We drove the Norwegian fjords in July with Leo and Isla, and honestly, it was one of those trips where the photos don't even come close to capturing the reality. Driving around hairpin bends with vertical cliff faces plunging into impossibly blue water, waterfalls cascading from heights that make you dizzy, and mountains that seem to go on forever--it's ridiculously spectacular.
It's also ridiculously expensive. But we'll get to that.
Norway has over a thousand fjords, which is both brilliant and overwhelming when you're trying to plan a trip. We spent three weeks navigating which ones were worth the effort (and the Norwegian prices), and I'm going to save you the research time. Here are the Norwegian fjords that absolutely deliver, plus the practical stuff about costs, timing, and what to expect when you've got kids in tow.
Right, quick geography lesson because it helps make sense of what you're looking at. Fjords are basically valleys that were carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age, then flooded by seawater when the glaciers retreated. That's why they're so dramatically deep and steep-sided--we're talking thousands of metres of rock face rising straight out of the water.
The Norwegian fjords are particularly stunning because they're so well-preserved and accessible. You get this combination of towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, tiny villages clinging to the shoreline, and water that's often mirror-calm and absurdly clear. It's proper dramatic landscape stuff, the kind that makes even the kids look up from their tablets.
Geirangerfjord is the poster child for Norwegian fjords, and it earns that status. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site, and driving down into Geiranger village via the Ørnevegen (Eagle Road) is one of those moments where everyone in the car goes quiet because the view is just absurd.
The fjord itself is relatively short--about 15 kilometres--but it's packed with waterfalls. The Seven Sisters waterfall is the famous one, with seven separate streams plunging down the mountainside. Across the fjord is the Suitor waterfall, and according to local legend, the Suitor is trying to woo the Sisters. Leo thought this was hilarious.
We did the ferry from Geiranger to Hellesylt, which takes about an hour and costs around 300 NOK for a car plus passengers. It's worth every krone--you get right up close to the waterfalls, and the scale of everything becomes properly apparent. Isla spent the entire journey hanging over the railing pointing at waterfalls.
Family tip: The viewing point at Dalsnibba (1,500 metres above sea level) offers mental views over Geirangerfjord. There's a toll road (190 NOK per car in 2024), but it's worth it. The road is well-maintained, though the drop-offs are significant. Not one for those with serious vertigo.
Nærøyfjord shares UNESCO status with Geirangerfjord, but it's narrower, more intimate, and less crowded. At its narrowest point, it's only 250 metres wide, with mountains rising 1,700 metres on either side. The scale is bonkers.
We kayaked part of Nærøyfjord from Gudvangen, which was brilliant with the kids. The water is usually calm in summer, and paddling beneath those cliff faces gives you a completely different perspective. Leo loved spotting waterfalls and abandoned farms clinging to impossibly steep slopes. We used a local operator who provided all gear and were very relaxed about kids--around 800 NOK per adult, kids cheaper.
The drive to Gudvangen itself is spectacular, especially if you come via the Stalheimskleiva road--one of the steepest roads in Northern Europe with 13 hairpin bends. I drove it in July and my knuckles were white. Sophie filmed the whole thing, which was not helpful.
Sognefjord is the big one--Norway's longest and deepest fjord, stretching over 200 kilometres inland and reaching depths of 1,300 metres. It's so large that it has multiple arms and branches, each worth exploring.
We based ourselves in Balestrand for a few days, which worked brilliantly with kids. It's a proper town with shops, restaurants, and a nice shoreline for the kids to mess about on. From there, you can explore different parts of the fjord without having to pack up and move constantly.
The Flåm Railway is here, and despite being a total tourist trap with prices to match, it's genuinely spectacular. The 20-kilometre journey climbs from sea level to 867 metres through 20 tunnels, past waterfalls, and around impossible gradients. It takes about an hour, costs around 590 NOK per adult (kids cheaper), and Leo declared it "actually worth it," which is high praise.
We also took a cruise from Flåm through Aurlandsfjord and into Nærøyfjord. It's a popular route (book ahead in summer), but the views make the tourist crowds bearable. Around 400 NOK per adult for the two-hour cruise.
Hardangerfjord is slightly different--it's famous for its fruit orchards, particularly apple and cherry trees that bloom spectacularly in May. We visited in July and still found the landscape noticeably greener and more pastoral than the more dramatic fjords.
The Hardanger Bridge is worth seeing--it's one of the longest suspension bridges in the world and offers ridiculous views. The Vøringsfossen waterfall is nearby, dropping 182 metres into the Måbødalen gorge. There's a new viewing platform that juts out over the canyon--properly dramatic and free to visit.
We stayed in a cabin near Lofthus, which gave us easy access to both the fjord and nearby hiking trails. The area feels less touristy than Geiranger or Flåm, which was nice. More space, fewer cruise ship crowds.
Lysefjord is less about the fjord itself and more about Preikestolen--Pulpit Rock. This flat-topped cliff juts out 604 metres above Lysefjord, and the hike up is one of Norway's most popular walks for good reason.
The hike is about 8 kilometres round trip and takes 4-5 hours with kids. It's steep in sections--proper rock scrambling in parts--but Leo and Isla managed it fine with regular snack breaks. We started early (7 AM in July) to avoid the worst crowds and caught the sunrise from the top, which was magical.
Parking costs 250 NOK per day, which feels cheeky for a carpark, but that's Norway. There are toilet facilities at the base, and the trail is well-marked. The edge of Pulpit Rock has no barriers, which made Sophie nervous, but the kids were sensible about it.
The view from the top--looking straight down 604 metres to the fjord--is properly spectacular. It's one of those places where photos look fake because the scale is so extreme.
We went in July, which is peak season for good reasons. The weather is warmest (15-25°C typically), the days are incredibly long (nearly 24-hour daylight in northern areas), and all tourist facilities are fully operational. Ferries run frequently, mountain roads are open, and accommodation is plentiful.
The downside is crowds and prices. Popular viewpoints get busy, especially when cruise ships are in port. Accommodation books up months in advance, and everything costs even more than usual.
June and August are slightly quieter but still excellent. May and September offer cheaper prices and fewer crowds, but weather becomes less reliable and some mountain roads may still be closed. We've heard May is spectacular if you want to see the fruit trees blooming in Hardangerfjord.
Winter fjord trips are possible but completely different--expect short days, snow, and many roads closed. It's more about northern lights and winter activities than fjord sightseeing.
We drove the whole route, which gave us maximum flexibility with kids. You need a car to properly explore--public transport exists but is limited in rural areas. The roads are generally excellent, though narrow and twisting in places.
Key routes we drove:
Ferries are part of fjord driving--you'll use them regularly as they're the quickest way across certain stretches. Most cost 100-300 NOK per car and run frequently in summer. No advance booking needed for most routes, just turn up and queue.
Tunnels are everywhere--some are incredibly long (20+ kilometres) and toll roads. Keep coins or a credit card handy for automated toll stations.
Right, let's talk money because Norway is expensive. Properly expensive. We budgeted carefully and it still hurt.
Approximate daily costs for a family of four:
We saved money by:
A supermarket dinner for four cost around 200 NOK. A restaurant meal was 800-1,200 NOK. The price difference makes self-catering pretty much essential unless you're on a serious budget.
Bergen is the obvious starting point for most fjord trips. It's Norway's second-largest city, has an international airport, and sits at the gateway to the fjords. The historic Bryggen waterfront is UNESCO-listed and worth a wander, though it's touristy. We spent two nights there at the start and end of our trip.
For the fjords themselves, we moved between smaller bases:
Cabins (hytte in Norwegian) are brilliant with kids--space, kitchen facilities, and often stunning locations. Book well ahead for summer. We used Booking.com and Airbnb, with prices typically 1,500-2,500 NOK per night for a four-person cabin.
Weather: Even in summer, bring layers. It can be 20°C and sunny in the valley, then 8°C and windy at a mountain viewpoint. We learned this the hard way at Dalsnibba when Isla started shivering in her T-shirt.
Midges: In July and August, particularly near water, midges can be annoying. Bring insect repellent. The locals use Midgesprays or MyggA, which work better than British products.
Midnight sun: The light summer nights are brilliant but murder for kids' sleep routines. Bring blackout blinds or eye masks. Leo was still bouncing at 11 PM because it was bright outside.
Hiking with kids: Most popular trails are well-maintained but still proper mountain hiking. Bring decent footwear, plenty of snacks, and rain gear. Leo and Isla are experienced hikers and still found some sections challenging.
Swimming: The fjord water is cold--like 12-15°C even in summer. The kids swam briefly but didn't last long. Some hotels have heated pools, which were much more popular.
Look, I won't lie--Norway hurts the bank account. We spent more in three weeks than we typically spend on longer trips to cheaper countries. But the Norwegian fjords deliver something genuinely special that you can't really replicate elsewhere.
The landscape is absurdly beautiful, the infrastructure is excellent, it's incredibly safe for families, and there's something quite brilliant about watching your kids' faces when they see a waterfall dropping a thousand metres or stand at the edge of Pulpit Rock. Those moments stick with them.
Would we go back? Absolutely, but we'd budget even more carefully and probably aim for June or late August to avoid peak season prices. The fjords aren't going anywhere, and they're spectacular enough to justify the expense--just once you've saved up properly.
If you're considering other stunning European destinations, check out our guides on Corsica vs Sardinia for Mediterranean island beauty or the best places to visit in Italy in summer for more budget-friendly spectacular scenery.
The Norwegian fjords are expensive, crowded in peak season, and require proper planning. They're also stunningly beautiful, brilliantly accessible, and offer some of the most dramatic landscapes in Europe. Just bring a very large budget and prepare for some seriously spectacular views.
