What to do in Geiranger, one of the most beautiful fjords or Norway

If you’re coming to visit the fjords of Norway, a stop in Geiranger is pretty much a must. Not that I want to twist your arm or anything. But this fjord truly is one of the most beautiful places in Norway! A UNESCO-listed fjord, and absolutely stunning.
But above all, it’s a great base and a stopover between the fjords further south — towards Flam, Naeroyfjord (also UNESCO-listed), and Alesund further north, via the Trollstigen (when it reopens, of course).
You’ll see that Geiranger, beyond its ultra-touristy side (depending on the season), is a lovely spot for exploring and feasting your eyes, as there are many interesting viewpoints — whether from up high or… on the water!
And above all, there are plenty of cruises to do in Geiranger!

Why Visit Geiranger

What if I told you there’s a place in Norway that looks like a movie set, with enormous cliffs, turquoise water, and waterfalls falling straight from the sky? (okay, maybe I’m exaggerating just a tiny bit there).
A place where every bend in the road makes you say “no, this can’t be real, it’s like a postcard.” That place exists, and it’s the Geiranger fjord. It has the reputation of being the most impressive in Norway. And honestly, it’s far from undeserved! Plus it’s UNESCO-listed.
You hop on a boat? bam! the Seven Sisters waterfall comes cascading down around you. You look up? Incredible cliffs. You climb a little? You stumble upon viewpoints like Dalsnibba that almost make you dizzy, they’re so beautiful.
And the best part? All of this is super accessible. Hiking, kayaking, a relaxing little cruise, sunset at Flydalsjuvet… Fortunately it’s not reserved for ultra-equipped adventurers.
So yes, it’s touristy in summer. But once the boats leave, it’s incredibly calm, so peaceful… and above all there’s that feeling of being tiny in the face of nature.
Geiranger is a mix between a postcard and a relentless series of visual jaw-droppers. A place that leaves its mark. Truly.

What to See in and Around Geiranger

The fjord is vast, very vast. And very tall! Which is what makes it so magnificent. And with all that, there are several superb and different viewpoints across the entire fjord, both along its length and its width. And honestly, they’re all worth it!

Dalsnibba

This is probably the most well-known and most popular viewpoint in Geiranger. Why? Because it doesn’t just offer a view of the fjord, but of the entire valley. Since it’s a few kilometres up the road, you get a sweeping panoramic view that’s truly worth it. Well, a few kilometres of road but also 1,500 metres of altitude! Which makes it the perfect viewpoint to watch the sunset or sunrise — as long as you’re not in the middle of the midnight sun! (otherwise you might be waiting a while).
However, access is paid, yes indeed, and it’s not cheap. Prices have risen significantly and currently stand at:

• car and motorhome: 380 NOK
• motorcycle: 180 NOK
• you can buy tickets on-site or in advance on the official website
• but honestly, it’s worth it!

Dalsnibba is not open year-round. But generally from May to late September, depending on weather conditions.
In the height of summer, the Dalsnibba platform is accessible 24/7.
Early in the season, it’s closed at night.

The Alternative: Flydalsjuvet

On the same road coming from Geiranger to Dalsnibba, road 63, there’s a beautiful viewpoint closer to Geiranger to fully enjoy the fjord: Flydalsjuvet.
This platform is free, but the downside of its fame is that this viewpoint can get very crowded, particularly with tourist buses and visitors from cruise ships.
However, it’s truly worth it, if you manage to find parking!

Ørnesvingen and the Other Viewpoints on the Zigzag Road 63

On road 63 coming from the north (the ferries), you’ll have some great viewpoints on the section that zigzags down. In particular the viewpoint called Ørnesvingen, which lets you see the fjord from left to right, offering a completely different perspective. But equally interesting!
On this road, since there are lots of twists and turns, you’ll have other stops along the way. Right at the bottom, at fjord level, you arrive in an area with several hotels and a campsite. There’s free parking — stop and enjoy the stunning view of the fjord!

I’ve created a map of the Norway fjords that contains all the most beautiful places to see, with photos, hikes, villages to visit and many other details to help you plan your trip!

⭐️ Click here to enlarge the Norway Fjords map! ⭐️

Activities to Do in Geiranger

The first time I came to Geiranger, it was pretty simple. The fjord, the viewpoints, the cruise from Valldal — that was about it. So we came for the scenery, not the activities.
But now it’s great, things have really changed! There are quite a few activities, especially water-based ones

Exploring the Fjord by Boat

The fjord is so beautiful, so majestic, so impressive (yes I know that’s a lot of superlatives, but you’ll understand once you’re right in the middle of it!) that you absolutely must visit it by boat.
And for that, we’re lucky — there are several options. I’ll go through them quickly here, but if you want to know more, I really recommend the dedicated article on cruises in Geiranger:

• Explore the fjord on a tourist boat from Geiranger
  • A 1h30 boat trip to discover the fjord and its waterfalls. A small enough boat so you’re not too crowded and can really enjoy it. Price: €57
    • Info and booking

• Take a RIB boat tour on the fjord from Geiranger
  • A 1h15 speedboat trip for a thrilling experience and to get closer to the waterfalls! Price: €79
    • Info and booking

• Explore the Geirangerfjord and the village of Hellesylt from Geiranger
  • Set off to discover the ENTIRE fjord all the way to Hellesylt, then enjoy some time there to explore the town before returning by boat. A great 1h30 outing. Price: €65
    • Info and booking

• Explore the Geirangerfjord from Alesund
  • This one is just amazing. Set off for a wow-worthy full day by boat from Alesund all the way to Geiranger. A wonderful full day between the Storfjord and the Geirangerfjord. Price: €160
    • Info and booking

Kayaking in the Geirangerfjord

This is another way to discover the fjord. More physical, wetter, but closer to nature. Kayaking in a fjord requires no special skills — you’re guided, you paddle, and that’s it!
There are also two options:

• Kayaking from Geiranger
  • A 2h30 kayak trip, in single or double kayaks. Price: €100
    • Info and booking

• Kayaking in the Geirangerfjord from Hellesylt
  • From the other side of the fjord, in Hellesylt, you can also enjoy a great 2-hour kayak trip! Price: €100
    • Info and booking

Exploring the Area Around Geiranger by Bus

Want to explore all the most beautiful spots around Geiranger with a guide? That’s absolutely possible, and it comes highly recommended. With this agency you’ll discover the best viewpoints (Dalsnibba, Flydalsjuvet, Eagle Bend) and also tour the fjord.

• See the best of Geiranger
  • A 3h30 minibus tour of the most beautiful spots around Geiranger. Price: €100
    • Info and booking

Some Hikes Around Geiranger

There are several hikes that lead to lovely viewpoints. The idea here isn’t to give a detailed description of each — especially since I haven’t done them all — but to tell you about the main ones, those that are really worth it for the best views.

• Vesteråsfjellet: an easy hike, about one hour round trip, starting from the Vesterås farm and offering a lovely viewpoint
• Storsæterfossen Waterfall: not an easy one — 5 km of uphill for 3 hours round trip
• Homlong – Skageflå Farm: you arrive at the famous turf-roofed houses half buried in the hillside, from which you get a stunning view of the fjord and, a little further, of the Seven Sisters waterfall. However, it’s a 5-hour hike for 8 hours total, with significant elevation gain!

Where to Stay in the Geiranger Fjord

First of all, I must stress: if you’re coming in high tourist season (July and August), you need to book your accommodation in this area well in advance. Because yes, there is accommodation in Geiranger, but not a huge amount.
So if you leave it too late, either there’ll be nothing left, or only the most expensive rooms will remain (and prices can get very high!).
For example, I’m writing this article at the very beginning of June. Hotels and cabins are already half full for July, and especially August. It’s hard to get multiple consecutive nights in the same place.
Anyway, here are the recommended accommodations in Geiranger, right in the fjord itself:

• The campsite Fjorden Campinghytter, with very functional cabins. Waterside and very affordable, from €55 per night
• The Grande Fjord Hotel, where I stayed a few years ago — a very good hotel, and being right on the fjord is incredible
• Slightly elevated, the Hotel Utsikten (by Classic Norway Hotels) is an excellent hotel overlooking the fjord — the view is magnificent!
• Very practical, the cabins at Westerås Gard up on the hillside — rustic but very functional, and also affordable (from €100)
• There’s also a stunning 30m² wooden cabin right on the fjord
• Finally, in grand luxury with a spa and top-notch amenities, there’s the superb Hotel Union Geiranger with its fjord view

4 recommended accommodations in Geiranger

find your dream accommodationin Geiranger!

Which Ferries Go to Geiranger

The Valldal – Geiranger Ferry

This was an incredibly handy ferry that I took in 2014 on my first visit to the Norwegian fjords. From Valldal, a small port reached after taking the Trollstigen road and famous for its strawberries and raspberries, you could take a ferry that crossed the Storfjord and then the Geirangerfjord over 3 hours of spectacular scenery.
I’m speaking in the past tense because around ten years ago this ferry stopped operating — not profitable enough. Which is a shame, because even though it only ran for 2 months a year, it was extremely convenient.
It hasn’t been replaced. You now need to take the small ferry between Linge and Eidsdal, which is much faster for crossing the Storfjord. Then take road 63, which descends from the high plateaus down to Geiranger. Honestly, the road is incredible, so it’s not that bad — especially since you can still take a big boat tour around the Geirangerfjord.

The Hellesylt – Geiranger Ferry

This ferry is very convenient but above all incredibly scenic! I took it recently, and it’s always an ideal journey when you’re on a road trip.
To get from Hellesylt to Geiranger (or vice versa):

• the journey takes 1 hour
• you can obviously take your car on board
• Runs from March to December.
• Up to 7 crossings per day
• The price for 1 car and 4 passengers (basic package) is 1,500 NOK (€140). It’s expensive, but one of the most beautiful ferry journeys you can do!

Bookings are made with Fjordtours or Fjord1, the two companies that operate this route.
But if you don’t want to take your car on board and just want a round trip from Geiranger to Hellesylt, check out this cruise.

Practical Information About Geiranger

Can You Visit Geiranger Year-Round?

Absolutely! The fjord is accessible year-round, even in winter when there’s a lot of snow.
The most touristy period is obviously July and August.
June and September are also great, and normally snow-free, with all the surrounding roads open.
However, once there’s snow — roughly from October to April/May — the main scenic roads are closed. But the major roads remain open, meaning you can still come from Lom, you can still take the little ferry between Linge and Eidsdal, and take the ferry between Geiranger and Hellesylt to head back up towards Alesund.
The advantage of coming off-season is lower accommodation prices. However, from October onwards, many establishments close because there are very few visitors.
So my advice:

• July and August: the best period but the most touristy
• May, June, September: a shoulder season that’s an excellent option for crowds and weather
• October and April: things start to get trickier in October, with roads closing. In April, the scenic routes are still closed but you can easily drive to Geiranger and enjoy the nature
• November to March: low activity, lots of snow, but very few people

So if you want to fully enjoy it, summer is the time. If you want a really special atmosphere, winter will offer you something unique.
But do consider visiting the fjords during shoulder season — it’s a great alternative.

How Long Should You Stay in Geiranger?

You can just pop in, but that would really be a shame. As we’ve seen, there are several very interesting viewpoints (Dalsnibba, Ørnesvingen…) and all sorts of activities like boat tours.
Even though there’s a lot of passing traffic (particularly cruise ships, but those passengers rarely venture out much), Geiranger is an excellent place to base yourself and explore the surrounding area. There are plenty of hikes, magnificent boat trips (really!), you can go to Lom and visit the Stave Church (it’s 1h30 by road), go to Stryn, or see the glaciers near Loen or the Brikstadlsbreen.
So if you’re on a road trip and changing locations regularly, I recommend 2 nights here.
If you’re taking things a bit more slowly, Geiranger can be an excellent base for 4 days to explore the surrounding area.
From my own experience, I stayed 2 nights on a road trip and was disappointed not to have made more of it.

How to Get to Geiranger

It’s really quite straightforward.
First of all, there is no train station nearby. The Dombas and Andalsnes stations are more than 2 hours away by road. From Dombas, there’s no easy option to reach Geiranger. However, from Andalsnes, there’s a direct bus, the VY25 bus, which takes 3 hours and departs every morning. Very handy!
Getting to Geiranger from Alesund:

• you can come directly by boat (in the morning, 3 hours of sailing)
• you can take a bus to Hellesylt (the 110) then the Hellesylt – Geiranger boat
• by car, if the Trollstigen is open you can take it down to Valldal, take the ferry to Eidsdal and then road 60 to Geiranger. Otherwise you have to go via Hellesylt, then take the ferry to Geiranger

There is no bus from Lom to Geiranger. You’d have to make a huge detour via Stryn and Hellesylt (even though it’s not that far, go figure).
If you don’t have a car, I strongly recommend using the travel planner Entur.no, which is great for all public transport in Norway.
If you’re travelling by car, you need to be aware of road closures, which are frequent in Norway, especially in low season. The scenic routes are generally only open 4 months a year.

In Conclusion

There you have it — I think you now know everything, or nearly! The classic itinerary through the Norwegian fjords often starts in the beautiful city of Bergen and goes all the way to Alesund, over 2 weeks (generally). So stopping in Geiranger is a natural step that fits perfectly into your Norway trip. Especially since if you’re coming to this region of Norway, it’s because you want to see the most beautiful fjords in the country, right? So you simply can’t miss Geiranger!

⭐️ You can find ALL the articles about Norway here

If you’d like to know more about the main destinations in Norway, here are some articles that might interest you:

• Travelling to Norway – everything you need to know to plan your trip
• How to pay tolls in Norway – with Autopass and all possible solutions
• Where to go in Norway in summer – plenty of options, between the fjords and the Lofoten Islands — with all the advantages!
• What to see in the fjords of Norway – an itinerary, lots of places to see and activities to do!
• What to do in Bergen in a few days – museums, fjord trips and many other things to see in Norway’s most beautiful city
• The most beautiful fjord cruises from Bergen – to go to Flam, the Naeroyfjord and many other places!
• How to get from Bergen to Flam by boat – as well as by car, by bus and through agencies!
• Spending a weekend in Oslo – the Norwegian capital is lovely and above all incredibly interesting
• Visiting Tromso – everything you need to know about the capital of the north!
• All the activities to do in Tromso – summer and winter alike, here’s everything you can do!
• What to see in Tromso in one week – a ready-made itinerary for your winter week in Tromso!
• Seeing the Northern Lights in Tromso with a guide – be careful, quality varies — I tell you the best agencies on the ground!
• Where to stay in Tromso – the best accommodations and most affordable options, avoiding the pitfalls
• What to see in Senja – my favourite place in Norway is a little paradise!
• Where to stay in Senja – there’s not a huge range of options, but here are the most interesting accommodations
• A trip to the Lofoten Islands – all the essential information for your stay in the most beautiful islands in the country
• Which town to stay in on the Lofoten Islands – between Svolvaer, Leknes and Reine, there are plenty of great accommodations with stunning views
• Discover the village of Flam and its activities – everything you need to know about Flam, the train, the cruise

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