Norwegian Fjords
Two of Norway's fjords are UNESCO World Heritage sites. All of them are free to enter. The only cost is getting there — and we'll show you how to do it without a cruise ship crowd.
The main fjords
Norway has over 1,700 named fjords. These four are where most travellers should start.
Geirangerfjord
Seven Sisters waterfall — seven streams drop 250m side by side. Best seen by kayak from below.
📍 Ferry from Hellesylt or Ørsneset. Drive Ørnesvegen (Eagle Road) for the classic overview.
Read full guideNærøyfjord
Narrowest UNESCO fjord in Europe — 250m at its tightest. Electric ferries now run year-round.
📍 From Flåm or Gudvangen. Combine with the Flåm Railway for Norway's best day trip.
Read full guideHardangerfjord
Norway's second longest. Surrounded by apple orchards that bloom pink in May.
📍 RV7 from Bergen (2h). Øvre Eidfjord is the gateway to Hardangervidda plateau.
Read full guideSognefjord
Norway's longest and deepest fjord — 1,308m. The Flåm arm is the postcard version.
📍 Bergen to Flåm by train + ferry. The Nærøyfjord branch is UNESCO-protected.
Read full guideZero-emission cruise operators
Norway mandates zero-emission fjord cruises from 2026. These operators are already there.
Hurtigruten
Full coastal route
Since 1893. Bergen–Kirkenes in 12 days, 34 ports. Hybrid-electric fleet with the Sea Zero project targeting a zero-emission ship by 2030.
Hybrid-electricHavila Voyages
Bergen–Kirkenes
Four ships with the largest battery packs at sea. 4 hours silent sailing through Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord — already meeting the 2026 zero-emission mandate.
LNG + batteryFjord Tours
Norway in a Nutshell
Norway in a Nutshell since 1982. One ticket combines the Bergen Railway, Flåm Railway, and an all-electric fjord cruise across Nærøyfjord.
Electric ferriesEvents and festivals
5 events across the Norwegian fjords, from extreme triathlons to apple harvest festivals and classical music in Bergen.
Bergen International Festival (Festspillene)
20 May – 3 Jun 2026
Norway's largest arts festival, running since 1953. Fifteen days of music, theatre, dance, opera, and visual art across Bergen's historic venues. Performances in Grieghallen, Håkonshallen, and outdoor stages across Bryggen. The festival coincides with the arrival of long Nordic spring evenings.
Grieghallen, Håkonshallen, multiple venues
Ekstremsportveko (Extreme Sports Week)
22 Jun – 27 Jun 2026
A week of skydiving, BASE jumping, paragliding, kayaking, and mountain biking in and around Voss. 12,000 participants descend on a town of 14,000. Free to watch many events. If you have not booked accommodation by February, you will not find any. The festival runs regardless of weather.
Voss and surrounding mountains, rivers, and airspace
Gladmatfestivalen (Gladmat Food Festival)
1 Jul – 4 Jul 2026
Scandinavia's largest food festival, held on the Stavanger harbour. Four days of chef demonstrations, food stalls, and tastings from 200+ producers. Local seafood, Rogaland lamb, and craft beverages dominate. Free entry to the harbour area. Individual tastings and events are ticketed.
Stavanger Harbour (Vågen)
Norseman Xtreme Triathlon
1 Aug
The world’s hardest triathlon: 3.8 km swim across Hardangerfjord at 05:00 in darkness (jumping from a ferry), 180 km bike over Hardangervidda to 1,200 m, 42 km run finishing on the summit of Gaustatoppen (1,883 m). 250 competitors by lottery only. Applications open November. The black T-shirt (top 160 to the summit) versus the white T-shirt (alternative finish) is the race’s defining distinction. Spectating the Eidfjord swim start is free.
Eidfjord to Gaustatoppen
Hardanger Apple Harvest (Hardanger Fruktfestival)
25 Aug – 15 Oct 2026
The Hardangerfjord valley produces 40% of Norway’s fruit. The harvest season runs from late August (plums and pears) through October (apples). Cideries along the Fv551 south shore open their farmgates: Aga Cider, Hardanger Saft og Siderfabrikk, and Noregs Cider. The Hardangertun market at Lofthus (third weekend of September) gathers 50 producers, 8,000 visitors, and outdoor concerts. Outside festival days, farm visits are unticketed and free.
Lofthus, Hardangerfjord and cideries along Fv551
Book a fjord cruise
Electric ferries, hybrid ships, and day-trip packages — all with zero-emission certification.
Explore Fjord Travel