Vøringsfossen with Kids: Norway's Most Famous Waterfall (and the Perfect Day Trip from Bergen)
- minna
- 7 hours ago
- 6 min read
If you are planning a trip to Bergen, then a day trip to Vøringsfossen is a must! It's about 2,5 hours from Bergen, and it was one of our favourite spots on our 2-week Norwegian road trip. The waterfall is located in beautiful mountains near the small town Eidfjord and has an enormous 182 metre drop.
The viewpoints are easily accessed with ramps and steps around the rim and there is parking right next to the gorge, so this waterfall doesn't involve any hiking and is perfectly doable with young kids! The whole thing takes about ten minutes to walk, and the entire site is securely fenced along the cliff edge. You can use a baby carrier or easily let a toddler walk themselves the entire way. The only thing you should leave behind in the car is the pram, because there are lots of steps.
Getting to the Waterfall
Vøringsfossen is located in the beautiful Mabødalen valley in the Hardangerfjord region, which is about a 20 minute drive from Eidfjord. It is technically a slight detour if you are heading from Eidfjord over to Bergen, as the road goes in the opposite direction, but I promise you it is absolutely worth it!
Google Maps will take you directly to the car park at Fossli, which is right at the very top of the waterfall. There are two distinct viewpoint areas accessible from here. The main platform gives you a face on view of the full drop from above. A second viewpoint further along the cliff edge gives you the side angle and looks straight down into the gorge below. Both are spectacular and worth seeing.
There are also clean toilets in the car park and a small café selling hot drinks and basic food, which is useful to know if you are arriving hungry from Eidfjord! If you've hired an electric car and drained the battery on your way here, there are plenty of charging points in the car park where you can charge up.
We stopped here on day nine of our Oslo to Bergen road trip, after spending the night in Eidfjord the day before. Whether you choose to spend the night in Eidfjord, like us or just pass by, make sure to stop by Vik Bakery on your way and grab one of their delicious cardamom buns! They also had lovely focaccia sandwiches which we grabbed as a takeaway lunch. You won't need much more than an hour at Vøringsfossen, and if you're continuing to Bergen, I would recommend taking the scenic route (Google Maps will recommend a different, slightly faster route!) tand stop at Steindalsfossen on the way.
When to go: Summer is the peak season and the waterfall is at its absolute most dramatic when snowmelt from the Hardangervidda plateau is at its highest. We visited in July and and the volume of water in the waterfall was incredible! Spring and early autumn are also good months as it's less busy. In winter, access completely depends on the weather and road conditions. The main car park area is open year round, but always check locally before visiting in the colder shoulder seasons.
Navigating the Viewpoints with a Toddler
From the car park, a paved path leads along the cliff top directly to the main viewing platform. The walk is very short, well maintained, and has a sturdy railing along all the exposed sections. A child who can walk steadily can easily do this themselves. A toddler who cannot be trusted near edges will obviously need a hand to hold, but there is nothing technically difficult about the terrain at all.
The main platform gives you the full scale view of the waterfall. A second path leads to a further viewpoint position where you can look along the length of the gorge and get a totally different angle on the fall. This does involve a few more steps but is still very manageable for little legs. If your time and toddler patience allow for it, definitely do both.
The spectacular sky bridge that opened in 2020 is a suspended footbridge right above the gorge with direct views down onto the waterfall. It is without a doubt the most dramatic vantage point. It does involve a steeper descent down some steps to reach it, so popping a younger toddler into a carrier for this specific section makes perfect sense, even if you did not need one for the main platform.
How Long to Allow
About 45 minutes to an hour is more than enough here. This gives you enough time to walk to both viewpoints slowly, let your toddler have a proper look, take plenty of photographs without rushing, and stop at the café if needed. If you are including the sky bridge descent, just add another 20 minutes.
Combining Vøringsfossen with Other Stops
With Eidfjord: Eidfjord village is just 20 minutes away and is the most natural base for a Vøringsfossen visit. The village sits at the innermost point of the Eidfjord fjord and is a quiet, lovely place to spend a night. There are also some great cider houses near here - we did a tasting at Lofthus Sideri about 45 minutes from Eidfjord.
With Steindalsfossen: On the road heading from Vøringsfossen towards Bergen, Steindalsfossen is about an hour away. It is a completely different kind of waterfall experience. It is a much shorter fall, but you can actually walk directly behind the cascade without getting wet! The path from the car park is completely pram friendly and takes about ten minutes. You can easily do both waterfalls in one day!
From Bergen as a day trip: Vøringsfossen is about two and a half hours from Bergen, which makes it a long but completely doable day trip if you are based in the city. Make sure you take the scenic route via Hardangerveien rather than the E16. The spectacular drive is a huge part of the trip! You pass through the beautiful orchard country of Hardanger, right along the fjord edges, and up into the mountain plateau.
With the Hardangervidda National Park: The massive plateau above Vøringsfossen is part of the Hardangervidda, which is the largest national park in Norway. If you're into hiking, there are several hiking trails in Hardangervidda, most famous is the spectacular Trolltunga hike.
Quick Survival Tips for Visiting
Leave the pram at the car: The ramps and steps at the viewpoints are completely manageable for small walking children, but they are incredibly frustrating for a pushchair.
Bring a carrier just in case: A carrier for the steep sky bridge section is useful, even if it is not essential for the main flat viewing platform.
Pack an extra layer: Bring a warm jumper even in the height of summer. The gorge creates its own freezing microclimate and the heavy mist from the waterfall makes it feel significantly cooler than the surrounding landscape. We visited in July and definitely needed a light jacket at the viewpoints.
Where to Stay Near Vøringsfossen
If you want to stay near Vøringsfossen, then Eidfjord is the most natural base. Because it is a small village, availability goes quickly in the summer, so book as early as possible once your trip is confirmed!
1. Vik Pensjonat (prices from around £100 per night)
Best for: Families who want a quiet, well located guesthouse base with easy access to the fjord, and the famous cardamom buns from the bakery right next door!
Vik Pensjonat is right by the fjord in the centre of the village with stunning mountain views on three sides and a lovely waterside setting. The rooms are simple and well kept and the location means you are within easy walking distance of the village and the fjord edge. A cot is available on request for this property.
2. Eidfjord Hotel (prices from around £110 per night)
Best for: Families with older toddlers or two children who want a dedicated family room with bunk beds, a restaurant on site, and a great breakfast included.
This is a lovely small, independently run hotel right in the centre of Eidfjord. They offer great family rooms configured as a double bed plus bunk beds, which works perfectly for two children sharing. The restaurant uses great local produce meaning you will have a wide and tasty selection to choose from. You get beautiful mountain and fjord views from the rooms, free parking, and a cosy common area with an open fireplace.
3. Vøringfoss Hotel (prices from around £140 per night)
Best for: Families who want a proper full service hotel with a spa, gorgeous fjord view rooms with balconies, and a playground right on site.
This is the largest hotel in Eidfjord, right on the fjord shoreline with 81 rooms including very spacious family rooms and junior suites. There is a great playground to burn off energy, a lovely spa with massage treatments, a dinner buffet restaurant, a bar, and a huge breakfast buffet included in most rates. Several of the rooms feature private balconies facing directly onto the water. Cots and infant beds are also available.
Why You Absolutely Have To Stop Here
Vøringsfossen is the one stop on the Oslo to Bergen road trip that most people know they will visit, but completely underestimate until they are actually standing at the edge looking down at it. It entirely earns its spectacular reputation!
For the full Oslo to Bergen road trip itinerary, read our complete Norway Road Trip with Kids guide. For what to do in Bergen at the end of your route, our Top Things to Do in Bergen with Kids covers everything from the fantastic fjord cruise to Mount Fløyen!
