Romantic autumn break in the fjords

1. Spa and great food at Angvik Gamle Handelssted

Angvik gamle handelssted, between Molde and Kristiansund, is a place where you will want to spend a long time. You start to unwind as soon as you arrive. The hotel is in an idyllic location on the Tingvollfjord, has its own spa and a restaurant serving delicious food.

The hotel dates back to the 1500s, when sailing ships from Holland used to call here to buy timber. There was a steam ship quay, trade and barrel production at Angvik at the end of the 1800s, and you can learn more about its cultural history at the hotel’s very own museum. It also has a gallery dedicated to one of Norway’s leading artists, Tore Bjørn Skjølsvik, which is a unique collection in the classical tradition in Norway.

If you have any inclination to leave the hotel, and not spend all your time relaxing in the spa, there are great walks in the area. You can borrow a boat and fishing rods and bikes at the hotel, and explore the immediate area. Elvastien can take you along the river from Batnfjordsøra and up the valley. There is a good path. If you are looking for a bigger challenge, you can go on a hike to the three summits: Halskammen, Vardhaugen and Stortuva. It’s also easy to go on day tips from the hotel to e.g. the Atlantic Road, Aursjørvegen mountain road, Molde and Kristiansund.

Dinner is served in the restaurant at 19.30. You can enjoy a new five-course dinner every day, based on local seasonal ingredients. Welcome!

2. (Michelin) stars in your eyes in Stavanger

Gourmets will be delighted by a visit to Stavanger, city of gastronomy. This is the trip for you if you love good food and a little luxury now and again.

Eilert Smith Hotel is a boutique hotel that only has 12 rooms, with a central location in Stavanger. Each room is different, and there is a great focus on design and comfort. 

You don’t have far to go for a gastronomic experience either: as RE-NAA, Norway’s only restaurant with two stars in the Michelin Guide is located on the ground floor of the hotel. The hotel reserves two places in the restaurant every Friday and Saturday, so make sure to book a table early!

Stavanger is a small big city, and has lots of cafés, great nightlife and excellent shops. Stroll along Stavanger’s famous colourful street, where you will find niche shops, cafés and art galleries. Eat lunch at the Fish Market or Renaa Matbaren, go for a walk through Old Stavanger, and take part in a guided street art walk. You can head for Sola to go for a walk on the beautiful sandy beach, and visit one of the museums or galleries in the city.

In the evening, you could have dinner at your second Michelin restaurant – if you’re lucky enough to get a table: Sabi Omakase is the first sushi restaurant in Norway to have been awarded a star, and it is the country’s most exclusive sushi restaurant with room for just ten guests. 

Stavanger is there to be enjoyed!

3. Spa and fjord experiences in beautiful Geiranger

An autumn-clad Geiranger is a beautiful backdrop for a romantic getaway. Hotel Union Geiranger offers numerous packages and events during autumn, and is a great base for exploring the world heritage fjord. 

The hotel was built in 1891, and is now run by the fourth generation of hotel owners. Hotell Union is an institution in Geiranger, and can boast an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a spa section, several restaurants and bars, a wine cellar – and a collection of vintage cars! Many of the lovely cars were used in the 1920s and 1930s to show tourists around Geiranger, and you can hire one of them with a chauffeur for an extra special sightseeing trip.

In 2005, the Geirangerfjord, together with the area around the Nærøyfjord, was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. At the Norwegian Fjord Centre, you can learn more about the World Heritage fjord and the history of Geiranger and the surrounding area. The fjord is very beautiful in autumn, and on a guided kayaking trip, you can glide silently across the water and see mountainsides and waterfalls up close. Fjord cruises operate until mid-October, and from the boat you can see abandoned farms high up on the mountainsides, and admire the waterfalls De syv søstre (the seven sisters), Friaren (the suitor) and Brudesløret (the bridal veil). There is also a car ferry between Geiranger and Hellesylt, and you can drive back to Geiranger from Hellesylt via Stryn.

Don’t miss the viewpoint Ørnesvingen – a stop on the Norwegian Scenic Route Geiranger-Trollstigen, and the waterfall walk from the centre of Geiranger is also a lovely experience!

4. Royal stay in Hardanger

The lovely Hotel Ullensvang has been and is still a favourite among royalty and notables including the composer Edvard Grieg. It’s easy to see why: the hotel with its long history is set in beautiful surroundings beside the fjord, it has an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a wellness section, great food and lounges where you can relax with a nice drink.

Queen Sonja has visited Hotel Ullensvang several times, and she is so fond of the area that a walking trail has even been named after her: The Queen’s path – H.M. Queen Sonja’s panoramic walk is a trail high in the mountains between Kinsarvik and Lofthus. This is a long and demanding walk, but walkers are rewarded with fantastic views of the Sørfjord, and the path takes you through forests, mountains and orchards. The last leg takes you down to Lofthus via the Monk Steps, stones laid as steps in the terrain – probably by the monks in Opedal. 

Back down at the hotel, you can take a well-deserved break in the adult section of the pool area, where there are waterfalls, a water sofa with a jet spray massage and panorama sauna with fantastic views of the fjord.

You can enjoy a delicious meal in the restaurant in the evening. The restaurant is designed so that all diners get great views of the fjord and mountains wherever they sit. A good tip is to ask for a glass of the local cider as an aperitif!

If you would like to go on a more gentle walk the following day, we recommend the fruit trail. This round-trip takes you through beautiful cultural landscape, and the area is particularly well-known for its orchards and cider production, and you can buy cider or apple juice along the way.

5. The fishing village Kalvåg, seafood and chocolate

The hotel Knutholmen is located in Kalvåg, a fishing village right out in the open sea. Here, you will find good atmosphere, good food, an authentic coastal culture and a variety of experiences. If you are lucky, you will experience "storm watching": a cabin has been built on a cliff where you can observe the storm at a safe distance, a fascinating sight.

Knutholmen offers both comfortable hotel rooms and apartments. The restaurant serves fantastic seafood. Everything is within walking distance here, and at Kalvåg there are great hiking opportunities and cycling routes. At Buaspa you can recharge your batteries with spa treatments, a pool and a sandy beach inside (!) - and a hot tub outside.

Knutholmen and Kalvåg even have their own chocolate workshop where you can make self-composed chocolate for each other. You can book many other activities here. How about a boat safari between 700 islets and reefs, a fishing trip or a guided kayak trip? Hiking to the cabin “Dosabu” is also a nice excursion. It is located on the edge of a cliff on the west side of Kalvåg - approx. 1 hour walk. Enjoy the packed lunch and the view inside the cabin. If you are lucky, you will see sea eagles!