Wanderyn
Aurland
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
city · NO

Aurland

Recommended stay: 1 day
Getting around: Aurland village sits along the E16/Rv5 route and the Aurlandsfjord, and having a car is the most practical way to explore, especially for reaching the Stegastein viewpoint (a dramatic cantilevered platform a short drive up the valley) or the Snow Road (Aurlandsvegen) to Lærdal, which is only open in summer due to snow. Without a car, Aurland is reachable by local bus or boat from Flåm, just 20 minutes away, and many visitors base themselves in Flåm and treat Aurland as a half-day side trip rather than the other way around.
Hours: The Snow Road over the mountain to Lærdal typically opens late May or June and closes again by October depending on snowfall — check conditions before planning a drive on it.

Aurland is a small farming and fjord village that tends to be overshadowed by its more famous neighbor Flåm, but it's worth a stop in its own right, not least for the Stegastein viewpoint: a wooden platform that juts 30 meters out from the mountainside, 650 meters above the Aurlandsfjord, with a glass-fronted edge that unsettles almost everyone who walks to the end of it. The village itself is quiet, with a 13th-century stave-church-adjacent stone church and a scattering of old wooden houses along the fjord.

Aurland is also the starting point of the Aurlandsdalen hiking valley, a multi-day trek through remote mountain terrain that predates any road, and of the summer-only Snow Road to Lærdal, one of Norway's most scenic (and vertigo-inducing) mountain drives. Most travelers pass through as a stop between Flåm and Lærdal rather than staying multiple nights.

Aurland FAQs

Should I stay in Aurland or Flåm?

Most travelers base themselves in Flåm, which has more services and rail access, and treat Aurland as a half-day side trip — though Aurland is quieter and arguably more atmospheric if you don't need Flåm's amenities.

Do I need a car to visit the Stegastein viewpoint?

Effectively yes. Stegastein is a short drive up the valley from Aurland village, and there's no regular public transit to the platform itself, so a car or organized tour is the practical way to reach it.

When is the Snow Road to Lærdal open?

Typically late May or June through October, depending on snowfall — it's closed in winter and shoulder-season conditions can vary year to year, so check current status before planning around it.

Is the Stegastein viewpoint safe if I'm afraid of heights?

The platform has a solid glass-fronted edge and railings, so it's structurally safe, but the exposed 650-meter drop below is genuinely unsettling for some visitors — it's fine to view it from further back on the platform.

How many days should I spend in Aurland?

One day is enough for the village, church, and Stegastein viewpoint. Add extra time only if you're setting out on the multi-day Aurlandsdalen hike or driving the Snow Road as a dedicated excursion.

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