Eidfjord between fjord trails, water and history

Eidfjord combines trails with views of the village, historic sites and experiences by the water. You can choose a different focus when planning your holiday: combine a walk from the village centre with a view over Eidfjord, explore the area’s history, or make the bathing spot and boat trips the centrepiece of your visit. There is also a specific opportunity to go cycling locally.

On foot: Eio, the fjord and a viewpoint

The Hereidsvegen–Hereid–Hodna–Eidfjordvatnet trail starts in the centre. It follows Hereidsvegen and passes through Hereid, running along the Eio River. The route is about 5 km long and reaches the Hodna viewpoint. From there, you can see much of the village. If you are looking for a trail with a clearly defined viewpoint, this route has a course and approximate length that are easy to factor into your day’s plans.

Another walking option is the Lægreid trail. It also starts in the centre, follows the fjord and offers a view of the Old Church. The walk is estimated to take about an hour. This gives you two differently described trails to choose from: for the route via Hereid, the course, approximate length and viewpoint are specified; for the Lægreid trail, the route along the fjord, the view of the church and the approximate duration are the main reference points.

Church and burial sites as historic destinations

The Eidfjord Old Church is a stone church dating from 1309 and a church dedicated to St James. It is believed to be the only surviving church dedicated to St James in Norway today. The church is in Lægreid in Eidfjord, with parking available for cars and buses. Group tours can be arranged by appointment. Anyone interested in the history of religious buildings will find a specific historic site to visit here.

Another glimpse into the past awaits at the Hæreid Iron Age burial site. It comprises 350 graves dating from 400 to 1000 AD and is considered the largest collection of ancient burial sites in Western Norway. Its dates therefore span the period from the late Roman Empire to the early Middle Ages. The church and the burial site offer different points of interest: one centres on a building dating from 1309, the other on a larger group of graves spanning several centuries.

Bathing spot, open space and boat trips

Kråkeskarvet is a municipal bathing spot on Simadalsvegen, about 0.5 km from the centre of Eidfjord. Its facilities include a diving board, swimming pontoon, outdoor shower, play equipment, changing room and toilets. A sauna opened there in June 2024. These features give you specific details to consider if spending time in or by the water is among your travel interests.

Ostangen is a designated open-air recreation area at the cruise quay, next to the beach volleyball court. Ostangen Park has a five-metre-high swing—a distinctive feature for families who would also like to include play opportunities in their visits to the village. For a different way to experience Eidfjord from the water, Hardanger Fjordsafari offers tours departing from the harbour and heading either into Simadalsfjord or towards the Hardanger Bridge. The 30-minute RIB boat tours are offered for groups of 15 to 24 people. A fjord cruise starts elsewhere: it departs from the quay in Norheimsund and travels through the fjord to the village of Eidfjord.

Trip ideas to help you choose accommodation

If you would like to browse more destination pages as you plan your trip, you can also find Vøringsfoss and Øvre Eidfjord here.

For the main travel overview: Eidfjord.