Guide to Vøringsfossen waterfall

Welcome to a two-hour round trip to Vøringsfossen!
This is one of the 18 National Tourist Routes – selected stretches of road that take you through some of Norway’s most stunning landscapes, along coast, fjords, mountains and waterfalls. Along the way you’ll find artworks, viewpoints and rest areas with innovative architecture set in grand nature. Among the 18 routes, the viewpoint at Vøringsfossen is without doubt the most famous – and perhaps the most impressive.

The journey takes us through Øvre Eidfjord (upper Eidfjord), just 7 km from here, and continues eastwards up the breathtaking Måbødalen valley to Fossli Hotel, where we’ll enjoy panoramic views of both Vøringsfossen and the gorge. Here you’ll have a full hour to experience the famous waterfall and the spectacular step bridge that opened in 2020.

We start in Eidfjord’s centre – a small village where about two-thirds of the municipality’s 960 inhabitants live, together with nearly twice as many sheep. People here have lived in close interaction with nature for generations – through farming, fishing, hunting and later tourism. In the village you’ll find a town hall, school, nursery, care centre, two churches and some cosy cafés and shops.

Eidfjord has been inhabited since the Stone Age and has rich traces from the Viking era. Stone Age tools over 7,000 years old have been found here, and Eidfjord has an unusually large number of Viking and Iron Age graves at Hæreid – the highest plateau in the village, located on the other side of the river. This river has long been a popular salmon river, and today you can also catch fine sea trout here – if you’re lucky enough to get a fishing licence.

Lake Eidfjordvatnet

On the left you can see Lake Eidfjordvatnet, fed by rivers from Hardangervidda. The water is so pure you can drink it.

On the right, just after the tunnel, a road winds its way 11 km up the narrow Hjølmoberget – a popular gateway for hikes on Hardangervidda.

Øvre Eidfjord – upper Eidfjord

The village once had a shop, bank, school and petrol station, but today it’s a peaceful little settlement with a close-knit local community. It is also home to the Norsk Natursenter, a great place to learn more about Hardangervidda and Norwegian nature.

Norwegian Nature Center

The centre offers an exciting experience of nature and cultural heritage, with panoramic film and three floors of interactive exhibitions. Here you can see, touch, listen and learn about geology, wildlife and plant life – and how people have lived off Hardangervidda’s resources through the ages. There’s also a souvenir shop with quality outdoor clothing, as well as a restaurant. Read more about the Norwegian Nature Center here

The River Bjoreio

We follow the river Bjoreio, which rises high up on Hardangervidda from rain and meltwater. It runs quietly through the landscape before plunging down into Vøringsfossen. As the locals say: “Bjoreio is small and calm – until she crashes to the ground.” On the other side of the river you can spot parts of the old road – the very first carriage road up the valley. There has been a route here since the Middle Ages.

Måbø valley

In earlier times, people had to climb a steep, narrow path with horse and cart. The first proper road was started in 1904 and completed in 1916. There were no excavators – only crowbars, pickaxes and sheer stubborn will. The workers lived in tents, ate cold porridge and hacked their way through the rock face with muscle and determination. The old Måbø road was later called a work of engineering art – and it truly is. Only in 1986 came the new tunnel, making it possible to drive up here safely without a pounding heart. Today the old road is a wonderful hiking and cycling route.

Vøringfossen waterfall

Welcome to Vøringsfossen, 750 metres above sea level! The waterfall has a total drop of 182 metres, of which 150 metres is free fall – a fantastic sight that draws visitors from all over the world. The bus takes us to the main viewpoint by the hotel, but just a short path away you’ll find the exciting step bridge crossing the gorge behind the waterfall. Here you can feel the adrenaline as you climb the 99 steps. The bridge stretches 47 metres across the ravine, with a height difference of 16 metres from one side to the other.

Of Norway’s 18 National Tourist Routes, Vøringsfossen is the biggest, most impressive – and by far the most expensive project. Visitors can now experience the waterfall and Måbødalen from new, safe trails and viewing platforms. Read more about this project here.

Fossli Hotel by Vøringsfossen waterfall

Like a fairytale castle, Fossli Hotel towers above Vøringsfossen. The hotel has welcomed guests since 1891. When construction began in the 1880s, there was no road – everything had to be carried up the 1300 steps cut into the mountainside and along 125 hairpin bends on Måbøberget. The hotel is still open today, offering food, drinks and a fantastic view.

Composer Edvard Grieg at Fossli Hotel in 1896

In the summer of 1896, Edvard Grieg found inspiration here, high above the dramatic Måbødalen. He was spellbound by the waterfalls and majestic mountains – and with the roar of Vøringsfossen in the background, he composed several piano pieces, filled with the freshness and power of nature he experienced here.

If you’re not already familiar with Edvard Grieg’s music, the first two pieces on this playlist are his most famous: “In the Hall of the Mountain King” and “Morning Mood” from Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt.

The other pieces are directly linked to Grieg’s stay at Fossli Hotel in 1896. The first was originally called The Guests Are Arriving, written for Nancy Giertsen’s 50th birthday – a close friend of Nina and Edvard Grieg – on 29 July 1896 at Fossli Hotel. The following year it was given its famous title Wedding Day at Troldhaugen. That summer he also wrote a number of folk tunes up here, later published in Lyric Pieces: Norwegian Folk Songs. We’ve gathered these works on this playlist. Enjoy a coffee and a slice of cake at Fossli Hotel, and imagine yourself back in 1896, listening to Edvard Grieg playing his freshly composed music in the lounge!

Hardangervidda mountain plateau

Above us lies Hardangervidda – Northern Europe’s largest mountain plateau, covering about 10000 km². Norway’s biggest national park makes up 3,500 km² of it – truly one of a kind in Europe.

The plateau lies at 1100–1300 metres above sea level and has been inhabited for 7000 years. Wild reindeer have roamed here for 10,000 years, and today there are still 8–10000 animals.

In the past, many farms had summer mountain pastures and rights to graze, hunt and fish up here. For many, Hardangervidda meant survival itself. People hunted reindeer, grouse and hare, fished for mountain trout and trapped predators such as wolf, fox and wolverine for their skins.

Today you can hike for days or weeks along marked trails – and perhaps meet a fox or a herd of wild reindeer.

Sysendammen & Sima Hydropower Plant

Up on the plateau lies Sysendammen, one of Europe’s largest rock-fill dams. It was built in 1980 and is regarded both as a ‘piece of engineering art’ and a tourist attraction. Water from Hardangervidda is collected here and channelled through tunnels to the Sima Hydropower Plant – one of the biggest in Europe. Hidden 700 metres inside the mountain, it powers hundreds of thousands of homes. Thanks to this, Eidfjord enjoys a strong, stable economy compared to many rural areas.

In one hour, the bus will return to take you back to Eidfjord.