The best Norwegian fjords for a first trip are Nærøyfjorden, Geirangerfjorden and Lysefjorden. All three are steep, narrow and easy to see from a boat. For longer trips we add Hjørundfjorden, Sognefjorden and Hardangerfjorden in the west, and Trollfjorden and Tysfjorden in the north. Below are our ten, with sizes from Store norske leksikon and prices from the operators.
This guide is for visitors from abroad. Norwegians can read our Norwegian version.
How we picked them
Steep beats long
A fjord is best when the walls are high and the water is narrow. Some long fjords are wide and open, so the length matters less than you think.
See it from the water
Almost every fjord here can be seen from a boat that does not need a car. We list the boats we opened, with the price on the operator’s page.
Two in the northMost fjord trips stay in Western Norway. We added two northern fjords for people who travel in winter or sail with Hurtigruten.
The 10 fjords
1. Nærøyfjorden
Nærøyfjorden is 19 km long and under 500 m wide south of Bakka. It runs to Gudvangen and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2005. It is the narrowest fjord on this list and the one we would pick if you only have a day.
The classic boat between Flåm and Gudvangen costs NOK 550 one way and NOK 815 return for adults in 2026. Children aged 4 to 15 pay NOK 275 one way. From 16 October to 31 December it sails once a day each way.
2. Aurlandsfjorden and Flåm
Aurlandsfjorden is 17 km long and 962 m deep at its mouth. Undredal, Aurlandsvangen and Flåm lie along it. Flåm is also the bottom station of Flåmsbana, the railway from Myrdal.
Flåmsbana is 20.4 km long, drops from 866.8 m to 2 m above sea level and passes through 20 tunnels. The trip takes about 55 minutes each way, with a five-minute stop at Kjosfossen. You can only buy a return fare when you start in Flåm.
3. Sognefjorden
Sognefjorden is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord. It is 205 km long and 1,303 m deep, and the second-longest fjord in the world. Nærøyfjorden and Aurlandsfjorden are arms of it.
Widerøe flew 71 direct departures from Oslo to Sogndal in October 2026. That makes Sogndal the short way into the inner fjord if you want to skip the long drive.
4. Geirangerfjorden
Geirangerfjorden runs 15 km from Hellesylt to Geiranger and is 258 m deep. The mountains rise 1,400 to 1,700 m, and the fjord is 500 to 1,500 m wide. It joined the World Heritage List with Nærøyfjorden in 2005.
Old farms sit high above the water, and the farm at Knivsflå was abandoned in 1898. Our Trollstigen and Geiranger guide covers the road, the ferries and Dalsnibba.
5. Hjørundfjorden
Hjørundfjorden sits under the Sunnmøre Alps, south of Ålesund. The peaks around it include Slogen at 1,564 m and Jakta at 1,589 m. Local ferries link small villages, and several of them are free.
A classic boat sails from Ålesund to Øye and back in summer for NOK 1,100. We cover it in our Hjørundfjord guide.
6. Storfjorden
Storfjorden is the fjord system Geiranger and Hjørundfjorden belong to. It is 86 km from Flisnes to Geiranger and 672 m deep. You cross parts of it on most road trips south of Ålesund.
7. Hardangerfjorden
Hardangerfjorden is 180 km long from Bømlahuk to Odda and 855 m at its deepest. Its arm Sørfjorden is about 40 km long and known for fruit farms. Come in spring for blossom, or in autumn for cider and apples.
8. Lysefjorden
Lysefjorden is 42 km long, and Preikestolen rises 604 m above it. The plateau on top is about 25 by 25 m. Kjerag, further in, has a drop of about 1,000 m.
Rødne’s electric boat from Stavanger takes 3 to 3.5 hours return and costs NOK 890 for adults and NOK 445 for children aged 4 to 15. From October to December it sails Thursday to Sunday at 11:00. In June to August 2027 it sails three times a day. There are no stops ashore on this trip.
9. Romsdalsfjorden
Romsdalsfjorden is 69 km long, from Tautra to Hen, and 507 m deep. We like it as a quieter add-on to a Trollstigen and Geiranger trip.
10. Trollfjorden and Tysfjorden
Trollfjorden is only about 2.5 km long and about 100 m wide at its mouth. Peaks over 1,000 m stand on both sides. Hurtigruten sails in between Stokmarknes and Svolvær.
Tysfjorden, further south, is 62 km long and 725 m deep. Stetind, at 1,392 m, stands above it. Orcas come into the fjord in autumn and winter. Bognes–Skarberget across it is the only ferry on the E6.
How to plan a fjord trip
Base yourself in one region
Pick one area and stay two or three nights. Flåm and Aurland cover Nærøyfjorden and Aurlandsfjorden. Ålesund covers Geiranger and Hjørundfjorden, and Stavanger covers Lysefjorden.
Fly into the nearest city
In October 2026 there were 553 direct departures from Oslo to Bergen and 474 from Oslo to Stavanger. Ålesund had 187.
Book the boat, not the cruise ship
A local boat is cheaper than a cruise and lets you choose the day. Most operators sail in winter too, but less often.
When to go
Summer
June to August has the most boats and the longest days. It is also the busiest time in Geiranger and Flåm.
Spring and autumn
May and September are quieter and still have regular boats. In Lysefjorden, Rødne sails daily in May and September 2027.
Winter
Winter fjords are calm and dark. Boats run less often, and some mountain roads close.
Our verdict
Nærøyfjorden for a first trip, Hjørundfjorden for hiking, Lysefjorden if you land in Stavanger. Leave Trollfjorden for a Hurtigruten trip in the north.
More fjords and road trips are in our fjords section. Pair this guide with the Atlantic Ocean Road or things to do in Ålesund.
A return boat on Nærøyfjorden cost NOK 815 for adults in 2026, and the Lysefjord boat cost NOK 890.