What to see in the fjords of Norway: waterfalls and glaciers

There Norway it is the European country where, probably, nature gives its best. And he does it by proposing a unique and very rich collection of forests and fjords carved by time and ice, the glacial charm of the Club Arctic polar and the ever new magical ballet of northern lights. All to be enjoyed comfortably as you prefer: between unique trainswalks and trekking, excursions with skis on your feet and also on sledges pulled by dogs or sailing on postal boats. In short, if one wanted to list what to see among the fjords of Norway would be spoiled for choice without forgetting the smiling sophistication of modern cities like Oslo and the characteristic charm of the small villages of fishermen often overlooking the fjords. To visit both in summer and in winter. All it takes is some suitable clothes and a little curiosity. And here are the places not to be missed and to see in the fjords of Norway.

Here’s what to see in the fjords of Norway: the stop in Bergen

Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and is actually there door of the fjords (the city itself, on the other hand, is located within a fjord). In your visit to this magical place you should not miss the wonder of the colorful houses of the Bryggen, the old Hanseatic quarter, today one of eight places in the whole country included in the World Heritage list ofUnescor. If you have time, don’t give up on the funicular ride up to mount Floyen and above all allow yourself the luxury of visiting the always lively fish market. You don’t just buy: you also eat. And the shrimp here has a special flavor. Bergenin short, it is the ideal place to start exploring the Norwegian fjords and what is around them. But remember: you are far north and the sun is not guaranteed. Indeed, it rains a lot here and it is often cold. But with a minimum of equipment, the show is certain.

There are many things to see in the fjords of Norway, as we have said. And then we continue the journey. One of the symbolic places, most seen and most worthy of being visited, is the so-called Pulpit (if you prefer Prekestolen in Norwegian). No, don’t think of a furniture in a church. This is the end point of one of the most popular hiking trails in Norway. A stone’s throw from the di Stavangerthe country’s oil capital and a major cruise port, the Pulpit Rock is a platform suspended on the Lysefjord with an overhang of over 600 meters high. The view, at least on sunny days and clear skies, will leave you breathless. The price of this stage overlooking the wonder? Quite low. That is zero euros (or crowns, in the local currency) and only one couple of hours of trekking to get here (but without too much effort). Those who are a minimum of trained and are able to zigzag among tourists may take a little less to get here and this is one of the reasons for the passion of tourists who want to discover what there is to see in the fjords of Norway. It is an easy path and in 2016 they came this far beyond 250,000 tourists. Also for this reason it is one of the must-haves among the fjords of Norway.

What to see in the fjords of Norway: Trolltunga

If the Pulpit is the (most desired) pearl among the places to see among the Norwegian fjords, Trolltunga has little to envy. And indeed throws down the gauntlet. Located in the fjord of Hardanger, Trolltunga is one of the most photographed places in Norway (and probably ranks well in a worldwide ranking). The secret? Simple. It is a truly panoramic place, a tongue of rock that protrudes seven hundred meters above the lake Ringedalsvatnet. Does seven hundred meters seem a lot to you? Surprise: the lake is located at one thousand and 100 meters above sea level and therefore calculate your height. But this time you pay for such a show. In terms of leg fatigue. To get here you have to burn approx nine hundred meters in altitude and this explains why it takes about five hours. To go up we start from Skjeggedal, you touch a cable car that does not work (too bad!) and you pass through a splendid panorama between waterfalls and steep slopes. We said steep: to avoid problems it is best to come here between June to September and remember to always be equipped with hiking shoes, warm and waterproof clothing and a supply of food. A detail: the cell phone does not work. If you have any problems, remember this even if going up here is very fashionable. In 2017 there were days when people waited two hours to take a picture with no other people around.

You never get tired of beauty. That’s why there are so many things to see in the fjords of Norway. One of these, much celebrated, is the Geirangerfjord, one of those that deserve to be seen in this part of the world for its natural and bursting power. It is located northeast of Bergenand allows you to immerse yourself in a natural environment made of very high waterfalls that plunge for hundreds of meters from sheer walls like cliffs. After so much nature you want a little rest and the right place are the villages of Hellesylt And Geiranger from where to leave for other excursions and walks. Among these are paths with suggestive names such as the Road of the Eagles or that of the Monti. But suggestions aside, they are truly unique places and the proof is that the Geirangerfjorden was inserted byUnesco among the World Heritage Sites.

Do you like walking but prefer a route that is perhaps less packed with tourists? No problem. Among the things to see in the fjords of Norway there is the one that’s right for you. Is called Kjerag and rises over a thousand meters above sea level. Obviously it is located on a fjord, it Lysefjord, and it is a famous point to enjoy a unique panorama or to jump. This is in fact one of the most popular bases for the base jumping but it is certainly not sure. There have been several deaths. To get here it is necessary to win the snow which is very high until at least until May. It goes without saying that in winter you don’t even come with a guide. When time permits it takes at least to get here six hours for a length of over ten kilometers. This is a trip for trained people (don’t cheat!) And the difference in altitude is over 800 meters and there are passages equipped with via ferrata. The starting point for the route is from the car park of Øygardstøl which can be reached with a journey that is not easy passing through Lysebotn first by ship and then by car.

What to see in the fjords of Norway: the ancient churches

Not just nature. Norway has many things to see but some are the result of human work. Among these is the Urnes Stave Church, the oldest church built in wood and also for this reason famous for its splendid carved decorations. The church is located overlooking a steep coast of Lustrafjord, one arm of the Sognefjord. The value of the structure, as well as for the panorama, comes from the presence of important legacies of Viking cultural and religious traditions. This is demonstrated by the sculptures representing animals, men and mythical figures that date back to at least 115o like the space for burials around. And it is not a small structure since even there‘Unesco has included it among the World Heritage. But not only this: in Norway in fact, large wooden churches were built which replaced those in stone built in the rest of Europe. The secret? The Vikings were adept at building wooden ships and applied the same technique to churches that have one element in common: poles on the corners with a unique technique and wooden plank walls. Among these churches not to be missed, in our guide of what to see in the fjords of Norway, there is that of Fantoft a short distance from Bergen or that of Vik (to get there you need to get to the small and beautiful village of the same name in the Sognefjord. You will not regret the effort). Equally beautiful and fascinating is the church of Borgund, built in 1180, and dedicated to Sant’Andrea ,. Its value is given by the fact that it is practically untouched, exactly as it was when it was built.

Among the things to see in the fjords of Norway there are the waterfalls. They are many and majestic. But sometimes also friendly enough to get crossed. The Norwegian word for waterfalls is “fossen” and you will find it often. It will not be easy to find another show like the one provided by Steinsdalsfossenlocated in the fjord of Hardangera short distance from the villages of Øystese And Norheimsund. Now, the leap that the water makes here is about fifty meters and it is a leap that is only a fraction of what is found elsewhere but is much loved by tourists. The reason? The Steinsdalsfossen can be crossed as it only happens in the movies and allows you to take unique photos with the reflections and colors given by the water. If, on the other hand, you want something gigantic and much less friendly, you will have to move to theÅkrafjord: here is the Langfossen, a frightening waterfall whose waters fall from the mountain for about six hundred meters. And it is not a record: the highest waterfalls in the country exceed eight hundred meters in height.

We talked about rock, water and nature. We cannot forget the last protagonist: ice. Among the things to see among the fjords of Norway in fact there are also glaciers. They are many and different and often trips and excursions with guides are organized (because safety is important). Among the glaciers it Jostedalsbreen is the king. It has an area of ​​almost five hundred square kilometers and is the largest in Europe continental. The great expanse widens and spreads with many arms and is partly included in the Jostedalsbreen National Park. And if you want to know everything, absolutely everything, on the glaciers the unmissable stop for you is that a Fjaerland where there is a dedicated museum. The approach is rather informative (children like it a lot) but it turns out how the ice has formed the landscape around and the history of ice, touching ancient blocks and seeing what the ice has brought us. Like the remains of the mammoth. There are also videos and multimedia experiences as well as a sacrosanct appeal to all to protect the Earth. She’s gorgeous. And we only have one. Here, among the fjords of Norway, it is easier to understand how important it is to preserve it.