The best waterfalls in Norway

If you type "Vøringsfossen Waterfall" into Google Maps and follow it blindly, there's a decent chance you'll end up standing in a car park in Eidfjord, looking at a cruise ship, a supermarket and a row of restaurants — and no waterfall in sight. We know this because it happened to us.

Vøringsfossen is one of Norway's most photographed natural landmarks, and for good reason. But it sits a fair way outside the village that shares its postcode, and the signage between the two can be confusing if you don't know what you're looking for. Here's what we learned getting there twice, once from the top and once from the bottom, plus the facts worth knowing before you go.

Wait, This Isn't the Waterfall

We saw the Seven Sisters from the cruise deck on the Geirangerfjord, and it's one of those things where you've looked at photos beforehand and they just don't prepare you. Seven waterfalls, side by side, coming straight off the cliff. The best spot to watch from is the right side of the deck as you go in — that's where the Seven Sisters are, and if you look across to the other side of the fjord at almost the same time, you'll catch the Suitor waterfall too. Thousand-metre cliffs, water that's somehow both green and blue, mist coming up off the falls half the time. It looks more dramatic in person than in any photo we took.

Getting There From Bergen

This is the part that actually takes planning, and I'd do it again the same way. There's a Vy bus, route 450, that leaves Bergen early — around 8am — and stops in Førde for about 40 minutes, which is enough for lunch. It gets into Grodås mid-afternoon, roughly 3pm, where you change onto the 180 to Hellesylt. If the timing lines up you can catch either the 5pm or the 6:30pm ferry from there across to Geiranger, and that crossing is where you pass the Seven Sisters up close — better than most of the bigger cruise ships manage, because the ferry runs right along that side of the fjord.

Early in the morning, we took the ferry to Utåker. Luckily, we caught the last departure—otherwise we would have had to wait another hour.

After arriving, we headed straight to today's highlight - Langfoss Waterfall. As the fifth-highest waterfall in Norway, Langfoss was once named one of CNN Travel's World's 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls, and it's definitely worth seeing.

Parking is very convenient, with car parks on both the north and south sides, both easy to find on Google Maps. Even though the waterfall is huge, parking wasn't a problem.

If Norway is nature’s grand art gallery, then Mardalsfossen is undoubtedly one of its crown jewels. It’s one of the tallest waterfalls in Europe, with a total drop of 705 meters and a main plunge of 358 meters. Standing at the base and looking up, you’re left completely speechless by its sheer scale.

I visited in August, during peak summer, when the water flow is at its strongest. Mardalsfossen is only released between June 20 and August 20 each year—outside of this period, the water is diverted for hydropower. So being able to see it in full force feels both lucky and almost ceremonial.

Getting there The waterfall is located in Møre og Romsdal county, about a 1.5-hour drive from Åndalsnes. The journey itself feels unreal, with scenery so beautiful it almost looks staged. Driving is highly recommended—you’ll pass through the Romsdalen Valley, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, lakes, and meadows. It honestly feels like being inside a cinematic landscape.

Norway | Hiking to Northern Europe’s Tallest Waterfall — Vettisfossen

Starting from the parking area, it’s a bit over 3 hours one way, with a total round-trip hiking time of about 5–6 hours—all worth it to witness the sheer power of Northern Europe’s tallest waterfall. The moment you stand beneath it, it’s nothing but pure awe.

The entire hike takes you through deep mountain valleys, dramatic cliffs, and lush forests. Along the way, the only sound is the gentle flow of water—hardly a trace of other people. The whole setting feels like something straight out of a wuxia novel, a hidden paradise where masters retreat to train in seclusion. If the West had a cultivation culture, these cliffs would probably be filled with hermit caves.

There's a stretch of road in western Norway where you can't really drive past without stopping, even if you only meant to glance at it on the way to somewhere else. That's Låtefossen. It sits right beside National Road 13 in the Odda Valley, often nicknamed Norway's "Valley of Waterfalls," and it has a habit of turning a quick drive-by into a twenty-minute detour.

What Makes This Waterfall Different

Most waterfalls give you one column of water. Låtefossen gives you two. Two separate streams tumble down the mountainside side by side, and by the time they reach the bottom they've merged into a single, thundering rush that passes directly under an old stone arch bridge. The total drop is about 165 metres, and because the falls sit so close to the road, you feel the spray on your face before you've even parked the car.

Don’t miss this waterfall when visiting Norway’s Hardangerfjord! Unlike many waterfalls that can only be admired from a distance, Steinsdalsfossen lets you walk right behind the cascading water along a gently paved path built into the mountainside. As the massive flow pours down from above and mist surrounds you, the atmosphere is absolutely magical.

Steinsdalsfossen is located near the village of Norheimsund in Kvam Municipality, Vestland County, and is one of the hidden gems of the Hardangerfjord region. Standing at around 46 metres tall, this waterfall is famous for its unique experience: visitors can walk along a path behind the waterfall and enjoy the spectacular view of Norheimsund village and the fjord without getting soaked — making it one of the most photogenic waterfalls in Norway.

The waterfall is created by the Fosselva River, with the strongest flow usually occurring between May and June during the snowmelt season. In the evening, colourful purple and blue lights illuminate the waterfall, adding a mysterious and enchanting atmosphere.

Skjervsfossen sits right on the Norwegian Scenic Route Hardanger. You will notice a pair of waterfalls next to each other, falling a combined 150 meters—so indeed, it’s quite remarkable, yet not enormous.

The area itself feels well thought-out: walking paths, stairs, viewing platforms, spots to rest, and even a pretty quirky restroom (more on that later). We began at the bottom, and it’s untamed—you can approach the water’s edge closely and experience the roar and spray, as if nature itself is showering you.

Starting from there, you can trek along a trail that twists along the waterfall all the way to the top. If walking’s not your thing, you can drive up the steep Skjerv hairpin bends and land at the upper viewing platform. Our driver left us at the parking lot, and going downhill from that point becomes somewhat challenging, but you could see rainbow views if the sun is shining. And honestly, you don’t need to hike down if you just want to see the waterfall from below—there’s an easy route for that.

Most waterfalls in Norway ask something of you. A hike, a ferry, a long drive down a fjord road with your knuckles white on the wheel. Kjosfossen doesn't ask for any of that. You buy a train ticket, you sit down, and about forty minutes later the carriage brakes, the doors open, and there it is — 225 metres of water crashing down a mountainside right next to the platform.

That's the trick of Kjosfossen. It's one of Norway's most visited natural attractions, and almost nobody who sees it had to work for the view.

Where It Sits, and Why the Train Matters