Olden
Nordfjord, Norway
Excursions from the cruise pier in Olden to Briksdal Glacier and the lakes of Loen and Olden: choose a tour to see the details and book.
Olden is a village on the Nordfjord, in Stryn municipality in Vestland, at the mouth of the Oldedalen valley. The valley leads to Briksdal Glacier, an arm of Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier on the European mainland.
Large cruise ships berth at the Olden cruise quay, about 700 metres from the village centre, and smaller ships bring passengers ashore by tender. The tours start from the cruise pier in Olden.
Olden at a glance
- Region
- Nordfjord, Vestland (Stryn municipality)
- Cruise port
- Olden cruise quay; smaller ships tender
- From the pier to the centre
- About 700 m
- Briksdal Glacier
- 22 km by road to Briksdal, then 2.5 km on foot
- Loen Skylift
- 7 km by road, up to 1,011 m above sea level
- Nearest airport
- Sandane (Anda), about 68 km by road
- Currency
- Norwegian krone (NOK)
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1), summer UTC+2
Weather and seasons in Olden
The walk to Briksdal Glacier is open all year and Loen Skylift runs all year, but much of the area works to a summer season. The troll cars at Briksdal run from May to October, Olden Camping is open from May to mid September, and some hotels close for the winter.
The driest months are April to July. October to January bring the most rain.
- Summer
- Long days, close to 20 hours from sunrise to sunset in mid June, and everything open. The troll cars at Briksdal run from May to October.
- Autumn and winter
- The wettest time of year, with short days: about 5 hours from sunrise to sunset in mid December. Some hotels and campsites close until spring.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high (°C) | 3.4 | 3.5 | 5.8 | 10.0 | 14.2 | 17.3 | 19.5 | 18.6 | 14.9 | 9.7 | 5.9 | 3.5 |
| Average low (°C) | -1.7 | -2.1 | -0.4 | 2.4 | 5.4 | 9.1 | 11.6 | 11.2 | 8.2 | 3.8 | 0.8 | -1.5 |
| Precipitation (mm) | 163 | 134 | 125 | 72 | 65 | 77 | 75 | 93 | 151 | 157 | 156 | 188 |
| Daylight (hours) | 6.2 | 9 | 11.7 | 14.8 | 17.7 | 19.6 | 18.7 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 7.1 | 5.3 |
Getting to Olden
Large cruise ships berth at the Olden cruise quay, about 700 metres from the village centre; taxis and shuttles usually wait outside the terminal. Smaller ships anchor in the bay and bring passengers ashore by tender, also to the tender quay below Loen Skylift.
By road, Loen is 6 km from Olden, Stryn about 17 km and Briksdalsbre Fjellstove, the start of the walk to Briksdal Glacier, 22 km. The Glacier Bus (line 115) runs between Stryn, Olden and Briksdal.
The nearest airport is Sandane (Anda), about 68 km by road, around an hour's drive. Ålesund Airport Vigra is about 160 km away, including a ferry.
Where to stay in Olden
A few places to stay in Olden, Loen and the valley towards Briksdal.
- Olden FjordhotelOldenHotel in the village, open as Olden Fjordhotel since 1971, with its own restaurant.
- Hotel AlexandraLoen, 6 km from OldenFamily-run hotel with a spa and indoor and outdoor pools.
- Hotel LoenfjordLoen, 6 km from OldenHotel by the river and the Nordfjord. Closed in winter.
- Olden CampingOldedalen, by OldevatnetCampsite by the lake on the road to Briksdal, open from May to mid September.
- Briksdalsbre Mountain LodgesBriksdalCabin and apartments at Briksdal, with views of the glaciers and Oldevatnet.
- Melkevoll Bretun CampingBriksdalCamping and cabins at the entrance to the national park, within walking distance of Briksdal Glacier.
Good to know before you visit Olden
- Briksdal Glacier is an arm of Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier on the European mainland, protected as a national park. Its front has not reached the lake since the autumn of 2007.
- From Briksdalsbre Fjellstove a path runs 2.5 km along the river to the glacier, about 40 to 60 minutes on foot. The troll cars cover about 2 km of it, leaving about 500 metres to walk.
- Loen Skylift goes from the fjord at Loen up to Hoven, 1,011 metres above sea level, in 5 to 7 minutes. It opened in 2017.
- The road from Olden to Briksdal runs along Oldevatnet, a lake about 12 km long. Lovatnet, about 2 km from Loen, is about 11 km long.
- Parking at Briksdal is paid.
Frequently asked questions about Olden
How far is Briksdal Glacier from the cruise pier in Olden?
About 22 km by road to Briksdalsbre Fjellstove, about 23 minutes' drive. From there a path runs 2.5 km to the glacier, about 40 to 60 minutes on foot, or you ride most of the way by troll car from May to October.
Can you walk from the cruise pier into Olden?
Yes. The cruise terminal is about 700 metres from the village centre.
Does Briksdal Glacier still reach the lake?
No. The front of the glacier has been out of the lake since the autumn of 2007.
How high is Loen Skylift?
It goes up to Hoven, 1,011 metres above sea level, in 5 to 7 minutes. The lower station in Loen is about 7 km by road from Olden.
Which lakes are near Olden?
Oldevatnet, about 12 km long, lies along the road from Olden to Briksdal. Lovatnet, about 11 km long, lies about 2 km from Loen. Both are on the Two Lakes & a Glacier tour on this page.
What is the weather like in Olden in summer?
At Sandane, the nearest station with full averages, July has an average high of 19.5 °C and an average low of 11.6 °C. In mid June there are close to 20 hours from sunrise to sunset.