Drive it Yourself: Geiranger to Sandane via Stryn & Loen
Follow our guide for the incredibly beautiful drive from Geiranger to Sandane along the Nordfjord.
The Hidden North
North European travel guide
Population 2,553 / 61.5 degrees north
Stryn, Norway
Stryn is a picturesque municipality in Western Norway, known for its national romantic landscapes – think steep waterfalls, deep valleys, towering peaks, and emerald-green lakes. Nestled at the eastern end of the Nordfjord, Stryn offers visitors a taste of everything Norway has to offer in one place. The area’s blend of fjord and mountain terrain creates year-round opportunities, from summer hiking and glacier adventures to winter skiing.
About Stryn
Latitude: 61.5 degrees north
Population: 2,553
Stryn Municipality
In this Travel Guide...
Things to See & Do
Here’s an overview of some of the best things to see and do in Stryn
Cable car
Loen Skylift
One of the steepest cable cars in the world opened in 2017. In just five minutes, it lifts you from fjord level to 1,011 meters atop Mt. Hoven. The summit offers jaw-dropping panoramas of the Nordfjord, lakes and glaciers. There’s a café and the spectacular Hoven Restaurant, cantilevered at the cliff’s edge. You can either ride back down or tackle one of the marked hiking trails on the mountaintop.
Hikes, Day Trips & Experiences
Looking to go for a hike or take part in a unique experience? Here are our recommendations!
Tourist Road
Gamle Strynfjellsveien
This narrow 27 km road, completed in the late 1890s by manual labour, winds over the mountains between Stryn and Skjåk. It’s a masterpiece of old Norwegian road engineering, featuring stone walls, hairpin bends, and viewpoints overlooking turquoise glacial lakes. Open only in summer (the modern highway passes through tunnels in winter), the route gives a sense of travelling back in time. Pull over at viewpoints like Videfossen waterfall or walk down to an alpine tarn.
skiing
Stryn Sommerski
This is a unique ski area on the Tystigbreen Glacier along the old mountain road. Open late spring to summer, it allows you to ski or snowboard under the midnight sun, often in T-shirts! It’s one of only a few glacier ski centres in Norway and draws ski teams for off-season training. Rental gear and lifts are available (typically late May to July)
Hike
Segestad Farm Hike
It’s about 1–1.5 hours uphill to an abandoned mountainside farm that offers a postcard view over Hjelle and Oppstryn Lake. In Oldedalen, there are numerous gentle walks suitable for families – like the path to Briksdal Glacier (3 km, well-maintained) or the Volefossen waterfall trail. Another local favorite is Bødalsbreen in Lodalen: you can hike from Bødalseter farm about an hour to a glacier arm, feeling like you’ve stepped into a Tolkien scene. Trails are generally well-marked and graded; local tourist offices can suggest routes for your ability.
Hike
Skåla Summit
The Skåla hike is legendary in Norway – a strenuous 5+ hour ascent from fjord level to 1,848 m, straight up from Loen. The trail (built with stone steps in parts) leads to the Skålatårnet, a round stone tower cabin built in 1891 as a mountain sanatorium.
Staying overnight in this historic tower or the adjacent Skålabu hut is a unique experience if you’re fit enough to haul a pack up! From the top, you’ll have 360° views of glaciers and fjords; Skåla is reputedly the highest peak in Norway, rising directly from sea level.
It’s a challenging trek (black grade trail) but immensely rewarding – bring plenty of water, snacks and stamina. The track is typically snow-free and doable without special gear from late June to September (earlier/later with guide).
Road-Trips
Follow our road-trip guides for scenic trips around Stryn
The Fv60 from Ålesund to Byrkjelo via Loen and Olden
This scenic drive from Ålesund to Byrkjelo on the Fv60 will take you past some of the most spectacular fjords in the country. This drive is a pretty well-kept secret in Norway (I only discovered it when researching this book!) and passes by the Storfjord (with photo stops looking out to Geiranger), the Hjørunfjord, and then winds its way around the Nordfjord and the scenic villages of Loen and Olden. This is a perfect alternative road to taking one of the major highways like the E39 and Rv15!
Self-Guided Walks
Stryn on YouTube
Watch our YouTube videos featuring Stryn
History of Stryn
Human settlement in the Stryn area is ancient, with some of Norway’s oldest farms located in Loen – farms like Sæten and Tjugen were likely established long before Christianity reached these fjords. The name “Stryn” itself comes from Old Norse Strjónn, meaning “strong stream”, probably referring to the fast-flowing Stryneelva river that runs through the valley. For centuries, Stryn was a remote agrarian district, the municipality having been formally established in 1843. Farmers and fishermen eked out a living in the shadow of the imposing mountains.
In the mid-19th century, however, tourism found Stryn. As part of the “national romantic” movement, foreign travellers (British lords, European adventurers) and urban Norwegians began journeying to see Norway’s wild fjords and glaciers. By the 1880s, hotels sprang up to serve these early tourists, notably Hotel Alexandra in Loen and Visnes Hotel in Stryn (opened 1887). The old road across Strynefjellet was completed around 1894, literally by pick and shovel, and became known as Norway’s first tourist road.
Horse-drawn carriages would carry intrepid visitors over the mountains and into Stryn’s valleys, where steamships or ferries took them along the fjord. Visnes Hotel’s history recounts how farmer Anton Visnes expanded his farmhouse into a hotel due to demand – by 1887, he was hosting travellers coming even from Bergen, arriving by carriage and later by automobile.
A darker chapter in Stryn’s history is the Lodalen tragedies. On two occasions – 15th January 1905 and again on 13th September 1936 – huge chunks of Mount Ramnefjell broke off and tumbled into Lake Lovatnet, creating tsunami-like waves that destroyed farms and villages in Lodalen. The 1905 wave was ~40 m high; the 1936 wave was even bigger. In each disaster, dozens of lives were lost (61 in 1905, 74 in 1936). Memorial stones in the valley mark the sites, and the events left a deep impression on Norway, prompting better monitoring of unstable mountains. Today, Lodalen’s beauty has returned, but with an eerie respect for nature’s force.
Through the 20th century, Stryn remained somewhat off the main transport routes (no railway ever reached here), but it continued to develop a reputation for outdoor recreation. In 1934, summer ski activities began on local glaciers, and by 1972, the Stryn Summer Ski Centre was formally established, attracting ski enthusiasts for summer snow fun. By the late 1900s, Stryn was producing notable people too – for example, the Flo brothers, a trio of professional footballers who grew up in Stryn and went on to play for the Norway national team.
Another claim to fame: in 2003 a trio of designers in Stryn launched Moods of Norway, a quirky fashion brand that achieved international success with its blend of Norwegian heritage and humour.
Stryn Today
Life here balances tradition with a forward-looking spirit. Agriculture is still visible – you’ll see sheep grazing, green roofs on old farm buildings, and roadside stands selling berries in summer. In fact, farming, forestry and even some fruit growing (yes, those steep hillsides produce apples!) are mainstays of the local economy. Stryn farmers also diversified into niches like goat cheese and cider brewing – part of the proud Nordfjord food culture. Fur animal breeding was historically done here too (mink/fox farming), though it has declined in recent years.
On the industrial side, there are small manufacturing and textile businesses, often family-owned. For example, outdoor clothing brand Skogstad was founded in Innvik (Stryn) in 1937 and is now a nationwide brand – you can visit their factory outlet in Olden.
Another local company, Ricco Vero, started making knitwear here and grew into a fashion label.
And of course, Moods of Norway, the whimsical fashion brand known for its colourful suits and waffle-iron patterns, had its headquarters and design workshop in Stryn (literally in a cellar in town) during its heyday. While Moods’ initial company went bankrupt in 2017, its legacy remains part of Stryn’s modern identity – a testament to creative entrepreneurship blossoming in a “tiny fjord village”.
Tourism is arguably the most significant economic driver today. Stryn is the most visited municipality in Western Norway outside the big cities, which means many locals work in hospitality, guiding, transport and retail. In summer, the town buzzes with visitors stocking up at the supermarket or outdoor gear shops before heading into the wilderness.
Culturally, Stryn and Nordfjord have their dialect and traditions. You might hear the cheerful local greeting “Hei og hoppsann!” and notice the melodic accent. Festivals include events such as the Stryn Summer Ski Festival, often a late-spring celebration on the slopes featuring live music, as well as local food markets that celebrate traditions like lefse (potato flatbread) and smoked salmon. The town also has an active sports scene – besides football (Stryn IL is the local club), there are alpine skiing clubs and even eSports for youth. Modern amenities are not lacking: Stryn has schools, a medical centre, shops, and even a new culture house for concerts and movies. Still, don’t expect big-city nightlife – evening entertainment might be a pub quiz at a hotel bar or a quiet fjordside bonfire under the stars.
Travel Information
Getting Here
Fly: No airport access
Drive: The Gamle Strynefjellsvegen road is one of Norway’s 18 national tourist roads. Stryn is on the Rv15, a major highway from Otta to the west coast. Express buses between Bergen and Trondheim (Nor-Way Bus 431, for example) pass through Stryn daily, making it accessible from cities without a car. In summer, a special Geiranger-Stryn bus connects via Hellesylt ferry, allowing you to go from Stryn to Geiranger and back in a day. The bus station in Stryn town is very central (next to the mall).
Train: No train access
Ferry: No ferry access
Getting Around
Public transportation within the Stryn area is available but limited. If you plan to thoroughly explore, having a car (or hiring one) is very useful. With a car, you can drive down side valleys, stop at will for photos, and visit off-beat spots on your own schedule. Roads to all major attractions are paved and well-signed.
Local buses connect the main villages. There are buses between Stryn town and Loen/Olden a few times a day, as well as to Oppstryn/Hjelle. In summer, extra shuttle buses often run on cruise ship days from the port in Olden to spots like Briksdal Glacier.
Shops
Gamlebutikken på Hjelle is a popular local shop.
Places to Eat
Cafes & Bakeries
Stryn Vertshus is located in the centre of Stryn and is a popular café.
Quick Bites
Isehaug Kafeteria: This is a staple lunch spot in Stryn town – an old-school cafeteria on the second floor of a building overlooking the main square. It’s where you go for simple, cheap eats: daily specials like meatcakes with cabbage stew, fish gratin, or open-faced sandwiches. Nothing fancy, but it’s filling and traditionally Norwegian. Self-service style. Isehaug is also known for its selection of cakes and waffles – a slice of homemade bløtkake (cream cake) here with coffee is a nice afternoon treat.
Reasonable Restaurants
Stryn Kaffebar & Vertshus: A beloved spot in the town centre, this is part coffee bar, part casual restaurant. Housed on the ground floor of an 1873 inn, it exudes a cozy atmosphere.
By day, locals pop in for a “kaffe og bolle” (coffee and cinnamon bun). By night, it serves hearty dinners – think traditional Norwegian home cooking, such as meatballs with gravy, fresh trout from local lakes, and tasty burgers. It’s unpretentious, good-quality comfort food. Prices are reasonable and portions generous.
Restaurant 34 (Stryn): A relatively new addition to Stryn’s food scene (opened in 2014), Restaurant 34 offers an international menu and a lively atmosphere. It’s part bar, part bistro – you can play darts or shuffleboard while waiting for your meal
Places to Stay
At The Hidden North we believe in recommending quality & local places, so this website only recommends places to stay that have been tested or researched.
Camping
Stryn Camping sits conveniently by the river in the centre, with tent spots and simple cabins – ideal if you want to be walking distance from shops yet surrounded by nature
Cabins & B&Bs
Vertshus & Apartments offers affordable rooms and self-catering flats above its café (and has a bit of old-world charm, dating back to 1873)
Chains & Mid-Range
The Stryn Hotel is a reliable choice right by the fjord inlet – nothing fancy, but convenient and friendly.
Click here to view rates & book
A more characterful option is the Visnes Hotel Stryn, a historic hotel dating back to 1850 that has been beautifully maintained. It’s like stepping back in time – creaky floors, vintage decor – but with modern comforts. Visnes also has a well-regarded restaurant (you can imagine 19th-century travellers dining in style here).
High End & Unique Properties
Hotel Alexandra is a historic hotel in the nearby village of Loen.
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