Hardanger (Odda · Trolltunga)

Norway's 'Orchard Fjord', ringed by Trolltunga, the Folgefonna glacier, Vøringsfossen and seas of apple blossom.

Hardanger lies in Vestland county in western Norway, centered on the roughly 179 km-long Hardangerfjord. At its southern end, the industrial town of Odda is the base camp for Trolltunga and the Folgefonna glacier. Along the middle of the fjord are the orchard villages of Lofthus, Utne and Kinsarvik, and at the eastern end are Eidfjord and Ulvik. The Folgefonna glacier stretches along the west side of the fjord, while on the east side lies Hardangervidda, the largest mountain plateau in Europe.

Season: Fruit trees blossom in mid to late May, when pink-and-white blooms set against snowy mountains make it the most photogenic time. Jun–Sep is hiking season, and the unguided Trolltunga hiking season runs from about mid-Jun to mid-Sep; waterfalls are at their fullest during the snowmelt. From Aug to Oct you can buy fresh apples, cherries and cider. In winter the mountain trails are snow-covered and Trolltunga can only be hiked with a guide, but most fjord roads remain passable.

Things to do: ① Around Odda: Trolltunga, the Buarbreen glacier, Låtefossen waterfall and the Tyssedal hydropower museum; ② Rosendal side: Bondhusvatnet lake and the Baronial Manor of Rosendal; ③ Middle and eastern fjord: the orchards of Lofthus and the Monk's Steps, the Husedalen waterfall valley, Vøringsfossen, the Hardanger Bridge and Ulvik; ④ Steinsdalsfossen at Norheimsund, where you can walk behind the curtain of water.

Getting there: It is about 1 hour 15 minutes by car from Bergen to Norheimsund and about 3 hours to Odda; there is also a Bergen–Odda bus. Local public transport is infrequent and the area has many ferries and mountain roads, so driving is the most flexible. We suggest 2–4 days, and Trolltunga needs a full day to itself, so book your accommodation early.

Top sights

• Hardangerfjord – Norway's second-longest fjord, known as 'Norway's orchard'. In spring, apple blossoms bloom against snowy mountains. Highlights include Ste…
• Trolltunga – A tongue-shaped rock that juts out 700 metres above Lake Ringedalsvatnet. It is the hardest of Norway's three famous rock formations to rea…
• Vøringsfossen – One of Norway's most famous waterfalls, plunging from the edge of the Hardangervidda plateau into the Måbødalen valley. Its total drop is a…
• Steinsdalsfossen – A waterfall outside Norheimsund, about 50 m high, with a path passing behind it so you can stand behind the curtain of water; it is the mos…
• Låtefossen – A double waterfall beside Route 13 south of Odda, where two streams merge beneath the roadside stone bridge; the drop is about 165 m, and y…
• Folgefonna National Park – The national park for Folgefonna, Norway's third-largest glacier, stretching between the Hardangerfjord and the Maurangerfjord, where guide…
• Buerbreen – A glacier tongue of Folgefonna on the western outskirts of Odda; a roughly 2-hour hike reaches the glacier's foot, with suspension bridges…
• Bondhusvatnet & Bondhusbreen – An emerald glacial lake on the southern outskirts of Rosendal, with the Bondhusbreen glacier tongue reflected in its waters at the far end…
• Lofthus Orchards & Monk's Steps – An orchard town on the eastern shore of Sørfjorden, with hillsides covered in apple and cherry orchards; 616 stone steps carved by medieval…
• Ulvik – A quiet orchard village at the innermost end of the Hardangerfjord, called the apple village of the fjord, with apple wineries and fjord-vi…
• Hardanger Bridge – A suspension bridge opened in 2013 with a 1,310 m main span; it was once the world's longest main-span suspension bridge linked to tunnels…
• Eidfjord – A small village at the eastern end of the Hardangerfjord, a cruise ship port and the base for visiting Vøringsfossen, Kjeåsen farm and the…
• Norwegian Nature Centre Hardanger – A natural history museum in Upper Eidfjord, with panoramic films and exhibitions on the Hardangervidda plateau, glaciers, fjords and wild r…
• Kjeåsen Mountain Farm – A lonely farm perched on a cliff about 600 m above sea level, overlooking Simafjord; the road climbs through a single-lane tunnel, and the…
• Hardanger Folk Museum – A folk museum in Utne village, displaying Hardanger folk costumes, embroidery, the Hardanger fiddle and orchard culture, with a preserved g…
• Agatunet – A well-preserved medieval clustered farmstead on the western shore of Sørfjorden, with more than 30 wooden houses packed together, showing…
• Barony Rosendal – Norway's only barony, built in 1665; its Renaissance-style stone mansion and English rose garden sit against glacier-capped peaks, and it o…
• Røldal Stave Church – A stave church built around the early 13th century, its interior painted with 17th-century decoration; the crucifix inside was once a major…
• Husedalen Valley – A gorge behind Kinsarvik where a trail links four large waterfalls; the tallest, Kinso Falls, drops more than 100 m, and the trail is part…
• Fonna Glacier Ski Resort – A summer ski resort on the northern side of Folgefonna at about 1,200 m elevation, where you can ski and play in the snow on the glacier in…
• Norwegian Museum of Hydropower and Industry – A former hydropower station museum on the northern outskirts of Odda; its Art Nouveau generator hall, completed in 1918, is hailed as a 'ca…
• Skjervsfossen – A double-tiered waterfall beside the old road from Granvin toward Voss, with a total drop of about 150 m and a viewing platform in the midd…
• Hardangervidda National Park – Europe's largest high-altitude plateau and Norway's largest national park, dotted with lakes, tundra and wild reindeer herds, a prime desti…
• Langfossen – A waterfall with a 612 m drop beside Åkrafjorden, once named to CNN's list of the world's most beautiful waterfalls; it can be viewed from…

Where to eat

• Buer Restaurant (Buer Glacier Valley) – A New Nordic restaurant in a converted barn on the Buer Glacier Valley farm, using seasonal produce from the fjord, mou…
• Langhuset Restaurant (Camp Lothepus) – A Viking longhouse-style restaurant built on the slag heap of a former smelting works, with a short, casual menu; the V…
• Glacier Restaurant – An affordable restaurant in central Odda blending Middle Eastern grills, Indian curries and European dishes; the most r…
• Trolltunga Hotel Restaurant – A lakeside restaurant inside the Trolltunga Hotel with a concise menu of local seasonal ingredients, best paired with H…

Itineraries

• Lysefjord to Hardanger: 8-Day Hiking Itinerary – Travel north from Stavanger to Bergen, conquering Norway's big three hikes: Pulpit Rock, Kjeragbolten, and Trolltunga.