Making the most of Hellesylt Sunnylvsfjord
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
A brand new cruise pier has been built, allowing for easy access into Hellesylt. The largest of cruise ships are able to dock now.
When more than one cruise ship is in port, you might be tendered in.
Hellesylt is not a large village, but it is a starting point for overland tours. In most cases, you don’t take the tender into this port unless you have a tour departing from this point. When you are docked you will be allowed to disembark.
Geiranger and Hellesylt are tandem ports: At either one of the ports you will stop only for a few hours to tender passengers who book the overland tour to the other port, where your ship will stay longer. More often you will be able to disembark for a few hours at both ports.
Hellesylt is a small village in the municipality of Stranda in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village lies at the head of the Sunnylvsfjord, which is a branch of the Storfjord, and which the more famous Geirangerfjord in turn branches off nearby. The village has a population of around 260. In the summertime, thousands of tourists travel through or stay in Hellesylt each day.
The focal point of the town is the large water fall in the center.
Getting around
Everyone who has done a cruise organized overland tour to Geiranger seems to love it - but agrees it's exhausting. The time in port is not extensive (about 2 hours) and if it's a tendering port so it takes a bit longer.
You also can get off the ship by yourself and take the local ferry that goes up the fjord to Geiranger. There is Norwegian music playing and offers yummy baked goods and coffee from the little snack bar on board.
The cruise line might tell you that the tenders will be only for cruise organized excursions but that's not really true.
Of course the cruise liner itself will also sail to Geiranger, so the above ferry is only of interest if you want to be among the locals and feel the typical Norwegian atmosphere.
As the weather in Norway can be very unpredictable, make sure to check the cancellation policies in case of inclement weather. It is no fun driving around in the clouds.
Food and shopping
A few souvenir shops, an Devold outlet store and a few supermarkets.
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!
Staying connected
At the tourist office located at the Peer Gynt cafe, located next to the Coop supermarket, which is easily visible from every where, fast WiFi is available when ordering a drink. Ask for the log-in key at the counter. As you are there you might as well visit the Oddvin Parr woodcarving exhibit, depicting the Peer Gynt story in floor to ceiling wood carvings.
Opening Hours and
Most stores are open when a cruise ship is in town.