Fjord Cruise to Rosendal, Bergen

kimkim gem 4.0 (26 reviews)
Take in the dramatic fjord scenery on a roundtrip cruise to charming Rosendal, where you'll have a few hours to explore.
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Linda
Linda D.
Dec 30, 2025
I tend to get C6 so I was afraid to sit inside so my friend and I sat on the upper deck for about 20 minutes... Read more
N
Nancy B.
Sep 26, 2025
Lovely ride on the ferry and a beautiful walk to the waterfall. That’s about all we had time for.
Lara
Lara N.
Aug 23, 2025
Summer + Nice weather = Bees. Mostly just around the dock and port/cafe nearby but there were a ton of bees. We had the best hike... Read more
Melissa
Melissa S.
Aug 06, 2025
Nice day trip, we hiked to the waterfall! Hiked through pastures of sheep, was delightful. Steep hills at times during hike that were good workout for... Read more
Ben
Ben W.
Jul 27, 2025
Fast and modern boat. Great view the whole way. I’d recommend taking a jacket if you want to sit outside on the boat. Even on a... Read more
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Overview

Set out on a scenic, roundtrip fjord cruise from Bergen to the picturesque village of Rosendal, passing steep mountains and cascading waterfalls. You'll have 3.5 hours to explore Rosendal before catching the return ferry. In Rosendal, explore the village and its surroundings, with options like hiking to a waterfall, visiting the historic barony with its rose garden, or finding out about the nearby icecap and fjord marine life at the Folgefonne Centre. Ideal for nature lovers and those seeking a peaceful escape, this trip offers a blend of serene landscapes and cultural insights.
Kimkim Gem kimkim gem
As your ferry rounds the final bend, the village of Rosendal appears as a fjord-side postcard come to life: backed by twin peaks and a distant waterfall that seems to pour right into town. It feels remote but welcoming, the sort of spot where locals walk their dogs along the river and happily assure you that yes, you can jump into the glacier-fed Hatteberg Waterfall if you're bold enough (and we were).

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Highlights

  • Serenly cruise the fjords, taking in the views of wildlife, fisheries, farms, villages, and waterfalls
  • Learn about Norway's third-largest glacier at the Folgefonne Centre
  • Visit the Barony Rosendal, Scandinavia's smallest castle, and its beautiful rose garden
  • Hike to Hattebergfossen waterfall through picturesque countryside and dare to take a cold plunge

Know before you go

Duration
8h
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Self guided

What you'll do

Your day trip begins at Bergen's harbor, where you'll board a comfortable and modern boat, equipped with indoor and outdoor seating areas as well as a kiosk offering snacks and drinks. As you sail across the water toward Hardangerfjord—often referred to as the "queen of the fjords"—you'll enjoy views of steep mountains and cascading waterfalls.

Upon arrival in Rosendal, you'll be greeted by a picturesque village tucked between towering mountains. In the summer, wander through the village and make your way to the historic manor, Barony Rosendal, which dates to 1665 and is known as Scandinavia's smallest castle. Wander its landscaped grounds and romantic rose gardens, then enjoy lunch in the newly renovated greenhouse, which serves delicious dishes prepared with local ingredients. Alternatively, consider hiking to nearby Hattebergfossen and refresh with a cool dip beneath its waterfall. There's also the option to kayak, canoe, glacier hike, or off-road bike.

You could also check out the Folgefonnsenteret (Folgefonne Centre), where friendly staff are on hand to tell you about the local icecap, which covers a total of 77 square miles (200 sq km) in the center of Folgefonna National Park, as well as the Hardangerfjord's marine life and sustainability, from exhibitions set up in collaboration with oceanographers and climate researchers. After about 3.5 hours, it'll be time to catch the return boat back to Bergen.

Start times

  • Monday
    8:50 am
  • Tuesday
    8:50 am
  • Wednesday
    8:50 am
  • Thursday
    8:50 am
  • Friday
    8:50 am
  • Saturday
    11:00 am
  • Sunday
    11:00 am

What's included

  • Round-trip fjord cruise

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Traveler photos
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Traveler reviews

26 total ratings, 24 with reviews
4.0
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.0
Guides, Drivers and Staff
3.7
Transport
4.0
PETER
PETER D.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 11, 2026
It was a long day, and we should have researched more. We only had 3 1/2 hours in Rosendale. The tours of the barony and garden did not line up with our time there- we had to select one. There was not enough time to visit the church or to take a hike to the waterfall. Next time, I would plan to spend the night in one of the lovely hotels available. I would also want to explore the National Park. And if time was a concern, I would skip this activity and spend an extra day on the Sogneford... Read more

It was a long day, and we should have researched more. We only had 3 1/2 hours in Rosendale. The tours of the barony and garden did not line up with our time there- we had to select one. There was not enough time to visit the church or to take a hike to the waterfall. Next time, I would plan to spend the night in one of the lovely hotels available. I would also want to explore the National Park. And if time was a concern, I would skip this activity and spend an extra day on the Sogneford Route.

Tips for future travelers

Research prior the schedule of tours/activities available in the area and consider spending the night.

Quality of Experience
spend the night or delete from itinerary
Rita
Rita R.
Boston, MA | Reviewed on Jun 28, 2026
The ride to and from Rosendal was amazing, as was the ferry which was very comfy. But on Rosendal it is not very easy to get around unless you are planning to walk. There are also not a ton of shops near the warf - so it was a slow aftwrnoon. Read more

The ride to and from Rosendal was amazing, as was the ferry which was very comfy. But on Rosendal it is not very easy to get around unless you are planning to walk. There are also not a ton of shops near the warf - so it was a slow aftwrnoon.

Tips for future travelers

Plan before you get there.

Quality of Experience
Planning ahead more.
K
Kimberley H.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Jun 27, 2026
A nice town with lots of hiking. Read more

A nice town with lots of hiking.

Tips for future travelers

If you have done a fjord tour already, it may not be particularly interesting to take this (2 hours each way). However, the farmland and mountains outside of the city center were beautiful.

Quality of Experience
Linda
Linda D.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Dec 30, 2025
I tend to get C6 so I was afraid to sit inside so my friend and I sat on the upper deck for about 20 minutes until we started to freeze. Fortunately it is very very smooth and I did not get seasick at all. It is about a two hour ride each way, but it is beautiful and I highly recommend it. Read more

I tend to get C6 so I was afraid to sit inside so my friend and I sat on the upper deck for about 20 minutes until we started to freeze. Fortunately it is very very smooth and I did not get seasick at all. It is about a two hour ride each way, but it is beautiful and I highly recommend it.

Tips for future travelers

This is a better activity to do in the summer, however. The visitor center was already closed for the year when we got there, and this was the first thing listed to do by kimkim. I feel like they should’ve known that it wasn’t open. There’s not a lot to do there in the winter. We did a beautiful hike, but kind of ran out of things to do as there was only one restaurant open.

Quality of Experience
There should be more of a summer activity and should not be recommended when the visitor center is closed. It is very cold there in the winter and it can be a little bit challenging when not a lot of things are open. We ended up wandering around the grocery store too kill Hime until we can get back on the boat.
N
Nancy B.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Sep 26, 2025
Lovely ride on the ferry and a beautiful walk to the waterfall. That’s about all we had time for. Read more

Lovely ride on the ferry and a beautiful walk to the waterfall. That’s about all we had time for.

Quality of Experience
Mitzi
Mitzi F.
Blair, NE | Reviewed on Sep 06, 2025

We skipped this activity. It was a 2 hour ferry ride both ways and we had just spent 4 hours on a ferry to get to Bergen the night before. It would have taken up all our free time in Bergen.

Tips for future travelers

It's a 2 hour ferry ride to get there and then you have to pay to see anything

Judy
Judy T.
Saint George, UT | Reviewed on Aug 27, 2025
Cruise was just a boat ride. The cruise out of Flåm was way more interesting. We were there on a Monday and much of Rosendal was closed. We visited the rose garden at the Baroniet, but the castle was closed. Read more

Cruise was just a boat ride. The cruise out of Flåm was way more interesting. We were there on a Monday and much of Rosendal was closed. We visited the rose garden at the Baroniet, but the castle was closed.

Quality of Experience
Lara
Lara N.
Miami, FL | Reviewed on Aug 23, 2025
Summer + Nice weather = Bees. Mostly just around the dock and port/cafe nearby but there were a ton of bees. We had the best hike and wandering here - the end of our hike brought us to a cafe that had delicious local treats. I saw them harvesting rhubard outside and then they had a rhubarb cake inside that I will never forget. Read more

Summer + Nice weather = Bees. Mostly just around the dock and port/cafe nearby but there were a ton of bees. We had the best hike and wandering here - the end of our hike brought us to a cafe that had delicious local treats. I saw them harvesting rhubard outside and then they had a rhubarb cake inside that I will never forget.

Quality of Experience
Melissa
Melissa S.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Aug 06, 2025
Nice day trip, we hiked to the waterfall! Hiked through pastures of sheep, was delightful. Steep hills at times during hike that were good workout for cardio (not leisurely easy stroll at times) Read more

Nice day trip, we hiked to the waterfall! Hiked through pastures of sheep, was delightful. Steep hills at times during hike that were good workout for cardio (not leisurely easy stroll at times)

Quality of Experience
M
Mary Karen V.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Jul 31, 2025

It was wonderful to be on the water, but this is not one of the narrow fjord cruises. We loved getting to Rosendal and hiking to the waterfall. We had a wonderful lunch at Gjoa and caught the boat back to Bergen.

Tips for future travelers

This is a great option to travelers who want a day on the water and a relatively easy hike to beautiful waterfalls.

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Chat with our local specialists and let us help you customize your trip with experiences like this.

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Itineraries with Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

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