13 Best Things To Do In Geiranger + 1 Day Itinerary

Looking for the best things to do in Geiranger?

We recently spent a month exploring Norway on a road trip with our two young kids. As part of our road trip we spent a week discovering some of Norway’s fjords. This took us to the charming village of Geiranger where we spent a few days enjoying the surrounding area. During our time there we tried some of the great things to do in Geiranger

The main attraction to visiting Geiranger is obviously the chance to visit the world-famous fjord called Geirangerfjord. It is regularly voted as one of Norway’s most beautiful fjords. The Geirangerfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; you’ll soon see why when you visit it. However, as we experienced on our visit to Geiranger, there is so much more to the surrounding area. The list of things includes hiking to impressive waterfalls, scaling high mountains with great views, exciting drives up hairpin bends and exploring mountain farms.

We’ve put together our list of the best things to do in Geiranger to share with you. If an attraction has a ⭐T&T⭐ icon next to it, this means it’s been tried and tested by us and our kids. Knowing how precious your time is, we’ve also put together a few 1 day itinerary ideas. Hopefully they help to inspire you for planning your visit to Geiranger.

Best Things To Do In Geiranger – Explore The Geirangerfjord

1. Geirangerfjord by boat ⭐T&T⭐

The best way to appreciate the Geirangerfjord (which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List) is to view it from the water from one of the many boat tours. This way you can get an appreciation of how high the rock walls are. You’ll also have a chance to see the impressive waterfalls and mountain farms that can only be seen by boat. There are several great options to pick from.

A mum wearing her baby on her in a baby carrier is stood next to her husband who is holding their 3 year old son. They are on the car ferry having a photo take in front of a waterfall in Geirgangerfjord which is one of the best things to do in Geiranger.

Scenic fjord cruise

You’ll get to ride a small sightseeing boat to explore Geirangerfjord with tours lasting from 60 minutes. A perfect and relaxing way to see Geirangerfjord.

Rib boat

This is a much smaller and faster boat that will get you closer to the fjord walls. It’s an exciting way to explore the Geirangerfjord as you’ll get closer to the rocks and the impressive waterfalls. We’d have loved to have given it a go. However, there’s a minimum age of 3 years old and we had our 1-year-old with us. We’ll leave it on our bucket list for next time!

Car ferry ⭐T&T⭐

Totally random, but yes, you can get a car ferry cruise along the fjord. The car ferry runs from Gerianger village to Helleslyt. It is the best way to combine a boat trip along the Geirangerfjord as part of a road trip.

Because we’d driven into the village of Geiranger we decided that we’d travel on the car ferry to Hellesylt. This was such a cool way to see the fjord. There’s even a QR code that you can scan when you board and listen to an audio tour as the ferry cruises along.

Fun fact: The impressive waterfalls in the Geirangerfjord all have cool names such as the Bridal Veil and Seven Sisters waterfall.

2. Explore the fjord by kayak ⭐T&T⭐

We love kayaking together at home. So we knew that we’d want to kayak a fjord or two in Norway. Kayaking gives you such a different perspective when you’re in the water at sea level and looking up the huge rock walls. We had our own kayak with us so we just headed out for a short kayak with our boys from the beach. We did the same from Flam beach when we were there and in Olden as it’s one of the best activities we did in the fjords.

The back of the head of a boy sat in the front of a kayak. In the distance and all around him is the Geirangerfjord. Kayaing in Geiranger is one of the best things to do there.

If you fancy exploring the fjord by kayak some great tours leave from Geiranger village that last around 2.5 hours.

Top tip: Book all of your tours and excursions in advance. Geiranger is very popular in the summer with visitors and the tours get booked up early.

3. Tour Geiranger by small e-car

These small Renault Twizzle cars looked like such a fun way to explore Geiranger. They’re a guided tour using GPS that allows you to explore at your own pace. We had a look online and the tours start from 1 hour upwards.

It’s super handy to be in such a compact car to go up to the viewing points. That’s because at ones such as Ørnesvingen viewpoint the parking can be tight. The fun thing is that you’ll still be able to enjoy the thrill of drive such as the one up the Eagle Road with its hairpin bends.

Top tip: A great way to get around Geiranger is to take the hop-on hop-off bus. It will take you from the cruise port up to the Norwegian Fjord Centre, Westerås Farm and Flydalsjuvet Viewpoint.

Best Things To Do In Geiranger – Enjoy The View Points

There are loads of great viewing platforms in Geiranger that offer beautiful views over the surrounding mountains. From the vantage point of the viewing platforms, you can get some amazing panoramic views along the Giergangerfjord.

Our boys love being up high and taking in the view. We think it gives them a great perspective of where they are and also how immense nature is. Unfortunately, our photos don’t do the panoramic views justice because we had a lot of cloud cover on the days that we were in Geiranger.

4. Drive the hairpins bends to Ørnesvingen viewpoint ⭐T&T⭐

Ørnesvingen – Eagle Road – is a steep stretch of road with hairpin bends that rises out of Geiranger village. At the top of the road is the Ørnevegen vantage point. It’s the perfect place if you want a fantastic view over the village of Geiranger and then out along the Geirangerfjord. We enjoyed the scenic drive up because the hairpin road gives you added excitement!

View from up high of the Geirangerfjord. There is the water running through the fjord. And on the fjord walls are the lush green plants. The view is taken from Eagle Road.

Top tip: Parking is limited so it can be difficult to find a spot. You should try to go earlier or later in the day to avoid the busy times, especially if you’re in a motorhome.

5. Walk the Geiranger Skywalk at Dalsnibba ⭐T&T⭐

This incredible viewpoint called Geiranger Skywalk is “Europe’s highest fjord views from a road”. It can be found 1,500m high on Dalsnibba mountain and has some of the best views around. Looking out over this viewpoint isn’t for the fainthearted because it’s made up of an iron grid floor with a glass guard rail. Parts of the platform are over 500m off of the ground!

A man is stood holding his baby son in his arms and they are looking through the view finder of a large set of binoculars that you find at tourist attractions. They are looking into the distance past a wire fence. Stood on the fence is a 3 year old boy who is looking at the man and baby and laughing. In the background is a blanket of cloud over Geirangerfjord. They are at the Geiranger Skywalk which is the best thing to do in Geiranger for panoramic views.

We loved it up there as there was some snow so we had a snowball fight. Plust we got to see a fjord with a blanket of clouds in it, which looked magical. On a clearer day, you can see the surrounding mountains and for miles along the Gierangerfjord!

The skywalk is free to access. However, you need to pay a small toll fee per car to access the road there.

6. Enjoy the Flydalsjuvet viewpoint ⭐T&T⭐

The Flydalsjuvet viewpoint is about 4km out of Geiranger village in the direction of Grotli. You’ll pass it on the way to Geiranger Skywalk. It’s split over two levels which are connected by a walkway. There’s a lot more parking at the lower level which is where we stopped.

The great thing that we liked about this viewpoint is that you can look at the Geirangerfjord and over on the right you can see Ørnevegen – Eagle Road. It’s cool because you can see the hairpin bends which is cool if you’ve already been to that viewpoint.

A mum is smiling at the camera and holding her three year old son in her arms. She's holding onto a metal railing and behind her is the Geirangerfjord in Norway. They are stood at the Flydalsjuvet viewpoint.

Top tip: There are some free toilets at the lower level of Flydalsjuvet viewpoint if you need them.

Best Things To Do In Geiranger – Hikes

There are some incredible walks and hikes to do that start from the village of Geiranger. The area has numerous waterfalls to enjoy as you hike, which is why, unsurprisingly, the two most popular hikes involve waterfalls.

7. Discover the village waterfall trail ⭐T&T⭐

This short waterfall hike is perfect if you’re short of time, don’t want to walk too far, or need an easy short hike. It takes you from Geiranger village up 327 steps to the Norwegian Fjord Centre. Along the way, you’ll get to enjoy the rushing water from the bottom of the Storsæterfossen waterfall as it runs into the fjord. This short walk is great because there are lots of views to take in and enjoy, plus you can stop and rest at any point.

A woman in her raincoat is stood smiling at the camera as she takes a selfie. Behind her are some waterfalls. She is in Geiranger on the waterfall trail which is an easy hike.

I took off for this hike on my own whilst the boys play in the play ground!

Top tip: It you’re travelling with kids then there’s a great playground at the end of the trail for your kids to enjoy.

8. Hike up and walk behind the Storseterfossen Waterfall ⭐T&T⭐

This fantastic hike takes you through the Fosseråsa National Park up to Storseterfossen Waterfall. Once you’re at the top of the waterfall you can take some steps to walk down and behind waterfall which is incredible (and noisy!). This was one of the highlights of our visit to Geiranger!

You can hike all the way up from Geiranger village to the waterfall which takes about 3 hours for the round trip. Or you can, like us, drive to Vesterås Farm which is halfway along the hike and walk the 1.5 hour round trip from there. There’s plenty of paid parking, plus a farm shop and goats to pet.

A mum and dad are stood in their raincoats and hiking gear. The mum is holding the baby in a blue waterproof and next to the dad is their three year old boy. They are all stood on rocks under a waterfall as they are behind the waterfall and it's falling behind them. This is a waterfall hike in Geiranger and one of the best things to do there.

This was one of our highlights and is one of the best things to do in Geiranger if you have the time. Cam, our 3-year-old, was amazed at how he could walk behind the waterfall. He thought it was incredible (as did we!).

9. Skageflå mountain farm hike and boat trip

Skageflå is one of the abandoned farms that hide along the rock walls of the Geirangerfjord. On a fjord cruise you’ll spot lots of these mountain farms, and probably think to yourself, how on earth did they get there? And, what was life like at the end of the rock?

At one point in history Skageflå was one of the wealthiest farms in the Geiranger area. If you want to head up for one of the most best views in Geirangerfjord then the easiest way to get there is to take a boat tour to Skagehola and from there it is a 45 minute hike up to Skageflå. At the top you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the the Seven Sisters waterfall.

Best Things To Do In Geiranger – Attractions and Museums

10. Visit the artisan chocolate factory ⭐T&T⭐

We love chocolate – it’s a great motivator and reward for us and the boys! There’s a really cool artisan chocolate shop called Geiranger Sjokolade. It’s in a converted boat house in Geiranger village between the souvenir shops. They also have a cafe so you can order a hot chocolate whilst also sampling some of their tasty chocolate – win win! And of course, at the end of your visit you can buy some to take away with you from their gift shop!

The outside of a brown boat house in Geiranger that has now been turned into a cafe serving chocolate. There is a blu umbrella and some metal garden furniture outside that people can use to eat and drink at the cafe. This is in Geiranger.

11. Visit the Norwegian Fjord Centre ⭐T&T⭐

We aren’t usually into museums – however, we decided to pop into the Norwegian Fjord Centre and give it a go. Our boys really enjoyed it, especially because it had a dedicated kids area. There are loads of interactive displays and films that show you how the fjords were formed as well as information on the current plants and animals that call it home. If you have an hour to spare then it’s definitely worth taking a look.

A large stone, wood and glass building that is a fjord museum in Geiranger in Norway.

12. Visit a local mountain farm – Westerås Farm ⭐T&T⭐

We stopped by the Vesterås or Westerås Farm on our way to the Storseterfossen Waterfall hike. You can get there on foot from Geiranger village in about 45 minutes and you’ll have some amazing views over Geirangerfjord as you hike, or you can drive up like we did.

It’s one of the only mountain farms in the area that is still in operation today which has sheep, goats and llamas – it’s the perfect place to head if your kids love animals! There’s also a lovely cafe in a barn dating back to 1603 that serves lunches and amazing cakes!

13. Get an adrenaline rush at Geiranger Nature Park

There is a new zipline and via ferrata centre at the Geiranger Nature Park which is above the Norwegian Fjord Centre. The ziplines and via ferrata take you down along the waterfall that runs thorough Geirganger, it looked really well laid out and a fun way to spend an hour if you love a bit of adrenaline.

We (by that I mean Carl and I) are big fans of ziplines, and pre-kids would do them every country we travelled too – however with the boys we’ve put them on hold for the time being as they’re not practical with a baby in tow. We will be back into ziplining action when they’re both older enough to join us, so we’ll have to come back to Geiranger to give this a go!

A woman, her boyfriend and their two young kids are stood on top of a rock. They are up so high that behind them is a blanket of cloud as they have gone above the cloud. They are at the Geiranger skywalk which is one of the best things to do in the village.

One Day Itinerary In Geiranger – A Few Ideas

Based on the few days that we spend enjoying beautiful Geiranger we thought it would be helpful to share a few 1 day itinerary ideas. Especially if you’re visiting on one of the cruise ships and have limited time. We’ve assumed you’ll have 8 hours in the cruise port and have put the below together for you.

1 Day Itinerary in Geiranger – Explore Geiranger Village

Morning – Rent an eCar and head to Ørnesvingen viewpoint (1.5 hours)
Lunchtime – Visit Geiranger Sjokolade and people watch at the cruise port (1.5 hours)
Afternoon – Walk up the waterfall trail to the Norwegian Fjord Centre to learn more about the fjords and then back to the village (3 hours)

1 Day Itinerary in Geiranger – Families

Morning – Enjoy a rib boat along the Geirangerfjord to get up close to the incredible rock walls

Lunchtime – Walk up the waterfall trail to the Norwegian Fjord Centre, there’s a great play area there and space for kids to run around

Afternoon – Take a ride on the hop-on hop-off bus which takes you from the Norwegian Fjord Centre to Westerås Farm and Flydalsjuvet Viewpoint then back to the Geiranger cruise port.

1 Day Itinerary in Geiranger – For Adventure Seekers

Morning – Kayak in Geirangerfjord (2.5 hours)
Lunchtime – Walk up the waterfall trail to the Geiranger Nature Park hit the ziplines and then head back to the village (3 hours)
Afternoon – Pick up an eCar to drive to the Geiranger Skywalk (2 hours)

How Do You Get To Geiranger?

By cruise ship

One of the most popular ways to visit Geiranger is on one of the many cruise ships that visit during the summer months on their port stop There is a fantastic cruise port there which has a SeaWalk Pier which is “driven” to the ship whilst it remains at sea. This enables all of the cruise passengers to walk off of the ship and into the village without the village building a large permanent ship dock.

Driving the Trollstigen Tourist Road

This is an incredible national scenic route that takes you from Åndalsnes in north-western Norway all the way to Geiranger village, the perfect addition to any road trip! The pinnacle of the journey is the drive along the Trollstigen “trolls ladder” road. Starting from 850m high there are 11 hairpin bends on a 10% gradient – making this an incredible and scenic drive.

Sadly this year, 2024, there was a road slide on the Trollstigen which meant that it was closed this summer so we had to drive around it. However, as we’ve said before, we’ll be back!

Can You Do A Day Trip to Geiranger From Oslo Or Bergen

Unfortunately, both Oslo and Bergen are a bit too far south to be suitable for a day trip. If you’re interested in visiting the a fjord as well as some cities then an option is to take the Norway In A Nutshell Tour. It starts in Bergen where there’s loads to do and then passes through Flåm and onto Oslo. You can then leave Norway by flying out of Oslo.

You can get most of the main Olso attractions done in one day. And, if you’re travelling to Oslo with kids, then there are loads of fun things to do there with them. We’d highly recommend visiting Oslo!

Final Thoughts On Things To Do In Geiranger

We had an amazing few days in Geiranger, as it really is an incredible village set within the world-famous fjord of Geirangerfjord. There are so many fun and incredibly cool things to do there, in fact, it had so much more to it that we’d read about which made it an understated highlight of our trip.