Southern Norway: Waterfalls, Stave Churches and Fjord Villages

Drøbak charms with its wooden houses and the fairytale-like Tregaarden Julehus, the Christmas house that is always open. From the quay, you can sail to Oscarsborg Festning, a nineteenth-century fortress that sank the German cruiser Blücher in 1940. The Drøbak Akvarium showcases the local underwater world of the Oslofjord. Along the coastline, there are beaches and smooth rocks for a refreshing swim. The pleasant waterfront offers a relaxed spot for a stroll with views of the fjord.

Stavkerk Heddal is home to Norway's largest stave church, a remarkable wooden structure dating from the thirteenth century. Inside the Heddal Stavkyrkje, you can admire medieval wood carvings, rare wall paintings, and a richly decorated bishop's chair. The adjacent open-air museum, Heddal Bygdetun, showcases historical farmhouses from the Telemark region. The tranquil surroundings of the church and museum offer a glimpse into Telemark's rich history, with the characteristic farmhouses of Heddal Bygdetun.

Rjukan is located in a deep valley in Telemark and is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to the industrial heritage of the Vemork power plant from 1911. You can reach the summit of the 1883-meter-high Gaustatoppen with an underground funicular. Three large mirrors on the mountainside reflect sunlight onto the village square during the winter months, while hiking trails along the river reveal the valley's geography.

Dalen is located on Lake Bandak as part of the Telemark Canal and is home to the Dalen Hotel from 1894, built in the wooden dragon style. The historic canal ships MS Henrik Ibsen and and MS Victoria moor at the quay. You can walk via a steep path to Rui farm for a panoramic view of the valley and the surrounding mountains.

Glacial ice and powerful waterfalls define Odda's rugged landscape. From Skjeggedal, you climb to Trolltunga, a rock formation that juts out 700 meters above Ringedalsvatnet. Directly along the road, the 165-meter-high Låtefossen cascades down, a twin waterfall that creates mist on the asphalt. Near the Folgefonna glacier, you can walk along the blue ice tongues of the Buerbreen. In Odda's harbour, the lively atmosphere contrasts with the view over the deep blue Sørfjorden.

Eidfjord, at the Hardangerfjord's end, is the gateway to Hardangervidda, Northern Europe's largest mountain plateau. The Vøringsfossen waterfall plunges 182 meters into Måbødalen, with a 145-meter free fall. Explore the Sima hydroelectric power station, one of Europe's largest, while the 1380-meter Hardangerbrua spans the fjord.

The Vøringsfossen waterfall plunges 182 meters deep into the Måbødalen gorge, on the border of the Hardangervidda and the fjords. From modern viewing platforms and a stair bridge over the abyss, you can experience the cascading water of the double waterfall. Well-maintained paths lead you along the edge of the plateau to various perspectives of the ravine and the mountain landscapes of Hardangervidda National Park.

Norheimsund is located on the northern shore of the Hardangerfjord and houses the Hardanger Fartøyvernsenter, where craftsmen restore historic wooden ships. At the 46-meter-high Steinsdalsfossen waterfall, a walking path runs directly behind the falling water stream. From the quay, you can look out over the water to the snow-capped peaks of the Folgefonna massif. Amenities for a stay are located directly on the fjord's shore.

Bergen grew as a trading city around the colorful wooden warehouses of Bryggen. These waterfront facades are a UNESCO World Heritage site and recall its trading past. The Fløibanen funicular takes you to the top of Mount Fløyen for panoramic views of the city and the fjords. In the harbor lies Fisketorget, a fish market where fresh fish has been traded since the thirteenth century. A lively atmosphere hangs between the alleys as the scent of fish drifts over the quay of Vågen Bay.

Flåm is the starting point of the Flåmsbana, a railway that covers an altitude difference of 863 meters to Myrdal station with a gradient of 5.5 percent. From the Stegastein viewpoint, you look 650 meters straight down into the deep Aurlandsfjord. You can explore the fjord itself by boat during a tranquil cruise, or from the walking and cycling paths along the water. The lively bustle in the village reflects the beauty of the fjord and its steep rock faces.

Fjærland is located on the Fjærlandsfjord and is known as Den norske bokbyen (The Norwegian Book Town) with second-hand bookstores in old barns. The Norsk Bremuseum showcases the formation of the nearby Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier on the European mainland. The glacier arms Bøyabreen and Supphellebreen flow into the area, with the ice of Supphellebreen reaching almost sea level. You can walk along the waterfront or climb to viewpoints overlooking the ice mass.

Urnes Stave Church is the oldest stave church in Norway, built around 1130 on a slope above the Lustrafjord. In the north wall, there is an older portal with wood carvings of intertwining animals and tendrils, so characteristic that the entire style is named after it. Inside, there are narrow wooden pillars with sculpted heads. The church is accessible by ferry from Solvorn, and from the jetty, you climb a bit further up.

Jotunheimen National Park is the Home of the Giants, with the highest peaks in Northern Europe. Here you can climb the 2469-meter high Galdhøpiggen or hike across the Besseggen, an impressive mountain ridge between the green Lake Gjende and the blue Bessvatnet. Glacier hikes and alpine tours lead through this rugged landscape of granite giants and deep valleys. On the marked trails, you experience the overwhelming natural power of this mountain world.

Drøbak charms with its wooden houses and the fairytale-like Tregaarden Julehus, the Christmas house that is always open. From the quay, you can sail to Oscarsborg Festning, a nineteenth-century fortress that sank the German cruiser Blücher in 1940. The Drøbak Akvarium showcases the local underwater world of the Oslofjord. Along the coastline, there are beaches and smooth rocks for a refreshing swim. The pleasant waterfront offers a relaxed spot for a stroll with views of the fjord.