Geiranger

Understand

Geiranger is the tiny village and rural community at the eastern end of Geirangerfjord. Hellesylt village sits at the western end of Geirangerfjord, and from there the fjord does a sharp turn north with the name Sunnylvsfjord. The latter fjord is in turn connected to the main fjord, aptly named Storfjord (large fjord), at the small town Stranda. Strictly speaking Geirangerfjord is merely the inner 15-kilometer section of the wider Storfjord system. Storfjord is about 100 km long and one of main fjord systems in Western Norway. While Geiranger and Hellesylt are small villages, Stranda is the municipal centre. Several hundred cruise ships with some 300,000 passengers visit Geirangerfjord every summer, making Geiranger the 2nd biggest cruise port in Norway, only surpassed by Bergen. Many tourists also arrive by charter bus. In addition there is a large number of independent travellers. Geiranger is a small village of 200 people, but the influx of 5,000 or more tourists daily makes Geiranger a relatively crowded place at day time. The Geirangerfjord is one of Norway's oldest destinations for international tourism. Cruise ship tourism began in the late 19th century. Kaiser Wilhelm visited Geiranger every summer until World War I. Road 63 between Åndalsnes and Geiranger via Valldal is one of Norway's 18 national tourist routes, these being the most scenic drives in Norway.

Getting there

By plane The distance from Ålesund Airport is 124 km (77 mi), while Ørsta/Volda Airport is 65 km from Hellesylt.

1 Ålesund Airport, Vigra, Vigra near Ålesund. 2 Molde Airport. 3 Ørsta/Volda Airport. Oslo Airport Gardermoen is 400 km from Geiranger

By car Road 63 from Eidsdal and Valldal to the north via Eagles Highway (mountain pass, 10 hairpin turns); from Otta, Stryn and Grotli to the South via Geirangervegen (mountain pass, 50 hairpin turns). Road 60 from Stryn or Ålesund to Hellesylt, from Hellesylt car ferry further to Geiranger

By bus From Ålesund summer only: Åndalsnes by route 63 including iconic Trollstigen. Otta or Stryn, transfer at Langvatn junction on road 15

By train The closest railway stations:

Otta - station on Dovre line (Oslo-Trondheim), 160 km to Geiranger Åndalsnes - terminal station for Rauma line, 90 km to Geiranger via Trollstigen

By boat or cruise ship Car ferry from Hellesylt, on the famous Geirangerfjord. Eight daily departures 1 Jun - 2 Sep, four daily departures 1 May - 1 Jun, 3 Sep - 30 Sep (310 kr for a car and its driver). There is also twice daily ferries from Valldal (20 Jun - 20 Aug). Hurtigruten calls Geiranger on a summer service (15 Apr - 14 Sep). Embarking/disembarking by small boat.

Cruise ships make semi-regular visits to Geiranger in the Summer months (May-Late August). Cunard Cruises, Queen Elizabeth and other lines visit the Geiranger Fjords every summer. The Geiranger Port has a cruise terminal, a Seawalk, and 3–4 anchor positions depending on the size of the ships. Opened in 2013, the Seawalk is a self-propelled three-segment articulated floating pier, 236 m-long by 4.5 m-wide steel platform on 10 pontoons, which moves out to the ship (like a floatable jetwalk) to accommodate 4,000 passengers per hour disembarking from a single ship. With Geiranger a busy cruise port, you may have to take a short tender when there's more than one ship in port. Hellesylt now offers a sizable pier for single ships,

Getting around

It's a lovely small Norwegian town that you must visit in the summer months. Plenty of photo opportunities in and around Geiranger.

On foot Adventurers take to the hills of Geiranger via walking and sometimes even biking. Winter closes most of the roads in the Geiranger fjord, so it's best to visit in the summer. Watch out for campers, trucks, and tour buses, especially when biking, walking or hiking. Hills are steep and for more fit adventurers.

By boat

Cruising is one of the best ways to see the fjord. No need to use the tour boats. You can see just as much from the Hellesylt ferry with commentary in German and English as well as Norwegian - from a comfortable lounge with a good snackbar.

By bus Public transportation is also available, including bus line 211 Geiranger-Dalsnibba-Geiranger. Other bus tours are also available.

See

1 Dalsnibba (Detour from route 63 towards Grotli). summer only. Dalsnibba is a 1500 m (4920 ft) mountain summit. Fabulous view over the fjord and the mountain behind. Detour from road 63 (Geiranger mountain pass) direction Skjåk and Stryn. Toll road: kr 80 (cars), kr 50 (motorcycles). 2 Geirangerfjord (Ferry or cruise ship). The steep-sided fjord with its waterfalls, including the Bridal Veil and the Suitor. Geiranger-Hellesylt ferry, Hurtigruten (summer) and cruise ships travel the fjord. 3 Norsk Fjordsenter, ☏ +47 70263810, fax: +47 70263141, [email protected]. May-Sep: daily 10-18; Oct-Aprː daily 10-15. Visitor centre for the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Topside terminus of Waterfall Walk in Geiranger (See Do below). Adults: kr 120, Children: kr 80, Pensioner: kr 130, Student: kr 130, Groups (15 min): kr 130, Family (2 parents + all children <16): kr 300. (updated Jul 2017) 4 Ørnesvingen (The Eagles' Bend), Road 63 (On route 63 towards Eidsdal). View of the fjord and the village from high point. 5 Ljøen panorama point, Road 60 (Hellesylt-Stranda road). Panorama point towards Geirangerfjord and Sunnylvsfjord from high point near Ljøen hamlet, between tunnels. Flydalsjuvet (Off road no. 63, about 4 km from Geiranger, heading towards Grotli). Flydalsjuvet offers an impressive and closer view than Dalsnibba of Geiranger and Geirangerfjord and the cruise ships. The viewpoint is divided into two areas, one upper and one lower plateau, with a gangway running in between, and the view is from the southeast, allowing for fine photography. (updated Jul 2017) 6 Seven Sisters Waterfall (Sju søstre). Iconic waterfall that splits into seven strings (hence the name). Total drop about 400 meters and tallest vertical drop about 250 meters. Not among the tallest waterfalls in Norway, but quite tall by European standards, and the drop directly into the fjord makes it a lovely sight and one of the most photographed waterfalls in Norway. It is barely visible from the Eagle's

Do

Walk around the lovely, hillside town. Main road wraps the coastline. Townsfolk are very friendly and engaging. Many different tour buses available in the summer, June-late August. Weather changes many times during the day: warm, windy, cool, freezing, and do not forget the sunscreen, especially when leaving Geiranger and visiting the Geiranger Valley and glaciers. You might need some bug spray for the mosquitoes and sunscreen is a must! Sadly many Geiranger citizens talk about the glaciers retreating more and more each year.

Waterfall Walk in Geiranger (Fossevandring) (walk up starts near Geiranger campsite). The well-maintained pathway includes metal stairs (327 non-slippery steps with railings) going up one side of the waterfall all the way up to