OldenCruise Port Guide
Olden sits at the end of the Nordfjord, with a glacier valley behind the village. Plan around one big outing, with real prices and what you can reach on foot from the quay.
Welcome to Olden
Pro Picks
Glacier hike · 4 hrsBriksdal Glacier Guided Hike
A four-hour guided trip: a bus from the pier car park up the valley past Olden Lake, then a walk on an arm of the Jostedal Glacier with a viewpoint over the lake. The bus arrives 15 minutes before departure under the port's rules, so be at the car park early.
From $149.98/ person
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Guided kayak · 2 hrsBeginner Fjord Kayaking
Two hours on the calm, turquoise end of the Nordfjord in a stable kayak, with a guide and no experience needed. The boathouse is about a five-minute walk from the cruise dock, and the kayak, paddle and life vest are included.
From $107.13/ person
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Fjord boat · 1 hrNordfjord RIB Boat Tour
An hour in an open high-speed boat along the Nordfjord, close to cliffs where waterfalls drop straight into the water. It meets at a white tent next to the ship, so there's nothing to transfer to, and the operator plans departures around cruise times.
From $122.13/ person
Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Olden in 2 hours
Guided double kayak
Kayaking with Drysuit and Safety Boat
A guided paddle in a stable double kayak with a drysuit and a rescue boat alongside, from the Olden Active base on the quay. Departures are planned around cruise times, but book the earliest slot so you're back well before all-aboard.
From$120.14
Time required135 minutes
Audio-guided bus tour
Two Lakes and a Glacier Bus Tour
A coach from the pier car park up the valley to two lakes and a view of a glacier arm, with an audio guide and wheelchair access. It has the lowest rating in the pool, 3.4 stars from 28 reviews.
From$64.07
Time required105 minutes
Guided e-bike tour
Guided E-Bike Tour to Waterfalls
A two-hour guided e-bike ride with glacier views and waterfalls, in groups of up to 12 from the Olden Cruise Park base. You must have ridden a bike before, and it's new on the site with no ratings yet.
From$128.15
Time required2 hours
Olden in 4 hours
Village walking tour
Olden Through the Ages Walking Tour
A guided walk through the village about its history and farming, for up to ten people. Bring a light waterproof layer. Only seven reviews so far, all five stars.
From$35.24
Time required2.5 hours
Small-group nature tour
Glacier and Waterfall Tour with Snacks
A three-hour trip for up to seven guests to a glacier viewpoint and waterfalls, with snacks. It meets next to the Circle K by a blue caravan, and GetYourGuide flags it as usually unavailable, so check dates early.
From$128.15
Time required3 hours
Guided kayak with lunch
Family Kayak Tour with Lunch by the Fire
A three-hour guided paddle for up to ten, ending with a cooked lunch by a fire, with pickup included. It is billed as family friendly; confirm the pickup point at booking.
From$127.28
Time required3 hours
Bus and RIB boat trip
Bus to Geirangerfjord and RIB Safari
A four-hour trip: a bus ride to the Geirangerfjord, then a RIB safari past its waterfalls in a boat of at most 12. It meets at Olden Cruise Park, about 500 metres south of the quay, so allow the walk.
From$158.58
Time required4 hours
ATV rental
Self-Drive ATV Rental
Rent a self-drive ATV by the hour, up to 8 hours, from the base beside the Circle K. You need to be 18 or older with a driver's licence and ID; the price is for a group of up to two.
From$85
Time required1 - 8 hours
Within a stroll of the boat
Six stops on foot from the Olden quay, from a restaurant at the berth to the old church at the far end of the village, about 15 minutes along the flat shore road. There's no beach: the fjord edge here is the quay.
Eat · 0.1 mi · ~3 min
Mølla Gjestehus
A restaurant on the shore road beside the quay; the white tent for the boat and kayak tours stands next to it. We haven't confirmed its hours.
Shop · 0.5 mi · ~12 min
Coop Prix Olden
The village supermarket. The official Olden map also marks an ATM, post office and pharmacy in this part of the village.
Cafe · 0.6 mi · ~14 min
Stabukk is og kaffibar
An ice-cream and coffee bar on the main road through the village. We haven't confirmed its hours.
Cafe · 0.7 mi · ~15 min
Yris Kafe
A café in the Sjøatunet building; its advert on the official map lists food, drinks, ice cream, coffee and tax-free shopping.
Landmark · 0.7 mi · ~15 min
Olden gamle kyrkje
The old church of Olden, at the far end of the village centre and a natural place to turn around.
Playground · 0.6 mi · ~14 min
Olden playground
A playground by the river in the village centre on Oldedalsvegen.
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Olden.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
- Nordfjord Havn — cruise (Olden and Loen)
- Nordfjord Havn — Olden mooring plan
- Nordfjord Havn and the Cruise Network of Olden — Olden map
- Olden Cruise AS — shuttles and sightseeing
- Loen Skylift
- Visit Norway — currency and prices
- Lovdata — Forskrift om sommertid (Norway's summer time regulation)
- US Department of State — Norway travel advisory
Getting ashore
Do cruise ships dock or tender in Olden, Norway?
Both are possible. Nordfjord Havn says Olden has a cruise quay for the largest ships plus a tender location at Olden Cruise Park, and smaller ships anchor off Loen and tender in instead. Which lines get the quay isn't published, so check your ship's daily program. From the quay, the toilets, a restaurant and the tour desks are within a couple of minutes' walk.
Is Olden walkable from the cruise port?
Yes. The village centre is about 0.7 miles from the quay, a flat walk of around 15 minutes along the shore road, where you'll find a Coop supermarket, two cafés and the old church. The stroll map has the six stops, and the official Olden map also marks an ATM, post office and pharmacy there.
What is there to do in Olden, Norway from a cruise ship?
Plan around one outing and walk the village around it. Boat and kayak tours leave from the white tent beside the quay, a 1–2 minute walk from the ship, and the glacier trips start from the pier car park. On foot, the village shops and old church are about 15 minutes away; the 2-hour and 4-hour plans show what fits.
Is there a beach near the Olden cruise port?
Not that we can find: no beach is mapped in Olden village, and the water's edge is the quay and the fjord shore. To be on the water, the kayak, boat and paddleboard trips start at the quay and a kayak base about five minutes away.
What's at the Olden cruise pier?
Not much beyond what you need: public toilets on the quay, the Mølla Gjestehus restaurant, a bus stop and the Circle K petrol station. The official Olden map also marks Olden Cruise AS's shuttle desk, a souvenir shop, the sightseeing train and a café as being at the pier.
Excursions and the Loen Skylift
What are the best shore excursions in Olden, Norway?
The Briksdal Glacier hike is the most-reviewed tour here, 4.4 stars from 233 reviews, and on the water the 2-hour beginner kayak (4.9 from 154) and the 1-hour RIB boat ride (4.6 from 140) leave right at the quay. Olden Cruise AS at the pier also sells glacier and Skylift shuttles; the favorites have the prices.
Can I visit the Briksdal Glacier from the Olden cruise port?
Yes, and it's the standard shore trip. The guided hike takes 4 hours from the pier car park, with the bus arriving 15 minutes before departure, and one guide allows about half a day with travel and about 45 minutes each way on foot to the glacier. Olden Cruise AS sells a shuttle from NOK590 that takes about 3.5 hours.
Can you walk from the Olden cruise port to the Loen Skylift?
No. The official Olden map puts Loen 6 km up Route 60, so it's a bus or shuttle ride, not a walk. The Skylift itself takes you about 1,000 metres almost straight up to a restaurant at the edge of Hoven.
How do I get from the Olden cruise port to the Loen Skylift?
Use the shuttle at the pier: Olden Cruise AS sells a Loen Skylift ticket with transport from NOK890, with departures about every 15 minutes. We couldn't read the Skylift's own prices, so check the ticket total with the operator.
How long do I need in Olden?
It depends on the outing. Two hours covers one thing on the water, such as the 135-minute kayak. The Briksdal Glacier hike takes 4 hours on its own, and a 4-hour tour leaves no time for the 15-minute walk to the village. The 2-hour plans and 4-hour plans list what fits each.
Money, time & safety
What currency do they use in Olden, and do I need cash?
Olden uses the Norwegian krone (NOK). Visit Norway says cards are accepted almost everywhere, foreign currency is rarely accepted, and some grocery shops won't take foreign credit cards, so bring a debit card; the official Olden map marks an ATM in the village centre. Tipping isn't expected, though locals tip about 5–15% in restaurants.
What time zone is Olden in?
Olden is on Norwegian time, which moves an hour forward for summer from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. Your ship may keep a different clock, so go by the all-aboard time in the daily program.
Is Olden safe for cruise passengers?
Yes. The US State Department rates Norway Level 1, 'Exercise Normal Precautions', its lowest advisory level, and mentions landslide and avalanche risk in steep terrain and keeping an eye on your belongings in busy tourist spots.