Booking choice: The two-hour RIB tour from Flåm, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Book this Compare the options below
The Nærøyfjord is narrow and walled in, so where you stand changes what you see. From a boat you sail its full length; from a kayak you move slowly under the cliffs; from the road above Gudvangen you see the valley that leads to it; from the Flåm Railway and Stegastein you see the wider landscape around.
This guide compares the main ways using the listings on this site, so you can pick the one that fits your time, energy and budget, then add a second if you have the days.
The quick answer
For most visitors the scheduled cruise between Flåm and Gudvangen is the best and simplest way to see the Nærøyfjord, about two hours one way. The RIB is the faster, closer and live-guided alternative that brings you back to Flåm. The guided kayak from Voss puts you at water level under your own power. The road, Stalheimskleiva and Gudvangen, and the Flåm Railway with Stegastein add the views from above.
What is the best way to see the fjords in Norway?
On the water. For the Nærøyfjord that means the scheduled cruise for most people, the RIB for speed and close-ups, and the kayak for the most personal view.
The table compares the main options on this site by time on the water, guiding and who each suits. Note that only the RIB comes back to where it started; the scheduled cruise is one way, as the cruise guide explains.
The road and railway do not replace the boat, but they complete the picture, and the Grand Tour bus is the way to see the fjord from the land side.
| Way | Time on the water | Guide | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic cruise | About 2 h, one way | Audio guide | First visits, all ages, any season |
| RIB from Flåm | About 2 h, back to Flåm | Live English guide | Ages 14 and up, 140 cm and taller, active travellers |
| Guided kayak from Voss | About 2 h 40 min to 3 h of paddling | Live guide, English | Fit travellers who want water level |
| Grand Tour bus from Flåm | No time on the water | Onboard audio guide | Road views, Stalheimskleiva and Gudvangen |
| Day tour from Bergen | About 2 h inside a 10.5 to 12 h day | Live guide | Travellers based in Bergen |
What is the cheapest way to see the fjords?
The scheduled one-way cruise is the plain ticket. Day tours bundle transport, while the RIB and kayak are premium experiences. The road and its viewpoints cost nothing to look at.
If you are already in Flåm or Gudvangen, the cruise ticket alone gets you the full length of the fjord. Day tours from Bergen cost more because they include the transport, and sometimes food. The RIB and the kayak trip include equipment and a live guide.
Free views exist too: the village of Gudvangen at the head of the fjord, and the valley of Nærøydalen. The price for each product is shown at checkout.
The plain way through the fjord: two hours from Flåm with an audio guide and a cafeteria on board.
Book thisIs the cruise the best way to see the Nærøyfjord?
For most travellers, yes. It covers the full length in about two hours, indoors or on deck, in any season.
The Lustrabaatane classic cruise sails from Flåm past Bakka to Gudvangen, and the Gudvangen version runs the other way. Both have an audio guide and a cafeteria. Norway's Best runs the same route with an electric catamaran and offers stops at Aurland, Undredal, Dyrdal and Styvi when booked before departure.
The catch is the one-way design. Plan your return, or join a day tour that does it for you, as described in Nærøyfjord tours from Bergen.
Is the RIB worth it?
If you want speed, closeness and a live guide, and you meet the age and height limits, it is the most exciting way on the water.
Per the RIB listing, the Flåm Adventure RIB spends two hours on the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord with several stops at farms and waterfalls, then returns to Flåm Marina. It supplies thermal suits, life jackets, goggles and hats, and the listing includes food and drinks.
It is not for under 14s or anyone under 140 cm, for pregnant women or for people with mobility impairments. Arrive 30 minutes before at the glass container outside Flåm Marina, about ten minutes' walk east of the port.
Close to the waterfalls and back to Flåm in two hours, thermal suit and live English guide included.
Book thisCan you kayak on the Nærøyfjord?
Yes. Outdoor Norway runs a full-day guided kayak trip from Voss, about six hours in total with lunch included.
The kayak trip spends about 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours paddling in two legs, with a lunch break of 35 to 45 minutes. The transfer from Voss takes 50 to 55 minutes each way, and the listing includes hotel pick-up and drop-off. Sea kayak, paddle, life jacket, spray skirt and splash jacket are supplied, along with food and drink.
It meets at Evangervegen 32 in Vossevangen, about 300 m from the Voss Gondola and the station. It is the one option where you move under your own power, at the fjord's own pace.
A guided day on the water from Voss, with all kayak gear, a splash jacket and lunch included.
Book thisCan you see the Nærøyfjord from the road?
Yes, from Gudvangen at its head and from Nærøydalen, the valley leading to it. Stalheimskleiva above the valley is one of Northern Europe's steepest roads.
Stalheimskleiva has 13 hairpin bends and was built between 1842 and 1846, with the Stalheimsfossen and Sivlefossen waterfalls on either side of Nærøydalen. The Flåm Grand Tour bus, a 4.5-hour trip from Flåm with an onboard audio guide, stops at Tvindefossen, lets you walk down Stalheimskleiva and pauses for photos in Gudvangen at the head of the fjord.
There is no boat on this tour; it is the land side of the fjord. Bring food, and look for the brown and golden bus marked GRAND TOUR in the bus park a few minutes from the cruise port.
Is the Flåm Railway a way to see the fjords?
It is the way to reach them. The railway descends to Flåm, and the Stegastein viewpoint shows the Aurlandsfjord from 650 m above.
The Flåm Railway runs 20.2 km from Myrdal down to Flåm, falling 866 m through twenty tunnels in about 50 to 59 minutes, and stops at Kjosfossen waterfall. It opened to passengers in 1941. Stegastein is a platform 650 m above the Aurlandsfjord that reaches about 30 m out over the slope.
Both are on the Bergen day tours: the Viking village tour includes the railway, and the lunch and winter tours include Stegastein. See the Bergen tours guide to compare.
Which combination is best?
The cruise plus one other view: the RIB or kayak for the water, the Grand Tour for the road, or the railway and Stegastein for the heights.
With a day, sail the fjord and take the bus back. With two, add the RIB, the kayak or the Grand Tour. With three, fit in the railway and Stegastein too.
For the season to go, read the best time to visit, and for clothing on each option, read what to wear.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to see the Nærøyfjord?
The scheduled cruise between Flåm and Gudvangen, about two hours one way, with an audio guide.
Can I kayak on the Nærøyfjord without experience?
The listing describes a full-day guided trip with all equipment supplied; it does not specify an experience level, so check when booking.
Which option returns to where it started?
The RIB, which returns to Flåm Marina. The scheduled cruise is one way.
Is there a way to see the fjord without a boat?
Yes. The Grand Tour bus from Flåm visits Stalheimskleiva and stops in Gudvangen at the head of the fjord.
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Choose your cruise
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Booked on GetYourGuide.
Nærøyfjord RIB Boat Experience & Waterfalls from Flåm
- Two-hour guided RIB tour of the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord, returning to Flåm Marina
- Thermal suits, life jackets, goggles and hats provided; food and drinks listed as included
- Live English-speaking guide with local history and stories; several stops on the way
Nærøyfjord Full-Day Guided Kayaking Trip from Voss
A guided sea-kayak day with the transfer from Voss, all the gear and lunch: two legs of paddling under the cliffs, to corners only a kayak reaches
Flåm Grand Tour: Waterfalls, Stalheim Road & Gudvangen
The fjord country from the road. From Flåm the bus climbs to the Tvindefossen waterfall, then you walk down the Stalheimskleiva, one of Northern Europe's steepest roads with 13 hairpin bends, between the Stalheimsfossen and Sivlefossen waterfalls, before a photo stop in Gudvangen at the head of the Nærøyfjord and the drive back.
