The Norwegian Fjords
The Norwegian Fjords, in a few days
On Norway's west coast the sea runs for tens of kilometres up glacial valleys between walls a thousand metres high. The Sognefjord reaches 1,308 metres deep, the Nærøyfjord narrows to 250 metres wide, and Preikestolen stands 604 metres above the Lysefjord.
- Day by day
- D1 Day 1 3 things
- D2 Day 2 1 thing
- D3 Day 3 1 thing
- Worth sorting before you go
- Words that help
- The practical page
- Packing checklist
Day by day
Day 1
- Morning · Briksdal Glacier · about 1 h 30An arm of Jostedalsbreen, the largest ice cap in mainland Europe, ending in a green hollow above a milky meltwater lake.
- Afternoon · Nærøyfjord · 2 to 3 hThe narrowest arm of the Sognefjord: 17 kilometres long and 250 metres across at its tightest, below walls that keep the water in shade.
- Late afternoon · The Flåm Railway · 2 to 3 hTwenty kilometres from sea-level Flåm up to Myrdal at 867 metres, through twenty tunnels, most dug by hand, including a full turn inside the rock.
Day 2
- Morning · Stegastein viewpoint free · about 30 minA wood and steel platform projecting some 30 metres from the mountainside, 650 metres above the Aurlandsfjord, ending in a glass barrier over the drop.
Day 3
- All day · Trolltunga · a full dayA tongue of rock jutting out about 700 metres above Ringedalsvatnet; the hike from Skjeggedal is 28 kilometres return, eight to twelve hours.
Further afield (over 130 km from the base hotel), best as a separate stop: Geirangerfjord, Kjeragbolten, Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock).
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Flavours & local habits
🍽️ Worth tasting
- Salmon and smoked fish: the quality is the reason people talk about it.
- Brunost: brown cheese boiled down to caramel, cut in thin slices.
- Kjottkaker: meatballs in brown sauce, the weekday dinner of the country.
- Prawns and shellfish, bought off the boat at the fjord quays.
- Skillingsboller: cinnamon buns the size of a fist, taken with coffee.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Everything costs a lot here, alcohol most of all. Buy it at the Vinmonopolet, not the bar.
- Book the car and the beds early in high season, above all in the Lofoten.
- Mountain weather turns fast. Check the forecast and take a layer you do not think you need.
- Pay by card everywhere, including on ferries. Cash has almost disappeared.
Words that help
English ↔ Norwegian
| English | Norwegian |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hei / God dag |
| Thank you | Takk |
| Please | Vær så snill |
| Yes | Ja |
| No | Nei |
| Excuse me | Unnskyld |
| Goodbye | Ha det |
| Do you speak English? | Snakker du engelsk? |
| I don't understand | Jeg forstår ikke |
| How much is it? | Hvor mye koster det? |
| Where are the toilets? | Hvor er toalettet? |
| The bill, please | Regningen, takk |
| Help! | Hjelp! |
| Cheers! | Skål! |
The practical page
Scan to open this guide online, always up to date.
https://offwegooo.com/en/guides/norwegian-fjords
Packing checklist
Have a good trip.
Guide made on offwegooo.com · Photos via Pexels · Details are indicative, check before you leave.