An introduction to Hellesylt, a small village close to the entrance of the famous Geirangerfjord.
This small village is at the western end of the Geirangerfjord. Although it also welcomes cruise ships, Hellesylt tends to enjoy a more sedate atmosphere than its famous brother, Geiranger.
For that reason, walking in the hills above the village can be a more enjoyable experience than in Geiranger.
Watch a video tour
Last summer, I spent some time in Hellesylt and filmed this short walk. As international tourism was difficult at the time, it's a quiet day!
I hope you enjoyed the video. Now, read on for more details about what you just saw.
Where is Hellesylt?
The small village is part of Stranda municipality in Møre og Romsdal. It lies at the head of the Sunnylvsfjord, close to the entrance of the Geirangerfjord. The Sunnylvsfjord is a southern branch of the much bigger Storfjord.
Hellesylt is on route 60, a fjord and mountain road that connects with the E39 route at Hornindal near the Nordfjord and at Vegsund near Ålesund. From route 60, ferries are available to connect with route 63 at Geiranger and route 650 / route 63 at Libabygda.
Finally, Hellesylt is just 23km from the historic Hotel Union Øye and the Hjørundfjord along the mountain road 655.
All this makes Hellesylt a popular stop on any fjord road trip that includes the Geirangerfjord and Nordfjord. At the very least, it's a good place to stop to refuel both your car and yourselves!
Hellesylt waterfall
Even if you’re just passing through on the Geiranger-Hellesylt car ferry, make time to see the Hellesyltfossen waterfall, which literally splits the village in two.
In contrast to the slender beauty of Norway's fjord waterfalls, Hellesylt’s version showcases the raw power of nature, as a flood of water thunders over the granite rocks despite its height of only 20 metres.
The cascade is at its most impressive from April to early June, when melting snow from the surrounding mountains swells the flow. A steep path on the northern side of the water leads you up to a stone bridge for the best vantage point.
Get out onto the fjords
There is a fantastic viewpoint of the Sunnylvsfjord and entrance to the Geirangerfjord just a few minutes drive from the village. But to fully appreciate the beauty of the Norwegian fjords, you have to get on them.
Local company Bonseye offer daily rides in a RIB boat down the Geirangerfjord to Geiranger, returning later in the day once you've had a chance to explore the village.
There's an optional stop at Skagehola from where passengers can choose to hike up to the iconic Skageflå mountain farm and then over to Geiranger from where they can catch the return boat.
Alternatively, Fjord1 runs a regular car ferry (high season only) that doubles as a sightseeing cruise for tourists. It's possible to take the journey one way or return, with or without a car.
Oher things to see and do in Hellesylt
Sunnylven Church: Take a stroll up the steep paths through the village’s residential core to take a closer look at this 19th-century church. from where you can also enjoy a picturesque view across the rooftops to the fjord.
The local church is open sporadically, but visitors are usually welcome whenever a cruise ship is in port.
Peer Gynt Gallery: A curious addition to the region’s culture is this series of extravagant wooden carvings made by a local artist. They depict the famous Peer Gynt story, which was set over 300 km away in the Gudbrandsdalen valley.
While a genuinely unique venue that's cooperatively owned by locals, it is of limited appeal for tourists aside from fans of the Ibsen play.
Hiking: Many marked trails of varying degrees of difficulty start from the hills above the village, so consult one of the information boards near the ferry dock or pick up a map from the tourist information office to make the most of your stay.
Devold outlet: Open during the summer season, Devold operates a small factory outlet store by the car ferry port. The Norwegian outdoor clothing brand has a history stretching back more than 150 years.
Where to stay in and around Hellesylt
Simple accommodation is available above the village in Hellesylt Hostel and Motel. It's basic and cheap, but bear in mind the steep walk back up to the accommodation from the village.
If you are camping in Norway, consider the plots available at Hellesylt Camping, located on the waterfront in a quiet corner of the village.
Hi David, thank you very much for the information and video about Hellesylt. Me and my wife are planning to visit Geirangerfjord from Bergen and are totally dependent on public transport.Just couldn’t find any direct bus from Bergen to Geirangerfjord. Would highly appreciate your suggestion.
You will not find a bus from Bergen to the Geirangerfjord. Geiranger is a very sparsely populated area so public transport is very infrequent. Plus Geiranger is hundreds of miles from Bergen. It would take about 6 hours to drive even if you had your own transport. From Bergen I would suggest you look at tours to the Sognefjord or Hardangerfjord, as they are both much closer (but still a couple hours journey at a minimum)
Hi David:
We are going to be in Geraingerfjord area on a Sunday later this month. Do you know if the shops in Hellesylt are open on Sundays?
Thanks very much,
Michael Schuman
Hi, it looks as if the supermarket is open on Sundays yes
Mate, there are no shops. no nothing. Petrol station closed and if you need an engine repair you have somehow to get to Stranda, 30 kms away. The celebrated pizza restaurant Ocals closed, now they sell clothes. A corner pub now sells only ice cream or such. A sort of restaurant in a good site with wood carvings but here the view is of a ghastly schoolhouse. Take the ferry and pay a ransom for a dreadful cup of coffee.
Sorry mates, but Hellesylt is forlorn and near to death! Have been there 100 times, once had a cabin and estate close by, glad now to get far away! Cheers, Vino Rosso
An interesting article and I can see a lot of changes since we visited in the 50s but still worth visiting.
What about the dramatic Trollfjord That’s my favorite.
Thank you for an interesting article about Hellesylt; it was very helpful. We are planning to drive Bergen to Andalsnes end of August 2024, via Skei for a couple nights, Geiranger for a couple nights, and Andalsnes for a night before catching a train return to Oslo. Should we include the Hellesylt to Geiranger car ferry in our day trip from Skei to Geiranger, or stay near Hellesylt and do the ferry the next day. Anything else you recommend?