Ships dock at Olden Cruise Park, a deep-water quay on the Nordfjorden that takes the largest vessels alongside, with a second ship anchoring in the fjord and tendering ashore. The village is a flat 10 to 15 minute walk from the quay, and most people spend their day on Briksdal Glacier or the Loen Skylift.
Olden cruise terminal and pier facilities
There’s no terminal building to speak of in Olden. It’s a small, open pier, and instead of a terminal hall, ship security puts up a fenced area right there on the quay. Around that you’ll find a cluster of shops, bars, a supermarket, excursion stalls and the Olden Active tourist information centre.
| Feature | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Berth | Deep-water quay at Olden Cruise Park, alongside for one ship at a time |
| Second ship or busy days | Anchors in the fjord and tenders ashore, or uses the Loen tender quay at Loen Skylift for smaller ships |
| Terminal building | None; a fenced security area on the pier rather than an indoor terminal |
| Facilities at the pier | Shops, bars, a supermarket, excursion stalls, an information desk, bike rental, currency exchange and a public toilet |
| Distance to the village centre | About 700 metres to a kilometre, a flat 10 to 15 minute walk |
| ATMs | None at the pier or in the village |
| Typical time in port | Around 9 hours, alongside |
Olden’s pier is small and open, with no terminal building, just the fenced security area and the shops and stalls around it. This one-ship-at-a-time berth is typical of several small fjord calls across Norway.
Once you’re in the village, Riccovero is the easy stop for Scandinavian fashion and Skogstad covers children’s clothing, both a short walk from the quay along the same flat road.
Olden cruise port map
The map shows Olden and the places worth seeing. Tap a pin for directions.
- OldenTown centre
- Loen Skylift
Getting around Olden: taxis and buses
Beyond the village centre, getting around means a taxi, a shore excursion vehicle or the regional bus. There’s no local public transport network to speak of.
Taxis sometimes wait at the pier when a ship comes in, but Olden Taxi and Stryn Taxi, the two local firms, each run only a handful of cars between them. Call ahead if you want to be sure of a ride rather than hoping one turns up.
- Olden Taxi: +47 95086146
- Stryn Taxi: +47 57872350, or by email to post@stryntaxi.no for advance booking
Bring enough Norwegian kroner with you rather than planning to find cash on arrival. A regional bus does pass through Olden, Loen and Stryn, with a stop by the dock at the junction of the Rv15 and Fv724, but the timetable is thin enough that most people still book a shore excursion or taxi for a single port day.
Olden land train and the sightseeing bus
The Olden land train leaves from the quay and runs a running-commentary loop of about an hour and a half, taking in the old and new churches and the rest of the village sights before dropping you back at the pier. It’s a paid extra, not part of your cruise fare, and if you’d rather wander the village yourself you can always just walk back.
A separate open-top sightseeing bus, the Olden Panorama Sightseeing by Bus, departs from Stop 1 at the Olden Tender Port roughly once an hour, and the ticket covers 24 hours with stops at two viewpoints, one of them over the Melkevollbreen glacier at Flaten. Not everyone’s come away happy with it though: one passenger found the open deck turned properly cold once the roof panel came off, and the whole thing felt less like a flexible hop-on-hop-off than advertised.
Plan on it as a scenic ride rather than something you dip in and out of all day.
Briksdal Glacier: the walk, troll car and booking ahead
Briksdal Glacier excursions from Olden start with a scenic drive along the shore of Oldevatnet lake, with a photo stop along the way, before arriving at Briksdalsbre Mountain Lodge, where the walk up to the glacier begins. From there you can walk it yourself or take a troll car.
The walk takes around 45 to 60 minutes, mostly flat with a few steeper stretches, past waterfalls and mountains to a viewpoint over the glacier lake.
The glacier itself has retreated too far to walk on now, so what you get at the end is the lake viewpoint, not ice underfoot. The troll car is popular, especially with a big ship in port, so book that part ahead rather than hoping to sort it on the day.
Wear comfortable clothing with sensible, flat-soled walking shoes, and pack hiking boots, a warm layer and a packable waterproof rain jacket, since the weather on that trail can turn quickly.
Loen Skylift: getting there, queues and steep boarding
Loen Skylift takes you from fjord level up to the summit of Mount Hoven, 1,011 metres above the Nordfjord, with views across the fjord, the Oldedalen Valley and, on a clear day, the Jostedalsbreen Glacier, Mount Skåla and the Sunnmøre Alps in the distance. It’s about 6 kilometres north of Olden Cruise Port, a 10 minute ride on the Olden Adventure Loen Shuttle or by taxi.
The cabin runs continuously during opening hours, with departures at least every half hour, but the queue at the bottom swings wildly through the day. Some people are up and down within the hour; others have waited two hours or more when it’s busy.
That makes it worth leaving the decision until the morning so you can see the queue for yourself, though the lift does sell out on its busiest days, so book ahead if you’ve got a fixed time to work around. The ride itself is steep, among the steepest of its kind anywhere, so take your time boarding and getting off.
If the summit on foot isn’t for you, you can still get the view from the Hoven Restaurant without setting foot outside.
Mount Skåla hike for experienced walkers
Mount Skåla has a trail up the mountainside for experienced hikers, but the round trip eats most of a day, so it only really works as a booked shore excursion rather than something you fit around a single port call on your own.
Where to eat near Olden cruise port
The best place to eat near Olden cruise port is among the food stalls and small shops right by the pier and in the village a short walk away, selling traditional Norwegian snacks alongside crafts and souvenirs.
- Brunost: a sweet, caramel-coloured brown cheese served in thin slices, a Norwegian breakfast staple and worth a go while you’re here.
- Fiskesuppe: a creamy fish soup, good for warming up after the glacier trail or a trip up the Skylift.
- Fiskekaker: light, fluffy fishcakes, a simple local bite sold alongside other seafood snacks.
- Vafler: heart-shaped Norwegian waffles, usually sold sweet, easy to eat on the walk back to the ship.
What to wear in Olden: outfit ideas for a port day
What to wear in Olden depends mainly on which excursion you’ve booked, since the Briksdal trail and the Loen Skylift summit both need more than town shoes. Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes make the uneven ground on the glacier trail much easier going, and pack a warm layer even on a mild day, since the summit of Mount Hoven is noticeably colder than the quay.
Layers that pack down small work well whatever you’re wearing underneath, since you might go from a flat village walk to a steep mountain viewpoint in the same afternoon. For more ideas, see these casual cruise outfit ideas for women and cruise outfit ideas for men.
Best photo spots in Olden
The best photo spots in Olden are mostly on the way to or from the glacier excursions rather than in the village itself. The glacier lake viewpoint at the end of the Briksdal trail gives you a wide shot of meltwater and mountainside, framed by the waterfalls you pass on the way up.
The Oldevatnet lakeshore photo stop on the drive to Briksdalsbre Mountain Lodge is the easy option if you’re short on time or mobility. The Flaten viewing area on the Olden Panorama Sightseeing bus route overlooks the Melkevollbreen glacier, and the summit platform at Loen Skylift beats them all for panorama, taking in the fjord, the valley and, on a clear day, the Sunnmøre Alps in the distance.
How to spend a port day in Olden
A port day in Olden works best if you pick one highlight: the Briksdal Glacier trail, or the Loen Skylift summit, since the village itself is quick to see.
Before you sail
- Book Briksdal troll car tickets ahead, especially for larger ships
- Bring Norwegian kroner in cash; there's no ATM at the pier or village
- Check Loen Skylift queues on the day, but book ahead for a fixed schedule
Short port day: under 6 hours
- On dockingTaxi or shuttle to Loen SkyliftBook a taxiPick up a taxi right at the pier or take the Olden Adventure Loen Shuttle, about 10 minutes to the lower station.
- +15 minRide Loen Skylift to Mount HovenThe cabin climbs 1,011 metres to the summit, with departures at least every half hour.
- +1 hr 15 minLunch at Hoven RestaurantTry fiskesuppeWarm up with creamy fiskesuppe at the summit restaurant, with fjord and valley views while you eat.
- +2 hr 15 minTaxi or shuttle back to the pierRetrace the ride down to Olden Cruise Park, about 10 minutes.
- +2 hr 30 minWalk into Olden villageA flat 10 to 15 minute walk along the quay road, passing Riccovero and Skogstad for souvenirs, with time for a last snack.
- All-aboard minus 1 hrBack at the quayTaxis are limited, so don't leave the return trip to the last minute.
This map shows the taxi ride from the ship. The time is the drive only, not your time ashore.
Open the taxi route in Google Maps
If plans change: If Loen Skylift queues are long, head back to the village and spend extra time at the shops and quayside cafes instead.
Long port day: 8 hours or more
- On dockingDepart on the Briksdal Glacier excursionBook troll car aheadA scenic drive along Oldevatnet lake, about 45 minutes, to Briksdalsbre Mountain Lodge.
- +1 hrWalk to the glacier lake viewpointA 45 to 60 minute trail, mostly flat with a few steeper stretches, past waterfalls to the viewpoint.
- +2 hr 30 minLunch at the mountain lodge cafeTry vaflerWarm up with fiskesuppe or heart-shaped vafler at the lodge cafe before heading back down.
- +3 hr 30 minDrive back to the pierRetrace the lakeside drive back to Olden Cruise Park.
- +4 hr 15 minTaxi or shuttle to Loen SkyliftCheck queues firstAbout a 10 minute ride on the Olden Adventure Loen Shuttle or by taxi to the lower station.
- +5 hrRide Loen Skylift to Mount HovenPanoramic views over the fjord, Oldedalen Valley and, on a clear day, the Sunnmore Alps.
- +6 hr 30 minTaxi or shuttle back, then walk into the villageBack to the pier, then a flat 10 to 15 minute walk into Olden to browse Riccovero and Skogstad.
This map shows the taxi ride from the ship. The time is the drive only, not your time ashore.
Open the taxi route in Google Maps
If plans change: If Briksdal troll car tickets are sold out or the trail is closed, swap in extra time at Loen Skylift and the village instead.
Olden cruise port FAQs
Where do cruise ships dock in Olden?
Cruise ships dock at Olden Cruise Park, a deep-water quay that takes the largest vessels alongside. A second ship in port anchors out in the fjord and tenders passengers ashore instead.
How far is the village from the Olden cruise pier?
The village centre is about 700 metres to a kilometre from the pier, a flat, easy 10 to 15 minute walk with fjord and valley views the whole way.
Can you still walk on Briksdal Glacier?
Briksdal Glacier has retreated too far for anyone to walk on it now. The excursion ends at a viewpoint over the glacier lake rather than on the ice itself.
How do you get to Loen Skylift from the ship?
You get to Loen Skylift from Olden Cruise Port by a 10 minute ride on the Olden Adventure Loen Shuttle, or by taxi, covering the roughly 6 kilometres to the lower station.
Is there an ATM at Olden cruise port?
There is no ATM at the Olden cruise pier or in the village, so bring enough Norwegian kroner with you before you arrive rather than counting on finding cash locally.
Do you need to book the Briksdal troll car in advance?
Booking the Briksdal troll car in advance is strongly recommended, since it’s popular and can sell out quickly, particularly with a larger ship in port.
Is Olden a turnaround port where cruises start or end?
Olden works purely as a port of call. Ships arrive and leave the same day, and nothing suggests it’s used for embarkation or disembarkation.
How long do ships typically stay in Olden?
Ships typically stay in Olden for around 9 hours alongside, enough time for one main excursion, Briksdal Glacier or Loen Skylift, plus a walk round the village.
Is there a true hop-on-hop-off bus in Olden?
The Olden Panorama Sightseeing bus runs on a fixed hourly schedule with a 24 hour ticket, but it’s not always the flexible hop-on-hop-off ride you might expect.
Last Updated: 25 October 2026