daylight plays in your favour and you will end up stretching towards the late evening without even realizing it.

After check-in, we had dinner and a leisure stroll, without renouncing to the classic photo of Bryggen from the harbour.

We climbed the pretty Østre Murallmenningen (the Norwegian answer to San Francisco’s Lombard street), and explored the surroundings, before we called it a day.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS – Bryggen view from harbour

ACCOMMODATION – Magic Hotel Apartments Kløverhuset (or any other suitable accommodation close to the Vågen Harbour)

Second day is all about exploring the city centre before venturing into the Sognefjord. As this blog post is about the fjords experience, we will focus on this topic rather than Bergen.

For more information, you can read our Bergen guide for great tips of how to make the most of it, without venturing too much inland.

After spending most of the day exploring the town, we headed to our car at 5pm, put the baby to sleep (not an easy task) and we were ready to go!

We started our Norway fjords itinerary after heading out of Bergen in the afternoon. The estimated journey time was 2:40h, but the trip becomes interesting soon after leaving the city. You probably want to pull over every 5min for the best photo of the century, but realistically your first useful stop is the village of Vossevangen (or Voss).

Voss is a village of 7,000 inhabitants, basically a metropolis compared to the other ones in the Sognefjord. Many sources online propose Voss as a base to explore the region, strategically located between the Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord. The reality is that it is far from both, and residing here would involve significant driving back and forth. Unless you are an adrenaline-junkie (Voss is the extreme sport capital of Norway), we think you should stay closer to the fjords.

We skipped Voss and instead stopped at the beautiful Tvindefossen waterfall, only 15min after. The waterfall is easily reachable and directly accessible from the road, so that you don’t have to divert your journey. We got there around 7pm (still plenty of daylight) and felt privileged to be the only people around.

Leaving Tvindefossen, the landscape gets even more beautiful culminating in the spectacular Nærøydalen Valley, best observed from the Stalheim Hotel. A stopover here is an absolute must and one of the highlights of a trip to Western Norway.

Our cunning plan was to arrive at dinner time, for the magic combo of spectacular view plus satisfied stomach, but we had to contain our expectations as the restaurant was fully booked. If you’re coming here in the evening, we recommend booking the restaurant to avoid a last minute disappointment. Nevertheless the views were fantastic and what we really came here for!

Note: Stalheim Hotel is currently closed and set to re-open in May 2026.

We then drove to Flåm (30min), ate at the Viking-inspired Ægir BrewPub and after 10min reached our accommodation in Aurland.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS – Tvindefossen, Stalheim Hotel View

ACCOMMODATION – Wangen Apartments Hotel (Aurland)

Straight after breakfast, we headed for the Stegastein viewpoint.

The scenic journey is 20min by car and there is a small parking lot by the viewpoint, making it convenient. The place is not unnoticed and you’ll see plenty of tour buses, but if driving your own car you have the luxury to wait for the crowds to leave before enjoying the place on your terms. This was supposed to be one of the highlights of our trip and it did not disappoint. We recommend that you include it in your itinerary, given the spectacular view over the Aurlandsfjord and the easy access.

At this point, we wanted to continue upwards through the Aurlandsfjellet, one the National Scenic Routes famous for its imposing snow walls flanking the road and the untouched alpine landscape, but found out that the road was closed.

After the gruelling experience of driving through the longest tunnel in the world, we took the old King’s Road and in about 30min we arrived to Borgund Stave Church.

Built around 1180, this is the best-preserved wooden church of its kind and one of the “key attractions” here. We were completely alone as tour buses tend to come and go, and could thoroughly appreciate the enchanted atmosphere of the place.

Coming back towards the Sognefjord, the first attempt to find a human settlement is in the village of Lærdalsøyri. As finding a lunch spot in the area between Aurland, Borgund and Lærdalsøyri is already a great achievement, our advice is to:

• Either pack your own lunch
• Or settle for any sort of café / takeaway that you can find

We opted for the latter and ate at an unassuming café in Lærdalsøyri. The village has a different vibe compared to what we have seen around here. The atmosphere was eerie, partly influenced by the gloomy weather and by the numerous old wooden buildings around the village. The result is an interesting mix of wild-west vibe and border village architecture with a Nordic flair, which is worth checking out for a quick stop.

Our journey at this point should have continued North, with stops at the Kaupanger and Urnes Stave Churches before coming back via the scenic Tindevegen. However, our six-month old baby disagreed with our plan and vocally expressed that he had enough for the day.

We decided to go back to Aurland to have a relaxing stroll around the village. We also went to the Aurland Floating Sauna (alternating between the two of us) and we were so glad that we did! Originally only available in Flåm, it is such a great addition to have this in Aurland too. If you haven’t done a Scandi-style sauna before, you should definitely check this out.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS – Stegastein, Borgund Stave Church

ACCOMMODATION – Wangen Apartments Hotel (Aurland)

Day 4 was a much more relaxing day considering that strenuous driving was minimal and the visual experience was maximal.

If you only do one thing in your Norway fjords itinerary, make it the cruise between Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord, two of the most beautiful branches of the Sognefjord. This is an absolute must for anyone visiting the area and one of the highlights of our trip.

Starting in Flåm, you’ll cruise the Aurlandsfjord, but it is when turning towards the Nærøyfjord that the landscape becomes otherworldly. The fjords gets progressively narrower and the parallel cliffs dotted with ever-present waterfalls and snowy peaks, will leave you speechless.

Once arrived in Gudvangen, we suggest spending a few hours soaking up the incredible atmosphere of the place. Pay a visit to Njardarheimr, an authentic “Viking village” showing daily life from 1,000 years ago. You can have a guided tour and above all, doing archery and axe throwing will make you feel like Thor.

Back to Flåm, we had lunch at Ægir (we were in full Viking-mode by this time) and relaxed.

We were then conflicted on whether going to Undredal for goat cheese tasting or explore the Flåm Valley towards Myrdal. We opted for the latter, which you can reach in various ways:

• Taking the Flåmsbana train from Flåm to Myrdal, which you can reserve here (best for relaxing)
• Driving along the route yourself (best for flexibility and to save the cost of the train ticket if you already have your own car)

The drive across the Flåm Valley to Myrdal is beautiful, and while not arriving up to Myrdal itself, it shares a large portion of the Flåmsbana route, the self-proclaimed “most beautiful train ride in the world”. You’ll notice a different landscape compared to the usual fjord-type scenery, which reminded us of Switzerland with a Nordic vibe. There are various beautiful spots deserving a photo stop including the Flåm Kyrkje, the Rjoandefossen waterfall, the Cave waterfall, and multiple others.

While narrow, the road is manageable and paved for large part of the drive, while becoming corrugated closer to Myrdal. This is also where you have the Flåm Zipline, although we obviously couldn’t do it with our baby.

On the way back, we stopped at 29|2 Aurland for dinner. If you are a foodie and enjoy good dining experiences, this should be on your radar.

We loved our fjord trip, but we soon realized that having a great, and perhaps more upscale, dinner is somewhat of a challenge here, so we were so glad that we found this hidden gem.

The food is organic, extremely fresh and locally sourced (or produced) as you would expect from these kind of places, a testament to their proud fjord-to-fork mantra. The dishes are refined without being pretentious, emphasizing the exceptional quality of the ingredients and promoting the region’s cultural heritage. An extension of the farm’s historic smokehouse, the yard has been recently transformed into a beautiful dining room, the perfect place for a romantic dinner in a spectacular natural setting.

But it is the whole package that you get out of here that is the real deal. All guests at this small boutique hotel gather to the restaurant at the same time (usually 7PM), because you are not simply going out for dinner but you are rather invited to discover Tone and Bjørn’s world. You will hear stories from the owners about the history of the place, look at old family photos by relaxing in front of a warm fireplace, learn about the origin of the food on your table, invited to have a tour of the vegetable garden and the animal farm.

We didn’t have the direct experience of staying at 29|2, but the place looks amazing and in line with the family’s guiding principles and their incredible hospitality. Even if you don’t stay here, book a dinner as you won’t regret it.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS – Nærøyfjord cruise, 29|2 Aurland

ACCOMMODATION – Wangen Apartments Hotel (Aurland)

After leaving the mighty Sognefjord, we were ready to explore the Hardangerfjord.

Driving from Aurland to the Hardanger bridge takes approximately 1:30h taking the E16 via Voss. A panoramic drive skirting around the edge of the fjord shortly brings you to the village of Eidfjord, offering spectacular vistas of steep mountains dropping into the sea.

We had lunch at the Vøringsfoss Hotel by the Eidfjord pier, before heading towards Vøringsfossen, the country’s most famous waterfall! The drive takes about 20min, where we parked next to the Fossli Hotel for the top view. The best period to visit Vøringsfossen is between May to October given that the waterfall is partially or entirely frozen in winter time, and driving up to the viewpoint is not safe.

The waterfall itself is certainly scenic with its 182m plunge from the Hardangervidda plateau, but the canyon view is the real deal! There are various platforms and walking paths that allow you to enjoy the views from multiple angles. If you are into hiking it is also possible to reach the waterfall from the bottom of the valley following the hiking trail.

Coming back from Vøringsfossen, we reached the beautiful Ullensvang Hotel in Lofthus in about 1h. The hotel sits by the banks of the Sørfjorden, the innermost branch of the Hardangerfjord and in our opinion the most scenic one.

The scenery here makes the Hardangerfjord a unique place. While you notice more human intervention compared to the untamed sections of the Sognefjord, it’s complementary to the surrounding landscape. Beautiful orchards scattered all over the steep valley, which together with plunging waterfalls and a stunning backdrop of snow capped mountains on the other side of the fjord, evoke a strong sense of peace and lyrical beauty. For us, it was like having the South African Winelands meeting Fjord Norway, with cider tasting taking place of wine!

May is a great period to visit Hardanger, as all the fruit trees are in bloom, which make the area particularly stunning! Unfortunately, we were not lucky in that respect, as Norway had experienced an unusual heatwave in April which moved the blossoming earlier in the month, but the area was beautiful regardless.

After settling in, we started our cider tour which was conveniently organized by our hotel. While not being connoisseurs by any means, we appreciated the quality of the cider at Opedalstunet. This family-run farm offers an intimate yet hands-on experience, including a guided tour in the orchard and indoor cider tasting in a newly renovated, scandi-style room.

We spent the rest of the evening at the hotel, soaking up the history of the place (a favourite of Edvard Grieg, Indira Gandhi, Willy Brandt, Henry Kissinger and various European royals) and enjoying the wonderful landscape.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS – Vøringsfossen, Cider tasting tour

ACCOMMODATION – Ullensvang Hotel (Lofthus)

It’s always sad to leave after a holiday, and even more so when you’re surrounded by stunning beauty. To console ourselves we decided to spend a few hours enjoying the pool area of Ullensvang, one of the most impressive that we have ever seen in any hotel.

You have multiple indoor and outdoor pools, including a soothing horizon pool with bubble benches up to the impressive 88 metre long swimming channel outside. It also features a jacuzzi, various heated pools and a wonderful sauna were you can sit and take in the spectacular view of the Sørfjorden in complete bliss. If you are attempting the strenuous but world-class Trolltunga hike, this is the perfect spot to relax afterwards!

We would have happily stayed there the whole day but the wake-up call to reality was slowly approaching. But first we decided to make a detour to the village of Ulvik, perhaps the key cider-making epicentre in Hardanger.

We had little time to stroll around the village, but we got the impression that it is particularly geared towards the cider tasting experience. If you have time (and interest), we definitely recommend to check this out to compare and contrast with Lofthus.

The journey back to Bergen airport alongside the Hardangerfjord takes approximately 2h. A quick stop to break the journey is at the lovely Steinsdalsfossen waterfall (you can even walk behind it!). We also would have liked to check Troldhaugen, Grieg’s villa situated on a pretty nice location overlooking the sea, and in close proximity to the airport but we simple ran out of time. As Grieg use to stay in a Clapham Common apartment during his London tours, we interpreted that as a sign that our trip was over and we were inevitably making our way home.