Things to do & places to visit in Western Norway, Norway

When most people think of Norway, the Western Fjords area is what they picture, with its stunningly beautiful deep waterways carved through rugged mountains by ice age glaciers. Several of the world’s tallest waterfalls are here too, adding to the splendor. An incredible region for cruising, hiking, fishing, biking, rafting, canoeing and summer skiing, the region is also home to fascinating cities like Bergen, Stavanger and Alesund, each chock-full of unique and interesting urban activities.

Western Norway #2 destination in Norway 2023. The average rating score is 4.49 based on 84.5k traveler reviews, of 146 attractions. Timezone: Europe/Oslo, current date and time: Sunday, May 05, 2024, 0:49.

Top things to do (44)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Geiranger Fjord (3.104 reviews)
- Beautiful!
Bodies of Water

We traveled Geiranger Fjord on a small cruise ship. We got up early to watch as we entered and traveled along the fjord & did the same when we departed. The captain narrated the entire journey, identifying every waterfall and telling stories of the people who live here. It was worth getting up early, settling in by the front of the ship, and taking in the view beyond each bend. At the end, was the delightful village of Geiranger. Loved the sail in & out! See more..
5.0 Pulpit Rock (3.071 reviews)
- Amazing views! Beautiful.
Spent 2-3 hours Lookouts

We walked up there on 1st April 22. It was out of season so pretty quiet which is better than it being crowded on the route. The car park was easy to navigate, it was 250 NOK for a days parking (around 22 British Pounds). Crampons are recommended for parts of the hike as it was a bit slippy but could be doable without with care. I would definitely recommend this hike outside of the summer season to really get the feel of the peace of the view, luckily weather was great so stopped for lunch at the top. All in all the hike was about 2 hours each way! See more..
5.0 Nordic Ventures (1.384 reviews)
- Unforgettable Times on the Fjord
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sightseeing Tours • Kayaking & Canoeing

Where do I even begin? Beyond impressed with Nordic Ventures and the enthusiasm and wisdom that our guide Craig brought to the experience. As a leader of an outdoor touring company from the states, I brought a group of 12 teenagers on the 3 day itinerary of kayaking and hiking. Craig greeted our kids with a playlist that got everyone motivated, and continued to bring an infectious positive energy that created a joyous group environment. Additionally, as an instructor myself, I learned some invaluable leadership skills from him. He struck the right balance of empowering students through responsibility, setting clear boundaries, and making jokes/having fun. Our students were thrilled by the gourmet fjord-side meals and the wildlife experiences (goats, sheep, etc.) they got to have with Nordic. The paddling was absolutely stunning, and the day hike was some of our students favorite views of the entire two week trip in Norway with my company. Would do this trip again and again! See more..
5.0 Trolltunga (1.372 reviews)
- BE AWARE!
Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

Trolltunga – Norway's Most Spectacular Rock Formation Trolltunga is one of the most scenic and spectacular cliffs in Norway, hovering 700 metres above Ringedalsvatnet lake. Situated at the western edge of the Hardangervidda plateau, near the town of Odda, Trolltunga was carved by the icecap that once covered most of Scandinavia. The hike through high-mountain terrain up to Trolltunga (1180 m) is long and demanding, but you are rewarded with magnificent views. From the main trailhead at P2 in Skjeggedal, the round-trip hike is 28 km with an ascent of almost 800 metres. The estimated hiking time is 8–12 hours. There is an additional trailhead at P3 Magelitopp. The round-trip hike from P3 Magelitopp is 20 km with an ascent of about 320 metres. The estimated hiking time is 7–10 hours. Hikers need to be properly equipped and in good shape. All the info you need about hiking to Trolltunga: https://trolltunga.com/. See more..
5.0 FjordSafari (1.143 reviews)
- Great Start to our Norway Adventure with Fjord Safari!
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Safaris • Boat Tours • Hiking Trails • Hiking & Camping Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

Snowshoe Hiking with Paulina and Eirich was a great experience! My husband and I are both seniors over 65 who exercise moderately. I was a little concerned with the uphill grades because of my weak knees, but using the poles to help ground me and having Paulina at my back assuring me of her support should I fall, gave me the confidence to brave the first half of our uphill hike. The second half was a breeze. Eirich gave clear instructions on how to use the snowshoes at the start. Our ride with him in the minivan through Aureland, on the winding mountain roads and viewing the breathtaking fjords, was both impressive and very informative. The welcomed half mark break with traditional snacks was much appreciated. Paulina and Eirich made this once in a lifetime experience memorable with their enthusiasm, knowledge, and attentiveness. I definitely would recommend Snowshoe Hiking with Fjord Safaris. Start your winter adventure in Norway, here in Flam! See more..
5.0 Bergen Segway (1.140 reviews)
- A MUST
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM, 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM City Tours • Segway Tours • Walking Tours • Sightseeing Tours

It was fun from the start. This was my second time on Segway, the first was ages ago. Tobius, our guide, patiently took us through all the necessary maneuver and we could practice inside the company's building before going out. On the streets, we went through many landmarks, stopped from time to time for Tobius to tell us about history and interesting things. Because of his soft voice and slight imperfection in English, sometimes it was a bit difficult to follow. Having said that, the fact that he took time with us and lead us to where we could not go by ourselves triumphed all the flaws. We were very happy and can truly recommend Segway Tour. See more..
5.0 Trollstigen (845 reviews)
- Amazing road
Spent 2-3 hours Scenic Drives

Dubbed as 'greatest driving road' by Top Gear, I had lofty expectations beforehand and was not let down at all. Roads are in good condition and feel safe at all times. Great road and amazing view from the top. See more..
5.0 Kjerag (541 reviews)
- Kjerag, take it to another level and camp over night at the cliff edge.
Mountains

The hike to Kjerag is normally thought of as a day trip. However, if you want to take it to another level, camp over night at the cliff edge. If you are lucky, as we were, the experience of seeing the summer sun set from 1000 m, should not be missed. There is the added bonus is enjoying the Plato and the boulder without the crowds waiting for their turn on the stone. What the vast majority miss out on this hike is going to Nesatind. Its only five minutes’ walk from the boulder. Sitting on Nesatind is as breath taking as standing on the boulder itself. It is in the area of Nesatind where you should camp for the night. Now you have a room with a best view in the world. I advise to bring gloves to use on the chains in the sections that have them. The additional weight of the backpack means extra pressure holding on and using the chains. There is a small stream of water close to the boulder so you do not need to carry the extra kgs of water all the way to the top. See more..
5.0 Escape Bryggen (495 reviews)
- Great rooms, great clues in a unique location.
Sunday: 12:30 PM - 7:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Escape Games

Escape Bryggen offers a number of exciting indoor and outdoor adventure and escape room games. Located at Bryggen in Bergen, it is the only escape room within an UNESCO World Heritage site. The goal is simple - solve the challenge within 60 minutes using only your mind, logic, creativity, and teamwork. Tease your brain, follow the clues, find the puzzles, and solve the mysteries! See more..
5.0 Voss Active (458 reviews)
- Great Experience with White Water Rafting
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM River Rafting & Tubing • Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks

Fantastic experience to go white water rafting in the Class 4 rapid tour. definitely recommend if you don’t mind getting wet and having a lot of fun. The guides were fantastic at making everyone laugh and our raft guide Morgan was a hoot and made sure everyone was safe and well informed the whole time. Be sure to experience when in Voss See more..
5.0 Njord - Seakayak and Wildernes Adventures (351 reviews)
- A great kayking experience
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Eco Tours • Kayaking & Canoeing

Kayking is a must when visiting fjords! Totally worth the money, even though it might feel a bit pricey (for 1-day rental of double kayak we spent a bit less than 2.000 NOK). I am really happy we chose Njord kayak rental, the instructor was really nice and give us instructions regarding kayak use and safety on the spot. Although we never went kayaking before, it was a great experience for us and we spet almost 6 hours on the water. The views are marvellous! We got all necessary equipment and went all the way to Undredal. If you want to go further and aren't experienced in kayaking, I would recommend at least 2-day rental (especially if you want to go from Aurlandsfjord to Nærøyfjord). Be sure to book in advance, I wanted firstly to book a tour (a month in advance) but it was sold out - however, it was even better to go alone at the end in my opinion. I really recommed this to everyone visiting Flåm. See more..
4.5 Mount Floyen and the Funicular (12.2k reviews)
- Beautiful Views of Bergen
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Mountains

Fløyen is a must do while in Bergen. Fløibanen, the funicular brings you up the hillside, from Bergen city centre to the top of the mountain in 6 minutes. At Mount Fløyen you will find beautiful views of Bergen, the nearby islands, fjords and mountains surrounding Bergen. Fløyen is a great destination for hiking, mountain biking and soft adventures. We are surrounded by hillsides, mountains, forests, nice little lakes and numerous trails. We offer daily guided hikes “Hiking Mount Fløyen" and Mountain bike rental from mid June until mid August. We love children, and the children love Fløyen. Let the kids explore our playground, Fløysletten climbing playground, the Troll forest. Try out canoe paddling at lake Skomakerdiket (mid June - mid August), feel the adrenalin rush in FløyenKids ziplinepark and get at kiss from our lovely goats at Fløyen. Fløistuen shop and cafè have souvenirs, perfect gifts and memories from Bergen and Norway. We offer local food as “Fløyenbollen", the cinnamon-bun and our organic soup “Fløyensuppen". Fløien Folkerestaurant is open daily from May until September. See more..
4.5 Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf (5.915 reviews)
- Lovely place to spend a sunny afternoon!
Historic Walking Areas • Piers & Boardwalks

We spent almost the whole day in this area. Had a late start and hada lovely lunch at Olivia's. We then spent a good deal of time exploring the streets, harbour, souvenir shops etc. We had massive waffles from a street vendor. There is a fish market in the area which had octopuses and stuff in tanks! (We are vegetarians, it amazes us!) It's a very lively and crowded area with live musicians in the street. It was a lovely sunny day but wasn't too hot, so it was perfect. In the evening we climbed up Mt Floyen. Took usva little while with many stops, especially at a large shallow water tank with fountains in it where there were many children playing. Our girls enjoyed themselves playing in the water. The view from the top of spectacular and we managed to catch the sunset on time. Tired, we took the funicular back back down. This is the perfect place to enjoy there's small town charm of Bergen. See more..
4.5 Gamle Stavanger (2.397 reviews)
- Little jewel box
Historic Sites

It is a truly magic little jewel box, and walking on these streets feels like wonderland. There are many cute shops along the way as well. You do have to pick a good time for a longer walk, as rain is frequent in Stavanger in any season. There is also hidden street are everywhere, so if you are a fan, keep your eyes open. A place for the coolest pictures! See more..
4.5 Fjellstua Viewpoint (1.682 reviews)
- Fjellstua viewpoint Aksla Ålesund
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

A must to visit in Ålesund. We visited Ålesund several years ago before pandemic and there used to be entrance fee to enter the Fjellstua. However this time, 2022, it’s free to enter. The café however is closed and not operational. So I’m not really sure if in the future it’s still gonna be free to enter. This is the highest point in this aksla viewpoint attraction. It was windy when we were there. Tip: always bring jacket with you. See more..
4.5 Lysefjord (1.582 reviews)
- Amazing pictures
Valleys

The easiest way to visit Lysefjord is to book a ticket on a cruise which lasts usually 3 hours. The boats are very comfortable with wide clear windows so you can enjoy the full view of the fjord. This place is amazing and if you visit it, you will probably never forget its magnificence. You will also be able to take the most beautiful pictures ever. See more..
4.5 Mount Ulriken (1.549 reviews)
- Amazing!
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Mountains • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Amazing! We got the first bus from Bergen city centre to Ulriken and were some of the first people up the cable car in the morning, it was so quiet and peaceful (and we were lucky that the sun was out) It soon got busy so I'd recommend trying to get there as early as you can. You can walk up / down but it's approx 2000 steps (as in stairs) each way. Many people were doing this and it would have been lovely but I stuck to the cable car each way. There are many walks and hikes you can go on, not signposted so ensure you know your way and take water / be prepared. It takes a little longer to reach Ulriken than Floyen but the views from here were absolutely amazing. See more..
4.5 Norwegian Petroleum Museum (1.380 reviews)
- Something we must know about Norway
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Science Museums

A Dynamic Museum for a Dynamic IndustryNorwegian Petroleum Museum is a museum for everyone. Its exhibits explain how oil and gas are created, disovered and produced, and what they are used for. The museum also provides informastion about technological advances and the way petroleum influences Norwegian society. Original objects, models, films and interactive exhibits illustrate everything from everyday life offshore to technology and dramatic incidents. The curious cat Petro serves as a guide through the museum's science centre.The museum was designed by architects Lunde & Løvseth, and is an attraction in itself. Its architecture is a scenographic interpretation of the Norwegian bedrock, the open coastal landscape and the offshore oil installations. Architechtural reviews have said that there is hardly a building in Norway which signals its function as obviously as the Norwegian Petroleum Museum. The museum was opened in 1999. See more..
4.5 Geiranger Skywalk - Dalsnibba (1.208 reviews)
- Breathtaking. A must.
Lookouts

This is a must. The view is incredible, both on the way up and from the viewpoint. We arrived in the evening (full light of course) and the sun, when it came out from behind the clouds, just made the whole thing breathtaking. Please note: you have to pay to get to the viewpoint. I don't know if it's like that always or just because we arrived sort of post tourist season (end of August) - but there is no one at the checkpoint and you have to pre-pay online and scan the ticket. The problem? There is no mobile connection whatsoever when you get there. We had to go down until we got reception, and then come back. So do that ahead of time to save the hassle. See more..
4.5 Troldhaugen Edvard Grieg Museum (1.163 reviews)
- Worth the wet, windy trip from Bergen
Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums • Historic Sites

Enchanting residence of the composer Edvard Grieg and his wife, who lived there every summer from 1885 to 1907. The museum also comprises the chamber music hall, Troldsalen, where daily concerts are held during the summer season. Museum building with shop, exhibition and cafeteria. See more..
4.5 Det Hanseatiske Museum og Schoetstuene (1.054 reviews)
- Nice Museum
Spent 1-2 hours History Museums

This wooden building is furnished in 18th-century style and gives visitors a feel of what Bergen was like in its medieval trading days. During a couple of years now, the City of Bergen is implementing a major restoration work. We tell you the Hanseatic story from Schøtstuene and Bryggen. Join us at Schøtstuene! See more..
4.5 Briksdal Glacier (Briksdalbreen) (999 reviews)
- Stunning
Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Scenic Walking Areas

This is a great half day trip from the port of Olden. There are coach’s availability from the Information Office for 475 NOK (38 gbp) or local buses also. It’s a 45 minute walk to the glacier from the drop of point with stunning scenery en route. See more..
4.5 Seven Sisters (928 reviews)
- Legend of the Seven Sisters
Waterfalls

Seeing The Seven Sisters directly across the fjord from The Suitor is truly a beautiful sight. When snow is melting from the high mountain peaks, the waterfalls are bigger and more majestic. Listen to the legend of the two waterfalls to make this sight even more magical. See more..
4.5 Flor og Fjære (787 reviews)
- Nice place, good food, bad coffee
Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Gardens

Lovely garden, nice restaurant with a beautiful view. Good food, but very boring children's dinner. But kids enjoyed the "free" ice cream bar outside. Chef André says in his stand-up show before dinner that he don't like black coffee. I love black coffee, but the one they serve there was terrible. See more..
4.5 Hardangerfjord (784 reviews)
- Absolutely stunning
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Bodies of Water

We drove the scenic route along the Hardangerfjord from Granvin down to Odda. The drive was one of the highlights of our honeymoon. As they say, "the journey is the destination". My goodness it was beautiful. We were blessed with incredible weather, but honestly, there was a picture perfect scene around every corner! See more..
4.5 KODE Art Museums of Bergen (766 reviews)
- At least a 2-day visit essential
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Art Galleries • Art Museums

KODE is one of Scandinavia's largest museums for art and music. It has a unique combination of art museums and composers' homes, of visual art, historical objects, concerts and parklands. KODE stewards almost 50,000 objects that can be experienced in four museum buildings in Bergen city centre, KODE 1-4, and in the homes of the composers Ole Bull, Harald Saeverud and Edvard Grieg. Welcome to KODE! See more..
4.5 Stegastein Lookout (729 reviews)
- Beautiful view of fjord
Spent 1-2 hours Observation Decks & Towers

The electric bus brings you to a look out where there is a beautiful view of the Aurlandsfjord. The weather was not great bit we still had a very nice view. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend driving as the road is only large enough for one car. Cars often have to back up to let other cars by. See more..
4.5 Voringsfossen (584 reviews)
- Beautiful Eidfjord
Waterfalls

We arrived by cruise ship to Eidfjord after traversing another scenic and narrow fjord. The town itself is very small and from here we joined a bus for a tour up to Voringsfossen. The tour included a stop at the Hardangervidda Nature Centre. Another small place with some information about the local flora and fauna with a few shops and a cafe. Part of the stop included what was described as a 20min film about the region. I was slightly sceptical about the value of this but it turned about to be spectacular and presented in almost 3D style in a large theatre and definitely not one to miss. The drive from there was very enjoyable until we reached the Fossili Hotel by the waterfall. What a view - tremendous. We made our way back stopping at various scenic points all of which were exceptional. See more..
4.5 Stoltzekleiven (506 reviews)
- Amazing but steep hike
Scenic Walking Areas

Not a easy hike for people who aren't in shape. 908 steep rock steps. I did Stoltzekleiven to Fløyen. Be prepared to take off clothes during the ascending an to put back your clothes during the descending or on top of it! Can be rainy or windy. After a warm coffee, I used the funicular to come back down from Fløyen since it was raining a lot, but please if not, walk back, it's not special or worth it. The forest is. Enjoy! ⛅️ Don't be that annoying tourist who films everything. See more..
4.5 Latefossen Waterfall (450 reviews)
- Amazing twin waterfall
Waterfalls

Popular touristic location, the Latefossen waterfall amazes the visitor through its powerful cascade and dimension. The twin waterfall gathers the water of the Lotevatnet lake and smaller rivers from the area pounding down the 340 m high rocks, pouring under an ancient arched brick bridge into the river Grønsdalslona. The waterfall is at full strength in summer. There is a small parking lot near the waterfall, just enough to make a short stop off tourist season, probably not enough during summer. See more..