Discover what there is to see and do in Geiranger as a Norwegian Fjords cruise passenger. Visiting as a family with kids, as a couple or going solo, Geiranger has something for everyone. From hiking and sightseeing, to pre-bookable excursions from the port of Geiranger, we’ll discover what adventures await in this charming village.
Walking & Hiking
To help visitors explore the area at leisure, the Geiranger Fjord Service provides official hiking map available in PDF format here. It gives you a range of routes and categorises them by difficulty to help you make an informed decision about which routes to take. It also gives you a detailed layout of the village itself and all of its facilities. Handy! The map can also be purchased in print at the World Heritage Visitor Centre in Geiranger. For longer hikes and more detailed instructions, check out alternative hiking routes on OutdoorActive.com.
Waterfall Walk
This one is so easy, I managed to do it whilst pregnant, and I’m not particularly athletic! Simply ascend the 327 steps that run alongside the waterfall for fantastic views of Geiranger village (and your cruise ship). That’s right – this walk is so close to the village centre, you won’t need directions – just head for the waterfall! You may want to take a rain coat with you – if the waterfall is in full swing you are likely to experience a light Nordic shower on your way up! It’s just beyond the top of the staircase where you’ll find the UNESCO World Heritage Visitor Centre (more on that later).
Eating & Drinking
Cafè Olè is arguably the best cafe in Geiranger… because there aren’t really any others! It is small and mighty, offering homemade delights to visitors as they arrive in their droves. Its hard not to feel sorry for the 2 or 3 staff members when several thousand thirsty tourists turn up at the same time, but your patience will be rewarded when you taste their delicious cakes, pastries and sandwiches.
Shopping
From fur to furniture, taxidermy to trolls, Geiranger’s small collection of boutique shops seem to have it all! The World Heritage Visitor Centre has a great shop promoting sustainable products and locally made goods. In addition to the souvenir shops, there is also a tiny village supermarket, perfect for those looking for a few snacks and drinks to take on a hike. If you visit on a sunny day, a quick visit to the ice cream window by the ferry port is a great way to cool down too!
Family Friendly Geiranger
If (like me) you have little people in tow, you will likely be struggling to find things to do with kids in Geiranger. On the face of it, according to Google, there isn’t a huge amount to do. Many of the more scenic hikes are not recommended for children and are by no means pushchair friendly. You may need to get a bit creative, but here is what we’d suggest if visiting with kids.
Visit the World Heritage Visitor Centre
It is more than just a tourist information point – this is a hands on museum with a cinema, interactive exhibits and an outdoor play area! There is a cafe and gift shop too, and you can easily fill an hour or two here! Children get a free book telling the story of the legend of Gaute Gneiss (a mythical rock man who created the fjord). And did I mention there is free wi-fi! That got your attention, didn’t it?! Price of admission is currently as follows:
Adult (16+): NOK 150
Child (5-15 years): NOK 75
Infant (0-4 years): FREE
Family ticket (2 Adults + 1-4 Children): NOK 300 (approximately £28.00 GBP)
Check out the World Heritage Visitor Centre website here.
Visit a Waterside Chocolate Factory
This could be Norway’s answer to Willy Wonka – Geiranger Sjokolade is a chocolate factory with a difference – it’s in a boat house! The factory itself is in the basement due to the need for climate control, but you are invited to watch the process through the window. If you go behind the shop to the side which is facing the fjord you can see where the magic happens! Only the finest quality chocolate is hand crafted here, and in many new and signature flavours too. If you are looking for something local, authentic and delicious to take home as a souvenir, why not try their award winning “Cruise” chocolates. A perfect reminder of your day in Geiranger. Visit GeirangerSjokolade.no for more information. Please note, the shop & café is only open during the tourist season, from May until October.
Kayak In The Fjords (For Older Children 8+)
If you have kids 8 years and over, I recommend an afternoon of family kayaking. The water is so still at the end of the fjord, its like paddling on a serene lake, so no fear of choppy water, getting lost at sea or (heaven forbid) capsizing the boat! Kayaks seat 2 (1 adult & 1 child or 2 adults) and can be hired by the hour or as part of a group tour. If you are not familiar with kayaking, I’d recommend the Discover Kayaking tour which takes 2.5 hours. For more information and to book, visit the Geiranger Fjord Service website.
Pre-Bookable Excursions
On a typical Norwegian fjords cruise there is a mixture of city ports (like Stavanger) where it’s easy to explore on your own, and more remote ports where you need to put in the work to reap the rewards of the location (like Geiranger). So what can you do?
Rent a Renault Twizy Electric Car
One of the best ways to see Geiranger and the surrounding area is by Twizy. Why? Because its informative, eco-friendly and of course a whole lot of fun! These unique little runarounds come kitted out with everything you need to complete a self guided tour, giving you a good amount of freedom to explore the area without the fear of getting lost or being late back to your ship. Of course a valid driving license is required for each driver, and you can only fit 2 passengers in each vehicle, but if you are a couple, I would highly recommend trying it out. Prices start from 900NOK per vehicle (around £80) for an hour. Spaces are limited, so pre-booking is strongly recommended. Visit the Geiranger Fjordservice website for more information or to book.
Take A Coach Tour
If you arrive to Geiranger by cruise ship, you might think that you have already seen the best of Geirangerfjord, however to really appreciate the scale of this marvel, you need to get higher. If driving yourself around isn’t an option, I would recommend taking a coach tour of the area. The highlights are the Eagle Road (featuring 11 cheek-clenching hairpin bends), Mount Dalsnibba and Flydal Gorge, and many coach trips feature a stop at the World Heritage Visitor Centre too. With added narration from a local tour guide, you can really begin to appreciate what it is like for the locals who endure months of no sunrise in the winter, then learn to share their home with flocks of tourists in the summer. In my experience, the cruise lines arrange the best tours of Geiranger, with local options being shorter in duration and often not allowing much time to admire the views at each beauty spot.
Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus
This is exactly what it says on the tin. A ‘budget’ alternative to the guided tour, this 1 hour 20 minute bus loop with pre-recorded narration stops for 15 minutes at two viewpoints for pictures: Flydalsjuvet and Ornevegen. I use the word ‘budget’ lightly, as it still costs £37 per person. What can I say? Norway is expensive! You can book in advance online here.
Visiting Geiranger from Hellesylt
It is becoming increasingly difficult for new cruise ships to dock in Geiranger due to their sheer size. We visited Geirangerfjord on MSC Meraviglia in 2019, only for our itinerary to change from docking in Geiranger to Hellesylt after booking. If your cruise stops at Hellesylt, I strongly urge you to pre-book a shore excursion with your cruise line to visit Geiranger, particularly if you can book one which features both the ferry connection and an escorted coach tour. We did this after our itinerary changed, and I am so relieved we did. Hellesylt is a very small village with not much to offer beyond a few houses, a waterfall and a supermarket. Quite frankly, it was never meant to be a cruise port, it simply serves as a convenient drop-off point for those ships who want to dock in Geiranger but can’t! We had a few hours to explore the village before our scheduled ferry departure, and that was more than ample time to see the whole of Hellesylt, even with a slow walking 3 year old!
In Summary
Whatever you choose to do in Geiranger, you are bound to leave having made memories to last a lifetime. Be sure to take a moment to notice how peaceful it is and how fresh the air is here. Its no wonder the local Norwegian folk are so friendly and relaxed – they are so proud to call this place home and happy to share this wonderful place with those fortunate enough to visit. It is a slice of heaven on Earth – Nordic paradise.
Related Articles
A Day in Olden: Tourist Guide
A Day In Stavanger: Tourist Guide
Cruising The Norwegian Fjords
Useful Links
Geiranger Fjordservice: www.geirangerfjord.no/english
Outdoor Active: www.outdooractive.com/en
Venture Ashore: www.ventureashore.com
Visit Nord Fjord: www.nordfjord.no
Visit Norway: www.visitnorway.com
World Heritage Visitor Centre: www.fjordsenter.com/en
Do you have any questions about Geiranger or cruising the Norwegian Fjords in general? Feel free to leave a comment and we’ll be sure to help where we can!
If you enjoy this kind of content, don’t forget to subscribe! You’ll receive an email every time a new post goes live on the blog (no more than once a week).
For even more travel tips and inspiration, follow us on your favourite social media!
Our Whimsical World 
is it possible to go by ferry Flam to Gudvangen to Bergen. April 29 or 30th, 2025. With a over night in Gudvangen April 20th?
LikeLike
The ferries from Flåm to Gudvangen (where the Viking Village is) run at least twice daily from mid April to mid October, however the schedule for 2025 hasn’t been confirmed yet (this year it was the 22nd April). You would then need to take a ferry back to Flåm before continuing your journey by ferry to Bergen as there are no direct routes from Gudvangen to Bergen. Alternatively, you could take the train from Flåm to Bergen, changing trains once in Myrdal. The train is a couple of hours quicker than the ferry, but it depends what you want to see and experience on the journey as to which option you choose. Check the Lustrabaatane Fjordcruise website later in the year for the ferry’s 2025 season start date. I hope this helps in some way. Enjoy your adventure!
LikeLike
thank you much! I’m putting together our trip which starts in Oslo with a train ride to Flam. 2 days in Flam. Having open day and night after Flam, Gudvangen looked like a nice boat ride to visit and do an overnight. We are not in any hurry, our main goal was to enjoy as many fjords as possible before heading to Bergen. The question is what would be the most enjoyable way to Bergen? train or ferry? And sounds like you have to leave from Flam to go to Bergen by ferry.
Thanks again!
Ron
LikeLike
That’s a tricky one! The ferry through the fjords will be very picturesque and take you through one of the most beautiful fjords in Norway. The Flåmsbana train will take you from Flåm back along to Myrdal, then you’d change to complete the Bergen Line, however this is also impressive as you continue your adventure through the mountains, pass through Voss and in to Bergen. The choice is really yours!
LikeLike