Sailing Along the Osterfjord: A Fjord Cruise From Bergen to Mostraumen

Joining a fjord cruise in Norway is an absolute must; even after visiting the country 10+ times, it’s still one of my favorite activities. Since Western Norway is home to some of the country’s most beautiful fjords, doing so when in Bergen—which has easy access to many of them—makes even more sense.

The Hardangerfjord, Nærøyfjord, and Sognefjord steal most of the headlines for fjords near Bergen. One that comparatively flies under the radar, however, is the Osterfjord. On one previous trip to Norway, I got to see it for myself—and I can very much confirm that it’s picturesque in its own right. 

If you’re thinking of taking the Bergen – Mostraumen fjord cruise, this guide is for you. You’ll get all the information you need to decide if it’s right for you and to plan your trip. Moreover, I’ll use my insights from taking multiple fjord tours in Norway to give you a better overall picture. 

Getting to the Start Point Early Is a Really Good Idea

We booked a morning tour departure from Bergen’s downtown area and arrived around 15 minutes before departure. By this point, however, the top deck was already crowded. Finding a spot to stand was challenging, though it did get easier later in the tour—as I’ll discuss soon. 

Since we bought our tickets beforehand, we didn’t have any issues boarding. And on that note, I definitely recommend purchasing the tour in advance; we used GetYourGuide (it’s also available on Viator). We underestimated how many people would join the cruise, and if we had known, we’d have definitely shown up earlier. 

Once you board the boat, you can choose from indoor or outdoor seating. We wanted an uninterrupted view of the scenery and therefore decided to stand outside, but going indoors is always ideal if you don’t want to stand for the entire tour. 

The Scenery Gets More Dramatic as You Leave Bergen

Initially, the boat will pass through Bergen’s suburbs. While pleasant, the scenery won’t be overly dramatic in the beginning. That said, the view of Bergen’s iconic waterfront buildings from the water is great for photography lovers. 

As you head onto the Osterfjord and down the Mostraumen strait, the scenery becomes more quintessentially Norwegian. You’ll pass various mountains, along with some isolated wooden cabins. While not as dramatic as the Hardangerfjord or Sognefjord, it’s still beautiful.

Eventually, you’ll arrive in the picturesque village of Mo. Here, you’ll see a pretty church and wooden buildings with a scenic mountainous backdrop. For me, this was actually my favorite part of the trip. 

Good to Know: Even Outside the Winter, It Will be Windy on Board

I did this cruise in early June, which was just before summer (it rarely gets too warm in Bergen anyway, but I digress). While we didn’t experience the region’s notorious rain on this tour, it was very windy on the deck. And as a result, it was also quite cold. 

Regardless of when you visit, I recommend dressing for the elements. Bringing a windproof jacket is a really good idea, and you should also pack a sweater—even if it doesn’t feel cold when you’re in Bergen. The temperature can change quite significantly when you’re on the water. 

Since we planned to do some hiking after the tour, we also wore outdoor clothing—including waterproof pants. I’d suggest doing the same; even though you won’t get splashed by the fjord water, there’s every chance it could rain. 

Basic Facilities and Audio Guides Are Available

Pretty much every fjord tour boat I’ve ever been on in Norway is in excellent condition. The Bergen – Mostraumen cruise was no different. You’ll get plenty of seats on board, which is a nice reprieve if you’ve been standing for too long and want to take a rest. The seats on the sundeck are basic, but those inside are more comfortable. 

While on the boat, you will also find a toilet. It’s also possible to buy food and drink, though we didn’t do this. Instead, we went to the fish market in Bergen once the tour had concluded. 

While we sailed through the fjord, we had an English-language audio guide over the loudspeaker. This was useful for telling us more about the scenery we were passing, along with some of the towns and villages close to Bergen. Compared to some fjord tours I’ve been on in other countries, the audio guide wasn’t intrusive at all. 

The Second Half of the Cruise Is Better for Photos

As I mentioned earlier, the sundeck was quite crowded for the first half of the tour. This, I assume, would have been different if I had gone in the winter or if it had been raining. Either way, I spent the first half of the tour listening to the audio guide and watching the scenery around us. 

However, the second half of the tour was much better for sightseeing and photos. By this point, many people had gone inside, and the deck was a lot emptier. It was therefore easier to take good photos, and the landscapes were more uninterrupted than before. Most of the pictures in this article were taken during the second half of the tour. 

I’d recommend waiting around 50-60 minutes for the crowds to thin out. For the first part of the tour, you can always sit indoors instead. As I mentioned before, you’ll probably have more luck with crowds if you’re visiting in the off-season—but it’s still worth keeping this in mind. 

Sailing Along the Osterfjord Is Possible Year-Round

While we went just before the peak season in Bergen, I actually prefer visiting the city—and Norway in general—when it’s quieter. Nonetheless, I do still recommend taking this tour regardless of when you visit. The good news is that you can do so year-round. 

Some of my happiest fjord memories have been during the winter, such as sailing along the Lysefjord in Stavanger. If it’s anything to go by, Bergen is also often less cold than most of Norway during these months. At the same time, you should still see the fjord’s nearby mountains covered in snow if you visit in the winter. 

While the fjord doesn’t usually freeze over, you may have a different route if there’s ice. However, this will of course depend on when you visit. Some of the other experiences around Bergen are summer-only, so it’s good to know that you can at least sail along the Osterfjord year-round.  

Should I Allocate My Entire Day to This Tour?

Our tour took three-and-a-half hours, and we arrived back in Bergen in the afternoon. We still had time in the morning to take things easy and cook our own breakfast, so it’s more of a half-day tour than something that requires the entire day. 

One thing to keep in mind is that the daylight hours vary significantly throughout the year. When we visited in June, the sun went down after 23:00. So, we had plenty of time to explore afterward. 

Comparatively, the winter months are much darker—with around six hours of daylight. As a result, you won’t have as much time to see other things if you visit at this time. However, going out on the fjords is still a worthwhile activity; as a result, it still makes sense to do this. 

Either way, I recommend either leaving the rest of your day open-ended or planning trips in Bergen for the rest of the day. That way, you won’t feel like you’re in a rush when you return. 

Are There Alternative Fjord Cruises in Bergen?

While sailing along the Osterfjord is one of the best cruises I’ve done in Norway, it’s not your only option when you visit Bergen. Another tour I recommend is the cruise to Rosendal, which I did on a previous trip to the city. Besides seeing the stunning Hardangerfjord, you’ll have some time on land in the scenic village of Rosendal. 

The fjord cruise to Rosendal is seven hours long. Therefore, you’ll need to allocate more time than you would if you did the Osterfjord tour. 

You can also sail along the Nærøyfjord from Bergen. On top of that, some tours offer combined packages—such as the Flåm Railway. If you want to combine multiple attractions, these may be a better option. 

Where Does the Bergen – Mostraumen Fjord Tour Depart From? 

You can join the tour from the Rødne terminal at Zachariasbryggen. It’s right next to the city’s main fish market and also not far from Bryggen. 

We were staying close by, so we walked to the terminal in around 15 minutes. For the most part, I recommend staying in Bergen’s city center—and as a result, it’ll be easier for you to walk from your accommodation. 

If you need to, however, you can easily reach the port area by bus from other parts of the city. The cruise finishes in the same place where it started.

The Bergen – Mostraumen Fjord Tour Is Worth Adding to Your Itinerary

While not as famous as some of the other nearby fjords, the Osterfjord is still worth seeing when you visit Bergen—especially if you’re here for longer than a few days. The cruise is ideal if you just want to see Norway’s scenic fjords but aren’t too interested in disembarking. 

Getting to the starting point is very straightforward, and the cruise is also available year-round. Although the early part is quite crowded, you’ll have more space to yourself as the tour continues. If you want to book this tour, you can do so here.

If you want to plan your Norway trip further, consider checking out my other guides…

• Hiking Guides: Ulriken, Fløyen, and Damsgårdsfjellet
• A Simple and Fun 7-Day Norway Itinerary (Beginner-Friendly)
• My Favorite Things to Do in Oslo (just in case you’re also visiting Oslo 🙂)
• Everything You Need to Know About the Oslo – Bergen Railway