A Guide to Choosing the Right Bergen Fjord Tour (With Recommendations)

The Venn diagram between the number of times I’ve visited Bergen, and the number of times I’ve thought “ngl I should move here sometime”, is a circle. Every time I’m in Norway’s second-biggest city, I feel my soul singing. The nearby fjords are a major reason why, and going on at least one fjord tour when you’re in the city is an absolute must. 

One of the reasons I’ve been on numerous fjord tours from Bergen is because of how many options there are. Some of the world’s most stunning nature is within a few hours of the city.  Admittedly, having the option to choose from multiple fjord tours is nice. But at the same time, it can make choosing the right option more challenging. 

Some of the fjords near Bergen are grander than others, though all are beautiful in their own right. Beyond that, you’ll find multiple types of tours—such as guided cruises and options where you can be active. Based on my several visits to Bergen and experiences on the fjords, I wanted to put together this guide to help you make the right choice. 

Today, you’ll learn more about the types of fjord tours you can take. To simplify planning, I’ll also give you my top recommendations. Moreover, I’ll identify which kinds of travelers should take which kinds of fjord tours—plus much more. Feel free to bookmark this guide for reference when needed, and you can also use the table of contents to skip to the most important sections for you. 

What Are the Main Fjords Near Bergen?

The Sognefjord, Hardangerfjord, and Nærøyfjord are the main fjords near Bergen. The Sognefjord is actually the longest in Norway, while the Hardangerfjord is the second-longest in the country. I actually sailed along the Hardangerfjord on one of my previous trips to Bergen, and it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve been in Norway. 

The Osterfjord is one of the smaller fjords near Bergen, but it’s still worth seeing. I’ve also had the privilege to sail along it, and wrote about that particular tour in a separate article. You might also want to visit the Aurlandsfjord, which branches off the Sognefjord. 

Which Types of Fjord Tours Can I Take From Bergen?

You can take various different types of fjord tours from Bergen, and your choice will depend on your own travel style. You’ll find options if you want to be more active, along with specific sightseeing tours. Below, I’ll outline the main ones you can choose when creating your Bergen itinerary.

1. Guided Half-Day and Full-Day Tours

Guided tours are the most common types of fjord tours that depart from Bergen. Each time I visit Norway’s second-biggest city, these are usually the ones I take. 

These types of fjord tours normally depart from close to Bergen’s fish market, which is right in the center of town. As a result, the departure point is pretty easy to find. When taking these tours, you’ll often have an audio tour guide. While less personable, you will still get to see the main highlights and learn more about the landscapes you pass. However, you can also get some tours that specifically have local guides.

Tour durations will depend largely on the fjord you visit and how much you’ll see. Some of the smaller fjords tend to be half-day tours, while the others are a bit longer. In the summer, it won’t matter too much as you’ll have long daylight hours. But in the winter, you’ll want to keep the limited daylight hours in mind when planning the rest of your day. 

Whenever I take these tours, I like to leave the rest of my day open-ended. That way, I can enjoy being on the fjord without stressing about what time we return to Bergen. 

One useful thing to note is that you often will not have lunch included in these tours. There are, however, some exceptions—such as this tour. If you don’t have lunch included, I recommend bringing some sandwiches with you.

If you want a little more independence, you can choose self-guided fjord tours instead. With these tours, you’ve got more flexibility to go at your own pace. Moreover, you can see more than just the fjords near Bergen. 

3. Combined Fjord Tours With Other Excursions

In addition to self-guided day tours, you can also book guided fjord tours that also include other excursions. For example, many people who book a trip to Bergen also want to see nearby highlights like the village of Flåm. 

The Most Important Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing the Right Fjord Tour

As I mentioned earlier, the fjord tour you choose will depend largely on your specific preferences. Based on my own experiences, I’ve added some of the most important questions I think you should ask yourself below. 

1. When in the Year Are You Visiting Bergen?

While some people will tell you that summer is the best time to visit Bergen, I respectfully disagree. In my opinion, the best time to do so is whenever you have time. The city and its surroundings are beautiful regardless of when you visit, and many tours run year-round. 

If you’re planning to visit some of the nearby villages, though, many of these will have fewer amenities during the off-season. Whether this is a pro or con depends on what you want to get out of the trip. 

2. Do You Have a Particular Fjord That You Want to See?

If you’ve never visited Norway before, you will find all of the fjords near Bergen beautiful. Even after 10+ visits to the country, this is still true for me. However, you might also want to see some of the biggest fjords near the city. 

I’d recommend specifically choosing the fjord(s) you want to see if you have one or two that are “hell yes” options. Otherwise, I’m sure you’ll have an amazing experience, regardless of which tour you choose. For all the talk about which fjords are bigger, pretty much everywhere in Norway is stunning. 

3. What’s Your Budget?

I won’t lie to you: Norway is an expensive country. Bergen is an expensive city. Regardless of your chosen fjord tour, you will pay a decent chunk of money.

While there are plenty of ways to visit Norway on a budget, I always recommend choosing the actual tour you want. I had an experience like this when I went to Tromsø a few years back; I wanted to join a specific reindeer tour, but I hesitated for a long time because of the price. But in the end, it was one of my all-time favorite travel experiences.

At the same time, you can save some money if you want to see the fjords without breaking the bank. In these cases, I’d recommend one of the half-day tours. For example, I really enjoyed the Bergen – Mostraumen fjord cruise via the Osterfjord.

5. How Much Time Do You Have in Bergen?

I always recommend basing yourself in Bergen for at least 3-4 days. In addition to the beautiful nature nearby, there are plenty of fun things to do in the city. The longer you can spend here, the better.

At the same time, you might be constrained by annual leave or also visiting other parts of the country. You may also be here on a short cruise stop. If you do have less time, I suggest being more selective and choosing the tours that you feel are an absolute must.

If you have more than three days in Bergen, you can easily choose 2-3 separate tours.  I would actually recommend doing this, too, so that you don’t feel too rushed or overwhelmed. 

If I Could Only Choose One Fjord Tour From Bergen, It Would Be…

The Hardangerfjord cruise, which stops at the village of Rosendal, would be my top recommendation. I took this tour when visiting with my mom, and I remember her telling me that she never expected Norway to become one of her favorite countries. This tour was a big reason why. 

I’ve already mentioned that the Hardangerfjord is amazing, and this is true. It’s pretty much the stereotypical version of Norway that you always thought it would look like. After visiting Oslo (which is great, by the way), I was happy to see what to me was more of the Norway that I expected. While the country’s capital has beautiful nature (and its own fjord), it’s not on the same level as the Hardangerfjord. 

Our tour took us along the fjord and also docked at Rosendal for a few hours. Here, we could roam as we wished before getting back on the tour and seeing more stunning landscapes before heading back to Bergen. 

The only downsides are that food is not included; there is a kiosk on board, but you have to pay. Ditto if you decide to buy lunch in Rosendal. While I liked having the freedom to roam when we reached Rosendal, you should also note that you won’t have a guided tour when you dock in the village. So, if you want a fully guided tour, this is something to keep in mind. Still, I think this tour is a great choice for anyone visiting Bergen.

What to Expect When You Take a Fjord Tour From Bergen

To ensure that you’re fully prepared, I’ll add some more tips to ensure you’re fully prepared. My advice here will be applicable to most fjord tours that you take from Bergen. 

1. Most Audio Will be in English and Norwegian

On the tours where you have an audio guide, these will almost always be in English and Norwegian. As a native English speaker who also understands Norwegian, this isn’t an issue for me. However, if you don’t feel comfortable with English, this might be an issue. 

The views are still worth seeing, regardless of whether you listen to the audio or not. However, you can find a handful of tours in different languages if you want something in your native language. 

2. It’ll Probably be Windy and Cold, Even in the Summer

While Bergen’s year-round climate is milder than most of Norway, it still gets pretty cold on the fjords. Even when I visited in June once, I still needed a sweater and a windbreaker. That’s without mentioning that Bergen and its surrounding regions are notoriously rainy. 

Regardless of when you take a fjord tour, you should bring warm clothing. Packing a windbreaker is a good idea, and I also suggest dressing in layers.

If it gets too much, you can often go inside to warm up. I personally like to stay outside the whole time, and if you’re like me, just be sure to dress accordingly. 

3. The Sun Will be Really Bright in the Summer, Too

Since Bergen is pretty far north, the sun—on the rare occasions that it appears—will be pretty bright in the summer. I live in Copenhagen, which is slightly further south, and I feel like it’s borderline impossible to go outside without sunglasses sometimes. This is also the case whenever I visit Norway during these months. 

If you’re taking a fjord tour during the summer, I strongly recommend bringing some sunscreen with you. You’d be surprised at how quickly you can get sunburnt if you aren’t careful. You can buy sunscreen in Norway, but it’s often less expensive to bring it with you. Getting some sunglasses is also a good idea.

4. The Outside Crowds Will Dwindle Later in the Tour

I rarely take photos during the first half of fjord tours I take from Bergen, because I know that we’ll pass the same places when we return. Rather than trying to fight among others to point my camera somewhere, I’d rather just wait until the crowds are smaller. 

This is a good general rule of thumb if you don’t want to deal with massive crowds. While I like to be outside for the whole tour, it’s not a bad idea to be inside for the first half and then go outside when the deck starts to get a bit quieter. 

Either way, you can choose how you want to enjoy the fjords. It’s not worth stressing about how many people there are, in my opinion. For what it’s worth, the boats are generally spacious enough to find your own spot. 

5. You Can Often Buy Food and Drink for an Additional Fee

While a handful of day tours include lunch, most do not. In those circumstances where you don’t get free lunch, though, you can buy some. 

In many instances, you can buy your lunch via the kiosk on board the boat. If you’re docking somewhere, you likely will find a café or restaurant where you can purchase something to eat. 

The food on board is usually okay, but I personally much prefer to bring my own stuff. There are plenty of 7-Eleven and Narvesen convenience stores in Bergen. Otherwise, you can make your own food at your accommodation by going to a grocery store and buying ingredients there.

6. Indoor Seating Is Pretty Comfortable, and There Are Toilets on Board

I’ve sometimes used the indoor seating on fjord tours, and that’s largely because, although I like being outside, the seating there isn’t so comfortable. Plus, you may want to sit down for a bit if you’ve been standing all day. 

The indoor seating on most fjord tours from Bergen is comfortable, and you can see all the scenery through the very large windows. It’s not always the best for photography, as the reflections can sometimes ruin your image, but the seats are nice enough if you want to travel in comfort. 

You will also find toilets on board, so don’t worry about that. 

7. The Majority of Fjord Tours Offer Free Cancellation

While it’s nice to go to Bergen with an idea of what you want to do, it’s also understandable if you want to keep your plans open-ended. This is particularly true if you’re going to visit for the first time and know that you might find other things you want to do when you visit. 

Most fjord tours offer free cancellation, provided that you cancel at least 24 hours before the tour starts. If you’re ever in doubt, this will be stated on the booking page for each tour you choose. 

8. Arrive At Least 15-20 Minutes Before the Departure Time

I’m a pretty organized person, if I say so myself, and I like to get to places early. But even when I’ve turned up for some fjord tours in Bergen early enough, I’ve still found it difficult to get the *exact* spot I want on the deck. This isn’t such a big issue in the off-season, but it is during the peak season. 

In any case, you should arrive no later than 15 minutes before departure. These tours leave at the time they say, and you often won’t be allowed to board if you arrive late. Plus, the queues can be pretty long if it’s a crowded tour. 

As for getting your desired spot on the deck or in the boat: The earlier you arrive at the starting point, the better. 

What Kind of Fjord Tour Should YOU Choose?

As you can see, you’re not short on fjord tours to choose from 😅. To make your decision easier, I’ll recommend specific tours for each type of traveler. 

If you want to be active, I actually recommend taking a kayaking tour near Bergen instead. While you won’t go right into the fjords, you will still get to see much of the lovely nature nearby and be out in the fresh air. You can then, if you still want to specifically see the fjords, choose another tour on a different day. 

If you don’t mind and just want to see any fjord, the Hardangerfjord is a great choice. The tour to Mostraumen is a nice alternative, too. 

If you want to see multiple attractions near Bergen, I recommend taking a combined tour. You can choose from a self-guided option, which includes the Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord, or various guided tours.

Everything You Need to Know About Fjord Tours in Bergen

Choosing the right fjord tour from Bergen can be difficult, since you’ll find countless choices catering to different needs. I know this all too well; the first time I visited Bergen, I have to say that I was quite overwhelmed. What you choose can make a big difference to your trip and what you see, which is why I put together this detailed guide for you.

Regardless of your interests, you’ll find plenty of fjord tours that depart from Norway’s second-biggest city. I designed this guide so that you can bookmark and refer to it whenever necessary; if you’re still undecided, feel free to do that and revisit it later.

If you have any further questions, you’re also more than welcome to leave a comment. I’ll do my best to help.

More Useful Resources:

Browse My Bergen Travel Guides

Check Out My Norway Travel Tips

Visiting Oslo, Too? Read My Guide to the Bergen – Oslo Railway

Get a Norway eSIM (and 10% off with my discount code: DANNYCPH)

Browse All Tours, Excursions, and Entry Tickets in Bergen: GetYourGuide / Viator

Find Accommodation in Bergen: Booking.com / Hotels.com / Expedia

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