Eidfjord

September 7, 2025

Eidfjord, Norway

What is a fjord? The term fjord refers to a long, narrow sea inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier.

Eidfjord, Norway. The town has a population of approximately 1000 people.

Fun Facts: Eidfjord

• The area has been inhabited since the Iron Age, with Viking Age burial mounds located near the village center. 

• The Old Eidfjord Church, a white-stone church built around 1300, is a historical landmark dwarfed by the surrounding mountains. 

• Knitted Trees:  As part of a community art project, you'll find trees along the roads with woolen trunk covers, creating a unique visual feature. 

• The small town of Eidfjord stands at the end of the Eid Fjord, a branch of the much larger Hardanger Fjord. Nearby Vøringsfossen, one of the most renowned waterfalls in Norway, has a free fall of 597’ (182 m).

We got up early (5:45am) this morning to see the beautiful fjord as we pulled into Eidfjord to dock. The sun was rising and the setting was stunning. We had coffee and pastry in the Explorer's Lounge and enjoyed the scenery and the picturesque town.

Sunrise in the Fjord

A little while later we went into town, and walked along a river that was feeding into the harbor. We were surrounded by trees, and the rushing river. Although we didn't see much wildlife, Karen did spot a bird she has only seen 1 other time, a white wagtail.

Wildlife Center:

A visit to the Norwegian Nature Center began with a breathtaking video on a wide screen that traces the water running down the river and into the harbor at Eidfjord back to its beginning in the glaciers of far away mountains. During the video we saw wildlife, ways of life in small ranches and villages, fishing for and salting fish, along with incredible scenery.

After the video we walked through the Center and saw the geologic process that formed Norway, and the natural climate changes that have occurred over hundreds of thousands of years. And finally we learned about local wildlife.

However, there wasn't a lot to take pictures of inside. But outside was a gift shop and restaurant with grass and goats on the roof! And in the restaurant we tasted the local apple cider. Evidently apple trees grow really well in this area, and so they make lots of cider.

Foodie Update: Last night was a surf and turf dinner served on the Aquavit Terrace. Yummy!

Daily Dog Section - We are having fun taking pictures of the cute dogs we see. So, we made an editorial decision that more than one dog can be in the section!

I wish we had taken a video of the black dog - his tail was wagging so fast! Adorable!

We left Eidfjord in the early evening on route to our final stop on this cruise - Bergen. We spend Monday in Bergen and then leave at 3:15am Tuesday morning (yes, that is correct, it is not a typo) to head to the airport for a 6am flight to Copenhagen and then to Florence. We may not be able to post the Bergen blog on Monday, but we'll do our best. No blog on Tuesday (travel day); then we'll pick up again on Wednesday. So grateful you've been joining our travels. Hope at some point, we made you smile, laugh, or put a warm feeling in your heart.