The fjords of western Norway provide spectacular views from above when you hike them and below from a ship or boat. Cruising the fjords gets you up close to the majesty of the Norwegian coastline, with its sheer cliffs, stunning waterfalls and beautiful Norwegian flora. It also will provide you with the snapshots of a lifetime and an education in the power of nature.


Although "fjord'' means sea inlet, fjords are often named for bays. They are the long, narrow, zigzagging inlets running between sheer cliffs, created by the glaciers of the last ice age, 20,000 years ago. These deep, narrow inlets can extend far inland, some for hundreds of miles. The most spectacular fjords are on the western coast of Norway, where active glaciation still is under way. Two of Norway's most pristine and dramatic fjords, Geiranger and Nærøy, have been named UNESCO World Heritage Sites.


Fjord cruises in Norway most often run during summer, which lasts from June to August, when the temperature ranges from 57 to 65 degrees F and the sun hardly sets. In late autumn and winter, frequent rain, cold and gale-force winds keep most ships from navigating the fjords. Norway's official tourism office, Visit Norway, touts the advantages of the mild autumn months, when the mountains take on a golden splendor highlighted by bright red rowan berries and fruit trees, and the spring, when mountain flowers burst open to welcome the warmth of the coming sun. The Gulf Stream helps to keep the fjords relatively mild and ice-free, even during winter.

Multi-Day Cruises

The fjord cruise district is centered on the historic town of Bergen because many trips start from here. Trips to Hardangerfjord head south, and those to Nordfjord and Sognefjord head north. Songefjord is the country's longest, and many cruise lines provide a side trip by bus to the magnificent Briksdal Glacier. Depending on how many fjords you want to see, you can book trips anywhere from a week to three weeks. Cruise lines Oceania, Costa, Cunard and Hurtigruten are among those offering comprehensive multi-day or multi-week cruise options.

Arctic Circle Trips

Generally, the longer the trip, the farther north you'll cruise. Some cruises will take you inside the Arctic Circle, perhaps to the Lofoten Islands, which are home to tiny villages nestled amid towering mountains. Fjord Travel Norway Inc. has an Arctic Circle/Northern Lights Tour to Risoyrenna, Raftsund and Trollfjord, as well as to the Lofoten Islands and Helgeland coast.(ref4)

Day Trips

Of course, not everyone has the time or the inclination to cruise for weeks. If your trip to Norway is part of a larger European trip, you can get a taste of "fjording'' in a day or two. Hurtigruten has short and long hauls all along the coast and sails every day of the year. You also can climb aboard ferries and express boats for island-hopping. Ferries connecting Norway's fjords are very popular, less expensive than cruises and not pretentious. You might find lines for the more popular ferry destinations in summer.

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