Cruise port guide · Western Norway
A village at the very end of the Hardangerfjord, and Norway's most visited waterfall up the road.
Eidfjord sits at the very inner end of the Hardangerfjord, where the fjord finally runs out of water. The village is tiny and you dock right in the middle of it. The main event is up the valley, where the Vøringsfossen waterfall plunges off the edge of the Hardangervidda plateau, and where you can now walk on a bridge of steps right over the drop.
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up the valley to the Vøringsfossen waterfall
the year the old stone church in the village was built
main span of the Hardanger Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in Norway
the year the step bridge over Vøringsfossen fully opened
The waterfall, the step bridge over the gorge and the road up through the valley, with someone else doing the hairpins. The easiest way to fit it into a port day.
Find a waterfall tripYou sailed in on the Hardangerfjord, but a smaller boat gets you close to the waterfalls and fruit farms along the shore.
See the boat tripsYour ship's daily programme tells you.
Walk · 3 min to the centre
Right in the village centre, with the tourist information on the quay. Everything in the village is a few minutes' walk.
Time in port, minus the trip into town and back, and 30 minutes' margin before all aboard.
| Quay | 4 h stop | 6 h stop | 8 h stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eidfjord cruise quay | 3h 24m | 5h 24m | 7h 24m |
About 3 h of sightseeing. Works from every quay.
About 5 h of sightseeing. Works from every quay.
About 6 h of sightseeing. Works from every quay.
About 20 km up the road towards Oslo, where the river drops off the edge of the mountain plateau into a deep gorge. It has long been Norway's most visited natural attraction. New viewpoints and a step bridge over the falls opened fully in September 2024, so you can stand on the stairs with the water roaring underneath.
Local tip
Bring a rain jacket. On a sunny day the spray still gets you.
About 7 km up the same valley, a nature centre about the Hardangervidda plateau, one of the largest mountain plateaus in Europe. A good stop on the way to or from the waterfall, and a good plan B if it's pouring.
The yellow walking route from the village takes 75 to 90 minutes and passes the Hæreid burial ground, the largest prehistoric burial ground in Western Norway, and the Hodna viewpoint over the fjord.
A short wander round the village. The old stone church of St Jacob dates from 1309. It's usually closed, but it's the oldest thing in sight, and that's saying something here.
About 12 km away, a farm perched on a ledge high above the fjord, reached by a narrow mountain road. The view down is the reason to go. Only by tour or taxi, and only if you're comfortable with heights.
Many are made for cruise passengers and leave from the quay. Check the return time.
Find a waterfall tripShort trips from the village quay. Pick one that's back with time to spare.
See the boat tripsValleys, farms and viewpoints. Read the length of each one against your time in port.
See the guided toursMost shops in Norway close on Sundays and public holidays. Museums, cafés and restaurants in the centre usually stay open, often with shorter hours. Here are the public holidays for the next twelve months:
The village and the walks are easy on your own. For Vøringsfossen you need transport up the valley, and there isn't much of it on a cruise day, so book a tour or take the ship's excursion.
Last checked November 2026. Sources: Cruise Norway, Cruise Destination Hardangerfjord 2026.