Tysnes: Rocky Coast, Fjord and Mountain Landscapes

On Tysnes, open rocky coastlines and heathland meet high mountains and extensive forests. The island group covers a total of 255 square kilometres, offering a wide variety of landscapes: in the west, rocks and heathland face the open sea, while in the east, the Hardangerfjord, mountains and woodland shape the character of the area. When choosing a holiday apartment in Tysnes, you can start by asking yourself which of these landscapes and experiences you want to shape your trip.

Mountain trails for different abilities

Tysnessåto is the highest mountain in the island group and a popular hiking destination. From the summit, the view stretches in every direction. The shortest ascent starts at Myrdal and follows a Sherpa-built path; it is also the steepest ascent. Hovlandsnuten offers a different specific hike: the summit is 727 metres high and provides views of Hovland, Tveit and the Kvinnherad mountains on the far side of the Onarheimsfjord. The hike begins with about half an hour on a gravel road to Vasstøl, followed by a steep path. At an easy pace, it takes about an hour and a half from the car park to the summit. These details can help you take each trail’s route into account when planning your trip.

By bike or on the water

Two cycling routes offer different experiences. The 43.5-kilometre Våge–Uggdal–Onarheim–Lunde–Våge route passes through undeveloped areas and cultural landscapes along the Onarheimsfjord and the Hardangerfjord. The 31-kilometre Våge–Flatråkervassdraget–Våge route runs through wooded areas and alongside waterways. If you would rather paddle, opportunities can be found in Flatråkervassdraget, Onarheim-vassdraget, Bårdsundet, Godøysund and by Ånuglo, among other places. This gives you a choice between cycling routes and experiences on the water, without requiring both activities to take place in the same landscapes.

Discover culture and history

Historical sites and collections on Tysnes tell stories of different eras. Årbakkavollen is an archaeological site dating from the Early Iron Age. The remains of 20 burial mounds and at least six standing stones can be seen there. Tysnes skulemuseum is housed in a school building from 1896; original school desks and furnishings are on display. The old courthouse in Uggdal has exhibitions about how people on Tysnes used to live. In Årbakka, you can visit a traditional West Norwegian rural store dating from 1898, with its shop interior preserved as it looked in the 1930s.

Memorials and sites of technological interest also offer insights into the history of the island group. The monument at Kaldafoss commemorates three British airmen who were shot down in 1941. The lime kiln at Flakka was restored in 1992 by Tysnes kulturminnelag together with the municipality. At Flakkavågen, the lime kiln is about two kilometres south of Onarheim; there is a car park and an information board by the main road. On Reksteren, the fort at Flygansvær is relatively large and well preserved. An information board with a site plan explains the fort.

Farm visits and special times to travel

Myrdal Gård makes cheese from goat’s and cow’s milk. In spring and summer, the farm welcomes visitors to its farm shop and restaurant; tours of the cheese dairy or farm can be arranged. The Tysnesfest music festival takes place every year in July. From late autumn until Easter, the open group Tysnes vinterbading also meets once a month on Saturdays at 12 noon at the bathing jetty in Våge harbour. These regular events may be a factor when choosing when to travel.

Getting there and other places

From Bergen, you can reach Tysnes by taking the ferry from Halhjem to Våge. There is also a scheduled bus from Bergen bus station to the ferry terminal. To get your bearings on Tysnes, you can also take a closer look at the places Tysnes, Hope, Hovland, Lundegrend, Flatråker, Uggdal, Onarheim and Reksteren.

For the broader travel overview: Hordaland.