City: Western Norway
Top Things to do in Western Norway
Top Hotels in Western Norway
6 Ferries in Western Norway That You Shouldn't Miss
Western Norway (Norwegian: Vestlandet, Vest-Norge, Vest-Noreg) is the region along the Atlantic coast of southern Norway. It consists of the counties Rogaland, Hordaland, Sogn og Fjordane, and Møre og Romsdal. The region has a population of approximately 1.3 million people. The largest city is Bergen and the second-largest is Stavanger. Historically the regions of Agder, Vest-Telemark, Hallingdal, Valdres and northern parts of Gudbrandsdal have been included in Western Norway.
Restaurants in Western Norway
1. Gripruta
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 120 reviews
The round trip takes about 3,5 hours, with a guided tour at Grip. Grip has a long and stirring history so far back that the origin of the name is unknown. However we are certain that it was the abundance of fish in the sea surrounding these islands that lured the first inhabitants to Grip. Until 1964 Grip was the smallest municipality in Norway, but is today part of Kristiansund.
Reviewed By Bigsmile123
I've wanted to go to Grip for years, so this strange corona-summer gave me opportunity to go there. ???? I must say, it was magical. The boat trip, the history, the houses, the view, our great guide Kristine, her father, the stave church and at the end bacalao and svele! Wooooow, I loved it! This is a happening I will remember for sure. ????
2. The Urnes Ferry
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
This car ferry goes all-year between Solvorn and Ornes. The schedule in the summertime is different than in the winter, so check out the web-page. 90 passengers and 10 cars (depending on size..) is the capacity, and it is often advisable to be in the ferry-queue early. Fun-fact: all cars must go in reverse when the ferry is loading! But not to worry, -the crew will guide you (and also drive the car for you if you wish) Good service - remarkable view and a worth while experience :)
Reviewed By traveltheworld012 - Rochester, United States
We had stayed overnight in Gaupne. In the morning we drove over to Solvorn. What a beautiful and picturesque little town this is. We arrived about 8:30 AM, but the ferry didn't leave until 10 AM, so we had ample time to walk around explore and take scenic photos. The ferry is small and can carry a maximum of 8 vehicles and they have to be backed onto the ferry. We watched one lady on the Urnes side try backing a pickup and trailer on. The guy taking care of the loading was very patient with her. Be aware that if you are going from Solvorn to Urnes just to see the Urnes Stave Church, leave your car in the parking lot at Solvorn and just walk onto the ferry it's much cheaper. Parking on the other side is quite limited and you may end up walking up the hill to the church anyway. The trip across takes about 15 minutes. The cost for pedestrians is Kr. 43 each way (about $5 USD). Round trip ticket for the two of us was Kr. 172 ($20 USD), cheap enough and a very scenic and fun ride.
3. Sundbaten
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 142 reviews
Sundbaten - The world’s oldest public transport service in uninterrupted use. Part of Kristiansund’s cultural heritage and the world’s oldest means of public transport still in use. The first passenger boat service started up in 1876. These small passenger ferries depart from the Piren pier at the foot of Kaibakken hill and run between the four «lands», as the four areas of Kristiansund are called. A roundtrip with the Sundbaten is a great way to experience Kristiansund. Explore different parts of the town with churches, galleries, klipfish museum and a vivid harbour life. Enjoy one of Kristiansunds strongest cultural monument at a very low price. A round trip takes approx. 15-20 minutes and it makes a nice sightseeing tour of the harbour and surrounding area. On request, the Sundbaten is available for charter and harbour sightseeing / guided tours.
Reviewed By christel - Seaford, United Kingdom
This is the free local harbour ferry which stops off In several places so you can go off and explore . Great for locals and tourists alike as we can get a really feel for the town. Wonderful to see kittiwakes nesting in the old warehouse window sills.
4. Fjord1
5. Norled
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 275 reviews
Norled offer tourist routes on three of the most famous fjords in Fjord Norway: Lysefjord, Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord as well as several coastal express routes. Norled is one of the largest transportation companies in Norway with 50 ferries and 30 express boats operating along the whole coast of Norway, from the Oslo fjord in the East to Troms in the North. Tickets can be purchased at norled.no, at our customer center Strandkaiterminal in Bergen or on board. We wish you a pleasant journey.
6. Fjord Line
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By hank500 - Port Townsend, United States
Our desire was to leave tourist-filled Bergen and make our way along the sunny, warm southern coast of Norway, to experience more of the normal lifestyles of the country. We booked a passage on the Fjord Lines ferry from Bergen to Stavanger for $38, although the ferry landed at Risavika, then a short bus ride to Stavanger. We took a cab in Bergen to the ferry dock and then got in line to check our luggage, and proceed to a waiting area for the gates to open. Once we actually heard announcements for boarding, we showed our tickets and proceeded onto the ferry. We headed toward the bow and the open lounge with comfy chairs and full windows onto the bow of the ship below. We had drinks and watched the scenery while the area filled with passengers and finally under way. We passed by the exceptionally clean, organized galley area earlier and visited that again for food. The galley area had a wide selection of snacks, hot meals, and drinks all with prices in Denmark Kroner- roughly the same as Norwegian Kroner. The ship was from Denmark so that was the only currency used, so we wore down our credit card numbers on frequent visits to the bar and galley. There was an ATM on board, but only gave out Danish Kroner to add to my currency collection. We walked on the cold outside deck on the windward side. We found a top level deck with a broad area for walking around outside when it was less windy. The entire ferry was modern and very clean as was the entire staff. There was a wonderful selection of Scandinavian foods, especially chocolates. We found all the food delicious and reasonably priced. Along the route were wonderful towns and boats to watch as well as the mountains and occasional bridges. We met several passengers from Europe and Scandinavia, all speaking English and full of questions about America. We docked in Risavika, and left the boat hurriedly after we realized the ferry didn’t go all the way to Stavanger. There was a bus waiting in the parking lot for those of us who had paid to get to Stavanger. We boarded the bus and 20 minutes later were dropped off in Stavanger at the bus station. I plan on returning to Norway and riding a ferry somewhere there again, either with Fjordline or Hurtigruten.
