How to Get to Høyanger, Norway

Høyanger is a small town at the inner end of the Høyangsfjorden, a southern arm of the Sognefjord in Vestland county, western Norway. It is not on a railway line and not on the main E16/E39 tourist run between Bergen and the famous fjord villages — reaching it almost always involves at least one fjord crossing. That is part of the appeal: the journey itself is some of the best scenery in Norway, and the effort is what keeps the trails above town so uncrowded. Below is how to get here from wherever you are starting, plus what you need once you arrive.

One practical note before the routes: ferry and boat timetables in this part of Norway change with the season and are occasionally affected by weather or maintenance. Treat the journey times below as realistic estimates, and always confirm current departures on Entur (national journey planner), Skyss (Vestland public transport), or the relevant ferry operator before you set out.

Getting to Høyanger from Bergen

Bergen is the natural starting point for most international visitors, with the largest airport in the region and the widest range of onward connections. There are two main ways to cover the roughly 165 km north to Høyanger.

By car (around 3 hours, including a ferry)

Driving is the most flexible option and the one most visitors choose. The usual route runs north on the E39 to the Oppedal–Lavik car ferry across the Sognefjord — a short crossing that runs roughly every half hour through the summer season — then continues north and east toward Høyanger. An alternative further east uses the Hella–Vangsnes or Hella–Dragsvik ferry, which pairs well if you are routing via Vik or Balestrand. Either way, budget around three hours door to door including ferry time, and a little more in peak season when ferry queues build up.

You do not need to pre-book the main Sognefjord car ferries — they run frequently and operate on a turn-up-and-go basis — but arriving 15–20 minutes early on a busy summer afternoon is sensible. Tolls and ferry fares are charged automatically to your vehicle via AutoPASS if you are in a hire car; check with your rental company how this is billed.

By express boat (around 3–4 hours)

Norled operates a scheduled express passenger boat (hurtigbåt) on the Bergen–Sogn route that calls at Høyanger. This is a foot-passenger service — no cars — and the journey up the fjord is genuinely part of the experience rather than just transit. It is an excellent option if you are basing yourself in Høyanger town and joining a guided hike, since you will not need a car in town. Departures are limited to a few sailings a day and sell out in high summer, so book ahead and check the current Norled timetable.

Getting to Høyanger from Oslo

From Oslo, Høyanger is around 350–380 km by road — a scenic but long drive of six to seven hours across the mountains, with route choice and pass conditions affecting the total. It is doable in a day, but most travellers break the journey at a fjord village or, more often, skip the drive entirely.

The faster approach from Oslo is to fly. Short domestic hops connect Oslo with Sogndal (SOG) and Førde (FDE) — both within about an hour to ninety minutes of Høyanger by car — or with Bergen (BGO), from which you continue as above. A popular scenic alternative is to take the train toward Myrdal and the Flåm Line down to Flåm, then continue through the fjord system by car or boat; it turns the approach into a highlight rather than a slog.

Nearest airports

• Bergen Airport, Flesland (BGO) — the main international gateway, ~3 hours away by car and ferry. The most flight options by far, including international routes
• Sogndal Airport, Haukåsen (SOG) — a small regional airport roughly 1–1.5 hours away, with domestic flights connecting to Oslo
• Førde Airport, Bringeland (FDE) — another regional option to the north, around 1–1.5 hours away, also linked to Oslo

For most overseas visitors, flying into Bergen and continuing by car gives the best balance of connections and flexibility. The regional airports are worth checking if you are coming from elsewhere in Norway and the timings work — they can shave hours off the journey.

Getting to Høyanger by train

There is no train station in Høyanger, and no railway reaches the town directly. The nearest railheads are on the Bergen Line (Voss and Myrdal) and the Flåm Line (Flåm), all of which require an onward leg by bus, car or boat to complete the trip. That said, combining one of Norway's great scenic rail journeys with fjord travel is a fine way to arrive — many visitors ride the Flåm Line for its own sake and then continue west through the fjord to Høyanger.

Arriving from elsewhere on the Sognefjord

If you are already exploring the fjord, Høyanger is an easy and rewarding addition. Approximate driving times from nearby bases:

• Balestrand — around 45 minutes by car and ferry, making Høyanger a comfortable day trip (or Balestrand a wider-choice accommodation base if you prefer)
• Vik i Sogn — around 30 minutes, and home to the well-preserved Hopperstad Stave Church if you want to combine the two
• Flåm / Lærdal — roughly 1–1.5 hours west along the fjord, depending on ferry connections
• Førde / Dale i Sunnfjord — around 40 minutes to an hour from the north, useful for supplies and services

Getting around once you are here

Høyanger town itself is small and walkable — the waterfront, the main street, the museum and the waterfalls running through the centre are all within easy reach on foot. For the hiking trailheads above town, and for day trips around the inner Sognefjord, a car is the most practical way to get around. Public bus connections exist within the region but are infrequent, so check Skyss or Entur timetables carefully if you are relying on them rather than driving.

If you are arriving without a car — by express boat, for instance — that is entirely workable for a hiking trip. As a local operator we can arrange transport to and from the trailheads as part of a guided tour, so you can base yourself in town and still reach the mountains without your own vehicle.

How long does it take to reach Høyanger? — at a glance

• Bergen by car: ~3 hours, including one fjord ferry
• Bergen by express boat: ~3–4 hours, foot passengers only
• Oslo by car: ~6–7 hours across the mountains
• Sogndal or Førde airport by car: ~1–1.5 hours
• Balestrand by car and ferry: ~45 minutes

Whichever way you come, the last stretch into Høyanger — fjord on one side, mountains rising straight out of the water on the other — is the kind of arrival that makes the planning worth it. For more on what waits when you get here, see our guide to what to do in Høyanger, or read why the town is the Sognefjord secret most visitors miss.

Frequently asked questions