62 Best Sights in The Western Fjords, Norway

Covering the mountains between the Sognefjord and Nordfjord, Jostedal Glacier is the largest in Europe. There are about 100 known routes for crossing Jostedal Glacier: if you want to hike it, you must have a qualified guide. Contact the Jostedalsbreen Glacier National Park Center. Getting to Jostedalsbreen Glacier is easiest by car: from Solvorn, head north on Route 55 to Route 604. Glacier Express buses run in the summer months.

Housed in an eye-catching building topped by a graceful turret---it opened as Swan Pharmacy in 1907---the Jugendstilsenteret tells the story of how Ålesund became the Art Nouveau capital of the country. After the great fire of 1904 left a huge swath of the population homeless, city planners had to rebuild quickly. Europe happened to be in the middle of a love affair with Art Nouveau architecture, so the city ended up with a blend of this ornate style with the occasional Viking flourish. The KUBE Art Museum is part of the same complex.

One of Kristiansund's most beaten hiking paths is to this well-preserved World War II submarine base and fortress built by German forces. At its height, it housed 5,000 soldiers, who left several bunkers, a battery of artillery guns, and a submarine, all of which are visitable today. Tours and exhibits tell the fort's story. The pristine setting among wooded seaside hills is the second highlight and attracts many locals for fishing and barbecues.

Named for a friendly cartoon fox, this theme park has a very popular water park, along with ziplines, playgrounds, and plenty of other diversions for the kids.

This impressive series of 21 hairpin turns takes you from Myrdal to Flåm. It's popular among hikers and cyclists, who are rewarded with spectacular views of the Kjosfossen Waterfall. Most of the trail is made up of gravel and rocks. To get to the trailhead, follow the train tracks out of Myrdal.

Suitable for families and experienced hikers alike, this trail takes between two- and four hours, depending on which particular route you choose. Along the way there is information about the local flora and fauna, and from the highest point you get a nice view of the village.

With exhibits that will interest the whole family, this nature center is spread over three floors of a gorgeous glass-and-steel building. Whether you're interested in climate, nature, or the environment, there's plenty to keep you occupied. Don't miss the bird's-eye view of Norway in Ivo Caprino's 20-minute film Fjord Fjell Foss, meaning Fjord, Mountain, Waterfall.

Playwright Henrik Ibsen is said to have been inspired by the natural beauty around Hellesylt, and the main exhibit in this gallery contains wooden carvings inspired by his play Peer Gynt. It's also a visitor center, with information about the nature in the area.

In the spectacular Nærøyfjorden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of steep mountains and waterfalls that forms a beautiful valley, drivers must navigate 13 hairpin turns on Stalheimskleiva, a section of road not quite a mile in length, to reach this hotel. An inspiration to painters and other artists, Stalheim Hotel is furnished with a spectacular collection of Scandinavian furniture and antiques, and it also has a large collection of buildings dating back from the 16th and 17th centuries.

This open-air museum focuses on the traditions and history of the people who make their home on the Norwegian coast. A five-minute drive from Ålesund, it's spread over 50 acres and consists of 55 well-kept buildings ranging from cow sheds to schoolhouses, giving insight into people's lives in this region.

Near the Hellesyltfossen, this church is said to have been visited by Henrik Ibsen during his trip to Hellesylt in 1862. The white wooden structure was completed in 1859.

This rock formation about 3,600 feet above sea level is one of the most breathtaking sights in Norway. From the tip of a huge sliver of stone jutting out from the mountain you can gaze down at the valley and fjord below. The hike itself takes around 10 to 12 hours, and many people find that they underestimated the level of fitness and endurance needed to make the trip. Always check weather conditions a few days ahead of time, then again the morning of the hike. The main starting point is at P2 in Skjeggedal, but it is also possible to start from P3 Mågelitopp (saving two or three hours). From Odda there are shuttle buses to P2, and between P2 and P3 there is a smaller shuttle operating in the summer season. There is parking at both P2 and P3, the latter with more limited spaces that should be booked in advance.

From Stalheim it's not a long drive to Tvinde, a name derived from the Norwegian word for two. En route, you'll pass the villages of Oppheim and Vinje, as well as Oppheim Lake. But the best waterfall of this area is Tvindefossen, which has a 152-meter (500-feet) drop down steep stone cliffs. Nearby is the town of Voss, the bottling source of one of the world's most expensive waters.

Dating back to 1859, this cross-shape house of worship is worth seeing for its architecture alone. It was designed by Danish-Norwegian architect Hans Ditlev Franciscus von Linstow, who is most famous for being the man behind the Norwegian Royal Palace in Oslo.

The village of Undredal, home to 80 humans and 500 goats, also has Norway's smallest stave church, which has probably built in 1147.

One of three working farms left in Geiranger, Westerås Farm is located just a few miles from the village. The farm itself is beautifully situated along the hillside above the fjord and offers stunning views. There is a simple restaurant in the barn where you can have a bite during your visit, and you can also pick up some local produce. You can stay here for a night or three, in an apartment or a cabin.