Waterfalls in NorwayNorway

Norway's waterfalls owe their height to the fjords: glaciers carved steep-sided valleys, and rivers now drop almost straight off the resulting cliffs in some of the tallest falls in Europe. Kjelfossen, above Gudvangen at the head of the Nærøyfjord, and Langfoss, on the Åkrafjord, rank among the country's highest, and both can be seen from fjord-side roads. Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is lined with falls including the Seven Sisters, named for its parallel streams. Vettisfossen, in Jotunheimen, is unusual for running entirely unregulated by hydroelectric works, in a country where most rivers are dammed for power. Mardalsfossen, further north, runs at full natural force for only a few weeks each summer, since a dam otherwise diverts its flow to a power station.

When to go

Snowmelt drives peak flow from June into August, which is also when mountain roads and ferries are fully open; several falls, including Mardalsfossen, are released from hydro control only in this window. Spring brings dramatic but shorter-lived surges, and many fjord roads and high passes close from October to May.

Getting around

The National Tourist Routes, including Hardangervidda and Geiranger-Trollstigen, are built for self-driving and pass directly by most falls listed here. Kjelfossen is visible from the E16 near Gudvangen, where the Nærøyfjord ferries dock, and ferries link the falls around Geirangerfjord. (The Flåm Railway's photo stop is a different fall, Kjosfossen.) A rental car combined with a fjord ferry or two is the most flexible option in summer.

Entry requirements

Norway is in the Schengen area; US, Canadian and UK visitors enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180. The EU's ETIAS pre-travel authorisation has been repeatedly delayed and was not in operation at the time of writing (September 2026), so check before you travel.

Entry rules checked September 2026. They change without much notice — confirm with the official government source before you travel.