Voringsfossen Waterfall and Sky Bridge Sightseeing Tour Eidfjord

Eidfjord Village and the Inner Hardangerfjord

Eidfjord is a small village at the very end of Eidfjorden, the innermost arm of the Hardangerfjord. The Hardangerfjord is the second-longest fjord in Norway, stretching some 180 kilometres from the North Sea coast into the mountains, and Eidfjord sits where the fjord meets the steep walls of the Hardangervidda plateau. Cruise ships anchor or berth right beside the village, so you step ashore almost at the foot of the mountains.

The village itself is quiet, with a small church, a few shops and a green valley floor leading inland past the lake Eidfjordvatnet. Many visitors arrive asking about things to do in Eidfjord with only a few hours ashore, and this Eidfjord shore excursion answers that question neatly: the meeting point is a short walk from the pier and the drive to the waterfall begins straight away, leaving plenty of time to return to the ship.

The Måbødalen Valley Drive

From Eidfjord the road follows the valley inland before climbing into Måbødalen, a narrow canyon carved by the river Bjoreio as it drops from the high plateau towards the fjord. Rock walls rise hundreds of metres on both sides, waterfalls stream down the cliffs after rain and snowmelt, and the modern road climbs through a series of tunnels, including a spiral tunnel that turns inside the mountain to gain height.

Above the tunnels you can still see traces of the old Måbø path, the steep stone track once used by farmers and travellers moving between western and eastern Norway with their animals. The drive up takes around 30 minutes, and the scenery changes quickly from green farmland to bare rock and mountain birch. Sit on the right-hand side going up for the best views into the gorge.

Vøringsfossen Waterfall

Vøringsfossen is where the river Bjoreio leaves the edge of the Hardangervidda plateau and falls about 180 metres into Måbødalen, with a free fall of roughly 160 metres. It has been one of Norway's most visited natural sights since the first travellers came here in the nineteenth century, and the roar of the water and the cold spray carried up the canyon make it an experience you feel as much as see.

Is Vøringsfossen worth visiting? For anyone arriving in Eidfjord, it is the highlight of the area, and the viewpoints are open all year with no entrance tickets needed. The best time to visit Vøringsfossen is from late May to July, when snowmelt from the plateau gives the falls their greatest volume; later in summer the flow is calmer, but the canyon is just as impressive. Mornings and late afternoons usually bring softer light and fewer people.

The Sky Bridge and Viewing Platforms

Opened in 2020 as part of a national programme of scenic road architecture, the Vøringsfossen staircase bridge spans the gorge just above the waterfall. Its 99 steps climb gently across the canyon, linking the viewpoints on both sides, and from the middle you look straight down to where the river disappears over the edge. Glass and steel railings keep the views open while making the walk safe for all ages able to manage steps.

Around the bridge, a network of paths and platforms lets you see the falls from several angles, from the edge of the plateau down into the deep green canyon. With about one and a half hours of free time on this Vøringsfossen sky bridge walk, there is room to cross the bridge, visit two or three platforms, take photos and simply stand and watch the water before meeting the driver at the agreed time.

Hardangervidda, the Mountain Plateau Above the Falls

The waterfall marks the western edge of Hardangervidda, the largest mountain plateau in Europe and a national park famous for its wild reindeer, open moorland and lakes. Standing at the viewpoints, you can see how the flat, treeless upland suddenly breaks into the deep canyon below, a landscape shaped by glaciers during the last Ice Age.

Even on a short visit you notice the change in climate: it is often several degrees cooler at the top than in Eidfjord, wind can blow spray across the paths and fog can roll in within minutes. That is why we suggest a warm layer and good shoes even in July. If you are wondering how to get to Vøringsfossen without a car, this shuttle is the simplest answer, as public buses up the valley are infrequent and timed for local travel rather than cruise schedules.