Norway is home to some of the tallest waterfalls in Europe, with hundreds of cascades tumbling down mountainsides, plunging into fjords and roaring through steep valleys. And thanks to all that snow, rain and rugged terrain, there are spectacular falls to discover right across the country.
Some of Norway’s waterfalls drop hundreds of metres through spectacular mountain scenery, and there are all sorts of ways to experience them. From easy roadside viewpoints and fjord cruises to challenging hikes and, for experienced climbers, winter ice climbing.
The best time to experience Norway’s waterfalls in full flow is in May and June, when the ice and snow from the mountains is melting and the water levels are at their highest.
Whether you want an easy roadside stop or a proper hike into the mountains, here are some of our favourite waterfalls in Norway.
Which waterfall should you visit?
- Vettisfossen – best for a scenic hike through the Utladalen valley
- Langfoss – best for huge views without a long hike
- Steinsdalsfossen – best for walking behind a waterfall
- Vøringsfossen – best for dramatic viewpoints and easy access
- Feigefossen – best for combining waterfalls with fjord scenery
- Låtefossen – best for an impressive roadside stop
- Seven Sisters – best seen from a boat on Geirangerfjord
Vettisfossen
With a spectacular 275-metre free fall, Vettisfossen is Norway’s highest protected, unregulated waterfall. It lies in the dramatic Utladalen valley, right on the edge of Jotunheimen National Park.
One of the best ways to experience Vettisfossen is on foot, following the trail through the spectacular Utladalen valley to the base of the falls. The hike starts at Hjelle, a short drive from Øvre Årdal, and follows the valley for around 6km to the waterfall. Allow roughly four hours for the return walk, not including stops.
You can visit the falls yourself quite easily, but if you’d like to learn about the region, its history and nature, you can book a guided hike to the falls along the Utladalen valley from Hjelle, a 10-minute drive from Øvre Årdal.
Want to spend a night near the falls? There are cosy cabins at Utladalen Camping.
Langfoss
Norway’s fifth-highest waterfall, with a total descent of 612 metres, Langfoss gushes down the mountainside into the Åkrafjord.
Langfoss tumbles down the mountainside beside the E134 before emptying into Åkrafjorden, making it one of Norway’s easiest big waterfalls to see without a long hike. If simply admiring it from below isn’t enough, there’s also a steep hike to the top, with huge views over Åkrafjorden along the way.
If you don’t have your own transport, you can visit Langfoss on this shore excursion from Haugesund, which takes you through the dramatic scenery around Åkrafjorden before stopping at the waterfall itself.
Steinsdalsfossen
One of Norway’s best known and most photographed waterfalls, Steinsdalsfossen is located 2km from the village of Norheimsund. At 50 metres high, it’s not the tallest of Norway’s waterfalls but it is one of the most fun.
Its main appeal is that you can walk behind it and feel the energy of the wild and impressive cascade. Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany was reportedly a big fan too, stopping at Steinsdalsfossen on several of his summer visits to Norway.
A dramatic footpath has been built into the mountainside behind the falls, whose waters gush overhead along the Steinsdalselva river and ultimately into the stunning Hardangerfjord.
A path leads right behind the waterfall, giving you the unusual experience of watching the water thunder down in front of you – usually without getting soaked in the process.
The waterfall’s other main attraction is that it’s easily reached by car, without the need for a long hike. But if you’re short of time and want to see the falls on a wider tour of the area, you can view them as part of a day-trip from Bergen.
This private tour may be pricey, but it takes in all the sights in the area, and stops at two of the area’s best waterfalls.
Vøringsfossen
Plunging 182 metres from the Hardangervidda plateau into the steep Måbødalen valley, Vøringsfossen is one of Norway’s best-known waterfalls. Its highest vertical drop measures 145 metres.
Vøringsfossen is now remarkably easy to explore, thanks to a network of viewpoints and more than a kilometre of secured paths around the gorge. The highlight is the spectacular step bridge across the Bjoreio river above the falls, which connects the upper area near Fossli with the lower plateau at Fossatromma.
There are several places to stop and admire the waterfall, so it’s worth allowing some time to walk around rather than simply taking a quick photo from the roadside.
Bear in mind that this is a mountain location: snow and ice can linger into spring, and the step bridge, viewpoints and parts of the trail system close during winter.
For an overnight stay with a view, the historic Fossli Hotel has stood above the falls since the 1890s. This old-style hotel, dating from the 1890s, perches right on the cliff edge above the falls with spectacular views of its gushing torrents.
And if the falls aren’t dramatic enough, you can head down to Eidfjord Harbour and take a thrilling Rib ride on the fjord. Look out for seals in the water and goats on the mountainside.
Feigefossen
The 218-metre-high Feigefossen tumbles down the mountainside beside Lustrafjord, around 17km south of Skjolden.
From Skjolden, follow the narrow and winding road along the southern shore of the fjord, then continue on foot for a closer look at the falls.
Alternatively, you can get an excellent view of it from highway 55 on the northern side of the fjord. From here, you can also see a second waterfall called Haanafossen higher up above Feigefossen.
But perhaps the best way to get a sense of Feigefossen’s height and grandeur is to take a Rib ride on the fjord from Skjolden Brygge. You’ll get great views of the fjord and falls and may even encounter some seals and porpoises too.
Låtefossen
Just south of Odda, Låtefossen is one of Norway’s easiest spectacular waterfalls to visit. Two powerful streams tumble side by side down the mountainside before joining beneath an old stone bridge, with the water rushing on towards the valley below.
Part of the fun is how close you can get. The main road runs directly past the falls, so there’s no hiking required. Just park up and walk over for a closer look. Expect plenty of spray when the water levels are high!
Låtefossen is particularly impressive in late spring and early summer, when snowmelt sends huge volumes of water down the mountainside. Its location also makes it an easy stop if you’re exploring Odda, Hardanger or the area around Folgefonna National Park.
Seven Sisters
Cascading down the steep mountainside into Geirangerfjord, the Seven Sisters (De Syv Søstre) are among Norway’s most spectacular waterfalls. As the name suggests, the waterfall is made up of seven separate streams, which plunge side by side towards the fjord below.
Unlike many of the waterfalls on this list, the Seven Sisters are best seen from the water. A boat trip through Geirangerfjord gives you a great view of the falls and the surrounding cliffs, along with the Suitor waterfall (Friaren) on the opposite side of the fjord.
The falls are usually at their most impressive during the snowmelt in late spring and early summer. Later in the season, some of the seven streams can become much less powerful, so timing your visit makes a real difference here.
Which is Norway’s most beautiful waterfall?
That’s a tough one to call. Vettisfossen rewards you with a beautiful hike, Vøringsfossen wins for sheer drama, and the Seven Sisters are hard to beat when you see them tumbling into Geirangerfjord. But part of the fun of travelling around Norway is stumbling across smaller waterfalls that don’t even make the guidebooks.
Got a favourite Norwegian waterfall that deserves a place on this list? Let us know in the comments below!
See also:
The 10 best fjords in Norway
8 great hiking tours in Norway
Norway’s best glaciers and how to reach them
