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| West Coast Fjord Country Cities |
Alesund
Situated in the fjord country, Alesund is spread over seven islands on the western coast and offer the picturesque background of the Sunnmore Alps. It is definitely a unique city to see. The wooden buildings were completely destroyed in 1904, but the city was rebuilt in stone, brick and mortar, in an even more beautiful style - Art Nouveau, known as Jugendstil. The medieval romantic facades include specific elements from the Nordic mythology. The surroundings offer a splendid natural seascape, with the unique fjord of Geiranger, added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Alesund is accessible by plane from Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim or Copenhagen; the islands are interconnected by roads, but also by a subsea tunnel. | Book this City | Andalsnes
The administrative center of the Rauma municipality is the small town of Andalsnes, which could be considered a very unfortunate location. It served to the royal family in their escape from the Nazis' invasion in 1940 and it was destroyed by the bombs. Reconstructed piece by piece, Andalsnes is nowadays a modern town, visited by many tourists mainly because of its position. It is the starting point of Trollstigvegen, a motor way through a splendid mountain pass, that heads south; it is continued by another scenic route, named Orneveien (Eagle's Road), in the way to the Geiranger fjord. Close to Andalsnes, you can admire Trollsveggen, the highest vertical cliff in Europe, a true challenge for any climber. It can also be admired from one of the most scenic railways in Norway, which passes it back and forth through 180 degrees tunnels. | Book this City | Balestrand
The city of Balestrand beautifully lies at the junction of Sognefjord and Esefjord, on the Norwegian south-western coast. The picturesque scenery of the fjords and the mountain landscapes were a magnet for important artists, like Alfred Heaton Cooper, Hans Dahl, Hans Gude. Their paintings became world famous and therefore Balestrand became an important tourist point of interest. Certain remarkable buildings well worth visiting are: St. Olaf's Church - an Anglican church built in a Stave Church style - or the Kvikne's Hotel - built in Swiss Chalet style and visited earlier by Kaiser Wilhelm II. As tourism is the main industry in Balestrand, a Museum of Tourism was opened here, together with the Songnefjord Aquarium. | Book this City | Bergen - Airport City
Considered "the town of all towns in Norway" by locals and not only, Bergen is a great city with tradition and one of the most important economic centers in Norway. The famous hanseatic wharf of Bryggen will meet the tourists coming here by sea; tradition is the key-word in Bryggen, rebuilt in its initial form after many fire destructions; that's why it was named by UNESCO a World Heritage City. Bergen's natural scenery is amazing: the surroundings seven mountains offer scenic views and are accessible either by cable car of funicular railway; the unique fjords: Hardangerfjorden, Sognefjorden, Geirangerfjorden - invite you to a breathtaking boat trip. Bergen is also a cultural city and the splendid houses - today museums - of the famous composer Edvard Grieg and violinist Ole Bull are living proofs. | Book this City | Eidfjord
The municipality of Eidfjord is located on the big Hordaland County, on the southwestern coast. The beautiful natural scenery attracts many visitors from Norway and abroad. Eidfjord is a real paradise for ice climbing; among many hiking ranges, the main attraction is the 182 meters tall Voringsfossen waterfall. Don't miss the opportunity of a unique fjord cruise, giving you the temptation to choose a nice place to spend the night on a small tourist village. A complete sightseeing tour of Eidfjord should include the Hardangervidda Naturecenter and a walk on the Europe's largest mountain plateau, Hardangervidda. | Book this City | Geilo - Airport City
The small town of Geilo lies in the valley of Hallingdal, in the Hol mountain district; it can be reached by train from Oslo or Bergen or via the Dagali airport (only by internal flights). Geilo is best-known as a ski resort, and also a summer destination. The ski season lasts from late November to early April; you can practice here any kind of ski: alpine slopes cover 33km and are accessible by 20 lifts, cross-country skiing system offers about 200 km of tracks in the surroundings (including 5km under floodlight); you can also try traditional telemarking, or more modern snowboarding. Everything is perfectly organized in Geilo; although small, the accommodation options are varied - one of the most famous hotels in Norway is Dr. Holms, while Highland Hotel offers the best after-ski. | Book this City | Geiranger
Geiranger is a small town in the western region Sunnmore, but raises above any other Norwegian town by its reputation. This is related to the nearby Geirangerfjord, the most majestic fjord and one of the best scenery world-wide. Geirangerfjord is a 292 meters deep and 16 km long branch of Storfjord. The Seven Sisters waterfall is one of the most impressive sights on the fjord rock face. Unfortunately, this unique place listed on UNESCO World Heritage Site List in 2005 is threatened by the erosion of the Akerneset Mountain, which risks producing a devastating tsunami. Geiranger tourist season lasts from May till early September; in June, the traditional sport event "Geiranger - From Fjord to Summit" consists of a half-marathon run and bicycle race from the sea level up to the top of Mount Dalsnibba (1500 meters). | Book this City | Kinsarvik
The Kinsarvik village is the administrative center of Ullensvang municipality in the county of Hordaland. Its name comes from a wild river, having the meaning of "the bay of Kinso"; the Kinso River falls in four spectacular waterfalls from the mountain plateau to the Kinsarvik fjord; the waterfalls are accessible along hiking routes of 4-6 hours. There are a couple of camping grounds in this village: Hardangertun offers, besides camping, trainings in rock climbing, canoeing and a family park; Kinsarvik camping offers a perfect view over the fjord. The nearby harbour is perfect for sailing amateurs, while you can admire the fjords from their think shores full of fruit trees. A monumental project is ongoing in the area - the Hardangerbrua Bridge will be just 12 km from Kinsarvik and will regain the village importance in tourist traffic. | Book this City | Kristiansund N - Airport City
Kristiansund is a nice town in the fjord country, located in the Nordmore district and includes the islands of Frei and Grip. After being destroyed by World War II, Kristiansund was rebuilt as a modern city and became an important center for the activities in Draugen and Asgad oil fields. The tourist will find here a very friendly town, with nice and warm people, green parks and small forests. It is still a city of contrasts, with modern business centre next to the nature and various events taking place here. You'll find here a traditional shipyard (Vagen) and specific "Viking ship of Nordmore" (Geitbaten), which may take you in a relaxing cruise. The cultural life is also very intense, many local institutions like Opera, museums and music companies hosting various events. | Book this City | Lofthus
Lofthus is a small village in the western Hardanger district. This small destination is a quit place that was once a real haunt for the composer Edvard Grieg. It offers the perfect view over the marvelous Hardangerfjord and the Folgefonn glacier. The region is Norway's most important fruits source; the beautiful orchards in Lofthus can be an ideal place for a relaxing walk. The old stone church deserves a visit, if you happen to be in Lofthus from May to September 15th. Mountain amateurs may find it a good starting point for a trip on the nearby on the Hardangervidda mountain plateau. | Book this City |
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