Welcome to the kingdom of waterfalls

Hardanger has some of Norway’s most visited waterfalls, spread across the region within 1–2.5 hours’ drive from Bergen. Steinsdalsfossen near Norheimsund is the closest, about 1 hour from Bergen along the main road. Vøringsfossen near Eidfjord is roughly 2 hours away and is Norway’s most famous waterfall, with a total drop of 182 metres. Låtefoss in Oddadalen is about 2 hours from Bergen via Odda. The four waterfalls of Husedalen valley above Kinsarvik are around 1.5 hours away. Most are located along the Norwegian Scenic Routes Hardanger and Hardangervidda, making them easy to combine on a road trip through the region.

Vøringsfossen near Eidfjord is Norway's most famous waterfall, with a total drop of 182 metres from the Hardangervidda plateau into the Måbødalen gorge. Take Road 7 east through the Hardanger region — the turn-off for Fossli Hotel and the viewpoints is signposted from Road 7. A footbridge crosses the river just above the falls, and a trail leads down to Fossatromma, where a new car park with toilets and EV charging opened in September 2024. The car park and facilities are open approximately 1 April–31 October (subject to snow). Viewpoints, the bridge, and parts of the trail are closed in winter. Note that Vøringsfossen is partially regulated by the Sima hydropower plant, which can affect water flow at certain times.

Yes — at Steinsdalsfossen near Norheimsund, a paved path takes you safely behind the 50-metre waterfall without getting wet. Entry is free, the site is open year-round, and the path is partly accessible to wheelchair users. It is one of the most visited waterfalls in Norway, and a natural first stop if you are arriving from Bergen.

The Husedalen valley above Kinsarvik leads past four waterfalls in succession — Tveitafossen, Nyastølsfossen, Nykkjesøyfossen and Søtefossen — on a well-marked trail up towards the Hardangervidda plateau. The trail is 5 km one way with 700 metres of elevation gain, rated red (demanding), with sections that are steep and slippery when wet. A full return trip to the top waterfall takes 5–6 hours. It is not a beginner hike, but you can turn back after the first two waterfalls for a shorter, less strenuous outing of around 3 hours. The season runs roughly May through October, parking at the trailhead is free, and Shuttlebus Hardanger offers transport to and from the start. Find details at hardangerfjord.com.

Låtefoss in Oddadalen is a twin waterfall — two parallel streams plunging 165 metres down the same mountainside, converging beneath a stone-arch bridge built in 1859. It sits directly beside Road 13, about 15 minutes from Odda, is free to visit and open year-round. The car park is small and can fill up on busy summer days. A historic cobblestone path south of the bridge leads up to a viewpoint above the falls. Låtefoss lies in Fossanes valley, a stretch of Road 13 lined with several additional waterfalls — making the whole valley worth driving slowly through.

Steinsdalsfossen, Vøringsfossen and Låtefoss are all accessible without a hike — you park and walk a short, flat distance to the viewpoints. Furebergsfossen in Mauranger is even more immediate: the road runs directly past the base of the waterfall. If you want waterfalls with minimal effort, these four make a good driving route through the region.

Late April through early July is when the waterfalls are at their most powerful, fed by snowmelt from the Hardangervidda plateau and the surrounding mountains. May is particularly impressive — the air fills with roaring sound and mist, and cascades appear on almost every mountainside. Water levels drop somewhat in August, and autumn brings fresh surges after rainfall. Steinsdalsfossen and Låtefoss are open and accessible year-round.

Yes. From the water you reach waterfalls that are inaccessible from land, particularly inside Fyksesund — a narrow, roadless branch of the Hardangerfjord east of Norheimsund where cascades fall directly into the fjord from both sides. Several operators run RIB safaris into Fyksesund. You can find an overview of fjord experiences in Hardanger on hardangerfjord.com.

Several of the waterfalls are well suited to families and visitors with reduced mobility. Steinsdalsfossen has a flat, paved path and is partly accessible to wheelchair users. The viewpoint at Fossatromma by Vøringsfossen is accessible with pushchairs and wheelchairs, with toilets and EV charging on site. Låtefoss and Furebergsfossen are both right beside the road. The Husedalen hike is rated demanding and is better suited to children already comfortable with mountain trails.