He grew up on the family boatyard in tiny Hyen and spent his teenage summers in production. Then Torstein Bergheim Aa drew Vision of the Fjords, Ship of the Year 2016, and Birdbox, the cabin on stilts the whole world fell for. Two very different designs, one idea: let the landscape be the star. “We’re just framing what’s already there,” he says. Read the full Voices of the Fjords interview.
National Geographic has named Vestland on Norway’s west coast one of 25 destinations on its “Best of the World 2027” list. The Hardangerfjord, Folgefonna, Trolltunga, the Nærøyfjord, Bergen’s Bryggen and the Michelin-starred restaurant Gaptrast are highlighted. “A great confirmation of the qualities we have to offer,” says Stein Ove Rolland, CEO of Fjord Norway.
Marianne Skjelbred left Norway's east coast for Bergen in 2002 and never left. From one small gallery near Bryggen, her light-filled paintings now reach collectors in 60 countries, several of whom became real friends — met over boat cruises in South Carolina and a standing invite to Dubai. Next: a fjord series, a bigger gallery in 2027, and her songs and poems becoming a book.
Fjord Norway is the heart of Nordic luxury: 9 of Norway’s 16 MICHELIN Key hotels for 2026 are here, holding 11 of the country’s 18 Keys – including both two-Key hotels, Storfjord Hotel and Walaker Hotel. Newcomers Lilløy Lindenberg and Beckerwyc House join the 2026 list. Here, luxury means a strong sense of place: historic family hotels, design retreats and spectacular fjord scenery.
At 21, Karen Kyllesø skied solo and unsupported to the South Pole — 1,130 km through -40°C, alone for 53 days — becoming the youngest person ever to do it. Raised on skis and hunting trails in Ryfylke, she carried the region's outdoor spirit all the way to Antarctica, then brought it home to Hjelmeland. Voices of the Fjords meets Norway's youngest polar record-holder.
Rødne's new all-electric catamaran Rygerlys has arrived in Forsand for commissioning, testing charging infrastructure and Lysefjord wharfs before entering service. "Rygerlys is an important contribution to emission-free public transport in Rogaland, serving the Lysefjord route for ten years," says Kolumbus CEO Christina Stangeland.
In Voss, a Norwegian mountain town in the Hardanger region, a sheep's-head feast and an extreme-sports week both turn up as murder scenes. Crime writer Randi Fuglehaug, co-creator of the Netflix hit Royalteen, sets her Agnes Tveit trilogy in the fjord town she grew up in - and keeps coming back, book after book, to the landscape and traditions that shaped her.
On a breakwater ten kilometres out to sea, Line Nicolaysen bought a derelict building she'd never even seen. Fifteen years, one sister, one quiet but steadfast father, and a restored boathouse later, this wild outpost on Smøla has become a home Line shares with fellow nature lovers. "Veiholmen decides how close it lets you get, not you," she says. Read the full Voices of the Fjords interview.
Rundt 40 ungdommer fra hele Europa kommer til Fjordkysten Regional- og Geopark når den 22. International Junior Ranger Camp arrangeres 17.–24. juli. Gjennom praktiske aktiviteter lærer deltakerne om natur- og kulturforvaltning, samtidig som de deler erfaringer, bygger nettverk og blir kjent med landskapet og lokalsamfunnene langs Fjordkysten.
Fjord Norwegen ist eines der spektakulärsten Fahrziele der Welt - und genau deshalb startet Fjord Norway gemeinsam mit der Polizei UP Vest und der Provinz Vestland eine Verkehrssicherheitskampagne für internationale Autobesucher. Ein Kurzfilm und eine Broschüre auf Englisch und Deutsch informieren Reisende dort, wo sie es brauchen: im Mietwagen, auf der Fähre, vor dem ersten Tunnel.
From the world's largest extreme sports festival in Voss to Tall Ships filling Stavanger's harbour, John Legend at Moldejazz and Lewis Capaldi at Bergenfest – Fjord Norway's summer 2026 is packed with unmissable events across 12 destinations, from Haugesund to Ålesund. Full event guide available.
In our latest Voices of the Fjords episode, we meet Frøydis Akse — master mariner turned Viking Age guide — on her family farm in Hyllestad, where millstone quarries and ancient fjords tell a story far deeper than any TV drama. She talks about the women history forgot, the skills that shaped a civilisation, and why the real Viking story is alive on the Fjord Coast.
At the prestigious Michelin Guide ceremony in Denmark, the Bergen region once again received new stars. This time, Mirabelle by Ørjan Johannessen in Bekkjarvik was awarded one star, while Gaptrast advanced from one to two stars.
In recent years, Bergen has distinguished itself as a culinary city, and Monday’s ceremony marks yet another milestone for the restaurant scene in the region. The award
"If a motif isn't good enough to be worn in twenty years, I don't print it." Kant is thirteen years old, still no discounts, still no trends. Just timeless design, printed by hand, on a colourful street in Stavanger.
Cityboat goes green with electric harbour cruises. Newly formed Cityboat — a joint venture between Norwegian express boat company Rødne and tourism expert Viking Adventure — has ordered the electric "Hyke F-15 Shuttle". The 15-metre vessel, built in Hardanger, will offer silent, emission-free experiences around Haugesund's scenic island archipelago from late 2026.
Roald Aga Haug is no ordinary mayor. Since 2021 he has been marrying couples on Trolltunga — a cliff 700 metres above the Hardangerfjord. Around 40 weddings later, his bold idea has drawn couples from across the world to one of Norway's most breathtaking and unforgettable settings.
German comedian and author Nikita Miller found unexpected inspiration in Ryfylke, Fjord Norway. Drawn by the region’s silence, nature and slower rhythm, he moved from Germany’s comedy stages to a life shaped by fjords, forests and reflection. Today he balances touring with a creative home by the fjord, where nature fuels his writing and perspective.
Rødne Fjord Cruise is investing NOK 140 million in a new hybrid sightseeing vessel for fjord cruises from Bergen. The catamaran Rygerstraum, built by Oma Baatbyggeri and delivered in 2027, will carry up to 282 passengers. Running partly on batteries, it will reduce emissions and support more sustainable tourism in Western Norway.
Fjord Norway welcomes spring 2026 with a vibrant calendar of events from March to May. Highlights include the launch of the historic Myklebust Viking ship in Nordfjord, international festivals such as MaiJazz and Nordic Light, One Ocean Week in Bergen, and the iconic Hardanger blossom season – combining culture, heritage and spectacular fjord landscapes.
Austrian Airlines will launch a direct route from Vienna to Bergen starting summer 2026, responding to increasing Austrian interest in Norway's fjords. The route enhances travel convenience for exploring the iconic landscapes, supporting the growing trend of Austrian tourism in the region.
