Fjords in Western Norway – An Independent Travel Guide

Western Norway is home to some of the most iconic fjords in Norway. Fjords.com is an independent travel guide focusing on the fjords and fjord regions of Western Norway, offering practical tips on accommodation, activities, scenic routes, and memorable fjord experiences across the western fjord landscape.

With over 25 years of experience in travel, photography, and documentation, Fjords.com provides you with practical tips and advice for exploring the fjords of Western Norway in a sustainable and responsible way.

Fjord Guide to the 10 most beautiful fjords in Norway

The abandoned Mountain Farm Svarthiller. The Lustrafjord in the background.
The abandoned Mountain Farm Svarthiller. The Lustrafjord in the background.

Norway have some of the longest, narrowest and most beautiful fjords in the world. Here you will find what you need to plan your fjord holiday.

Read about the  most beautiful fjords in western Norway. Two of the fjords, the Geirangerfjord and the Nærøyfjord, are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The Sognefjord is the longest fjord in Norway with its 204 kilometers.

View from Loen Skylift at Mt Hoven towards Nordfjord and Olden.
View from Loen Skylift at Mt Hoven towards Nordfjord and Olden.

The Fjord Guide is a guide to the 10 most beautiful and well-known fjords in Norway. The landscape and the fjords in Western Norway are considered to be among the most scenic fjord areas on the planet. Norway has some of the longest, narrowest and most beautiful fjords in the world.

The fjords in Western Norway have been named the world’s best travel destination by the renowned magazine National Geographic Traveler Magazine. The hope is that the fjord guide will inspire you to travel to Western Norway and help you find places to visit, places to stay and things to see and do.

Drone photo from the northwestern part of Romsdalseggen. Romsdalen, Åndalsnes and the Romsdalsfjord as backdrop.
Drone photo from the northwestern part of Romsdalseggen. Romsdalen, Åndalsnes and the Romsdalsfjord as backdrop.

The Norwegian Fjords

On the way down towards Skjerdal Stølsysteri. Skjerdal and the Aurlandsfjord far down there.
On the way down towards Skjerdal Stølsysteri. Skjerdal and the Aurlandsfjord far down there.

Western Norway is known for its wild, beautiful and untouched nature. Fjords, mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and rivers attract people who seek adventure in all year round. Fresh air, clean running water, silence. Hiking, skiing, surfing, speed and excitement.

In 2005, the Norwegian fjords, represented by the Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The landscape is considered one of the most scenic fjord areas on the planet. It was inscribed on the list because of its unique natural quality and beauty.

Mt Preikestolen and the Lysefjord in Ryfylke, Rogaland.
Mt Preikestolen and the Lysefjord in Ryfylke, Rogaland.

Norway has a total of eight areas on the UNESCO World Heritage List in addition to the traditional Norwegian pasture farming which was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible World Heritage List in 2024. A visit in the off-season offers better opportunities for sustainable tourism, resulting in fewer tourists in the summer and more year-round jobs for the local community.

Spring entices with blooming orchards, green mountainsides, and mirror-calm fjords; summer with sunny days and lively fjord villages; autumn with its magical display of colours; and winter with peaceful, snow-covered landscapes. Each season has its own unique character, and every journey offers memories for a lifetime.

View from Stegastein Viewpoint towards Aurland and the Aurlandsfjord. Flåm is located behind the mountain ridge on the left, which is the final station on the Flåm Railway.
View from Stegastein Viewpoint towards Aurland and the Aurlandsfjord. Flåm is located behind the mountain ridge on the left, which is the final station on the Flåm Railway.

Fjords.com – a user´s manual

Undredal by the Aurlandsfjord. The Aurlandsfjord is a branch of the Sognefjord in Western Norway.
Undredal by the Aurlandsfjord. The Aurlandsfjord is a branch of the Sognefjord in Western Norway.

Fjords.com is mainly about the 10 most beautiful fjords in Western Norway. To get the best possible use of this website, it is recommended that you go to the fjord guide and choose which fjord in Western Norway you want to read more about.

All content is created from first-hand experience, including texts, photographs, videos and custom-made maps. The site is not operated by any destination company, tourism authority or booking platform. The purpose of Fjords.com is to help travellers understand the fjords better and make informed choices when planning their journey.

Mt Preikestolen and the Lysefjord in Ryfylke, Rogaland.
Mt Preikestolen and the Lysefjord in Ryfylke, Rogaland.

The articles about the fjords that the fjord guide refers to contains information about beautiful towns and villages to visit and what you can see, do and experience in the respective fjords. In these articles you will find a short summary with information, pictures, videos and links to other articles or external websites where you can read more about what interests you.

In addition, there is information about accommodation options and other relevant links, this is located at the bottom of almost all articles. You can also use the search field on the website, hopefully you will find exactly what you are looking for information about there.

Ferry passing the Seven Sisters Waterfall in the Geirangerfjord.
Ferry passing the Seven Sisters Waterfall in the Geirangerfjord.

What is Fjords.com?

Kayaking the fjords. This is from the Fjærlandsfjord.
Kayaking the fjords. This is from the Fjærlandsfjord.

Fjords.com is an independent, editorial travel guide dedicated to the fjords of Western Norway. The website is built on personal travel experiences, extensive fieldwork, and continuous documentation of fjord landscapes, routes, seasons and travel options.

Fjords.com covers the major fjord regions of Western Norway, with detailed guides, routes and practical information. Each region is presented with practical travel information, seasonal considerations and first-hand observations.

Geiranger and the Geirangerfjord seen from Flydalsjuvet Viewpoint.
Geiranger and the Geirangerfjord seen from Flydalsjuvet Viewpoint.

Rather than promoting short visits and highlights only, Fjords.com encourages slower travel and a deeper understanding of the fjord regions: More than 25 years of continuous work on fjords.com. Extensive first-hand travel across Western Norway. All photos, videos and maps created by the site owner. No paid placements, sponsored content or commercial rankings. Focus on factual, experience-based and sustainable travel information.

Sustainable travel is a central theme on fjords.com. The site focuses on practical ways to reduce environmental impact while still experiencing the fjords in depth, including:

View from Dronningstien above Kinsarvik. The outermost part of Sørfjorden on the left. Sørfjorden is a branch of the Hardangerfjord.
View from Dronningstien above Kinsarvik. The outermost part of Sørfjorden on the left. Sørfjorden is a branch of the Hardangerfjord.

 

Here you will find an overview of recommended hotels and accommodations in Western Norway. FJORDS HOTELS in addition to FJORD SPA and FJORDS LIVING. You will also find an overview of MICHELIN KEY HOTELS in Western Norway, great hotels recommended by Michelin. The combination of beautiful nature, activities that you can do in all four seasons and a stay at a great accommodation is unique. A stay in one of these places will do you good, both for body and mind.

There are 14 restaurants that have awarded Michelin stars and Michelin awards in Western Norway. Eight of the Michelin Restaurants are in Stavanger, there are five in Bergen and one is out on the Hardangerfjord outside Rosendal. Here you will find an overview of MICHELIN RESTAURANTS in Western Norway.

USEFUL LINKS is a list of websites with great information on Norway and the Fjords. FAQ is an overview of articles that answer the most common questions you have when planning to visit the fjords in Western Norway.