"The excursion is very comprehensive. I loved the waterfalls and the fantastic fjord cruise. The small size of the cruise ship allows you to get close to waterfalls and places of interest."

Gudvangen · Nærøyfjord · Norway
A staffed, reconstructed Viking-age village at the head of the Nærøyfjord — here's what it actually is, and every real way to get there.
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The Experience
The village behind almost every 'Gudvangen Viking Village' tour and search result.
Pick based on how much of the day you have and whether you want a guide.
A coach or minibus collects you in Bergen and drives the fjord road to Gudvangen — about 2.5 hours each way — usually bundled with a Nærøyfjord cruise and the Flåm Railway on the way back.
Njardarheimr sells its own entrance tickets at the door, so if you're already driving Norway's west coast you can simply turn up during opening hours and pay on arrival — no tour booking required.
Gudvangen sits about 17–20 minutes' drive from Flåm along the E16, or a similar distance by the passenger boat that runs the length of the Nærøyfjord between the two.
A one-off visitor based in Bergen with no car gets the most value from the guided combo tour; a driver already in the Flåm/Aurland area is often better off going independently.
Photo Gallery
The longhouses, workshops and harbor at Gudvangen.










Guided combo tour, self-drive gate ticket, or a Bergen-based tour without a car.
| Feature | RECOMMENDED Guided Village, Cruise & Railway Tour | Self-Drive, Gate Ticket | Bergen Departure, No Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Village Entry | ✓ Guided walk through Njardarheimr included | ✓ Pay at the gate, explore independently | ✓ Guided walk included |
| Transport | ✓ Roundtrip coach from Bergen included | Bring your own car — 2.5 hours each way from Bergen, 17–20 min from Flåm | ✓ Roundtrip coach from Bergen included |
| Nærøyfjord Cruise & Flåm Railway | ✓ Both included in one ticket | Book separately at the dock/station if wanted | ✓ Both included in one ticket |
| Guide | ✓ English-speaking guide for the full day | No guide — self-paced | ✓ English-speaking guide for the full day |
| Best For | Bergen-based visitors without a car | Travelers already driving near Gudvangen, Flåm or Voss | Bergen-based visitors without a car |
| Starting Price | From $434/per person | ~NOK 695 family gate ticket, cruise & railway separate | From $434/person, most inclusions bundled |
| Book Now | See the Route | View Options |
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The Destination
Njardarheimr, not a museum — a staffed living-history site at the end of a fjord.
Search “Gudvangen Viking Village” and the name that actually comes up on-site is Njardarheimr — Gudvangen is the small settlement at the head of the Nærøyfjord where the village sits, not the village’s own name. It’s worth knowing the difference before you search further, because most operators and review sites use the two interchangeably.
Njardarheimr is a working reconstruction of a Viking-age settlement: turf-roofed longhouses, a blacksmith’s forge, animal pens, and a small harbor where reconstructed Viking ships are moored. It’s staffed daily by people in Viking-age dress who work the forge, spin wool, and cook over open fires — closer to a living-history site than a museum you walk through on your own. The village sells its own entrance tickets at the gate and is open most of the year (shorter hours in winter), so a visit doesn’t require booking a tour in advance if you’re arriving independently.
Gudvangen sits at the innermost point of the Nærøyfjord, part of the West Norwegian Fjords UNESCO World Heritage site, and at the base of a steep valley on the E16 highway. That location is what makes it awkward to reach casually: it’s roughly 2.5 hours by road from Bergen, but only about 17–20 minutes from Flåm, on the opposite end of the same fjord. Anyone planning around Gudvangen benefits from knowing which of those two reference points they’re actually closer to. Our Gudvangen vs Flåm guide breaks down what each town actually offers if you’re deciding where to base yourself.
If you’re staying in Bergen without a car, the guided day tour is the practical option — it handles the 5-hour round-trip drive, bundles a Nærøyfjord cruise and the Flåm Railway into the same day, and includes the guided village walk. See our full tour breakdown for the itinerary.
If you already have a car in the area — especially if you’re based nearer Flåm or Voss than Bergen — going independently and paying at the gate is often the better fit. Our tickets guide covers what that costs and what it doesn’t include (namely, the cruise and railway, which are separate bookings if you want them).
If you’re specifically searching from a Flåm base, see our dedicated Viking Village tours from Flåm page — the honest version of what “departing from Flåm” actually means for this trip.
That’s a fair question for a site that’s genuinely out of the way relative to Bergen. We answer it directly, with the tradeoffs laid out, in Is Gudvangen Viking Village worth visiting? — and if you want the numbers on doing it yourself versus taking the guided tour, our tour vs. self-drive comparison has the full breakdown.
Check availability for the guided village, cruise & railway tour →
Guest Reviews
Ratings and review counts are the tour operators' live figures on GetYourGuide and may shift slightly day to day.
"The excursion is very comprehensive. I loved the waterfalls and the fantastic fjord cruise. The small size of the cruise ship allows you to get close to waterfalls and places of interest."

"What a packed itinerary!!! A wonderful day trip from Bergen! Quick walk around scenic town of Voss the Bergen railway to Myrdal, then historic Flam railway to Flam - passing amazing views of the mountain valleys and rivers and waterfalls (including everyone getting off the train to see the Kjosfossen waterfall!) - then onto a cruise in Naeroyfjord, then off at Gudvangen for a guided tour of the Viking village (very interesting to hear historic elements that are true), then Tvindefossen waterfall on the way back to Bergen! The rainy weather didn’t detract from the enjoyment and made for some moody photos! Anita our guide and Michael our driver took very good care of us and gave us lots of interesting information!"
"Was a fantastic trip and a great way to take in the spectacular scenery. Maria and Michael were so friendly and knowledgeable and really heightened the experience."
"Maria, our guide, was very good. Provided a very interesting commentary during the trip and ensured the group was well looked after. Scenery was superb as was transportation including the coach, ferry and train. Long day owing to Bergen train option not available on return journey, not excursion operator's fault."
"Of course, the nature and the fjord are UNESCO sites. I can't rate the guide, as I don't understand much English, but the others were enthusiastic."

"I really enjoyed the cruise in the fjord, the Flamsbana, and the friendliness and professionalism of the guides Tracy and Linda. The visit to the Viking village needs to be improved. It should be a little more engaging, perhaps focusing more on Nordic myths and legends. I also expected it to be located on a fjord or at least near the water."
"Tracy and Linda were absolutely fabulous, warm, friendly and professional. We were blessed with sunny warm weather so unfortunately the waterfalls weren't as spectacular as they would be in less ideal weather lol I think the only things that could have made the trip better was if we had been instructed to close the curtains before leaving the bus for the Viking village to keep some of the sun's heat from turning the bus into an oven (rarely a problem I believe 😜.) My other suggestion would be to have a rule about not having strong smells about you. Some people are very sensitive to perfumes and the clinging cigarette stink that seems to hold onto some people. I guess that isn't a policable issue, but having a caution might make people think twice about wearing a lot of perfume and wearing just laundered clothing and showering if the smoke before going on this excursion. In hot confined spaces like buses and train compartments it can cause motion sickness and ruin their experience."

"Excellent coordination during a very extensive tour. The guide was fantastic, with extensive knowledge and well-prepared for the task. It's best to take the tour at the beginning of your stay, because it provides a lot of interesting facts and tips. The driver was also fantastic and very dedicated to the tour. Great women and excellent organization. If at least one refreshment was included in the price, it would be perfect."

Read all 1409 verified reviews
See All ReviewsThe most-booked route to Gudvangen bundles the guided village walk with a Nærøyfjord cruise and the Flåm Railway, all from Bergen. Starting from $434 per person.
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Everything to know about Njardarheimr before you plan a visit.
The village's actual name is Njardarheimr. 'Gudvangen Viking Village' describes its location — Gudvangen, a small settlement at the head of the Nærøyfjord — rather than the site's own name, which is why both names turn up in searches and reviews.
Yes, though hours are shorter in winter. It generally runs longer hours from spring through autumn and a reduced schedule from November to March, and it closes for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Check the current season's hours before a self-drive visit, since there's no guide to confirm it for you.
You can visit independently — Njardarheimr sells entrance tickets at the gate, so a self-drive visit needs no advance booking. A guided tour is the better fit if you're based in Bergen without a car, since it also bundles transport, a Nærøyfjord cruise and the Flåm Railway into one trip.
About 2.5 hours by road each way, which is why nearly every Bergen-departure tour treats it as a full-day trip rather than a half-day excursion.
Around 17–20 minutes by road, or a similar distance by the passenger boat that runs the length of the Nærøyfjord between the two. See our tours from Flåm page for the full detail.
Turf-roofed longhouses, a working blacksmith's forge, animal pens, and a small harbor with reconstructed Viking ships. Staff in Viking-age dress demonstrate ironworking, wool-spinning and cooking, and a guided walk through the site is included on every combo tour on this site.
Yes — you'll see the site referred to as both 'Njardarheimr' and 'Viking Valley' across different booking platforms and travel sites. It's the same location in Gudvangen.
The village itself welcomes children, and interactive elements like handcraft demonstrations tend to appeal to them. Some bundled coach tours have their own age restrictions for the transport portion — check the specific tour's policy if traveling with a young child.
The Nærøyfjord, a UNESCO-listed fjord, and the Flåm Railway are both within easy reach and are what most guided tours combine with the village. See our Gudvangen vs. Flåm page for how the two towns compare.
Still have questions? Email us at info@bergenvikingvillagetours.com
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