These eight properties—many family-owned and operated for generations—provide plenty of local charm and hospitality after a day’s adventures in the Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord.
## Delving into the Historic Hotels of the Sognefjord: A Journey Through Time and Tradition
The Sognefjord region of Norway, a land of breathtaking fjords, majestic mountains, and charming villages, offers a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the rich history and culture of this captivating corner of the world. One of the best ways to immerse yourself in this heritage is by staying in one of the region’s historic hotels, each with its own story to tell and a unique charm that will transport you to a bygone era. These hotels are not just places to rest your head; they are living museums, filled with antiques, art, and tales of generations past.
**Walaker Hotel: A Legacy of Hospitality in Solvorn**
Imagine staying in Norway’s oldest hotel, a place where time seems to stand still. The **Walaker Hotel**, nestled in the picturesque village of Solvorn, offers just that. With a population of around 200 residents, Solvorn exudes a peaceful charm that is perfectly complemented by the hotel’s historic ambiance. The **Walaker Hotel** is more than just a building; it’s a family legacy. For over 370 years, the Nitter family has lovingly maintained and operated this seasonal hotel, passing it down from generation to generation. This makes it the oldest family-run hotel in all of Norway, a testament to their dedication and passion for hospitality.
Stepping into the **Walaker Hotel** is like stepping back in time. Guests are accommodated in one of three buildings on the property, each with its own distinct character and charm. No two rooms are alike, with each boasting unique furnishings and decor that reflect the hotel’s rich history. You might find yourself surrounded by antique furniture, embraced by the warmth of clapboard walls, or soaking in a classic claw-foot tub. Regardless of which room you choose, you’ll be treated to stunning views of the surrounding mountains, the serene fjord, or the meticulously maintained garden. The **Walaker Hotel** offers a truly immersive experience, where you can connect with the past while enjoying the beauty of the present.
Given that it’s the only restaurant in Solvorn, the **Walaker Hotel**’s dining experience is an integral part of the stay. Reservations are highly recommended for the nightly four-course dinners, which commence at 7:30 pm. These culinary creations showcase the best of local ingredients, with a focus on fresh seafood, artisanal cheeses, and seasonal produce. To elevate your dining experience, optional wine pairings are available, carefully selected to complement each course. Mornings at the **Walaker Hotel** begin with a complimentary breakfast buffet, offering a wide array of choices to fuel your day. In the afternoon, guests can indulge in complimentary coffee and tea, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the tranquil surroundings.
Beyond the hotel’s walls, Solvorn offers a variety of activities to explore. A flat nature trail meanders along the fjord, passing numerous swimming spots and scenic viewpoints, each offering a unique perspective of the stunning landscape. Don’t forget your camera, as you’ll want to capture the breathtaking beauty of the **Sognefjord**. The **Walaker Hotel** itself offers a range of amenities to enhance your stay, including an art gallery showcasing local talent, a serene seated garden perfect for relaxation, and complimentary use of kayaks and bicycles, allowing you to explore the fjord and surrounding area at your own pace.
**Kviknes Hotel: A Grand Dame of the Sognefjord in Balestrand**
For those seeking a more opulent experience, the **Kviknes Hotel** in Balestrand offers a touch of luxury and grandeur. As one of the largest and most renowned hotels in the Sognefjord region, the **Kviknes Hotel** boasts 190 rooms and a rich history dating back to 1877. The hotel has been family-owned for generations, and their legacy of hospitality is evident in every detail. The historic wing is the true highlight of the **Kviknes Hotel**, with its impressive first floor adorned with original art and antiques from the owner’s private collection. These artifacts offer a glimpse into the family’s history and the region’s cultural heritage.
Ascending to the upper levels of the historic wing, you’ll discover 30 rooms that exude old-world charm. Each room is meticulously decorated with patterned wallpapers and traditional furnishings, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Many of these rooms also feature seated balconies, offering breathtaking views of the fjord. While the **Kviknes Hotel** also has a more contemporary annex with modern rooms, the historic rooms in the original wing are truly special, offering a unique and unforgettable experience.
Regardless of where you choose to stay, all guests have access to the hotel’s grand dining room, where they can indulge in international buffets and multicourse menus. The **Kviknes Hotel**’s wine list is extensive, boasting more than 300 labels to choose from. Wine enthusiasts should keep an eye out for regular tastings in the cellar, where they can sample some of the hotel’s finest offerings. For a more casual dining experience, the nautical-themed bistro provides lunch and dinner options. Room service is also available, a rarity in the fjords, allowing you to enjoy a meal in the comfort of your own room.
The **Kviknes Hotel**’s location in Balestrand makes it an ideal base for exploring the surrounding area. The hotel is a short stroll from Balestrand’s passenger ferry terminal, offering express service to Bergen. Art galleries and fjord tours in the **Fjærlandsfjord**, a narrow branch of the **Sognefjord**, are also within easy reach. The **Fjærlandsfjord** is a must-see for any visitor to the region, with its stunning scenery and opportunities for outdoor adventure.
**Fjærland Fjordstove Hotel: A Chic Retreat Overlooking the Fjærlandsfjord in Fjærland**
For a more intimate and stylish experience, the **Fjærland Fjordstove Hotel** in Fjærland offers a blend of history and modern design. Housed in a classic white clapboard property dating back to 1937, the hotel overlooks the breathtaking **Fjærlandsfjord**. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be captivated by the hotel’s charm and the stunning views.
The **Fjærland Fjordstove Hotel** features 14 minimalistic-chic rooms spread out over the top two floors (please note there is no elevator). Each room is slightly different, adding to the hotel’s unique character. Most rooms retain original details painted white, creating a bright and airy atmosphere. Pops of color are introduced through local textiles and vintage books, a nod to Fjærland’s reputation as a book town. It’s important to note that the rooms do not have TVs, coffee makers, or minibars, encouraging guests to disconnect from technology and immerse themselves in the surrounding natural beauty.
The spacious lounge and restaurant have undergone a slow makeover in recent years, resulting in a chic Nordic design that is both stylish and inviting. Wood and leather furnishings, jute rugs, and textiles with different patterns and materials create a warm and comfortable ambiance. The main room features enormous windows that offer panoramic views of the **Fjærlandsfjord**. These views extend to an outdoor patio with tables located next to the waterfront, providing the perfect setting for enjoying a meal or a drink while taking in the scenery.
The **Fjærland Fjordstove Hotel**’s fjord-side setting offers a variety of activities. Guests can enjoy swimming and fishing in the fjord, or rent kayaks and bikes from the front desk to explore the surrounding area. The front desk can also organize hiking and glacier excursions, allowing you to experience the region’s natural wonders up close. In a testament to the hotel’s reputation, the Queen of Norway stayed here in 2022.
**Fretheim Hotel: A Salmon Angler’s Paradise in Flåm**
In the heart of Flåm village, framed by a charming white picket fence, lies the **Fretheim Hotel**, a historic landmark with a story that stretches back to the 1800s. In those early days, English lords flocked to the area for salmon fishing, and the **Fretheim Hotel** served as their luxurious base. Today, it remains the largest hotel in Flåm, a testament to its enduring appeal.
The **Fretheim Hotel**’s common spaces are adorned with photography, paintings, and antiques, offering a glimpse into the hotel’s rich history. Adding to the hotel’s mystique are rumors of a female ghost named Marthe Fretheim, a cousin who managed the hotel after the owner’s wife passed away. It’s said that Marthe’s friendly spirit continues to watch over daily operations, and her portrait can be seen in the historic wing.
The **Fretheim Hotel** boasts 122 rooms, offering guests a range of options to choose from. The historic wing has been carefully restored, offering charming rooms with unique details, traditional furnishings, and a deliberate absence of TVs, encouraging guests to disconnect and embrace the hotel’s historic ambiance. The modern wing, on the other hand, offers more contemporary decor, including TVs, and many rooms feature balconies and terraces with stunning fjord views. For those seeking more space and luxury, suites are available, complete with bathrobes and slippers.
Beyond the rooms, the **Fretheim Hotel** offers a variety of spaces for relaxation and recreation. Guests can unwind in the fireplace lounges or the seated garden, although most choose to spend their days exploring the outdoor activities that the area has to offer. The hotel is just steps from the famous **Flåm Railway** and fjord cruises along the Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the **Sognefjord**. For meals, the hotel offers a complimentary buffet breakfast and an a la carte restaurant with views, serving local Norwegian fare, optional multicourse menus, and a full bar.
**Leikanger Fjord Hotel: A Family Legacy on the Sognefjord’s Shores in Leikanger**
Perched on the northern shore of the **Sognefjord**, the **Leikanger Fjord Hotel** offers a memorable view and a rich history. This 55-room hotel has been owned and operated by a local family since 1920, a time when the only mode of transportation was by steamship through the fjord. Over the decades, three generations of the same family have guided the hotel through periods of significant change, including the introduction of roads and electricity, as well as major historical events. During World War II, the hotel even served as a base for an intelligence organization working on behalf of the Allies.
Today, the **Leikanger Fjord Hotel** is a year-round destination, perhaps best experienced in the summer months when guests can take advantage of the private beachfront and dock for sunbathing, swimming, and kayaking. For cooler months, the hotel offers a fire pit, sauna, and hot tub. The rooms are currently undergoing a slight face-lift under new ownership, with new bedding and Rituals bath products being introduced. Many rooms feature large windows and fjord views, and the deluxe category adds private seated balconies.
Drinks and meals are served in the cozy a la carte restaurant and bar, where guests can request a seat near the fireplace. The menu focuses on local produce, including berries, peaches, apricots, and walnuts, as well as fresh seafood from the surrounding waters. A simple buffet breakfast is offered every morning free of charge, and the hotel also hosts popular Sunday lunch buffets that draw locals. Bike rentals are available, and a small spa offers a handful of treatments, including massages and nail services.
**Hofslund Fjord Hotel: A Historic Trading Post with Fjord Views in Sogndal**
With over a century of history, the **Hofslund Fjord Hotel** stands out for its prime location on the northern side of the **Sognefjord**. The hotel’s roots trace back to a trading post and coaching station before it was purchased in 1912 by a local businessman who added its distinctive white Swiss-style exterior. Over the past century, the hotel has undergone numerous changes and additions, yet it remains under the stewardship of a descendant (a niece and her husband) of the original family.
During the warmer months, guests can take advantage of the manicured lawn and garden, which features an outdoor pool facing the sea. The rooms are unique, with a mix of traditional and contemporary furnishings. However, all rooms share common amenities such as flat-screen TVs, work desks, and armchairs. A higher category of standard rooms offers seated balconies facing the fjord.
Breakfast is served daily in the dining room, which also offers stunning fjord views, free of charge. Later in the day, guests can order a drink at the bar operated by the front desk staff and relax in wicker furnishings. It’s important to note that lunch and dinner are not served unless arranged for a tour group. Fortunately, the hotel’s location is within walking distance or a short drive to Sogndal’s restaurants, including three options at **Quality Hotel Sogndal**, as well as conveniences like basic shopping and EV chargers.
**Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri: A Salmon Angler’s Retreat in Aurland**
The seasonal, family-owned **Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri** hotel in Aurland once welcomed British salmon anglers in the 19th century. Today, it offers 22 rooms in a variety of categories and historic buildings, all located next to each other in the heart of Aurland, just steps from a bakery, shoemaker, and glassblower. The main hotel offers single, double, and superior rooms with various configurations that blend contemporary decor with antiques. For those seeking more space, apartment options are available, including a row of modern fisherman’s cabins with balconies facing the fjord, equipped with kitchenettes, living rooms, and two bedrooms.
A light, elegant breakfast spread is offered each morning in the charming **Aabelheim House** for hotel guests (but not those staying in the units with kitchenettes). For other meals, guests can dine at the hotel’s gastropub, which offers indoor and outdoor seating and serves locally-sourced meat and seafood, as well as housemade pizzas. Guests can take a dip in the fjord by using a hidden beach next to the cabins, while a larger beach is a short walk away. Alternatively, they can relax with a book in the private garden surrounded by flowering plants.
**Eikum Hotel: Stepping Back in Time in Luster**
For a standard accommodation option that offers a glimpse into another era, the **Eikum Hotel** in Luster is an excellent choice. This 100-plus-year-old hotel has been owned and operated since 1919, when it only had two beds to offer to its first English guests. Today, there are 59 rooms with simple, traditional decor that may include clapboard walls, carpeting, and locally woven textiles from previous family members who ran the place. Breakfast is included, and the spacious restaurant prepares a two-course dinner each evening during the summer months, featuring a local pudding specialty for dessert.
The **Eikum Hotel** maintains a quiet vibe during the day when most guests are out exploring. However, don’t be surprised to encounter a traditional Norwegian wedding on Saturdays, complete with colorful costumes and a vintage bus. The hotel is located within an hour’s drive of the Jostedal Glacier (for activities and tours), the **Sognefjellet National Tourist Road**, the **Breheimsenterent Glacier Center**, and the Norwegian Glacier Museum. During warmer months, the staff can readily recommend hiking and biking trails in the area and can arrange fishing permits for **Lake Hafslo**, which is located just steps from the hotel.
These historic hotels of the Sognefjord offer more than just a place to stay; they provide an opportunity to connect with the past, experience the local culture, and immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty of this unique region. Whether you’re seeking luxury, charm, or a glimpse into a bygone era, you’re sure to find the perfect historic hotel to make your trip to the Sognefjord unforgettable.
B-1883