Major city · Norway
Balestrand
Stay 1–2 nights on the Sognefjord: a small village, one big hotel, fjord views and hikes. Skip if you want nightlife or a car-free city.
Balestrand is a village of a few hundred people on the north shore of the Sognefjord, reached by express boat from Bergen or Flåm and by bus from Sogndal. It has been a resort since the 1800s, when Kaiser Wilhelm II spent summers here. Today it is a base for fjord views, short hikes and the ferry to Fjærland. One night covers the village; two nights let you add a hike or the glacier. Everything sits within a 15–20 minute walk of the ferry pier.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- NOK
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Mar (short days, some boats and hotels closed)
- Airports
- SOG · FDE · BGO
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
- Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
- Norway ↗Norway is not in the EU but is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources.
- Norway ↗Wine and spirits are sold only at the state Vinmonopolet shops; supermarkets sell beer, and not in the evenings or on Sundays.
- Norway ↗The right to roam (allemannsretten) lets you hike and camp on most uncultivated land, keeping a distance from homes and leaving no trace.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Balestrand112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Balestrand, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK, kr); the euro is not used.Norway-wide
- SIM or eSIMEEA roaming applies: EU and EEA SIMs work at home prices.Norway-wide
- Tap waterTap water is excellent; streams in the mountains are usually drinkable, but avoid water below farms and grazing.Norway-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Included; round up or add 5–10% for good service.Norway-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Norway-wide
- SafetyVery safe.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree or card-paid (NOK 10–20 (≈ US$1–2)) in towns; trailheads often have pit toilets.Norway-wide
- Emergency numbers112 police · 113 ambulance · 110 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums close Mondays out of season; small fjord-village hotels and cafés close October–April.Norway-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportSOG Sogndal Airport, Haukåsen (Closest airport; short flights from Oslo and Bergen, then bus or boat onward).
- Getting aroundWalk.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffeekr 40–60
- Sit-down mealDinner, hotel restaurantkr 300–500
- Museum or sight ticketSognefjord Aquarium entrykr 70 adultkr 35 child
- Budget bedCamping cabin (up to 4), a night, per roomNOK 400 (≈ US$40)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per roomNOK 1,500 (≈ US$150)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per roomNOK 2,800 (≈ US$300)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget NOK 700 (≈ US$70) · Mid NOK 1,400 (≈ US$140) · High NOK 2,600 (≈ US$300)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SOG Sogndal Airport, Haukåsen (Closest airport; short flights from Oslo and Bergen, then bus or boat onward) · FDE Førde Airport, Bringeland (Alternative; local buses from Førde about five times a day) · BGO Bergen Airport, Flesland (Closest international airport; express boat from Bergen in summer)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
Feb
Avoid
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
Mar
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Apr
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
May
Best
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Jun
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Jul
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Aug
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Sep
Best
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Oct
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Nov
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Dec
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)), coolest Jan (−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C) low), wettest Oct (18 rain days), driest Apr (13). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Balestrand: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
17 rd
Feb
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
14 rd
Mar
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
15 rd
Apr
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
13 rd
May
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
13 rd
Jun
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
13 rd
Jul
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
15 rd
Aug
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
16 rd
Sep
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
17 rd
Oct
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
18 rd
Nov
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
17 rd
Dec
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
18 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk. The village is 15–20 minutes end to end. Bicycles can be rented from the tourist information office; cars from Kviknes Hotel or from larger towns nearby. Express boats and the Fjærland ferry leave from the pier in the centre.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Fjærland
goDoor to door: About 1 h each way
Fjord1 ferry from the Balestrand pier
Glacier museum and glacier arms; book ahead in summer.
Vikøyri
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Ferry to Vangsnes, then bus or car over Vikafjellet
Stave church and the Hopperstad site.
Door to door: About 1.5–2 h
Fjord1 express boat
Flåm railway and Nærøyfjord; twice daily in high summer.
Sogndal
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Route 55 along the fjord, by bus or car
Scenic drive; the main town for shops and services.
Lærdal
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Bus or car via Sogndal and the Lærdal tunnel
Long for a day return; better as a stop on the way to Oslo.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Village centre by the ferry pier
Kviknes Hotel, Midtnes, Kringsjå and Balestrand Hotel all within a 10-minute walk of the boat.
Dragsvik
About 3 km (1.9 mi) west; camping and the ferry link to Vangsnes.About 1.9 mi (3 km) west; camping and the ferry link to Vangsnes.
Sjøtun / Esefjorden
Camping and cabins south of the centre; car or a longer walk.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- kr 700–1,200 excl. bed
- Mid
- kr 1,200–2,000 excl. bed
- High
- kr 2,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 2 nights × NOK 1,500 | NOK 3,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × NOK 1,400 | NOK 5,600 |
| Fjærland ferry, return2 × NOK 300 | NOK 600 |
| Bicycle rental, one day2 × NOK 300 | NOK 600 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × NOK 250 | NOK 500 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | NOK 1,030 |
| Trip total≈ NOK 2,833 per person per day, bed included | NOK 11,330≈ US$1,200 |
2026 estimate in kroner; transport to Balestrand excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | kr 40–60 |
| Lunch, café or hotel | kr 150–250 |
| Dinner, hotel restaurant | kr 300–500 |
| Grocery basics (Coop or Joker) | kr 100–200 |
| Sognefjord Aquarium entry | kr 70 adult / kr 35 child |
| St Olav's Church | Free admission |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Midtnes Hotel has not taken cards: bring cash or check before booking.
- Express boat frequency drops outside summer — one daily in winter on some routes.
- Kvamsøy church and Haukaas Enamel workshop need an appointment.
- Mountain weather changes fast; carry rain gear on any hike.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 112
- Ambulance
- 113
- Fire
- 110
- Out-of-hours doctor
- 116 117
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
BalestrandBalestrand
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Til denne adressen, takkTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police112
- Ambulance113
- Fire110
- Out-of-hours doctor116 117
Embassy
No embassies in Balestrand; the nearest consulates are in Bergen, embassies in Oslo.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Express boat Bergen → Balestrand: about kr 500–700, 3–4 h
- Ferry Balestrand → Fjærland: about kr 150 one way, 1 h
- Bus Sogndal → Balestrand: about kr 100–150, 1 h
Say or show
- Hei — Hello (hay)
- Takk — Thank you (takk)
- Hvor mye koster det? — How much is it? (vor MEW-eh KOS-ter deh)
- Kan jeg betale med kort? — Can I pay by card? (kan yai beh-TAH-leh meh kort)
- Hvor er fergekaia? — Where is the ferry? (vor air FER-geh-kai-ah)
- Unnskyld — Excuse me (UN-shyld)
Ferry and express boat timetables change by season: confirm the day before you travel.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Balestrand. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (short days, some boats and hotels closed) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
- officialVisit Balestrand
- officialFjord1 (express boats and ferries)
- officialKviknes Hotel
- secondaryWikivoyage: Balestrand, revision 4514791 (CC BY-SA 4.0)