Eidfjord

Eidfjord is a village at the inner end of the Hardangerfjord, in Vestland, Norway, on the edge of the Hardangervidda plateau, about 120 km east of Bergen. The trip is a full day by bus and boat. The Norled Hardangerfjord cruise includes a bus from Bergen bus station, and current fares are at norled.no; a public-transport alternative is the Vy train from Bergen to Voss, with fares from 139 NOK (about $14.50), then a bus on to Eidfjord, taking about 3 hours in total with bus fares on Entur. Eidfjord is surrounded by steep mountains and waterfalls, and it is the base for the Hardangervidda Nature Centre, an exhibition about the plateau, its wildlife and the national park. The nearby Vøringsfossen waterfall, one of the best-known waterfalls in Norway, drops into a deep canyon and is reachable by road with viewing platforms near the rim, which makes a short, mostly easy excursion from the village. A suggested day takes the earliest bus or cruise from Bergen, reaches Eidfjord by late morning, visits the nature centre and Vøringsfossen after lunch, and leaves for Bergen in the late afternoon. Visitors who add canyon walks or time at the viewpoints should allow extra time and check the last connection. The best season is May to September, when roads and viewing platforms are fully open and the waterfall is strong from snowmelt in late spring. Winter conditions on the high road can limit access. Cafés and restaurants in the village and near the falls provide meals, and picking up lunch in Eidfjord village before heading to the falls is practical. Visitor information is at visithardangerfjord.com.