Olden Shore Excursions

What can catch you out in Olden

Relayed from official sources — not our verdict. We pass on what the authorities say, word for word, and leave the judgement to you.

• Weather changes fast

  The weather can change quickly, bringing Arctic conditions even in summer on exposed mountain tops, with a high wind-chill in unsheltered areas. Dress for it and check the forecast before heading up.

  as reported by UK FCDO — travel advice for Norway · 23 Jun 2026

• Mountains, avalanche & landslides

  Extreme weather, floods and landslides can happen. Check the Norwegian Avalanche Warning Service (varsom.no) before any mountain or glacier trip.

  as reported by UK FCDO — travel advice for Norway · 23 Jun 2026

• Remote terrain — rescue is limited

  Some areas are very remote and emergency medical help and search and rescue can be limited. Don’t over-reach on a hike, and tell someone your plans before you set off.

  as reported by UK FCDO — travel advice for Norway · 23 Jun 2026

On a cruise? Your ship’s port talk is the authority on the day — check that too.

Across Norway — laws & safety

National rules and risks that apply anywhere in Norway — relayed from official sources, not our verdict. We pass on what the authority says and leave the judgement to you.

Laws that catch visitors out

• Drink-driving is a serious offence: being found with a quarter of England’s legal alcohol limit can mean a fine and possible imprisonment.
• Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties — expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines.
• A driving offence can carry an on-the-spot fine of up to 10,000 Norwegian krone.
• Winter tyres (minimum 3 mm tread) are required when snow or ice covers the roads.
• Keep your headlights on (dipped) during the daytime, all year round.

Drones

To fly any type of drone in Norway you must be registered as an operator in Norway or an EU/EFTA country and hold liability insurance. Other conditions apply and certain areas are no-fly zones.

Scams to watch

Small risk of petty theft, particularly at airports and railway stations in and around Oslo.

Relayed from UK FCDO travel advice — Norway · checked 24 Jun 2026

Traffic drives on the right. Look left first when you cross the road.

Docking & terminals in Olden

Ships dock alongside the main deep-water pier; when two ships call on the same day, one docks at the pier and the other anchors offshore with passengers brought ashore by tender to pontoons.

• Main Pier — approximately 1 km from the centre of Olden village (15-minute walk along the fjord edge; some shops are also located directly at the pier)

Mobility & step-free access

Getting around between the pier and town:

• Walk — Village is a short walk from the pier
• Shuttle/Coach — Public glacier bus to Briksdal Glacier and shuttle to Loen Skylift, departing from the pier
• Troll Car — Open electric vehicles covering the last stretch to Briksdal Glacier from the mountain lodge

Step-free options vary by pier and by the day — confirm the specifics with your operator and the ship’s guest-services desk before booking.

Your exact pier is assigned per sailing — confirm it on the ship’s daily programme or gangway signage before heading ashore.

Getting around & must-sees in Olden

Getting around

Olden is a small village reachable by a short walk or transfer from the cruise pier; shuttles and coaches connect to the main sights.

• Walk — Village is a short walk from the pier
• Shuttle/Coach — Public glacier bus to Briksdal Glacier and shuttle to Loen Skylift, departing from the pier
• Troll Car — Open electric vehicles covering the last stretch to Briksdal Glacier from the mountain lodge
• Taxi

More on getting around ↗

Must-see sights

• Briksdal Glacier (Briksdalsbreen) — Arm of Jostedal Glacier in Jostedalsbreen National Park, about 25 km inland from Olden; reached by trail or Troll Car from mountain lodge
• Loen Skylift — Cable car about 6 km from Olden rising from the fjord to the top of Mount Hoven at 1,011 metres
• Lake Lovatnet and Kjenndalen Glacier — Turquoise glacial lake and glacier valley near Loen
• Oldevatnet — Glacial lake in the Olden valley
• Nordfjord scenery — Fjord, glaciers and valleys around Olden

More sights & details ↗

Taxis & ride-hailing — Uber and Bolt operate only in Norway's major cities and do not serve Olden.

Getting back to the pier

The cruise quay is a ten-minute walk from the village centre; taxis and organised shuttle/sightseeing buses also return to the quay.

• Walk — Ten-minute walk from village centre back to cruise quay.
• Taxi — Best arranged at the quay or in advance.
• Shuttle/Sightseeing Bus — Operated by local companies such as Olden Cruise, departing from the quay.

More on getting back ↗

Key facts only — confirm times, fares and seasonal openings locally.

Eating & shopping in Olden

Cafés are found in Olden village centre, roughly a ten-minute walk from the cruise quay.

Where to eat

• Olden village centre — Has cafés; approximately ten-minute walk from the cruise quay.

More on eating here ↗

Areas and specialities as described by the source — not our recommendations; confirm openings and prices locally.

Local know-hows in Olden

Money

Currency

Norwegian krone (NOK)

Cards

Debit and credit cards accepted almost everywhere; mobile payments such as Google Pay and Apple Pay also widely accepted. Cash is still useful for small purchases; foreign currency is rarely accepted.

ATMs

Cash machines available in towns and cities; in most rural areas at least one withdrawal point exists, such as a kiosk, grocery shop, or petrol station.

Tipping

Tipping is not common in Norway. In bars and restaurants locals may tip when happy with the service or food; it is entirely optional.

More on money here ↗

Local etiquette

Norway has a relaxed social culture; a few specific rules around smoking, alcohol, and access to nature apply.

• Indoor smoking in public places, including hotels, bars, and restaurants, is prohibited.
• Everyone has the legal right to access the countryside and national parks (allemannsretten); respect nature and private property.
• Minimum age to buy beer and wine is 18; spirits require age 20; tobacco requires age 18.
• Learning a few basic Norwegian phrases is appreciated by locals.

More on local customs ↗

Practicalities

Language

Norwegian; English widely spoken, especially by younger people. Many Norwegians have also learned German, French, or Spanish.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink throughout Norway. In mountains and forests most running water is also clean, but avoid water from pastures or glacier run-off.

Plugs

Continental European standard socket; 220V AC, 50Hz

More practical info ↗

Key facts to know before you step off — confirm anything time-sensitive locally.

Port busyness in Olden

Often very busy

A village of around 500 residents that can host up to two cruise ships at once, with crowds funnelling onto a handful of headline attractions in a very small area.

Peak pattern: Busiest mid-morning on two-ship days, when tour coaches depart together and the Loen Skylift queue builds; tendering from a second ship adds further congestion.

Quieter: Loen Skylift queue shortest before 10am and after 3pm; the lesser-visited Kjenndal Glacier is a calmer alternative on busy port days.

• Tiny village of ~500 residents
• Up to two ships on same day
• Second ship tenders — adds queues
• Single honeypot attractions funnel all visitors

This shows a typical day for the time of year — actual crowds vary on your date, and it isn’t a guarantee.

What we’ve checked in Olden — and when

We last checked the facts on this page between 10 Jun 2026 and 23 Jun 2026. Live travel advisories refresh automatically from the official sources.

Docking & getting ashore

Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 23 Jun 2026

Getting around

Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 10 Jun 2026

How busy it gets

Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 23 Jun 2026

What can catch you out

Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 23 Jun 2026

Travel advisories

FCDO (GOV.UK) & US State Department · refreshed automatically

How we check, and what “not stated” means