Autumn is the perfect time for a trip with friends to Fjord Norway

Do you and your friends dream about taking a trip to Fjord Norway? Autumn is a great time to explore the fjords and we have lots of great tips for you! Active trips or a focus on relaxation, culture and gastronomy? Tips for all kinds of trips are provided below.

1. Cycling and surfing outside Stavanger
2. Upgraded camping at Preikestolen BaseCamp
3. ‘Hang out’ with your friends on Norway's toughest Via Ferrata route!
4. See the sun rise over Trolltunga
5. Gastronomy, cooking courses and activities in Bekkjarvik
6. Good food, relaxation and culture in Bergen
7. Active challenges in Voss
8. Weekend in the archipelago on the Fjord Coast
9. Mountain hikes and yoga in Nordfjord
10. Peace and quiet at Flatheim farm in Sunnfjord
11. The art village Balestrand: culture and activities in perfect harmony
12. Ålesund: culture, activities and great food
13. Autumn weekend in Geiranger with mountain hikes, cycling and paddling 
14. Walks along the north-western coast – on Norway’s longest stairway in stone

 

1. Cycling and surfing in Jæren

We have a good alternative to a cycling holiday with friends from vineyard to vineyard in France: Jærruta – 140 km on a bike along the coast south of Stavanger! We cannot promise wine-tasting, but fantastic landscape, good food, great hotels and an unforgettable experience (and delicious drinks) are guaranteed. 

The Jærruta route extends from Solastranden beach to charming Egersund, and crosses the open landscape of Jæren, with its beaches, on a nice cycling path and quiet roads. Electric bikes are available for hire. 

En route, you can surf at Borestranden beach, play golf in Bryne, and try coasteering in Egersund. 

See all the tips for an autumn holiday in Fjord Norway.

 

2. Upgraded camping at Preikestolen BaseCamp

If you’re dreaming of doing the walk to Pulpit Rock, autumn is a great time to do it: less people around and beautiful autumn colours make this a great experience. We recommend a guided walk with Outdoorlife Norway, which ensures a safe trip if there’s snow and ice on the path. 

'Hikers’ camp' is located by Refsvatnet lake, below Preikestolen mountain lodge and the starting point for the walk, with a hikers’ nest for those who don’t want to sleep in a tent. The 'nests' are equipped with mattresses, lights and USB outlets, and they're situated beside the sandy beach at Refsvatnet lake. Here you can hire a floating sauna after the hike to Pulpit Rock, a kayak or SUP, and do some post-hike stretches with yoga at Preikestolen BaseCamp.  

See all the tips for an autumn holiday in Fjord Norway.

 

3. ‘Hang out’ with your friends on Norway's toughest Via Ferrata route!

Are your friends brave and active types? Try what may be Norway’s toughest Via Ferrata route! Via Ferrata Kyrkjeveggen is located innermost in the idyllic Åkrafjord, and the route ascends from 50 metres to 550 metres above sea level. 

You can stay overnight at Åkrafjorden Nature B&B. They have bikes you can borrow free of charge, and it is a great starting point for other activities after you've completed the arduous Via Ferrata route. 

Langfoss, 'one of the world's most beautiful waterfalls', according to the CNN, is situated on the Åkrafjord and makes for a challenging summit tour to Vardahaugen (640 metres above sea level). You will experience dramatic scenery and a magnificent view – the entire Åkrafjord and the surrounding mountains, the Folgefonna glacier and the green glacier lake in Mosnesdalen valley, and – not least – the roar of Langfoss waterfall cascading down the mountain. 

At the nearby Rullestad camping you can rent a kayak and paddle on Rullestadvatnet lake and relax in the sauna or in the hot tub afterwards. 

See all the tips for an autumn holiday in Fjord Norway.

 

4. See the sun rise over Trolltunga

Trolltunga is one of Norway’s most popular destinations. Now you and your friends can experience this spectacular mountain formation, probably in majestic solitude, with Trolltunga Active’s 'Sunset/sunrise-tour'! 

Experienced guides will take you up to Trolltunga, where you will eat dinner and spend the night in a see-through dome with comfortable facilities. Breakfast is of course also included, and you can enjoy the sunset and sunrise from the tip of Trolltunga. 

If you would like an even more spectacular and challenging trip, you can take the Trolltunga Via Ferrata on the way up. 

Are you looking for a little luxury after the arduous trip to Trolltunga? Book a room at Hotel Ullensvang and relax and enjoy the hotel's fantastic location beside the fjord, outdoor and indoor pool, restaurant and bar.

See all the tips for an autumn holiday in Fjord Norway.

 

5. Gastronomy, cooking courses and activities in Bekkjarvik

Bekkjarvik Gjestgiveri was built at the end of the 17th century at the behest of King Christian IV. It still receives guests, and food is its main focus. Bekkjarvik Gjestgiveri has a cosy atmosphere, and you can even rent a villa with a view of gardens and the sea. 

The restaurant is listed in ‘White guide – The best restaurants in the Nordics’. The chefs, who are the sons of the owners and hosts, are among Norway’s best chefs. Ørjan won a gold medal in Bocuse d’Or in Lyon in 2015, and Arnt was voted Chef of the Year by the Norwegian Chefs Association. That says something about the level of quality you can expect!

Making meals after this trip will never be the same again – in Bekkjarvik you can take a cooking course with the famous chefs themselves. Complement the course with wine tasting, and you’ll be ready to impress friends with your cooking skills over the autumn and winter. 

Other experiences await in Bekkjarvik. Go sailing or on a walk along the many paths, for instance to Kongsfjellet mountain, a walk that is rewarded with a great view over the islands that make up Austevoll. It’s easy to unwind and relax, enjoy good conversations, laughter and great food.   

See all the tips for an autumn holiday in Fjord Norway.

 

6. Great food, relaxation and culture in Bergen

Arm yourselves with an umbrella or rainwear when taking a trip to Bergen in the autumn! 

Culture and food city Bergen is a great city to visit with friends. Check in at Hotel Norge, in the heart of the city and set off to explore Bergen. After strolling through the streets and Bryggen, take the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen to enjoy the view and have a traditional skillingsbolle bun and a coffee in the café. 

Bergen is home to many great restaurants. Lysverket is one of them, located in the art museum KODE 4. The chef here, Christopher Haatuft, has worked at the Michelin restaurant Per Se in New York and serves food with a distinctive taste of Western Norway. 

BARE Restaurant is the only restaurant in Bergen with a Michelin star, located in Bergen Børs Hotel. We can also recommend Colonialen, Marg & Bein located near the university and Restaurant 1877 in the venerable Kjøttbasaren building. Remember to book in advance!
Other restaurants can be found here. 

KODE art museums are made up of four art museums, which are located right next to one another in the city centre. KODE is home to both Norwegian and international contemporary art, Norway's biggest collection of Chinese art, works by Astrup, Munch, Dahl and others. Troldhaugen, the home of composer Edvard Grieg, is situated outside the city centre and is also a part of KODE. 

Do you want to be active too? Do as the locals do and walk up Mount Ulriken, one of the seven mountains surrounding the city, or take a longer hike across the Vidden plateau, between the mountains Ulriken and Fløyen! 

See all the tips for an autumn holiday in Fjord Norway.

 

7. Active challenges in Voss 

Voss is known the world over for extreme sports and experiences that give you an adrenaline rush. This trip gets your pulse going, without overdoing it. 

You can take the train to Voss from Bergen or Oslo, and check in at the new Scandic hotel, located right next to the train station. The new cable car takes you from the railway station up to Hangurstoppen. There is a restaurant at the top and great paths, and Hangurstoppen is a good starting point for mountain hikes. 

You must also naturally make your way back down, but you will neither walk nor take the cable car. Instead, Voss Hang-gliding and Paragliding Club offers a lofty tandem paragliding trip!

Back down in the centre of Voss, you can test your wings a little more, if you're up for it: in the wind tunnel at Voss Vind where you can feel the free fall in a safe setting. 

Have dinner at Haik, the hotel restaurant. After a good night's sleep you’ll be ready for more adventure and  Wild Voss  will take the whole group climbing. You don’t need any previous experience of climbing, and you can borrow all the equipment. You can do some more climbing and a zipline in the climbing park, unless you would like to try waterfall abseiling. You will be equipped with climbing harnesses, wetsuits and helmets to abseil down the 100-metre-long Skjervsfossen waterfall. 

Tired? Relax in one of the cafés or restaurants in Voss, for instance Tre Brør kafé & Bar, which among other things has 20 different types of beer from Norwegian microbreweries, and the local kveik yeast beer, which has even been mentioned in the New York Times. Another good alternative is Vangen café, which serves traditional dishes made from scratch. 

See all the tips for an autumn holiday in Fjord Norway.

 

8. Weekend in the archipelago on the Fjord Coast 

The charming coastal town Florø, surrounded by a beautiful archipelago, is easy to get to from both Bergen and Oslo. Check in at Quality hotel in the town centre, which offers a deal that includes accommodation (two nights), beer tasting at Vesle Kinn and a three-course dinner. 

From Florø you can take a round-trip on a scheduled boat service in the beautiful archipelago. Make a stop at Svanøy, known as the pearl of Sunnfjord. Sign up for a guided trip, where you get to meet deer up close at the Norwegian Deer Centre and visit the beautiful Svanøy Manor that over the years has been both home to aristocrats and bishops. 

You can also make a stop at the island Kinn, where there is a beautiful stone church from the Middle Ages and great terrain for walks. 

You’ll also find fantastic walking terrain with easy access from the city centre in Brandsøyåsen – popular among locals. 

At the Coastal Museum in Florø you can learn about the region’s natural and cultural history. It also has a great collection of boats and different objects, and one of the biggest oil industry exhibitions in Norway. 

Have an aperitif at Vesle Kinn on Saturday evening, which is Kinn brewery’s test brewery and beer café. Here you can sample four different Kinn beers, before moving on to Bryggekanten restaurant, where a three-course dinner awaits. 

A perfect weekend, in other words! 

See all the tips for an autumn holiday in Fjord Norway.

 

9. Mountain hikes and yoga in Nordfjord

In Oldedalen in beautiful Nordfjord, right beside the Briksdalsbreen glacier, lies Melkevoll bretun. It is surrounded by spectacular scenery: waterfalls, high mountains and glittering glaciers – the perfect starting point for an unforgettable trip with friends. 

Kattanakken is situated near the campsite, 1,458 metres above sea level, and this is definitely a hike anyone who loves hiking will want to tick off their list. This is a lofty hike in places and is classified as black. From the top, you can see the whole Oldedalen valley and the Briksdalsbreen glacier, which is a great reward after the taxing hike up. 

Melkevoll bretun is also a bouldering spot, where there are approximately 100 boulders to climb at the camp site, which should be enough for anyone who wants to have a go. There are also yoga classes at the campsite a couple of times a week, relaxing treatments, a sauna and ice swimming – perfect after a long day in the mountains!

The Briksdalsbreen glacier is situated around 50 minutes on foot from Melkevoll bretun. From an altitude of 1,200 metres, the glacier plunges down to the lush, narrow Briksdalen valley. You walk past Kleivafossen waterfall, one of the most photographed motives in Norway, on the way there!

See all the tips for an autumn holiday in Fjord Norway.

 

10. Peace and quiet at Flatheim farm in Sunnfjord

The smallholding Flatheim has engaged in farm tourism since 1949. The farm is situated next to Norwegian Scenic Route Gaularfjellet, and it is a great starting point for experiences in the Sognefjord area. 

The farm has few rooms divided between several buildings at the farm. You can try your luck fishing by the river, where there is also a turf-roofed shelter, bonfire pans, barbecue hut and a hot tub. At the farm you’ll meet sheep, hens, ducks and cats. The close proximity to nature makes it easy to relax.

Likholefossen waterfall is located five minutes away on foot, but we recommend you walk along the Waterfall Path – along 14 waterfalls and 7 mountain lakes. In Høyanger, a short drive away, you can climb the 1,268 steps straight up along the pipe trench and continue on to the dam Grimsosen. 

Utsikten – a spectacular viewpoint along the scenic route, is situated approx. 10 min. by car from Flatheim. The art village Balestrand is not far away either, which is also a great area for walks. Sunnfjord Museum is also worth a visit. There are 32 historical buildings at the open air museum, and the collection also comprises 13,000 objects that document daily life in Sunnfjord in the 19th century and earlier. As you’re already in Førde, have dinner at the restaurant Pikant mat- og vinhus after your visit to the museum. The restaurant's food is based on local produce and in the evening it serves a three or six course tasting menu. 

See all the tips for an autumn holiday in Fjord Norway.

 

11. The art village Balestrand: culture and activities in perfect harmony

Balestrand is in an idyllic location beside the Sognefjord. After checking in at Kviknes hotel, take a walk through the village. 

There is a long tradition of tourism in Balestrand. Many artists and well-to-do people came to the village for recreation and the scenery, and dragon-style (a Norwegian variant of the Swiss style) villas were built at the end of the 19th century. Art has been – and continues to be – very important in Balestrand, and you will see many sculptures and other artworks outdoors, and art collections in the hotels, among other places. A range of exhibitions are also held each year. 

Visit St. Olaf’s Church or the ‘English church’ as it is also called. The church is built in the stave church style in memory of Margaret Sophia Green Kvikne, an English climbing pioneer who married Knut Kvikne in 1890. 

Having soaked up the culture, perhaps you’re ready for an adventure? Balestrand Fjord Adventures can take you on an exhilarating RIB trip on the fjord. You will among other things see the magnificent Kvinefossen waterfall and have a chance to admire the beautiful Swiss villas from the sea.

There are also great walks in the mountains around Balestrand. Keipen (1,427 metres above sea level) extends from the fjord to the mountains and offers the best views in the area. The hike is not technically difficult, but the terrain is steep. Raudmelen (972 metres above sea level) towers above the village. The reward for this arduous hike is an amazing view of the fjord and inland towards Fjærland. Tjuatoten (1,098 metres above sea level) is another great, but arduous hike, with a spectacular view. If you're looking for slightly easier walks, head to Saurdalen, a great starting point for several easy walks. The Waterfall Path beside Norwegian Scenic Route Gaularfjellet is not far away either. 

Ciderhuset produces cider, juice, fruit wine and apple brandy under the brand Balholm. They offer courses, cider tasting, guided tours, lunch and dinner on request for groups, and we highly recommend a visit! 

Alternative accommodation in Balestrand can be found here.
See all the tips for an autumn holiday in Fjord Norway.

 

12. Ålesund: culture, activities and great food 

Beautiful Ålesund is a small city with a lot to offer. In other words, the perfect destination for a trip with friends! 

The Art Nouveau Centre and KUBE art gallery are natural places to start. Here you can learn more about the city fire in 1904 that led to the city being rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style. Today, the centre of Ålesund is one of the most characteristic built environments in this style. 

KHÅK kunsthall, an art showroom with free admission, is shared by Ålesund art association and the Kjell Holm foundation. The art association is one of Norway's oldest art associations and hosts eight to ten exhibitions of contemporary art each year. The Kjell Holm foundation has several important works by Norwegian artists from the national romantic period. 

A walk up to Mount Aksla viewpoint is a must. The 418 steps start in byparken park, and you can take beautiful photos of the city and the archipelago from the top. 

After building up an appetite on Mount Aksla, you can have lunch at one of the city's best restaurants (remember to book in advance!). Anno is a good choice with a varied menu. Apotekergata no. 5 will also satisfy the most discriminating palates. Molo – a microbrewery on the quay in the city centre serves great burgers. 

The guiding company Uteguiden can take you on many different activities. How about SUP in Brosundet sound in the city centre before dinner? Uteguiden can also take you on an electric bike and mountain walk to Sukkertoppen just outside the city centre. The summit is only 314 metres above sea level, but offers a 360-degree panoramic view of Ålesund, the Sunnmøre Alps, the islands and the Atlantic. 

In the evening, have dinner at Bro, a restaurant that was listed in the gastronomy guide: The White Guide – the Nordics. Remember to book in advance! 

Accommodation in Ålesund can be found here.
See all the tips for an autumn holiday in Fjord Norway.

 

13. Autumn weekend in Geiranger with mountain hikes, cycling and paddling

If you’re an active group of friends, we recommend this trip to Geiranger. 

Autumn is a magical time in Geiranger. The colours of the mountains and along the fjord create a wonderful tranquil atmosphere. The guiding company Uteguiden can help you to make the most of the weekend in this unique landscape. 

You check in at Hotel Union Geiranger on the Thursday evening, which will be your base for the weekend. In addition to the activities, this will ensure a weekend of comfort and great food and drink. 

Over the course of the weekend, you will go on a boat trip on the fjord, a trip to the well-known mountain farm Skageflå, an electric bike and hike trip to the mountains Vinsåshornet and Grindalsnibba, and a tranquil kayaking trip on the Sunday before departure. A perfect combination? Book your trip with Uteguiden here. 

See all the tips for an autumn holiday in Fjord Norway.

 

14. Walks along the north-western coast – on Norway’s longest stairway in stone

Are you ready to test your stamina? Plan an autumn trip with your friends to Molde and walk up the Midsuntrappene steps. 

On the island Otrøya, west of Molde, lie the ‘mountains in the ocean’ and the longest stairway in stone in Norway. Sherpas from Nepal had just finished building the steps up to Digergubben (527 metres above sea level), when they were asked whether they could stay a bit longer and build steps up to the neighbouring mountain Rørsethornet (659 metres above sea level). The result is Norway’s longest stairway in stone with 2,200 continuous steps. Before the steps were built, the terrain was at times slippery, muddy and difficult to walk, while now everything is set for not only one, but two hikes with 360-degree views of the Romsdal Alps, Sunnmøre Alps, outer Nordmøre and out to the ocean’s edge. 

Stay overnight in Molde at Molde fjordstuer, or head for Finnøy Havstuer housed in the premises of the old trading station and fish landing facility on Finnøy. On Finnøy, you will also find the water park ‘Håp i havet’, where you can relax after the trip. 

If you decide to stay overnight in Molde, you can take the bus to the starting point of the hike up to Digergubben (if you don't have your own car). Don’t miss the viewpoint Varden in Molde, where you can see the famous Molde panorama of 222 mountain peaks. 

See all the tips for an autumn holiday in Fjord Norway.