Your guide to the Mostraumen Fjord cruise from Bergen
Honestly, no trip to Norway is complete without a cruise through the fjords, the magnificent bodies of water that the country is known for. Especially in Bergen, Norway’s second city, nicknamed “the gateway to the fjords”.
Bergen serves as the perfect starting point for sailing through some of Norway’s epic fjords, such as Sognefjord, Hardangerfjord, and Nærøfjorden (where you can take the railway to Flåm, a village on the edge of Aurlandsfjord).
Since my husband, Cecilio, and I spent only 2 nights in Bergen (after 5 nights in Copenhagen), we only had time to go on the Mostraumen fjord cruise, which is easily accessible since you embark from the Bryggen harbor (and it was only a 7-minute walk from our hotel).
If you have limited time in Bergen, you’ve got to go on the Mostraumen fjord cruise to see craggy mountains, larger-than-life waterfalls, and cute wooden buildings that look like they came from a storybook.
This guide shows you what to expect when you’re going on a fjords sightseeing cruise from Bergen through Osterfjord, Mostraumen Strait, and Modalen Municipality. If you’re visiting Norway, you’re going to want to bookmark this!
Disclaimer: This post uses affiliate links, which means I make a commission if you book through this post. If you do decide to book using my links, thank you so much for your support!
MOSTRAUMEN FJORD CRUISE
From Bergen: Original Fjord Cruise to Mostraumen
✅ 3.5 hour roundtrip from Bergen
✅ Alternate route in case of bad weather
✅ Access to sundeck and bow
Everything you need to know about the Mostraumen fjord cruise
| Cost | $84 (848 NOK) for adults; $41 (414 NOK) for children |
| Duration | 3.5 hours round-trip |
| Meetup Point | Torget 2, 5014 Bergen, Norway (next to Zachariasbryggen) |
| Sailing route | Bryggen → Osterfjord → Mostraumen → Modalen Municipality |
But first, what is a fjord?
A fjord is a long, narrow inlet from the sea between cliffs or mountains. They were formed by glaciers. While Norway is known as the capital of fjords (with over 1,700 of them!), you can find them in Alaska, Chile, New Zealand, and Iceland.
All the fjords in Norway flow into the North Sea.
The best time to cruise through Mostraumen
Cecilio and I went in December, which was freezing cold. It wasn’t ideal, especially because we (along with all the other cruisegoers) spent more time going in and out of the boat to take photos. We decided to go to Bergen after booking tickets to his favorite band in Copenhagen, as we (or at least I) wanted to visit a new country, and this was a rare chance to do so, considering that we live in California and every trip to Europe is a big production.
But I was still determined to go cruise the fjords, and we got amazing photos as a result. We were thankful it didn’t rain, especially because Bergen is Norway’s rainiest city.
Honestly, you can sail through the fjords all year round. It just depends on your tolerance for cold weather or crowds. It’s a trade-off.
Here are the seasons you can sail through Mostraumen and Osterfjord, along with some considerations:
- Spring (March-May): Still very cold, but not as frigid as the winter months. The greenery is at its brightest, and the waterfalls are the most powerful from snowmelt.
- Summer (June-August): You’ll get longer sunny days, but it’s going to be a lot more crowded. Be prepared to fight through crowds to get the best views for photos. The waterfalls are at their weakest.
- Fall (September-November): There will be stunning autumn colors, but you run the risk of lots of rain (fall is Bergen’s rainiest season).
- Winter (December-February): This is the low season, and it’s extremely cold (especially when the boat goes fast). You might see some snow, but February has the most snowfall.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see any snow on the mountains. It was probably too early since we sailed in early December. And there were still a decent amount of people, and I had to fight my way through the crowds to get photos and videos.
Sometimes, during the winter, there might be ice blocking the route. When that happens, the captain and guide will take you to an alternative route.
🚢 Check available dates for Mostraumen fjord cruise!
Sailing with Rødne Fjord Cruise
We sailed with Rødne, a family-owned, sustainable boat company that offers fjord cruise tours in Bergen, Stavanger, and Tromsø. They also operate Rødne Trafikk and Rødne Ambulanse for ferry and ambulance services.
Rødne has a fleet of 14 boats. We sailed on the Rygersol, which is the newest boat added to the fleet in 2024. Rygersol has a capacity of 233 passengers.
On each side of the boat, there are booths that you can sit in, and more than likely, you have to share the space with other passengers. In the middle, there are rows of seats facing the bow, which also offer nice views of the fjords.
There is a kiosk where you can order coffee, tea, hot chocolate, pastries, cup o’ noodle soup, and pizza. I got hot chocolate and the skillingsboller, a Norwegian cinnamon roll with butter and marzipan filling. They are a specialty in Bergen.
There are also restrooms right next to the kiosk, which were super clean. They even have Dyson hand dryers!
The boat has free WiFi, but it does get spotty when you get deeper into Mostraumen.
The second floor leads to the sundeck, where you get amazing views. Unfortunately, most of us didn’t spend a lot of time in the sundeck because of how cold and windy it was. I tried my best to suffer through it, but I went back and forth a lot between going to the sundeck, bow, and inside the boat.
But the best views are at the bow, especially for the waterfalls. There was only one side with a door to the bow, so there was a long line every time the boat slowed (which was the cue to stop and take photos). As soon as the boat slowed down, I would make a mad dash to the bow to get the photos I wanted. The boat will get closer to the waterfall, so when you’re on the bow, you can get a glimpse up close.
The route to Mostraumen
Rødne’s boats dock at Zachariasbryggen, a restaurant right on Bryggen. The meeting point is on Torget 2.
On one side of the boat, you can catch views of Bryggen, Bergen’s most famous (and picturesque) spot, known for its colorful Hanseatic buildings. Bryggen is also a part of UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage list. Then, on the other side lies Mathallen, a food hall that houses Bergen’s Fish Market (which has been around since the 1200s!).
The sailing is about 3.5 hours long, round-trip, passing by Osterfjord for the first 30 minutes before crossing into the Mostraumen Strait.
Osterfjord is about 27 km (16.77 miles) long, 1–3 km (0.62–1.86 miles) wide, and 649 km (2,096 feet) below sea level at the deepest point. Along Osterfjord lie small villages such as Ostereidet, Hosanger, Knarvik, and Tysso.
As you get into the Mostraumen Strait, you might see some eagles and seals. We didn’t, but we saw some cows resting near their barn and grazing for food.
And you’ll find more charming wooden buildings, like this iconic white house that used to be a school but is now a museum.
You’ll see a lot more waterfalls in Mostraumen spouting from the top of the mountain, making you feel like a tiny dot in this giant rock we call home. Now, the waterfalls weren’t at their strongest, but it was still a sight to behold. The most epic waterfall is the Kvernhusfossen, which falls over a few wooden buildings.
The route ends in the tiny village of Mo, located in the Modalen Municipality, before heading back to Bergen. Modalen is Norway’s second smallest municipality, with a population of 380 people.
I would’ve loved it if the boat had stopped in Mo for an hour and a half for us to explore, even if the overall tour took longer. It would’ve made for the perfect day trip!
Tips for going on the Mostraumen fjord cruise
1. Line up 30 minutes before departure
I can’t stress this enough. We arrived in line 15 minutes before departure, and there were already a lot of people waiting. The best place to sit is in the booths where you have views of Bryggen when you depart, because that is the side where the door to the bow is. And you want to have quick access to the bow when the boat slows down. When we had already gone on the boat, the other passengers were already sitting in those enviable spots.
The other side has the staircase to the sundeck, so you can’t go wrong sitting there either.
2. Dress appropriately, especially in winter
Sailing through Osterfjord and Mostraumen is fun, but really, really cold. Even during the summer, I recommend wearing lots of layers.
But it’s especially important during the winter, when you can feel that wind and chill factor hit your bones.
You want a waterproof and windproof jacket to keep you as warm as possible, like this jacket I’ve been wearing throughout our trip to Copenhagen and Bergen. It’s also super stylish!
Here are some other winter essentials you can’t go without:
- A proper beanie to keep your head warm and to keep your hair from getting messy and tangled from the wind
- Thermal long sleeves that have double-sided fleece to block the cold air (I get these in a pack of 4)
- Merino wool socks that are thick enough to protect your feet from the cold, but thin enough to wear with boots without constricting them
- Heat packets to put in your pockets, socks, and gloves for extra toastiness for your extremities
3. Keep your batteries fully charged for photos
Going on the Mostraumen fjord cruise from Bergen is scenic, and there are so many opportunities to take stunning photos and videos. The last thing you want is for your phone battery to be in the red or your camera battery to go down to one bar.
I always pack 2–3 power banks to rotate in case one of them is dying and needs to be charged.
Same thing with my camera batteries. I use the Panasonic LUMIX G7 for my travel photography, so I have two of these batteries; one to use and one to charge. You can also get the the off-brand batteries in a pack of two for half the cost.
SHOP MY CAMERA GEAR
Bonus tip on horizon: If you don’t have a lot of time in Bergen, consider combining the Mostraumen fjord cruise with a walking tour and funicular ride to Mount Fløyen!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Mostraumen fjord cruise?
The sailing takes 3.5 hours round-trip, departing from the Bryggen harbor through Osterfjord for 30 minutes before crossing to Mostraumen. The endpoint is at the village of Mo, part of the Modalen Municipality, before heading back to Bryggen.
Where can you book the Mostraumen fjord cruise?
I recommend booking the cruise here far in advance, so that you can easily check in once you’re in line. Otherwise, you can purchase them in person.
When is the best time to go on the Mostraumen fjord cruise from Bergen?
You can sail through Osterfjord and Mostraumen Strait any time of the year, and no matter when you go, you’ll be treated with jaw-dropping views of rugged mountains, waterfalls, and tiny villages.
For the strongest waterfalls, consider going during the spring. Summer is a fantastic time to go for longer sunny days, as long as you are okay with dealing with large crowds. Fall has the best lighting and foliage colors. Winter is unbearably cold, but you’ll still have stunning views, even if you don’t see snow (which doesn’t happen until January or February).
So, is the Mostraumen fjord cruise from Bergen worth going on?
If you aren’t spending enough time in Norway (like in our case), I 100% recommend sailing through Osterfjord and Mostraumen. It is the easiest to visit from Bergen, and you get a taste of how gorgeous the fjords are. There are some fjords in Norway that are even more epic! I would love to come back and sail through the Nærøyfjorden and take the railway to the village of Flåm!
Going to Norway soon? I would love to help you plan your dream trip sailing through the fjords! Reach out to me through my Custom Travel Planning Services for more information.
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Hannah is a travel writer, graphic designer, and the founder/editor of Hannah on Horizon. She is based in Sacramento, California, living with her husband and two adorable dogs. She shares tips on how to experience luxury travel on any budget, and how to maximize time at each trip or destination, no matter what your budget or amount of vacation time at work. She enjoys making you feel like you have visited each destination with her through her storytelling and informative writing style.