Geiranger
Sunnmøre, Norway
Bus tours, kayaking, cycling and a RIB boat trip from Geiranger village and its cruise pier: choose a tour to see the details and book.
Tours in Geiranger
Rentals in Geiranger
Geiranger is a small village at the head of the Geirangerfjord, in the Sunnmøre region of Møre og Romsdal. The Geirangerfjord area has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005.
The bus tours meet between the pier and the public bus stop. The kayak and bike tours start from the local supplier's office at Geirangervegen 10, on the main pedestrian street.
Geiranger at a glance
- Region
- Sunnmøre, Møre og Romsdal
- Cruise port
- SeaWalk floating pier, or at anchor with tenders
- From the pier to the centre
- The SeaWalk lands in the centre; the tender pier is about 100 m away
- Typical time in port
- About 10 hours
- World Heritage
- Geirangerfjord, UNESCO since 2005
- Nearest airport
- Ålesund Airport Vigra, about 2.5 hours by car
- Currency
- Norwegian krone (NOK)
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1), summer UTC+2
Weather and seasons in Geiranger
Much of what visitors come for is seasonal. The road up to Dalsnibba usually opens in mid May and closes in September or October, and the mountain road from Geiranger towards Langvatnet is closed in winter. Geiranger Camping is open from late April to mid October.
Midsummer is the busiest time in the port: from 20 June to 10 August the port limits the number of cruise passengers in Geiranger to about 6,000 a day.
- Spring
- The mountain roads open after the winter, in past years between late April and mid June depending on the snow. The road to Dalsnibba usually opens in mid May.
- Summer
- The busiest season in the village and the port, with up to about 20 hours from sunrise to sunset in mid June.
- Autumn and winter
- Dalsnibba closes in September or October and the road towards Langvatnet closes for the winter. In mid December there are only about 5 hours from sunrise to sunset.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high (°C) | 5.0 | 4.5 | 6.7 | 11.1 | 15.2 | 18.0 | 20.0 | 19.3 | 15.8 | 11.0 | 7.8 | 5.4 |
| Average low (°C) | -0.6 | -1.1 | 0.4 | 3.2 | 6.0 | 9.1 | 11.7 | 11.5 | 8.5 | 4.8 | 2.2 | -0.4 |
| Precipitation (mm) | 123 | 99 | 94 | 56 | 44 | 56 | 55 | 67 | 90 | 99 | 105 | 123 |
| Daylight (hours) | 6.1 | 8.9 | 11.7 | 14.8 | 17.7 | 19.7 | 18.8 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 7.1 | 5.2 |
Getting to Geiranger
Cruise ships either berth at the SeaWalk, a 236 metre floating pier where passengers step ashore in the village centre, or anchor in the fjord and bring passengers to the tender pier, about 100 metres from the centre. On days with one ship in port, that ship is normally given the SeaWalk.
Geiranger is reached by road over the mountains. The Ørnevegen (Fv63) towards Eidsdal is the only road open all year; the road up past Dalsnibba towards Langvatnet closes in winter. The National Tourist Route Geiranger-Trollstigen is 104 km long and includes the ferry from Eidsdal to Linge.
The nearest larger airport is Ålesund Airport Vigra, about two and a half hours away by car.
Where to stay in Geiranger
A few places to stay in and around the village, from hotels to campsites.
- Havila Hotel GeirangerGeiranger, by the fjordHotel at the water's edge, within walking distance of the ferry quay.
- Union Geiranger Resort & SpaGeirangerHotel with its own spa.
- Hotel UtsiktenNear the Flydalsjuvet viewpointHotel with 29 rooms, open since 1893, about 200 metres from Flydalsjuvet.
- Grande Fjord HotelØrnevegen, about 2 km from the centreHotel about 100 metres from the fjord.
- Grande Hytteutleige og CampingNear GeirangerCabins of several sizes and an area for tents.
- Geiranger CampingVillage centreCampsite by the fjord, about 200 metres from the shops. No advance booking.
Good to know before you visit Geiranger
- Ships in Geiranger typically stay about 10 hours, most between 8 and 11 hours. Check the all-aboard time before you book anything that goes up into the mountains.
- Dalsnibba is 1,500 metres above sea level and 21 km by road from Geiranger, about 30 minutes' drive, with 11 hairpin bends on the last part, the Nibbevegen.
- Ørnesvingen, the Eagle Bend, is a viewpoint on the eleven hairpin bends of the road from Geiranger towards Eidsdal, with a view of the Seven Sisters waterfalls.
- The Geirangerfjord is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site West Norwegian Fjords. From 2026, passenger ships under 10,000 gross tonnes must sail the World Heritage fjords without emissions, and from 2032 the rule covers all passenger ships.
- Bus tours on this page meet between the pier and the public bus stop. The kayak and bike tours start from Geirangervegen 10, on the main pedestrian street.
Frequently asked questions about Geiranger
Can you visit Geiranger from a cruise ship in one day?
Yes. Ships typically stay about 10 hours, which leaves time for the village and one or two trips: a short bus tour to the viewpoints, Dalsnibba, a kayak or a boat trip on the fjord.
Do cruise ships dock or tender in Geiranger?
Both. One ship can berth at the SeaWalk floating pier in the village centre; other ships anchor in the fjord and send passengers by tender to a pier about 100 metres from the centre.
When is the road to Dalsnibba open?
Usually from mid May until September or October, depending on the snow. Dalsnibba is 21 km by road from Geiranger, about 30 minutes' drive.
Is the Geirangerfjord a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes. Since 2005 it has been part of the West Norwegian Fjords World Heritage Site, together with the Nærøyfjord.
How do you get to Geiranger without a cruise ship?
By road over the mountains, either over the Ørnevegen from Eidsdal, which is open all year, or in summer over the road from Langvatnet past Dalsnibba. The nearest larger airport is Ålesund Airport Vigra, about two and a half hours by car.