16 Things to do in Aurland, Norway [A Local’s Guide]

As the largest village along the Aurlandsfjord, there are lots of great things to do in Aurland, Norway! This is the village where I grew up, and I know it like the back of my hand.

So trust me, this is the best guide to activities in Aurland you can find. The village is located around 10 minutes from Flåm (or 20 minutes if you are travelling by ferry on the fjord), and should definitely be included when you visit the Aurlandsfjord region!

People tend to stay in Aurland as an alternative to Flåm, and especially when the hotels in Flåm are fully booked. However, there are many reasons you should pick Aurland as your destination by the fjords, one of them being that there are lots of great things to do here.

Additionally, Aurland is a little quieter than Flåm, with some unique options for accommodation. What’s not to love?

Want to learn more about the Aurlandsfjord area and the different villages? Head this way to read my complete guide!

16 Things to do in Aurland, Norway

As you can tell, I am quite proud of my little village, and love when travellers to the area ask me for my advice and travel tips!

Not only do I love Aurland because it is such a beautiful place, but also because there are so many great activities in the area. You’ll be able to spend days on end here without ever being bored.

Side note: my dad always told me that being bored builds character, so if you would rather spend your time staring out at the fjord, be my guest. A weekend by the fjords can be quite relaxing.

Below I have listed some of my favourite activities in the area, that you can’t miss during your trip to Aurland, Norway! Please note that I am not including activities that start in any of the other villages, even though they go through Aurland.

For example, the fjord cruise from Flåm to Gudvangen stops in Aurland, and can definitely be done from there, but I have not included it in the list. Instead, it is included in my guide to things to do in Flåm.

DID YOU KNOW? I have written and published an eBook/travel guide to Aurland, Flåm and the surrounding area! Find it here!

#1 Visit the Stegastein Viewpoint

Stegastein is quite a famous structure now, and even the toilets have won awards for their unique look. This viewpoint edged on a mountain plateau 650 metres above sea level can be found just 20 minutes from the centre of Aurland.

It offers spectacular views of the village of Aurland below, and the beautiful Aurlandsfjord and surrounding mountains.

I dare say visiting the viewpoint is one of the most popular things to do in Aurland, and so it can get quite busy up there. If you want smaller crowds, make sure to go very early in the morning (I went at 07:00 in May in order to get the photo below).

Read my complete guide to visiting Stegastein here!

How to get there

Simply follow the road up towards the Aurlandsfjellet mountain (the road itself is actually one of Norway’s National Tourist Routes), and drive until you see the viewpoint. It’s quite straight forward, but make sure to not make the mistake of taking the steeper road on the left after Hotel Aurlandsfjord. Lots of travellers do this, and end up struggling to turn around, as this leads to a few narrow dead-ends where people live. When you pass Hotel Aurlandsfjord and the road splits, stay on the left.

There is free parking available at the viewpoint (on a first-come, first-serve basis). Alternatively, there are daily bus tours from both Flåm and Aurland you can join.

If you are feeling adventurous you can also hike to Stegastein Viewpoint. This hike is steep and quite strenuous, as you crawl your way up the 650 metres from the fjord to the lookout. The hike takes around 2 hours, and the view from the top is definitely worth it!

Last, but not least – you can book a guided small group tour in advance (from Flåm or Aurland).

#2 Visit The Aurland Shoe Factory & Museum

This is a place you really don’t want to miss whilst visiting Aurland. The Aurland Shoe Factory is actually the last remaining (and operating) shoe factory in Norway! We have actually been making shoes in Aurland since the 1880s, so you can imagine we are proud of this.

Aurlands is the brand that still makes the Aurland Shoe (Aurlandsskoen), also known as the original penny loafer. People all over the world will have seen a copy of this shoe, and in the US they were even nicknamed “Weejuns”, deriving from “Norwegians”. It is said that both Michael Jackson and James Dean had a pair of these.

The Aurland Shoe Factory is not only a working factory, but also an Économusée. This means that they have dedicated a part of this working factory to displaying the history of the craftsmanship and the shoe they have made there for decades. During your visit to Aurland, you can go see the factory where the shoes are still made, and even take a pair or real Aurland Shoes home (at outlet prices).

In addition to shoes, the Aurland Shoe Factory also make other high-quality leather products, such as wallets, bags and belts. Their tote bag is really pretty, and perfect to use for a weekend getaway (in my opinion).

#3 Prest Mountain

You know there are some great hikes by the fjords, and Aurland is a great starting point for many of them. I’ve included two of my favourites here, and you can ask pretty much any local to share theirs while you are visiting.

Prest is a very popular hike amongst locals, and will give you some epic views of the fjord and villages below. The end of the hike, at a place called Røyrgrind, is the perfect place for a little midday snack.

The trailhead for the hike is located a short drive from the Stegastein viewpoint, so you can cross these two activities off your Aurland bucket list on the same day if you like. The hike to Prest takes about 3 hours round-trip.

I mean, just look at this view.

#4 Other popular Aurland Hikes

Prest is, as mentioned, one of the most popular hikes in Aurland. However, there are many other great ones, and so going on a hike whilst here (whether you are looking for something strenuous or something easier) is a must! Here are a few other favourites:

• Hovdungo Mountain Top (quite steep, but shorter than the Prest Hike)
• Dagsturhytta (a steep 25-minute climb to a small cabin open for visitors all year-round)
• Skytebana (one of my favourite Sunday hikes! This is an easy hike where you follow the fjord at an elevation, before strolling back to the village centre along the main road)
• Leim (more on this below – this is the short hike to Skjerdal Stølsysteri)
• Turlid Waterfall (another popular hike, and an alternative starting point to the Stegastein hike)

#5 Visit the Merete Rein Glass Hut

I’ve mentioned Merete before, in a post over on Fjords and Beaches listing some great and sustainable experiences to have by the fjord. It is with good reason that I mention her Glass Hut again, as this place is worth a visit during your trip to Aurland. The glass hut is not only where this local artist sells her work, but she also makes her beautiful pieces there.

If you are lucky during your visit, you may see Merete working away at her trade through the glass installed in the shop. The Glass Hut is located right in the centre of Aurland, right by the dock (so if you are arriving by boat, simply drop by the Glass Hut on your way).

#6 The Aurlandsdalen Valley

The Aurlandsdalen Valley is one of the most famous and popular hikes in Norway, and with good reason. It has been nicknamed “Norway’s Grand Canyon” (I have no idea by who), and takes you from Østerbø at the top of the valley, to the village of Vassbygdi.

The hike can take up to 10 hours (if you take your time, stop for a long lunch and go swimming in the mountain water “Vetlahelvete”). It is a beautiful hike through the beautiful greenery of the valley, and you will hike past historic sites and farms along the way.

Read my entire guide to hiking Aurlandsdalen here!

#8 The Aurland Church – Vangen Kirke

The church in Aurland, also known as Sognedomen (as it is the largest of the 7 stone churches in the region called Sogn). It was build in 1202, and you can find it right in the center of the village. I often look at it and think of how it has been standing so tall for over 800 years, and how it has been a constant as the village of Aurland has grown around it.

In 1926 Emanuel Vigeland said it was one of the most interesting churches in the country. He is the artist behind the stained glass windows in the church, and was the brother of the (more famous) Gustav Vigeland, who created the Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo.

The church is definitely worth noting when you visit Aurland, and when it is open you are free to head inside to look around. Fun fact: my grandma, dad and myself were all baptised here!

#9 Go swimming in Badelaguna

The beach in Aurland is called “Badelaguna”, which literally translates to “The swimming lagoon”. This is a man-made lagoon that is the perfect place to relax and soak up the sun (and go for a swim in the cold fjord).

It is a popular place amongst locals in the summer, and tourists are always welcome! Simply bring a towel and find a spot on the grass, and jump in if you dare!

Badelaguna is a great place for a picnic, so my best tip if you want to spend some time there is to head to Marianne Bakeri first (more on that below in the “Where to eat” section) to get some snacks, and then enjoy your lunch in the sunshine on the beach.

#10 The Lærdal Tunnel

I know, I know. It may seem a little silly to include a tunnel on a list of things to do for your travels. And to be fair, visiting the Lærdal Tunnel isn’t really a “thing to do”. However, if you get the chance to drive through it, you will be quite fascinated!

This is the world’s longest road tunnel, and as you drive through the 24,5 kilometres you’ll be amazed at how impressive Norway’s tunnels are. That’s over 15 miles!

Three sections of the tunnel are expanded and decorated with colourful lights. This is both to keep you from getting tired on the long, straight drive in the dark, but also to mimic the inside of a glacier!

#11 Vinjum Gallery

In the center of Aurland, next to the church, there is a large building called Heradshuset. On the second floor, there is a gallery called “Galleri Vinjum” (the Vinjum Gallery), dedicated to local artist Johannes Vinjum (1930-1991).

He was born in Aurland, and was a great painting talent. Even though he eventually moved to Oslo, his artworks often portrayed the fjords and mountains of where he came from. A selection of his pieces are on display in Aurland, as the Vinjum Gallery.

Heradshuset is open from 09:00 to 15:00 Monday through Friday, and you can visit the art gallery free of charge.

#12 The Sivle Collection

Another exhibition found in Heradshuset (so the opening hours are the same as for the Vinjum Gallery), and another famous local! Per Sivle was born in Flåm in 1857, and was a Norwegian lyricist and writer.

He is perhaps most famous for writing the biographical song “Den fyste song” (the first song), a lullaby that has haunted quite a few Norwegian children through the decades.

It is a beautiful song, and one of my favourites, but sadly the mention of his dead mother in the final verse can be quite disturbing for young children.

When Per Sivle passed away (tragically enough he shot himself at a bath house in Oslo in 1904) his belongings were given as a gift to the municipalities of Aurland and Voss.

They were split evenly between the two, and the result in Aurland is the Sivle Collection; an exhibit displaying what life would have been like for Per Sivle and others in the late 1800s. If you are a fan of history and local culture, I highly recommend this!

#13 Aurlandsfjellet (National Tourist Routes)

Another road, but one worth taking. Aurlandsfjellet is a mountain road, going from the village of Aurland to Lærdal on the other side of the mountain.

The Lærdal tunnel mentioned above actually goes through the same mountain, and before its opening in 2000, the Aurlandsfjellet road was the only way to get across.

Aurlandsfjellet is one of the Norwegian Scenic Routes, and is also known as “the Snow Road”. This is because of the heavy snow covering it for most of the year, and the road is actually only open for a few months a year.

Even when the road is closed, however, it is worth driving as far as you can up the mountain (past the Stegastein viewpoint) to see the snow towering over the road. It’s quite crazy!

The route is 47 kilometres long and usually only open from late May until October/November. The closure of the road differs each year, as it depends on the snow conditions. If you want to know if the road is currently open, you can check this here.

#14 Bjørnehiet – “The Bear Cave”

Along the National Tourist Routes in Norway you’ll find many installations and sculptures. The Snow Road over the Aurland mountain is no exception. If you are driving across, make sure to stop at Bjørnehiet, an art installation by the American artist Mark Dion that opened in 2012.

The outdoor space and walkway was created by Norwegian architect Lars J. Berge.

Follow the concrete pathway to the underground cave, where you will find a large brown bear sleeping on top of artefacts and items collected from several countries and many time periods. Find it on the map here.

#15 FjordSauna – Now in Aurland!

One of the most popular things to do in Flåm is to visit the FjordSauna, a floating sauna that lets you chill and relax in the heat, before jumping into the fjord to cool down.

As of 2023, they have one of their saunas stationed in Aurland for the summer, which is great for anyone staying in Aurland and not wanting to go to Flåm to experience it.

You can book your sauna experience online in advance, or simply drop by to make your booking (of course, this is at a risk that they are fully booked). The sauna is located by the docks in front of the Aurlands shoe factory.

#16 FjordSafari – Now in Aurland!

As of 2023, the FjordSafari team have scheduled departures from Aurland for the summer season (June–August).

These departures are similar to the ones departing from Flåm, which means you get the exact same tour, but without having to travel to Flåm to do it. So it’s insanely good news that they are now departing from Aurland!

Their temporary tent is located on the docks of Aurland, just a short walk from the new apartment hotel Wangen Apartments.

Where to eat and drink in Aurland

A guide to things to do in Aurland wouldn’t be complete without an overview of where to eat while in town! As Aurland is a small village, there is a limited option of restaurants and places to eat to choose from.

But that does not mean you should be disappointed: the three options below are all great – and it’s worth visiting Aurland just for a cinnamon roll from Marianne’s Bakery or for a glass of wine at Vangsgaarden!

Marianne Bakeri

Marianne Bakeri is the local bakery in Aurland, run by a woman named (you guessed it) Marianne. She bakes all her goods fresh every morning, and every day there is a new (locally sourced) soup on the menu.

This is the perfect place to stop for lunch, and an even better place to get snacks for the day. My absolute favourite thing on the menu here is the filled focaccia. Imagine a focaccia bun filled with cream cheese and pesto – it’s so yummy!

You’ll find seating both indoors and outdoors at Marianne’s, and it is a great place to meet some locals to ask for hiking advice or activity recommendations.

Vangsgaarden Gastropub

Formerly known as Duehuset, Vangsgaarden Gastropub is the local pub, and in 2019 they re-opened their doors as a gastropub with all kinds of selections on the menu.

They still keep history alive in the minor details found around the building (the baker’s oven you see in the bar below is the original front from when the building was the local bakery, for example – it actually belonged to my great grandfather!), but have completely revamped the kitchen, menu and ingredients used.

Using fresh, local produce and meat, they have put together a menu of international dishes with a Norwegian twist, and their stone pizza oven alone will have those who love Italian falling for the fjords. So whether you are staying in Aurland or are travelling through the area, make sure you don’t miss a meal at Duehuset.

Honorable Mention: The Aabelheim garden

In the centre of Aurland there’s an old house, dating back to the 1700s. This house is called ‘Aabelheim’ and is named after the minister that lived there from the 1830s; Ole Aabel. ‘Heim’ means home.

The garden surrounding this old house is one of my favourite places in the entire village. I actually feel like I am letting you in on a secret now, because not many people know of this place, even if it is right in the centre of Aurland! The old buildings and the garden itself belongs to Vangsgaarden (so you’ll have to order your food from the Gastropub and ask nicely if you want to dine in the garden).

From time to time (in the summer it’s actually more like every night), friends and I will gather in the quiet gardens of Aabelheim to relax and chat. Since it doesn’t get dark in the summer, it’s easy to stay out all night without noticing the time passing. If you add a glass of wine from the Gastropub you’ll be absolutely golden.

Hotel Aurlandsfjord

A new contender on the block, with amazing dishes, is Hotel Aurlandsfjord. Their restaurant focuses on local produce and flavours inspired by Norway, and they also ensure to use seasonal ingredients.

The menu is limited, with no more than 5-6 options for your main course, and the chefs really put their heart and soul into each dish. They have opted for quality over quantity, and it works. They also make a mean Aperol Spritz, so on a warm summer day there is no better place to enjoy a drink.

Hotel Aurlandsfjord is currently only open in the summer half of the year.

Where to stay in Aurland

Of course there are some great places to stay in Aurland, and two of them I have already mentioned (as these hotels also have the only restaurants in town).

See below my recommendations on where to stay, or just click the map!

Booking.com

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

As you may know, I have grown up seeing guests enjoy their time at Vangsgaarden for years, through refurbishments, new interior and new rooms. I worked as a bartender and receptionist there for 3 summers after turning 18. This is one of the reasons I always recommend the hotel to anyone visiting Aurland, because I know guests always leave happy!

The rooms at Vangsgaarden have been refurbished, and so you can trust that you’ll be sleeping comfortably during your stay by the fjords. The rooms in the main building are spacious and equipped with tvs and lounge areas/seating groups. If you opt for one of the superior rooms, you will get an even bigger room with a view of the breathtaking fjord outside, so I definitely recommend it.

Alternatively, I recommend staying in one of their fisherman’s cabins, all located like pearls on a string as close to the fjord as you can get. Can you imagine waking up and looking out across the fjord to the majestic mountains on the other side? Well, you can at Vangsgaarden. Just look at the photo below (from their signature accommodation named “the View”, with good reason) and imagine waking up there?

Regardless of the room you choose, they have something for everyone at Vangsgaarden, with a restaurant to match. It is, in my opinion, the perfect place to stay to get that Scandinavian “hygge” feeling in the Autumn, and the friendly staff (and owners) will always greet you with a smile.

Read my complete review of Vangsgaarden here!

Hotel Aurlandsfjord

Hotel Aurlandsfjord is located right in the middle of Aurland, and has recently been completely refurbished. The rooms are sophisticated, and if you opt for a balcony and fjord view, you’ll never want to leave it. In total, they have 30 rooms, and the hotel has free Wifi throughout (great for sharing those killer fjord photos you’ll end up with).

In addition to a great restaurant and comfortable rooms, Hotel Aurlandsfjord has a lounge area with a pool table and shuffleboard. On the weekends you are likely to find some locals hanging out here, and it’s the perfect place to chill after a busy day of exploring Aurland.

Hotel Aurlandsfjord is open from May to October. Find updated opening hours on the link below.

Wangen Apartments

The latest addition to hotels in Aurland opened in 2023 and is an apartment hotel located right on the docks of the village.

The apartments are new and modern, with local details and great views of the fjord. Most of them also have a balcony where you can enjoy your morning coffee overlooking the beautiful scenery.

I have not yet stayed at Wangen Apartments, but will update once I do!

Aurland, Norway FAQ

Read next: The best things to do in Flåm!