Vestland is Norway's fjord county, home to Bergen, the Sognefjord, the Hardangerfjord, the Nærøyfjord, Europe's largest mainland glacier and a coastline of islands and surf beaches.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Flåm
Highlights: Ride the Flåmsbana, among the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world · Photo stop at the Kjosfossen waterfall on the descent · Fjordside quay and harbour walk at the head of the Aurlandsfjord · Flåm Railway Museum beside the station · Boat connection onward to the Nærøyfjord
Gudvangen and the Nærøyfjord
Highlights: Cruise the narrow, UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord between Gudvangen and Flåm · Waterfalls tumbling straight into the fjord, strongest in spring · Njardarheimr Viking village reconstruction at Gudvangen · Scenic train from Bergen to Voss as part of the route · Optional link with the Flåmsbana from Flåm
Voss
Highlights: Train from Bergen in about 1 hour 10 minutes on the Bergen Line · Voss Gondola up Hangur for views over the town and Vangsvatnet · Medieval Voss Church in the town centre · Rafting, kayaking, paragliding and other adventure sports in summer · Lakeside walks within easy reach of the station
Kinsarvik
Highlights: Hardangerfjord cruise combined with a bus from Bergen · Medieval Kinsarvik Church in the village · Orchards and cideries typical of the Hardanger district · Husedalen valley waterfall trail for those wanting a longer walk · Fjordfront views along the Sørfjord
Eidfjord
Highlights: Vøringsfossen waterfall and its deep canyon viewpoints · Hardangervidda Nature Centre exhibition on the plateau · Hardangerfjord cruise combined with a bus from Bergen · Steep mountain setting at the inner end of the fjord · Village waterfront and short walks
Balestrand
Highlights: Sognefjord express boat journey from Bergen · Historic wooden Kviknes Hotel on the waterfront · St Olaf's English church in stave-church-influenced style · Fjordfront and orchard walks in the village · Quiet village setting known to nineteenth-century artists
Osterøy
Highlights: Osterøy Museum open-air farm and textile heritage · Crossing the Osterøy Bridge by bus from Bergen · Rural landscape of farms, fjord inlets and hills · Hiking and coastal walks near Lonevåg · Quiet alternative to Bergen's busier sights
Norheimsund
Highlights: Harbour and fjordfront in the main village of Kvam · Steindalsfossen waterfall with a path behind the falling water · Departure point for Hardangerfjord cruises · Orchards and fruit farms of the Hardanger district · Easy bus access from Bergen in about 1 hour 30 minutes
Troldhaugen
Highlights: Edvard Grieg's villa where he lived from 1885 to 1907 · Composer's hut by the water where Grieg worked · Grieg and Nina's tomb set into the rock face · Edvard Grieg Museum exhibition on his life and music · Troldsalen concert hall with summer concerts
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Public
- Vy trains (vy.no) run Bergen-Voss-Myrdal; Skyss buses (skyss.no) serve Osterøy and the Bergen area; Entur (entur.no) combines operators
- Boat
- Norled and Fjord1 operate Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord boats; the Flåm-Gudvangen cruise runs roughly 20 April-15 October
- Car
- Road tolls are charged automatically via AutoPASS in rental cars; some fjord crossings need ferries (fjord1.no)
- Pass
- Norway in a Nutshell is sold by Fjord Tours / Norway's Best (norwaysbest.com); the DIY version costs far less than the roughly 3,474 NOK (~$362) package
Multi-day tours from Vestland
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from VestlandWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Book Vy Lavpris tickets early; many summer departures to Voss and Myrdal sell out.
Check the last return departure before leaving Bergen; rural buses end early.
Carry a rain jacket and warm layer for open-deck boats and mountain trains.
Combine Flåm, the Nærøyfjord cruise and Voss into a loop and return to Bergen by train.
Download offline maps; mobile coverage fades in fjord valleys.