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Voykit pocket guide · Norway
Olden and Loen
Spend 2 days: one night in Loen, one night in Olden; see glaciers, waterfalls and take the Loen Skylift.
Olden and Loen are twin villages on the Nordfjord, 8 km apart, framed by Jostedalsbreen glacier and dramatic waterfalls. They are reachable by road 60 and serve as a base for glacier walks, ski‑lift panoramas and lakeside hikes. Two nights let you sample the main sights without rushing.
- Country
- Norway
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (glacier walks, hiking, lift open)
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (snow, limited services)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- NOK
- Money
- Currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK, kr); the euro is not used. About 11.5 NOK to €1 — check.
- Daily spend
- Budget kr 700–900 excl. bed (check) · Mid kr 900–1 200 excl. bed (check) · High kr 1 200+ excl. bed (check) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EEA roaming applies: EU and EEA SIMs work at home prices.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Ambulance 113 · Fire 110 · Medical out‑of‑hours 116 117
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Included; round up or add 5–10% for good service.; Café and bar: Nothing expected.; Taxi: Round up.; Guides: Optional.
- Water
- Tap water is excellent; streams in the mountains are usually drinkable, but avoid water below farms and grazing.
- Toilets
- Free or card-paid (NOK 10–20) in towns; trailheads often have pit toilets.
Get in
By air
- SDN · Sandane Airport
- —
- OSL · Oslo Gardermoen Airport
- —
- SVG · Ørsta‑Volda Airport
- —
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Road 60 connects both villages; regular buses run from Bergen, Ålesund and Trondheim. Car rental or bike are common for local loops. The Loen Skylift provides quick mountain views.
See and do
Known for
- Briksdal glacier
- Loen Skylift
- Jostedalsbreen glacier branches
- Waterfalls and Lovatnet lake
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Briksdal glacier | Drive 20 km (12 mi) north on Road 60, then park and walk 2.5 km (1.6 mi) to glacierDrive 12 mi (20 km) north on Road 60, then park and walk 1.6 mi (2.5 km) to glacier | ≈ 45 min |
| Loen Skylift | From Loen centre, walk 5 min to lift base | ≈ 10 min |
| Lovatnet lake walk | Start at Sande camping, follow marked trail | ≈ 2 h round‑trip |
| Skåla tower (black hike) | Drive to Tjugen parking, hike 5 h to summit | ≈ 5 h |
Sleep
- Loen pensjonat
- Family‑run guesthouse, close to the Skylift.
- Hotel Loenfjord
- Mid‑range hotel in Loen centre.
- Olden Fjordhotell
- Budget hotel in Olden, near the fjord.
Language
Norwegian comes in two written forms (Bokmål and Nynorsk) and many dialects, but nearly everyone speaks fluent English. 'Hei' (hi), 'takk' (thanks) and 'unnskyld' (sorry) are enough.
- Signs in the far north are bilingual Norwegian and Sámi.
- Norwegians understand Swedish and Danish, and many can switch to them.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, first names; avoid: Small talk that is too personal
- Nature: Greet other hikers, close gates, carry litter out; avoid: Loud music on trails
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring flowers or chocolates; 'takk for maten' after the meal; avoid: Arriving late
- Conversation: Modest, factual, humorous; avoid: Showing off wealth — Norwegians are rich but understated
- 17 May: Dress up, join the crowds, wave a flag; avoid: Treating the parades as a tourist show
- Queues: Take a number; avoid: Pushing in
Scams and watch-outs
- Glacier walks require a guide; do not approach ice alone (risk of crevasses).
- Weather can change fast on mountain hikes; bring warm layers and rain gear.
- Some attractions (Skåla tower) are classified as black hikes – only for experienced hikers.
Glacier walks need a guide; weather changes fast on mountain routes – carry warm layers, rain gear and a map.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Olden and Loen yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Briksdal glacier
- Loen Skylift
- Jostedalsbreen glacier branches
- Waterfalls and Lovatnet lake
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Olden and Loen, revision 5221325 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5221325
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/olden-and-loen). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.