70 Best Sights in The Western Fjords, Norway

In the village of Ornes, this beautiful stave church is one of the oldest in Norway. It's believed to have been completed in 1132 (although some say 1140). Take the daily 20-minute ferry ride from Solvorn to get here.

This famous viewpoint is a 40-minute drive from Balestrand, on the Gaularfjellet scenic route. The viewing platform offers spectacular views of the valley and mountains surrounding it, in addition to the impressive hairpin turns below.

This beautiful stone church was built in 1202 and has since been nicknamed Sognedomen, meaning the "Sogn Cathedral." This is the largest stone church in the area and well worth a visit.

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.

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.

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.

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

These impressive caves are composed of anorthosite, a type of marble that contains both gold and aluminum. A stone bar and restaurant serve refreshments. The caves are just off the E16 to Voss, about 6 km from Gudvangen. Only prebooked groups can visit.