🛳️ Geiranger and the fjord classics: seasonal and evening routes

The workday is over, and you want to catch a bit of the fjords. This guide will tell you whether it's possible to catch the last boat after 6 p.m., which viewpoints can be reached in two hours, and how to plan your visit to avoid the peak crowds. Everything is based on current schedules and official routes — useful for those based in Sunnmøre, visiting for the day from Alesund, or simply wanting to take a short evening trip around Geiranger.

🚤 Is it possible to leave on the last ferry after work?

Yes, during the high season, there is a ‘late’ ferry fjord cruise between Geiranger and Hellesylt. From 16 May to 14 September, the last departures are at 18:00 in both directions (arrival around 19:05).

During the off-season (April–mid-May and 15 September to 31 October), there are fewer departures: the last ferry from Geiranger usually leaves at 4 p.m., and from Hellesylt at 5:30 p.m. The organisers ask that you arrive at the pier 15 minutes in advance and allow 20 minutes for transfers. Always check the specific day in the Visit Geiranger PDF timetable.

If you want to return to Ålesund by sea on the same evening, please note that the Ålesund–Geiranger catamaran departs from Geiranger in the afternoon (14:00–16:00, depending on the date, and 14:30 in summer) and there are no evening return trips. This is a good option for a day trip, but not for after work.

🏞️ What viewpoints are available within 2 hours?

• Waterfall Walk (Fossevandring). 327 steps along the noisy Storfossen waterfall — a direct exit from the centre to the Norwegian Fjord Centre and the Union Hotel. The walk takes 30–60 minutes each way, and the panoramic views of the village and the fjord are picture-perfect.
• Flydalsjuvet. A classic postcard view of the region: the observation point is only ≈4 km from the centre on road No. 63 (access road, two platforms, paths between levels). An hour is enough for a photo stop with a short walk, even taking into account the transfer.
• Vesterås → Vesteråsfjellet. You can drive (or walk) to the Vesterås farm, then follow a gentle path to the viewpoint above the fjord. It takes about 20–40 minutes one way; the entire round trip, including photo breaks, takes up to 1.5 hours. If you have the energy, continue on to Storseterfossen (another 45–60 minutes one way from Vesterås).
• Ørnesvingen (Eagle Bend). The highest point of the famous ‘Eagle Road’ is a platform with a view of the ‘Seven Sisters’ and the bend in the fjord. The access viewpoint is convenient for a quick trip during the golden hour.

The plan is simple: if you are short on time, go to Fossevandring; if you have an hour or so, go to Flydalsjuvet or Vesteråsfjellet; if you have a car, add Ørnesvingen.

🙌 How to avoid crowds during peak season?

• Check the cruise arrival dates. The flow is at its peak from June to August and during the hours when the liners are docked. Check the port calendar (Stranda Hamnevesen) or schedule aggregators and choose a ‘quiet’ day without two or three large ships.
• Go ‘early or late’. The most popular spots are less crowded before 10:00 and after 17:00. In high season, the late ferry at 18:00 is a great way to see the fjord from the water after the main wave has passed.
• Change your perspective. Instead of the ‘most popular’ spots, try Vesteråsfjellet (quick and intimate), Flydalsjuvet in the evening or Ørnesvingen in diagonal light — there are fewer people and the photos are often better.
• Have a ‘plan B’ for the weather and road conditions. Dalsnibba (Skywalk) is open around the clock during the season via a toll road — if it's cloudy below, there's a better chance of catching a break in the clouds.

An evening in Geiranger is a real possibility: in the height of summer, there is a late ferry, and the viewing platforms and short trails can be explored in an hour or two without rushing. To make the trip your own, check the timetables in advance, catch a window before or after the main crowds, and choose a view to suit your mood — steps along the waterfall, a gentle trail above the fjord, the eagle's platform or the Skywalk.

Share your short routes and photos in the comments — we'll put together the perfect evening wish list for the land of fjords.