Walking in Southern NorwayUte Koninx
Walking guide
Walking in Southern Norway
Ute Koninx · 2021
Ten multi-day treks incl. Jotunheimen and Hardangervidda, the high country above Vettisfossen and Vøringsfossen.
Norway · Eidfjord & Hardanger
Vøringsfossen
The Bjoreio drops 182 metres off the rim of Hardangervidda into the Måbødalen gorge, and a 99-step bridge now carries you across the top of it. The anchor of a Hardanger waterfall circuit that runs from Steinsdalsfossen to Låtefossen and Trolltunga.
Full guide Checked September 2026 by David Bussell · 40 sources
Vøringsfossen is what happens when a mountain plateau simply stops. The Bjoreio river runs across the western edge of Hardangervidda, Europe's largest mountain plateau, reaches the head of the Måbødalen valley at roughly 700 metres above sea level and falls 182 metres into a sheer-sided gorge, with a single main plunge of about 145 metres. The walls are close together and almost vertical, so the spray has nowhere to go but up, and on a bright morning it hangs in the gorge as a white column. It has been called Norway's most famous waterfall for more than a century: Hansteen estimated its height with stones and a pocket watch in 1821, J.C. Dahl painted the valley, and Edvard Grieg worked at the Fossli Hotel on the rim. What the postcards leave out is that the Bjoreio is harnessed for hydropower, and the flow you see is partly a matter of regulation.
You see the falls from above, from two sides of the gorge. On the Fossli side, beside the 1891 Fossli Hotel, a short, wheelchair-friendly path leads from the bus stop to the main viewpoint, and a rockier trail continues to the step bridge. That bridge, opened in 2020 and designed by Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk for the Norwegian Scenic Routes, is 47 metres long with 99 steps and a 16-metre difference in height between its ends, and crosses the Bjoreio just above the drop. On the far side is Fossatromma, the lower plateau beside Route 7, where a third stage of platforms, a large car park, toilets and EV charging opened in September 2024. More than a kilometre of railed paths links the two, and the full loop takes one to two hours.
Vøringsfossen is the headline, but it works best as the centre of a Hardanger waterfall trip. Near Norheimsund, Steinsdalsfossen lets you walk dry-shod behind a 50-metre curtain of water. South of Odda on Route 13, Låtefossen's twin streams meet mid-fall and thunder under a six-arched stone road bridge. North of Voss, Tvindefossen pours down a stepped cliff beside the E16. Above them all lies Hardangervidda itself, and a couple of hours south of Eidfjord is Trolltunga, the long, serious day hike most visitors pair with the falls. Add a fjord boat from Norheimsund, a RIB or kayak out of Eidfjord, and summer orchards along the fjord, and Hardanger rewards three or four days.
Book this trip
All activities & prices ↓- Vøringsfossen top-to-bottom guided hikefrom US$215 Check availability
- Vøringsfossen waterfall bus tour from Eidfjordfrom US$50 Check availability
- Hardangerfjord and Vøringsfossen day trip from Bergenfrom US$234 Check availability
Fossli side, Fossatromma side, or the valley floor?
Fossli (hotel side)
Main viewpoint · start of the step bridgeFosslivegen, Vøringsfoss — the Book Hardanger bus stop and Fossli Hotel
The classic view, and the easiest one. From the bus stop and toilets it is about 200 metres, step-free, to the main viewpoint looking straight down the gorge. A rockier 200-metre trail, busy on cruise days, leads on to the step bridge. The Fossli Hotel, open since 1891 and still run by the founding family, sits on the rim with a café serving waffles and cake; Grieg worked on his Opus 66 folk-song arrangements here.
Main viewpoint (step-free from the bus stop)Step bridge over the Bjoreio (99 steps)Fossli Hotel café and terraceGreen-marked round walk to Fossatromma
- Entry Free entry and parking; toilets 1 April – 31 October; hotel and café open mid-May to mid-September; viewpoints and bridge closed in winter
- Best for First-time visitors, bus-tour passengers, wheelchair users (first viewpoint only), coffee with a view
Fossatromma (Route 7 side)
Newest platforms · opened September 2024Lower plateau beside Route 7, above the Måbødalen tunnels
The third and final stage of the Scenic Routes project: a large car park with EV chargers, a modern toilet building and new viewing platforms on the lower plateau, linked to Fossli by the old pack road and the step bridge. Coming up Route 7 from Eidfjord it is the first stop, and the platforms look back across the gorge at the falls. It is also where you start the round walk if you'd rather cross the bridge from below.
Fossatromma viewing platformsOld pack road up to the step bridgeViews back across the gorge to the fallsCar park with EV charging
- Entry Free parking and toilets, 1 April – 31 October (weather dependent); parts of the site close in winter
- Best for Drivers on Route 7, EV drivers, walkers doing the full loop
Måbødalen valley floor
The view from below · guided or experienced hikersFrom the lower Måbødalen valley, below the Route 7 tunnels
Very few visitors see Vøringsfossen from the bottom, where the gorge funnels the noise and spray. The route follows old roads and rough terrain into the gorge, and the easiest way to do it is Book Hardanger's guided top-to-bottom hike, about four and a half hours with transport from Eidfjord. Independent hikers should check locally first: one recent third-party trail guide reports that the old suspension bridge at the valley bottom is closed indefinitely.
Foot of Vøringsfossen in the Måbødalen gorgeOld roads and paths through MåbødalenRound walk extension of about 2 km down the valley
- Entry Free on foot; guided hike NOK 2,050 (~US$215) per adult, spring to autumn
- Best for Fit hikers and photographers who want the spray, not just the view
The short answer
Do the loop: park at one end, cross the step bridge, and walk back, which takes one to two hours and shows you the falls from both rims. If you have only half an hour, stop at Fossli for the main viewpoint. Go to the valley floor only with a guide or clear local advice on the path.
When to go
June to mid-September is the dependable window, when the hydropower release keeps Vøringsfossen at 12 m³/s or more; May brings the snowmelt peak at the other falls, and from late September Vøringsfossen itself can run thin.
At Vøringsfossen the calendar matters more than the weather: a hydropower concession guarantees at least 12 m³/s only from 1 June to 15 September, and outside that window the flow can drop sharply.
Summer — guaranteed flow
June – mid-SeptemberThe falls run at their regulated minimum or above, the Fossli Hotel and café are open, Book Hardanger's buses run from Eidfjord, and the fjord boats and buses from Bergen are on their full timetables. Trolltunga is in its main season, with shuttle buses and pre-booked P3 parking. It is also cruise season in Eidfjord, so the paths get crowded on ship days; come early or late.
Open
- All viewpoints, the step bridge and both car parks
- Fossli Hotel and café (mid-May to mid-September)
- Norwegian Nature Centre, daily 10:00–18:00
- Trolltunga shuttles and P3 Mågelitopp parking (from 8 June)
Closed or compromised
- Nothing significant; parking can fill on cruise days
Late spring — snowmelt
MayNatural flow peaks with the May–June snowmelt, and Steinsdalsfossen and Låtefossen are at their loudest. The toilets at Vøringsfossen are open from 1 April, and the Fossli Hotel opens around mid-May. Snow can linger on Hardangervidda and on the Trolltunga plateau, which is guided-only until 31 May. Mid-May also brings the start of the fruit blossom along the fjord.
Open
- Vøringsfossen viewpoints (weather permitting)
- Norwegian Nature Centre
- Book Hardanger buses and tours (from May)
Closed or compromised
- Independent Trolltunga hiking (guided only to 31 May)
- Trolltunga P3 parking and upper shuttle (from 8 June)
Autumn — thinner falls, empty paths
Mid-September – OctoberAfter 15 September the guaranteed release ends, and Vøringsfossen can shrink noticeably, although autumn rain can still bring the natural flow up. The toilets and car parks stay open until 31 October and the Nature Centre until October, but the Fossli Hotel closes in mid-September. Steinsdalsfossen and Låtefossen are unregulated and often lively after rain. Trolltunga becomes guided-only from 1 October.
Open
- Viewpoints, bridge, parking and toilets to 31 October
- Norwegian Nature Centre (to October)
- RIB tours from Eidfjord (to October)
Closed or compromised
- Fossli Hotel and café (from mid-September)
- Guaranteed summer flow (ends 15 September)
- Independent Trolltunga hiking (from 1 October)
Winter — ice and closures
November – MarchThe flow can be reduced to a trickle or freeze, and snow can bury the railings, so the viewpoints, the step bridge and parts of the trail are closed. Route 7 over Hardangervidda may close or run in convoy in bad weather. Steinsdalsfossen and Låtefossen stay reachable from the road, but paths are slippery and the kiosks and toilets are shut.
Open
- Roadside views where snow clearance allows
- Låtefossen and Steinsdalsfossen from the road
Closed or compromised
- Vøringsfossen step bridge, viewpoints and toilets
- Fossli Hotel
- Norwegian Nature Centre (groups by appointment only)
- Trolltunga except with a guide
Blossom time on the Hardangerfjord
Hardanger is Norway's main fruit-growing district, and from roughly mid-May to mid-June the orchards along the fjord around Lofthus and Ullensvang flower in white and pink below the snow-streaked mountains. It lines up with the snowmelt, so the unregulated falls such as Steinsdalsfossen and Låtefossen are running hard, although Vøringsfossen's guaranteed summer release does not start until 1 June.
Everything you can do here
Tour, activity, entry and parking prices are the operators' published 2026 rates in Norwegian kroner, converted at about 1 NOK = $0.105 (late September 2026); hotel figures are Booking.com listing prices and hotel rack rates for unspecified dates, so treat all of them as a planning guide rather than a quote.
Vøringsfossen round walk and step bridge
free; parking free
A green-marked loop of more than a kilometre links Fossli and Fossatromma. Start at Fossli, walk the step-free 200 metres to the main viewpoint, then take the rocky trail to the step bridge: 47 metres, 99 steps, with the Bjoreio sliding towards the edge beneath you. Cross, work along the new Fossatromma platforms and return by the old pack road. The steps get slick when wet, so wear shoes with grip and keep children close.
Spring to autumn; facilities 1 April – 31 October, bridge and some viewpoints closed in winter
No booking needed.
Vøringsfossen top-to-bottom guided hike
US$215NOK 2,050 per adult, return transport from Eidfjord included
The only straightforward way to reach the foot of the falls. You leave Eidfjord at 10:20 on the waterfall bus, hike with a local guide into the Måbødalen gorge along old roads and rough terrain to the valley floor, feel the spray and the noise, then climb to the rim for the viewpoints and step bridge before the bus back at 14:15. Graded moderate: bring boots with grip, waterproofs and food.
Spring, summer and autumn
Check availability
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Vøringsfossen waterfall bus tour from Eidfjord
US$50NOK 475 per adult; NOK 665 (~US$70) with Norwegian Nature Centre entry
A shuttle-style bus tour from the cruise pier by Eidfjord's tourist office up Måbødalen's tunnels to Fossli, with a digital audio guide and about an hour at the falls, enough for the main viewpoint, the step bridge and a waffle at the Fossli Hotel. Extra departures run on busy cruise days. It is the practical answer if you arrive by fjord boat or ship without a car.
Spring to autumn; Nature Centre combo May – September
Check availability
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Hardangerfjord and Vøringsfossen day trip from Bergen
US$234NOK 2,230 per adult; public bus, fjord boat, Eidfjord tour and Nature Centre entry
An independent-but-packaged day: Skyss bus 925 from Bergen at 07:25, a boat from Norheimsund at 09:00 calling at Herand, Utne, Lofthus, Kinsarvik and Ulvik before Eidfjord, then the Nature Centre and Vøringsfossen by bus. The boat returns at 15:20, and you can take a taxi to Steinsdalsfossen and catch the 930 bus home from its stop at 19:03. It is long but covers the fjord and two waterfalls without a car.
May – September
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Norwegian Nature Centre, Øvre Eidfjord
US$19NOK 180 adult, NOK 100 (~US$10) child; family and group discounts
Seven kilometres from Eidfjord on the way up to the falls, the renamed nature centre opens with a panoramic drone film of Hardanger through four seasons, then three floors of hands-on exhibits on geology, climate and wildlife across 2.9 billion years. It explains the plateau, the reindeer and the hydropower scheme that feeds on Vøringsfossen, and it is a good wet-weather fallback. Café and restaurant on site; free parking.
April – October, daily 10:00–18:00; groups by appointment in winter
Pay on the day — nothing to book in advance.
60-minute RIB tour from Eidfjord
US$83NOK 795 per adult; flotation suit, goggles and gloves included
A fast inflatable boat out of Eidfjord, heading either up the Simadalsfjord, where the Sima power station inside the mountain takes the water diverted from above Vøringsfossen and Kjeåsen farm clings to the cliff 600 metres up, or out towards the Hardanger Bridge. Expect seals, seabirds and the goats at Hotle. The route depends on the weather, and warm layers under the suit help in April and October.
April – October
Check availability
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Classic fjord kayaking from Eidfjord
US$158from NOK 1,500 per person; kayaking equipment included
A guided three-hour paddle on the inner Hardangerfjord for beginners and experienced paddlers alike, starting with instruction and a safety briefing. You sit low under the steep walls around Eidfjord, and with luck see seals, porpoises or sea eagles. Tours run in rain but are cancelled in strong wind, with a full refund or a place on another tour. Bring water, a snack and windproof, waterproof layers; over-15s pay the adult price.
May – September
Check availability
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Trolltunga day hike
no ticket; same-day parking NOK 550 (~US$58) at P2 Skjeggedal plus a NOK 220 (~US$23) road toll, or NOK 600 (~US$63) pre-booked at P3 Mågelitopp
The rock ledge jutting out over Ringedalsvatnet above Odda is Hardanger's other icon, and a serious day out: 27 km and about 800 metres of climb from P2 Skjeggedal, or 20 km and 320 metres from P3 Mågelitopp, reached by the Trolltunga-Road Bus (NOK 150 up, NOK 100 down). Start before 8:00 to avoid long queues at the tongue itself and to be down before dark. Weather changes fast, so carry proper layers, food and water.
Independent hiking 1 June – 30 September; guided only 1 October – 31 May
No booking needed.
Guided Trolltunga hikes and via ferrata
prices not verified — check the operators' own sites
The official Trolltunga site names two guide companies, and from 1 October to 31 May it recommends hiking only with one of them, when snow, short days and whiteouts make the plateau dangerous. Trolltunga Active also sells a Trolltunga via ferrata, a zipline and sunset-to-sunrise summer hikes, for anyone who wants more than the standard trail. Trolltunga Active cites 20 years of experience and offers 10% off for young travellers and students.
Year-round; the only way to hike Trolltunga from October to May
Check availability
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Doing this one? Check your travel insurance covers adventure activities before you go — SafetyWing is one option.
Steinsdalsfossen walk-behind
free; free parking
About 2 km west of Norheimsund on Route 7, a 50-metre fall that formed in 1699 drops over an overhang wide enough for a path to run behind it on a broad rock ledge, so you can stand dry behind the curtain of water. It is two minutes from the car park, and a Skyss bus stop sits beside it. It is at its most powerful in May and June with the snowmelt; the path gets slippery in winter.
Year-round; café and toilets roughly May/June – late September/October
No booking needed.
Låtefossen twin falls and stone bridge
free; small free car park
Fifteen minutes' drive south of Odda on Route 13 towards Røldal, two streams from Lotevatnet fall about 165 metres, join partway down and roar beneath a six-arched 19th-century stone bridge that carries the old road. Driving across it is a wet experience in full flow. The car park is small and fills in summer, so be patient or come early; an old path leads to the ruins of a 19th-century viewing café.
Year-round; strongest in spring snowmelt
No booking needed.
Small-group tour onto Hardangervidda
US$50NOK 475 per adult; on request, fixed dates May – November
A short trip up Route 7, a National Scenic Route, past Vøringsfossen onto the open plateau to Dyranut Fjellstove at 1,245 metres, where a short walk up a nearby hill gives a 360-degree view over treeless moorland, lakes and streams. It skirts rather than enters the national park, but gives non-drivers a taste of the plateau. Book by email; spare seats are sold at the Eidfjord tourist office.
Spring to autumn, on listed dates
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Vøringsfossen runs to a hydropower timetable
The Bjoreio is regulated, and water from above the falls is diverted to the Sima power station inside the mountain. Under concession terms dating from 1973, at least 12 m³/s must go over the falls from 1 June to 15 September, the tourist season. Outside that window there is no such guarantee, and the falls can run much thinner, especially in dry spells, or freeze in winter. If you visit in late September or October, as many autumn travellers do, expect a smaller waterfall than the photographs, and let Steinsdalsfossen and Låtefossen, which are not regulated, carry the trip.
Where to stay
Eidfjord, 20–25 minutes below the falls, has the most beds; the Fossli Hotel sits on the rim itself, and Lofthus, Odda and Norheimsund put you closer to Trolltunga, Låtefossen and Steinsdalsfossen.
Fossli Hotel
The only place to sleep beside the falls: a 21-room wooden hotel from 1891, run by the founding Garen family for four generations. Grieg arranged his Opus 66 folk songs here and his 1896 piano survives. Seasonal, roughly mid-May to mid-September.
Vøringfoss Hotel
A traditional fjordside hotel in the village centre, next to the tourist office and the Troll Train stop, with fjord views, a breakfast buffet, a sports bar and a summer restaurant. Handy for the waterfall buses, which leave from the quay a few steps away.
Eidfjord Hotel
Reviewers rate its comfortable rooms, fjord views and generous breakfast. It has a garden, terrace, restaurant and bar, plus free parking and bike rental for the flat valley road towards Øvre Eidfjord.
Vik Pensjonat
A small family guesthouse with cabins that tops Tripadvisor's Eidfjord rankings, praised for its views and for the coffee and pastries in its café. It has a garden, terrace and free parking, and sits in the village centre.
Eidfjord Gjestgiveri
A traditional wooden guesthouse overlooking the lake, the cheapest listed option near the falls and within 12 km of them, so ideal for being at Fossli before the buses arrive.
Liseth Pensjonat og Hyttetun
A small guesthouse and cabin site rated 4.9 on Tripadvisor, where reviewers single out freshly renovated cabins, home-cooked meals and the quiet. Suits walkers who want the plateau on the doorstep rather than the fjord.
Hotel Ullensvang
Founded as a boathouse by Hans Utne in 1846 and still run by the fifth generation of his family: 170 rooms among the orchards, a spa with indoor and outdoor pools and a fjordside sauna, and Grieg's composer's hut in the garden. A good base for Trolltunga.
Thon Hotel Sandven
A historic 104-room hotel on the quay in Norheimsund, an hour from Bergen, with breakfast included, EV charging and free parking. The natural first or last night on a Hardanger loop, beside the fjord-boat pier.
Search all Eidfjord accommodation
Getting there & getting in
BGO
Bergen Airport, Flesland
The closest international airport. Vøringsfossen is about 173 km / 3 hours by car from Bergen via Voss, and Norheimsund about 75 km / 1 hour 15 minutes. Direct flights from across Europe and frequent domestic links to Oslo.
OSL
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Norway's main long-haul hub. The drive to Vøringsfossen over Hardangervidda on Route 7 takes about 5–6 hours; alternatively take the Bergen Line train to Geilo, 73 km / about an hour from the falls.
Bergen is the practical gateway for Hardanger, with Oslo as the long-haul hub; the Bergen Line railway links the two via Geilo and Voss.
Without a car: bus, fjord boat and shuttle
Public transport to the falls themselves is limited. The best-tested chain in summer is Skyss bus 925 from Bergen bus station to Norheimsund (07:25), the Hardangerfjord boat from Norheimsund at 09:00 to Eidfjord (arriving 11:45), and Book Hardanger's waterfall bus from the Eidfjord quay, returning on the 15:20 boat and the 930 bus from Norheimsund. Seasonal buses have also run between Eidfjord, Fossli and Geilo, connecting with the Bergen Line trains, but the timetable we found dates from 2023, so check skyss.no before relying on it. Drivers should note that Route 7 across Hardangervidda can close or run in convoy in winter weather.
Visas & entry
- Schengen 90/180-day entry
No visa fee for visa-exempt nationalities Norway is not in the EU but is a full Schengen member. Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and other visa-exempt countries can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. - Entry/Exit System (EES)
Free The EU's biometric Entry/Exit System has been fully running at Schengen external borders since April 2026. Non-EU/EEA travellers register fingerprints and a facial image at their first crossing, which replaces passport stamping, so allow extra time at passport control.
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.
Ways to spend the time
1 long day (May – September)
Vøringsfossen from Bergen without a car
- Take Skyss bus 925 from Bergen bus station at 07:25 to Norheimsund.
- Board the 09:00 Hardangerfjord boat to Eidfjord, calling at Herand, Utne, Lofthus, Kinsarvik and Ulvik.
- From the Eidfjord quay, take Book Hardanger's bus to the Norwegian Nature Centre and on to Vøringsfossen for the main viewpoint and step bridge.
- Catch the 15:20 boat back to Norheimsund, taxi to Steinsdalsfossen to walk behind it, and pick up the 930 bus there for Bergen.
2 days
Hardanger waterfall loop by car
- Day 1: Bergen to Norheimsund on Route 7 and walk behind Steinsdalsfossen, then follow the fjord east to Eidfjord.
- Day 1 evening: drive up Måbødalen to Vøringsfossen after the tour buses leave and walk the Fossli–Fossatromma loop over the step bridge.
- Day 2: Norwegian Nature Centre when it opens, then south along the fjord through Kinsarvik and Lofthus to Odda and 15 minutes on to Låtefossen.
- Day 2 afternoon: back to Bergen via Voss, detouring 12 km north on the E16 for Tvindefossen if time allows.
3–4 days (June – September)
Falls and Trolltunga
- Day 1: Bergen to Norheimsund (Steinsdalsfossen), boat or drive to Eidfjord; sleep in Eidfjord or at the Fossli Hotel.
- Day 2: Vøringsfossen early, the guided top-to-bottom hike or a RIB trip on the Simadalsfjord, then drive to Lofthus or Odda.
- Day 3: Trolltunga from P2 Skjeggedal or P3 Mågelitopp, starting before 8:00; rest in Odda.
- Day 4: Låtefossen in the morning light, then back to Bergen or on towards Røldal and Oslo.
Practical notes
- Money Norway uses the Norwegian krone (NOK), and cards are the normal way to pay, so you need little or no cash. Prices in this guide were converted at about 1 NOK = US$0.105 in late September 2026. Vøringsfossen, Steinsdalsfossen and Låtefossen are all free, with free parking; Trolltunga's car parks are the one significant fixed cost in the region.
- Timing your visit to the flow Vøringsfossen's guaranteed 12 m³/s runs from 1 June to 15 September. For the fullest falls come in that window, ideally on a morning after rain. From late September onwards, check recent photos or ask at the Eidfjord tourist office before driving up specially, and put the unregulated falls first.
- Crowds and cruise days Eidfjord is a cruise port, and on ship days buses shuttle passengers up to Fossli from late morning into the afternoon, crowding the rocky trail to the bridge. Book Hardanger adds extra departures on those days. If you have a car, come before about 10:00 or in the long summer evenings, when the paths are nearly empty.
- Edges, wet steps and weather The viewpoints are railed, but the trail to the step bridge is rocky and the 99 steps get slick in spray and rain. Wear shoes with grip and hold small children's hands. The weather on the plateau edge changes quickly, so carry a waterproof even in July. Never climb past railings for a photo: the gorge walls are sheer.
- Accessibility The Scenic Routes site is described as partially wheelchair accessible. From the Fossli bus stop and toilets to the main viewpoint is about 200 metres and step-free, and strollers manage it too. Beyond that the path to the bridge is rocky and the bridge itself is 99 steps. Steinsdalsfossen's viewpoint is two minutes from the car park, but the path behind the water climbs.
- Trolltunga is a serious hike Even from P3 it is a 20 km, 7–10 hour day on exposed mountain terrain, and from P2 it is 27 km. Start before 8:00, carry food, water and warm, waterproof layers, and turn back if the weather closes in. From 1 October to 31 May the official site says guided hikes only. Book P3 parking in advance; it is pre-booked only in the main season.
- Winter visits From November, snow can bury the railings at Vøringsfossen and the step bridge, viewpoints and parts of the trail close, as do the toilets, the Fossli Hotel and the Nature Centre. Route 7 over Hardangervidda may close or run in convoy. You can still see the gorge where snow clearance allows, but plan a winter Hardanger trip around the fjord, not the falls.
How it compares
This waterfall
Vøringsfossen
Norway
Height182 mWidth—
Most similar
Kvinnefossen
Norway
Height200 mWidth—
Also a plunge waterfall, of similar height and in Norway too
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
108 m
182 m
200 m
330 m
979 m
Victoria FallsVøringsfossenKvinnefossenEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 5.4× taller than Vøringsfossen. It drops 1.7× further than Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Vøringsfossen yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Vøringsfossen
1:44
1:59
5:32
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
Books worth packing
Guidebook
Lonely Planet Norway
Lonely Planet · 2024
Current Lonely Planet covering the western fjords, Hardanger, Geiranger and Telemark roads past Norway's big falls.
Guidebook
DK Eyewitness Norway
DK Eyewitness · 2024
Illustrated Norway guide, good for planning fjord drives such as Geiranger and Hardanger.
On the map
Questions people actually ask
Is Vøringsfossen free to visit?
Yes. There is no entrance fee, and parking at both Fossli and Fossatromma is free. The toilets are open from 1 April to 31 October. You only pay if you take a tour: Book Hardanger's bus from Eidfjord costs NOK 475 (about $50) per adult, or NOK 665 (about $70) including the Norwegian Nature Centre.
How high is Vøringsfossen?
182 metres in total, falling from the edge of Hardangervidda into the Måbødalen gorge. The main free fall is usually given as about 145 metres, although Wikipedia gives the longest single drop as 163 metres. Wikipedia also lists it as only the 83rd-highest waterfall in Norway by total fall, but it is the one most Norwegians would name first.
When was the step bridge at Vøringsfossen built?
It opened in August 2020 as the second stage of the Norwegian Scenic Routes development designed by architect Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk. It is 47 metres long, has 99 steps and climbs 16 metres from one end to the other as it crosses the Bjoreio just above the drop. The third stage, at Fossatromma, opened in September 2024.
Why does Vøringsfossen sometimes look so small?
Because it is regulated for hydropower. Water from the Bjoreio is diverted to the Sima power station, and the concession only guarantees at least 12 m³/s over the falls from 1 June to 15 September. Outside that window, and in dry spells, the flow can be much lower, and in winter it can freeze.
Can you get to Vøringsfossen without a car?
Yes, in summer. Take Skyss bus 925 from Bergen to Norheimsund, the Hardangerfjord boat to Eidfjord and Book Hardanger's waterfall bus from the Eidfjord quay. Book Hardanger sells the whole chain as a 13-hour day trip for NOK 2,230 (about $234). From the east, seasonal buses have linked Geilo and Fossli, but check current timetables.
Can you hike to the bottom of Vøringsfossen?
Yes, but it is not the casual walk the rim loop is. Book Hardanger runs a guided top-to-bottom hike from Eidfjord, about four and a half hours, for NOK 2,050 (about $215), which descends into the Måbødalen gorge and then climbs to the viewpoints. Going alone, check locally first, as a bridge on the valley-floor route has been reported closed.
Can you visit Vøringsfossen and Trolltunga on the same trip?
On the same trip, yes; on the same day, not realistically. Trolltunga's trailheads above Odda are a couple of hours' drive from Vøringsfossen, and the hike itself takes 7–12 hours. Do Vøringsfossen on the way into Hardanger, sleep in Odda or Lofthus, and give Trolltunga a full day of its own with an early start.
Which Hardanger waterfall can you walk behind?
Steinsdalsfossen, about 2 km west of Norheimsund on Route 7. A path climbs to a wide rock ledge behind the 50-metre fall, and you stay dry while the water pours past in front of you. It is free, with free parking two minutes away, and has a summer café. It is at its most powerful in May and June.
Where is Vøringsfossen?
Vøringsfossen is in Norway (Hardanger), inside Hardangervidda National Park. The nearest base is Eidfjord and the closest airport is BGO. Its coordinates are 60.4271, 7.2509.
Sources (40)
- www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/en/routes/hardangervidda/voringsfossen/
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- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%B8ringsfossen
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A5b%C3%B8dalen
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossli_Hotel
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardangervidda_National_Park
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steinsdalsfossen
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- www.bookhardanger.com/products/voringsfossen-waterfall-tour/
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- www.bookhardanger.com/products/hardangerfjord-and-voringsfossen-tour-from-bergen/
- www.bookhardanger.com/products/norwegian-nature-centre/
- www.bookhardanger.com/products/60-minute-rib-tour-from-eidfjord/
- www.bookhardanger.com/products/classic-fjord-kayaking-eidfjord/
- www.bookhardanger.com/products/small-group-tour-to-hardangervidda/
- www.bookhardanger.com/products/eidfjord-sightseeing-with-the-trolltrain/
- www.trolltunga.com/en
- www.trolltunga.com/en/parking-and-transport/parking
- www.trolltunga.com/en/parking-and-transport/shuttle-busses
- trolltunga-active.com/
- thephotohikes.com/voringsfossen-waterfall-hike/
- www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g226923-Eidfjord_Municipality_Hardanger_Hordaland_Western_Norwa…
- www.booking.com/city/no/eidfjord.html
- open.er-api.com/v6/latest/NOK
Prices, fees and entry rules change. We re-check full guides regularly; spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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