Geiranger & Trollstigen
The UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord and the hairpin mountain road 'Trollstigen', Norway's classic fjord road-trip stretch.
Geiranger & Trollstigen lies in Møre og Romsdal county in western Norway and is the classic fjord self-drive region. At its core is the Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site since 2005. Take a ferry to see the Seven Sisters waterfall and the abandoned Skageflå cliff farm, and look down on the fjord from the Flydalsjuvet gorge, the Eagle Road viewpoint and Dalsnibba at 1,476 m. In the village are the Norwegian Fjord Centre and the hike to Storseterfossen. Heading north along Route 63, the 'Golden Route', you pass the Eagle Road, the Eidsdal ferry and Gudbrandsjuvet gorge in Valldal, reaching the summit viewing platform of Trollstigen with its 11 hairpin bends, then descend to Åndalsnes, where you can see the Troll Wall, ride the Romsdalsgondolen cable car or hike to the Rampestreken viewpoint. To the south, the old Strynefjellet road leads to the Loen Skylift and the Briksdal Glacier. Season: Mountain roads such as Trollstigen and Dalsnibba usually open from late May to October, with Jun–Aug the best; in winter most mountain roads close and you can only see the fjord by boat. Getting there: The nearest airport is Ålesund Airport (about 2.5–3 hours' drive); from Oslo, take the train to Åndalsnes (Rauma Line) or drive about 7 hours. In summer, Hurtigruten ships and sightseeing buses reach Geiranger. We suggest 2–3 days of driving, with a possible extension to Ålesund to the northwest. Notes: On cruise-ship days in summer the village is extremely crowded. The mountain roads are narrow and winding, so watch for oncoming traffic and large motorhomes. In recent years Trollstigen has occasionally closed temporarily for rockfall protection work, so check road conditions before departure.
Top sights
- Geirangerfjord – The most iconic stretch of this World Heritage fjord, where the Seven Sisters and Suitor waterfalls face each other across the water. The E…
- Dalsnibba Skywalk – A mountaintop viewing platform at 1,476 metres, rising nearly 1,500 metres above the water of Geirangerfjord. It offers views over the fjor…
- Flydalsjuvet – A cliff viewpoint about 4 km above Geiranger village, home to the classic shot of standing on a rock ledge overlooking the fjord and cruise…
- Seven Sisters Waterfall – Seven parallel waterfalls tumbling about 250 metres down the north shore of Geirangerfjord, facing the Suitor waterfall across the water.
- Gudbrandsjuvet – A narrow gorge carved by river water in the Valldal valley. A steel cantilevered walkway spans the rushing rapids, making it an architectur…
- Storseterfossen – A waterfall above the village of Geiranger where you can walk behind the falling water. The roughly 1.5-hour round-trip hike is the village…
- Skageflå – An abandoned mountain farm on a cliff ledge about 250 m above the south shore of the fjord, reachable only by boat and on foot, with a dire…
- Norwegian Fjord Centre – A fjord-themed museum in the village of Geiranger, covering how the fjord was formed, life on the cliff farms, avalanches and rockslides, a…
- Briksdalsbreen – A tongue of the Jostedalsbreen glacier, the largest glacier on the European mainland. A roughly 45-minute hike leads to the glacier lake, p…
- Ørnesvingen Viewpoint – A viewpoint at the highest hairpin bend of the Ørnesvegen, at about 620 metres above sea level, overlooking Geiranger village, the fjord an…
Where to eat
- Brasserie Posten – A small eatery beside the Geiranger pier, with a terrace facing the fjord and old boathouses; it's the village's most c…
- Westerås Gard – A family farm above Geiranger village, dining in a converted old barn with views over the fjord; goat cheese and kid go…
Itineraries
- Western Fjords Grand Loop: 13-Day Self-Drive Itinerary – A self-drive loop from Bergen covering the Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, Atlantic Ocean Road, and Hjørundfjord.
- High Mountains & Fjords: 14-Day Hiking Loop – Head north from Oslo to Dovre, tackling classic trails in Romsdal, Geiranger, and Jotunheimen.