Jostedalsbreen at a glance
The national park authority calls Jostedalsbreen the largest ice cap on the European mainland. The park is named after it, and ice covers almost half of the protected area. No current figure for the area or the thickness is given here, because the sources do not give a dated survey.
Most visitors meet the ice cap through one of its arms. Each arm sits in its own valley, with its own road and its own walk. They are not interchangeable starting points for the same short hike. Two of them lie in the Stryn area: Briksdalsbreen in the Oldedalen valley and Kjenndalsbreen in the Kjenndalen valley.
The arms and how to reach them
Pick the arm that fits your base. They are in different valleys.
Briksdalsbreen
At the inner end of the Oldedalen valley, reached from Olden. The usual visit is a valley walk, with troll cars on part of the way.
Briksdalsbreen guide →Kjenndalsbreen
At the end of the Kjenndalen valley by the lake Lovatnet, with a toll road and a seasonal boat.
Lovatnet and Kjenndal →Nigardsbreen, Bøyabreen, Haugabreen
Other arms named in the park information. They lie in other valleys, so do not treat them as an add-on to a short trip from Loen.
Our picks: glacier tours at Jostedal
Two days that combine kayaking with a glacier hike.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Kayaking and glacier hike with an instructor
All boat and glacier equipment, an instructor and glacier information are included. Transport and lunch are not.
Check availability →Kayaking and glacier hike at Nigardsbreen
A kayak tour and a glacier hike with a guide, crampons and rope included. Transport and the toll fee are extra.
Check availability →Guided glacier walks and excursions
Glacier hikes, kayak and ice combinations and shore excursions in the Stryn and Jostedal area, with live prices and availability.
Walking on the ice: only with a guide
The national park describes professional glacier guiding and warns against going onto the ice without knowledge and equipment. For the longer ski crossing it asks for professional guiding because of crevasses. We follow a simple rule on this site: if you want to be on the ice, go with a guide.
This is a rule of caution, not a statement of law. There is no blanket legal requirement for every mountaineer. A path to a viewpoint at the foot of a glacier is also not a walk on the ice. When you compare tours, check what is included. Some guided hikes start in the Jostedal valley and do not include transport to the meeting point, and a toll can be extra.
Guide prices, minimum ages and booking deadlines for 2026 are not listed here. The tour brochure linked by the park is from 2022 and is out of date for prices and availability, so ask the operator directly.
Visitor centers and the Oppstryn center
Three centers are authorized by the park. For the Stryn area, Oppstryn is the closest.
- Jostedalsbreen Nasjonalparksenter in Oppstryn, at the lake Oppstrynsvatnet.
- Breheimsenteret in Jostedalen.
- Norsk Bremuseum in Fjærland.
Prices at Oppstryn as published for the center, without a dated 2026 guarantee:
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | NOK 140 |
| Child 4–17, student | NOK 70 |
| Child 0–3 | Free |
| Family (2 adults and children under 17) | NOK 350 |
| Group of 10 or more, per person | NOK 125 |
| Exhibition guide for a group of up to 30 | NOK 1,000 |
| Month | Daily opening hours |
|---|---|
| May | 10:00–16:00 |
| June | 10:00–17:00 |
| July | 10:00–18:00 |
| 1–13 August | 10:00–18:00 |
| 14–31 August | 10:00–16:00 |
| September | 10:00–16:00 |
No regular opening in October is listed, so do not plan an autumn visit around it.
Rules for walking in the park
The park authority explains the right to roam. In uncultivated land you pitch a tent at least 150 m from the nearest house or cabin, and you normally stay no more than 2 nights in one place without permission. There are exceptions for high mountains and remote areas. Dogs must be on a leash from 1 April to 20 August as a general rule, and local rules may go further. In remote areas the mobile network can drop out, so tell someone your plan.
For planning the trip itself, start with the Loen Skylift page for a view from above, then the Briksdalsbreen page. A base in the valley is covered under where to stay. Ski touring in the north is covered by the guide to the Lyngen Alps, and other fjord regions are at Norwegian Fjords.
Jostedal Glacier: frequently asked questions
Is Jostedalsbreen the largest glacier in Europe?
The park authority calls it the largest ice cap on the European mainland. Without the mainland limit the statement would not be exact.
Can I walk on the glacier without a guide?
We advise against it. The park warns against going onto the ice without knowledge and equipment, and this site recommends guided walks only.
Which arm is closest to Loen and Olden?
Briksdalsbreen lies at the end of the Oldedalen valley, reached from Olden, and Kjenndalsbreen lies at the end of the Kjenndalen valley by Lovatnet. Other arms such as Nigardsbreen are in different valleys.
What does the Oppstryn visitor center cost?
An adult pays NOK 140, children aged 4–17 and students NOK 70, and children aged 0–3 enter free. A family ticket is NOK 350.
Is the Oppstryn center open in October?
The published hours cover May to September. A regular October opening is not listed.
Can I camp in the national park?
The right to roam allows a tent at least 150 m from the nearest house or cabin, normally for up to 2 nights. Exceptions exist for high mountains and remote areas, and local rules may differ.