Making the most of Balestrand
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The dock is within walking distance of town.
Printable maps to take along on the cruise.
Towering snow-covered mountains and beautiful, lush fjord scenery as far as the eye can see. It is easy to understand why the Norwegian fjords were voted the "World's Best Travel Destination" in 2004. On the northern shores of the Sognefjord, located at Balholm in Balestrand you will find the tranquil Kviknes Hotel. With inn-keeping traditions dating back to 1752 and a popular tourist destination since the mid 19th century, this hotel is one of the reasons why Balestrand to this day keeps its position as one of the most renowned tourist resorts in Norway.
Sognefjord Aquarium is now closed permanently but it has since been used as an art gallery and even space.
Getting around
Daily departures by ferry from Balestrand take you to the magnificent Fjærlandsfjord and on arrival, after a short bus ride, the most breathtaking scenery awaits you. Fjærland is a friendly little village, known for its eye-catching architecture and the spectacular mountain and glacier views, a true favorite among artists. A visit to the award-winning glacier museum comes highly recommended as well as a stroll through this charming village known for its arts & crafts and second-hand book shops.
Money
The Norwegian currency is the Norwegian crown (Norske krone), abbreviated kr. A 1/100th krone is called øre. 1.00 EUR = about 9 NOK. Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world!
ATM's in Norway are called Minibank.
Nearly all stores accept major credit cards such as Mastercard and Visa (Bring your passport/driver's license, as you are required to identify yourself when using a credit card).
Staying connected
Norwegian is the official language of Norway. The language is very close and mutually intelligible with the two other Scandinavian languages, English is widely spoken.
Most Norwegian households are connected to the internet in some way (often broadband), making Cybercafés hard to find outside major cities, due to a relatively small market. Most public libraries have free public access to the internet. WiFi is in many spots (not free).
Opening Hours and
Opening hours in Norway are better than they used to be but many smaller stores still close early on Saturday (1 PM or 3 PM is typical) and nearly everything is closed on Sundays. You'll often see opening hours written as "9-21 (9-18)" on doors, meaning 9 AM to 9 PM weekdays, 9 AM to 6 PM Saturday.