Vøringsfossen- Visiting One of Norway’s Most Famous Waterfalls

When cruising Norway’s fjords, I saw many beautiful waterfalls but none as spectacular and dramatic as Vøringsfossen (Voring Falls), one of the best-known waterfalls in Norway.

I got to enjoy an up-close look at Vøringsfossen during a shore excursion from Eidfjord, a wonderful port of call on my Norway cruise itinerary. Before I share my experience visiting Vøringsfossen, here’s some interesting information about the waterfall.

About Vøringsfossen

Vøringsfossen is a five-tiered waterfall formed by the Bjoreio River tumbling down from the Hardangervidda plateau into the scenic Måbødalen Valley. With a total drop of 182 m/597 ft, Vøringsfossen is ranked as the 83rd highest waterfall in Norway. Of the waterfall’s total height, 163 m/535 ft is its longest drop and 145 m/475 ft is a vertical plunge.

Vøringsfossen’s impressive size and location make it one of Norway’s most famous waterfalls, but it wasn’t widely known until the late 1800s when a hotel was built beside the top of the waterfall. It became even more popular in the early 1900s when cruise ships started to visit Eidfjord.

Today the waterfall is one of the main attractions in Eidfjord. It is frequently visited by cruise ship passengers on excursions and travellers driving the Norwegian Scenic Route Hardangervidda (Road 7) between Haugastøl and Eidfjord.

Visiting Vøringsfossen- My Experience

My trip to Vøringsfossen was part of a tour from Eidfjord that also visited the Sysen Dam and Hardangervidda. During the bus ride, the guide shared some information about Vøringsfossen so that when we arrived we would have time to explore the area’s viewpoints and trails on our own. The bus dropped us off at the parking lot near the Fossli Hotel by the top of the falls so it was a short, easy walk to the upper viewpoints. 

I started my visit by walking to the main viewpoint directly across from the hotel and was greeted with a remarkable view of Vøringsfossen at the top of the Måbødalen Valley. Initially, I couldn’t decide what I was more impressed by- the deep, rocky valley or the two waterfalls flowing down each side to meet below in the Bjoreio River.   

This first viewpoint was a great spot to see Vøringsfossen’s height and powerful vertical plunge. I took so many pictures here because every couple of steps I’d get a slightly different view I wanted to capture.

Walking further along the fenced viewing area my attention shifted away from the valley up to the Bjoreio River as it flowed toward the waterfall. I noticed a unique bridge crossing the river and some more trails on the other side of the waterfall that I hoped to check out later.

Next, I followed a trail leading away from the hotel into a treed area and came to a viewpoint opposite the falls. This one offered a wonderful vantage point of the front of the waterfall, the river and its bridges, and the surrounding hills. 

I wanted to visit the viewpoints on the other side of the valley so I headed back towards the hotel then followed the path into another forested area. The downhill trail was rocky and uneven so I had to be careful while hurrying to the lookouts.

The first part of this trail offered views of the brink of Vøringsfossen’s vertical plunge and the long, narrow waterfall on the other side of the valley. It was a nice view, but I preferred the one from the other side of the valley.

Further down the hill, I came to the step bridge that crosses the Bjoreio River to connect the paths and viewpoints at Fossli to those at Fossatromma. The steel bridge has 99 steps spanning 47 m with a height difference of 16 m between ends. 

From the bridge, I could see the waterfall’s tiers before the steep plunge into the valley. I really liked the scenery here and thought it was worth the walk, but unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to visit the viewpoints on the Fossatromma side.

Final Thoughts About Vøringsfossen

I always enjoy seeing waterfalls so I wasn’t surprised by how much I enjoyed visiting Vøringsfossen.

I was impressed by the long drop of the waterfall, the stunning Måbødalen Valley, and the amount of viewpoints to admire the falls. It was great to see the falls from the front, the side, and the brink while going on a short walk. The viewpoints and trails also help to spread the crowd out, which I appreciate.

The downside of visiting the waterfall as part of a tour was that I felt rushed. We got 35 minutes to visit Vøringsfossen, which was not enough time to get to all the viewpoints along the trails as I wanted to. If you only want to see the falls from the upper viewpoints by the hotel, then half an hour is enough, but I had to hurry to get down to the step bridge and back in time to catch the bus (I was late, but thankfully I didn’t get left behind!) I would have preferred to visit Vøringsfossen independently, or at least be given an hour there as part of a tour.

Even though I didn’t get as much time as I wished at the waterfall, seeing Vøringsfossen was still the highlight of my day in Eidfjord.

Accommodations in Eidfjord

For your convenience, here is a list of hotels in Eidfjord. Please consider booking your Eidfjord accommodations through the included link. It costs nothing extra and helps support this website. Thank you!

Tours to Vøringsfossen

Here is a trusted site that has a selection of tours to Vøringsfossen. You can book a day trip or multiday tour, several of which start in Bergen.

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