Voss
Western Norway's adventure capital, with a medieval stone church and folk museum by Lake Vangsvatnet, rafting and skydiving in summer, skiing in winter, and a key stop on the Norway in a Nutshell route.
Voss lies in Vestland county, about 100 km east of Bergen, and is a transport hub on the Bergen Line railway and the E16 highway, as well as a stop on the Norway in a Nutshell route between Bergen and Myrdal/Flåm or Gudvangen. The town centre, Vossevangen, sits on the shore of Lake Vangsvatnet surrounded by mountains, and is famous as Norway's 'extreme sports capital': in summer you can go white-water rafting on the Stranda and Raundalselva rivers and try indoor skydiving in a wind tunnel or the real thing at Bømoen airfield, while in winter there are two big ski areas, Voss Resort and Myrkdalen. In town you can walk to the Gothic stone church begun in 1277, the Voss Folk Museum's Mølstertunet farm on the hillside, and Finnesloftet, one of Norway's oldest secular wooden buildings, stroll along the lake, or ride the Voss Gondol up Hanguren for the views. Nearby Tvindefossen, Stalheim, the Nærøydalen valley and the Nærøyfjord are usually included in Flåm–Sognefjord itineraries, while Ulvik and Skjervsfossen on the Hardangerfjord side are 30 minutes to an hour's drive away, making Voss a good base for a road trip. Getting there: about 1 hour 15 minutes by train from Bergen, or about 5.5 hours from Oslo. The summer high season is June–September and the ski season December–April. Allow 1–2 days; book outdoor activities in advance, and since mountain weather is changeable, bring windproof and waterproof clothing.
Top sights
- Voss Church – A Gothic stone church consecrated in 1277, with an octagonal timber spire that is the symbol of Voss town. It has been in use for more than…
- Voss Folk Museum (Mølstertunet) – A group of historic farm buildings preserved on their original site on a hillside, with more than ten log houses from the 16th to 19th cent…
- Finnesloftet – A wooden banquet hall dating from the mid-13th century, one of the oldest non-religious wooden buildings in Norway, within walking distance…
- Vangsvatnet – A high mountain lake beside which the town of Voss sits. A grassy lakeside path connects the church and the station, and visitors can go bo…
- Voss River Rafting – Rafting on the Stranda and Lønadal rivers, the signature outdoor activity in Voss, known as the capital of extreme sports.
- Voss Vind – One of the first indoor skydiving wind tunnels open to visitors in the world, where you can experience free fall and float without any prio…
- Voss Resort – A ski area right next to the town, with runs extending from Mount Hangur and Mount Slettafjellet down to Bavallen. Skiing in winter and hik…
- Myrkdalen – A large mountain resort about 30 km north of Voss, with heavy snowfall and a long ski season, and one of the largest ski areas in western N…
- Bordalsgjelet – A deep, narrow gorge not far south of town, with paths and small bridges running along the rock walls where you can look down on rushing wa…
- Oppheimsvatnet – A peaceful mountain lake beside the E16 on the way from Voss to Stalheim, which was a holiday resort for European visitors in the 19th cent…
- Bolstadfjord – A narrow fjord arm west of Voss, along the railway and E16. The small village of Bolstadøyri at its end is a highlight of the scenery seen…
Where to eat
- Flor'n Restaurant (Store Ringheim) – A seasonal restaurant in an old farm barn, using local Voss meats, mountain trout, and herbs and berries foraged from t…
- Vangen Café – A traditional café in the center of Voss serving homemade Norwegian dishes and pastries. Its Thursday potato dumplings…
- Tre Bror Café Bar – A café-bar in an old building beside the town square, with live music and all-day breakfasts featuring Norwegian ingred…
Itineraries
- Norway in a Nutshell: Oslo to Bergen – Travel from Oslo to Flåm via the scenic mountain railway, cruise the Nærøyfjord, and arrive in Bergen—no driving requir…
- Western Fjords Grand Loop: 13-Day Self-Drive Itinerary – A self-drive loop from Bergen covering the Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, Atlantic Ocean Road, and Hjørundfjord.