Mostraumen Fjord Cruise from Bergen: Waterfalls and Narrow Channels

If you only have two or three days in Bergen and do not want to spend twelve hours on buses and trains to reach the inner arms of Sognefjord, the Bergen to Mostraumen Fjord Cruise is the highest-impact half-day excursion in Western Norway. Operated year-round by Rødne Fjord Cruise on modern, dual-hulled high-speed catamarans with wide outdoor viewing decks and warm indoor panoramic lounges, the boat departs directly from Zachariasbryggen at the inner head of Vågen harbour (right beside the Fish Market) and returns to the exact same pier in 3 to 3.5 hours.

The Route: From Bryggen into the 27-Kilometre Osterfjord

As the catamaran pulls away from the Fish Market, you sail right past the colourful timber facades of Bryggen and the stone towers of Bergenhus Fortress, passing beneath the Nordhordland floating bridge into the Osterfjord, one of the three fjords encircling the inland island of Osterøy. As you head twenty-seven kilometres inland, the coastal hills rise into sheer 800-metre granite cliffs:

• Hesjedalsfossen Waterfall: halfway up the fjord, the captain slows down and steers the bow of the catamaran to within a few metres of the rock face where the 70-metre cascade of Hesjedalsfossen plunges straight into the deep fjord water (in spring snowmelt and after rain, crew members traditionally hold a bucket over the bow rail to catch pure glacial mountain water).
• The Mostraumen Narrows: near the head of the fjord, the deep basin suddenly pinches into Mostraumen, a shallow, twisting tidal channel barely 50 metres wide with strong currents. Passing slowly through the narrows opens into the mirror-calm inner mountain lake basin surrounding the tiny village of Modalen (Mo), Norway's second-smallest municipality, surrounded by snow-streaked peaks before the catamaran turns back toward Bergen.

Practical Booking Tips and What to Bring on Deck

In summer (May to September), boats typically depart two or three times daily (in the late morning and in the afternoon), and once daily in the late morning throughout autumn, winter and spring. Holders of the Bergen Card receive a 20% discount when booking on the official Rødne website using the Bergen Card promo code. Because the catamaran cruises at 25 to 30 knots between scenic stops, the apparent wind on the open upper sun deck is brisk even on a sunny 20°C July day; always bring a windproof jacket, a hat or headband and sunglasses.