Norway’s 5 Longest Fjords
Norway doesn’t show off in one single way. It stretches out. A fjord can run for hours past villages and waterfalls, then narrow into dark rock walls where clouds hang low and the water turns ink-blue. Another opens wide with islands and sea air, closer to the coast than the mountains. The farther a fjord reaches, the more the trip changes with it: longer distances, shifting weather, different light, and a new rhythm to the day. These five fjords are Norway’s longest, and each one feels like its own world.
Norway’s 5 Longest Fjords at a Glance
Norway’s longest fjords look similar on a map, but they behave differently in real life. Some cut deep into steep valleys, others stay wider and feel more coastal. Region changes the scenery, the weather, and how you plan a day. Below, each fjord uses the same format for quick comparison.
Sognefjord - Norway’s Longest Fjord
Location: Western Norway (Vestland)
Closest major base: Bergen
Length: 204-205 km (~127 mi)
Why it stands out
Sognefjord feels like a journey, not a viewpoint. It keeps unfolding, mile after mile, with water that shifts in colour as the fjord narrows and the mountains rise higher. On calm days, the surface turns mirror-still, and the scale becomes the main event, long lines of rock and sky that make everything else feel smaller.
It’s iconic because it shows the fjord idea at full size. You get that deep West Norway atmosphere, dramatic terrain, and a sense of distance that changes how you plan the day. Sognefjord isn’t just another fjord, it’s the one that sets the reference point.
Hardangerfjord - Norway’s Second-Longest
Location: Western Norway (Vestland)
Closest major base: Bergen
Length: ~179-180 km (~111–112 mi)
Why it stands out
Hardangerfjord is known for contrast. In spring, orchards along the fjord can be in bloom while the surrounding mountains still hold snow. Waterfalls run hard as meltwater feeds the valleys, and the scenery shifts quickly between open fjord stretches and tighter mountain-backed sections.
It also has a more “lived-in” feel than many headline fjords, with small communities, farms, and shoreline roads that keep the landscape active rather than remote. That mix of fjord scale, seasonal colour, and variety is why Hardangerfjord is often a favourite for a full-day route.
Trondheimsfjord
Location: Trøndelag (Central Norway)
Closest major base: Trondheim
Length: ~130 km (~81 mi)
Why it stands out
Trondheimsfjord has a different feel than the big West Norway icons. The shoreline is generally softer and more settled, with communities, farmland, and a stronger “city fjord” connection through Trondheim. The scenery is still distinctly Norwegian, but less about sheer cliff walls and more about breadth, inlets, and a calmer profile.
Because it sits around one of Norway’s key cities, it’s often experienced as part of a broader Trondheim trip rather than a pure fjord-only mission. It suits travellers who want a fjord setting with culture, dining, and urban history close by.
Porsangerfjorden
Location: Finnmark (Northern Norway)
Closest major base: Lakselv / Hammerfest
Length: ~123 km (~76 mi)
Why it stands out
Porsangerfjorden belongs to a different Norway. The scale feels more Arctic, with wider horizons, colder seasons, and a landscape that leans toward open coastline rather than steep west-coast fjord walls. Light and weather can shift quickly, and the experience is often shaped as much by season as by distance.
This is a fjord you plan around if you’re already traveling in the north. It fits road trips and longer itineraries where the goal is northern atmosphere rather than “classic” West Norway scenery.
Oslofjord
Location: Southeast Norway (Oslo region)
Closest major base: Oslo
Length: ~100–120 km (~62–75 mi)
Why it stands out
Oslofjord works differently from the West Norway fjords. The landscape is more coastal and island-based, with a gentler shoreline and a strong city connection through Oslo. It’s often experienced through short cruises, island hopping, and waterfront life rather than long runs between steep mountain walls.
Length figures vary because “Oslofjord” can refer to different sections (inner vs outer). Regardless of definition, the character stays consistent; it’s a fjord-shaped seaway tied closely to Norway’s capital and its archipelago.
