Stryn
A fjord-end town on the Nordfjord, surrounded by the Loen Skylift, Briksdal Glacier and Lake Lovatnet—the northern gateway to the Jostedal Glacier.
Stryn is a municipality at the far eastern end of the Nordfjord in Vestland county, Norway, covering three fjord villages: Stryn, Loen and Olden. To the south it borders the Jostedal Glacier, the largest glacier in mainland Europe, whose northern outlet glaciers spill down the valleys to form emerald glacial-lake valleys such as Lodalen and Oldedalen. Highlights: the Loen Skylift and Briksdal Glacier (both covered under the Geiranger & Trollstigen destination, just 10–30 minutes' drive from Stryn), Lake Lovatnet and Kjenndal Glacier, Lake Oldevatnet, hiking Mount Skåla, the Loen via ferrata, and the summer ski centre at Strynefjellet. Climate: Jun–Aug is best, with long days and glacier hikes, the Skylift and summer skiing all in operation; May and September see fewer visitors but some facilities are closed; in winter the mountain roads are snowbound and the Old Strynefjell Mountain Road is closed. Getting there: about 2.5 hours' drive from Ålesund Airport, or 5–6 hours from Bergen; Route 15 crosses Strynefjellet towards Oslo, and Geiranger is about 1.5 hours away by car; large cruise ships call at Olden and Loen. Suggested stay: 2–3 days—one day for the Loen Skylift and Lovatnet, one for Briksdal and Oldevatnet, and one for the Strynefjell road and summer skiing. Note: always go with a certified guide in glacier areas and never venture onto the ice on your own; popular sights get crowded on summer cruise-ship days, so set off early.
Top sights
- Lovatnet – A glacial lake in the Lodalen valley with emerald-green water. Kilometre-high cliffs and waterfalls drop straight into the lake, with the K…
- Kjenndalsbreen – The glacier tongue at the end of Lovatnet, cascading down from high on the Jostedal Glacier. From the car park it is about a 15-minute walk…
- Oldevatnet – An emerald glacial lake in the Oldedalen valley, with a road leading along it to the Briksdal Glacier, where the lake and waterfalls reflec…
- Via Ferrata Loen – A via ferrata route up the steep cliffs of Mount Hoven, climbing from the fjord's edge to the 1,011-meter summit. It includes Norway's long…
- Skåla – A classic, challenging hike that climbs straight from sea level to the 1,848-meter summit, where a stone tower hut overlooks Nordfjord and…
- Stryn Summer Ski Centre – A summer ski area on the Tystigbreen glacier by Strynefjell pass, where you can ski in short sleeves in June and July. It is one of the bes…
- Bødalsbreen – A glacier in the Lodalen side valley, reached via the traditional summer pasture of Bødalseter, with a pristine foreground and few visitors.
- Ramnefjellsfossen – A tiered waterfall on the shore of Lovatnet with a total drop of about 800 meters, often counted among the world's tallest, and visible fro…
- Jostedalsbreen National Park Centre – A glacier museum on the shore of Strynsvatnet that introduces mainland Europe's largest glacier through exhibitions, panoramic films, and a…
- Videfossen – A waterfall tumbling down rock slopes beside the Strynefjell mountain road, where bridges and viewpoints bring you close to the rushing wat…
- Strynsvatnet – A long, narrow lake east of Stryn town, bordered by Route 15, with lake views and farms, and a prelude to the crossing of Strynefjell.
- Hornindalsvatnet – The deepest lake in Europe, reaching 514 meters, with crystal-clear water, located beside Route 60 on the way from Stryn to Ålesund.
- Olden – A small cruise port village on the shore of Nordfjord with an old wooden church, and the starting point for trips to Briksdal Glacier and L…
- Stryn Town – The town center at the eastern end of Nordfjord, where hotels, supermarkets, and petrol stations cluster, and the Panoramavegen road offers…
Where to eat
- Stryn Kaffebar Vertshus – The highest-rated and most popular café-bar in Stryn, open from breakfast until late at night.
- Visnes Hotel Restaurant – A restaurant in a historic timber hotel that opens to the public in summer, cooking with local game, mountain trout and…
- O.L. Brekke Fish Shop – An old fish shop founded in 1946, smoking its own fish and serving hot fish soup, fishcakes and more at lunch. Affordab…
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.