Best things to do in Balestrand

Balestrand Essentials

Balestrand sits at the junction of the Sognefjord and Esefjord, defined by its historic architecture and Viking heritage. This selection features the English-style St. Olaf’s Church and the 19th-century octagonal Tjugum Church. Explore the legendary burial mound and statue of King Bele, a figure from the Norse sagas commissioned by Kaiser Wilhelm II. The list also includes the modernist Utsikten viewpoint on the Gaularfjellet scenic route and local cultural venues like the Sognefjord Aquarium.

Balestrand Essentials — Map

Samuli Lintula / CC BY 2.5

A

Sognefjord

The Sognefjord or Sognefjorden, nicknamed the King of the Fjords, is the largest and deepest fjord in Norway.

Jim Nicholls / CC-BY-SA

B

St. Olaf's Church, Balestrand

St. Olaf's Church is an Anglican church in the village of Balestrand in Sogndal Municipality in the county of Vestland in Norway.

75490651 / CC-BY-SA

C

Utsikten

A modernist concrete viewing platform located at the summit of Gaularfjellet. It offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the hairpin turns of the scenic road below.

Unknown / Public domain

D

Kong Bele

A bronze statue of the legendary King Bele, a figure from the Frithjof Saga. The monument was a gift from the German Emperor Wilhelm II and was erected in 1913.

Unknown / Public domain

E

Gravhaugen til Kong Bele

A traditional Viking burial mound attributed to the legendary King Bele. The site is a significant landmark connected to the Norse sagas that inspired 19th-century romanticism in the region.

F

Tjugum kyrkje

An octagonal wooden parish church built in 1863. It stands on the shore of the fjord on a site that has been used for local worship since the Middle Ages.

G

Sognefjord akvarium

A local aquarium featuring the marine life and ecosystems specific to the Sognefjord, including native fish species and educational displays about the fjord's depth.

H

Det Gylne Hus

An art gallery and studio showcasing local artwork, frequently featuring landscape paintings and sculptures inspired by the surrounding Norwegian fjords.