Olden as a cruise port
Olden has a cruise quay and a tender stop at the Olden Cruise Park. Loen has a separate tender landing next to the Loen Skylift. Not every ship ties up at the same place, so look up your own ship before you plan the day. The port authority Nordfjord Havn lists each call with the port, arrival, departure and the pier or tender.
Nordfjord Havn reports more than 200 planned cruise calls in 2026 for its destinations together. That is not the number for Olden alone, and planned calls are not calls that took place. Schedules change, so use the list as a planning aid. This is an independent guide, not the website of the port, the municipality or a cruise line.
Your port day in four steps
A sequence that keeps you on schedule.
Check where you land
Look for your ship in the port call list. It shows the port, the arrival and departure times and whether the ship uses a pier or tenders.
Pick one main plan
The glacier at Briksdal, the Skylift in Loen or a boat or walk near the village. One main plan fits a short port stay better than three.
Book what has a fixed time
A shuttle or an excursion leaves at a set hour. The shuttle return is on the same bus, with no free change to a later one.
Be back early
Count backwards from the all-aboard time on your ship, and keep a margin for traffic and the tender queue.
Our picks: tours from Olden
A guided hike, a boat ride on the fjord and a scenic drive to the lakes.
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.
Guided hike at Briksdal Glacier from the Olden pier
Bus transport and a guided hike, with a return in time for cruise passengers according to the provider. Getting to the meeting point, food and drinks are extra.
Check availability →Nordfjord RIB boat ride from Olden
One hour on the fjord with a captain and live commentary. Flotation suit, life jacket and goggles are provided; food, drinks and getting to the meeting point are extra.
Check availability →
Scenic drive past two lakes with an audio guide
A scenic drive with stops at Loen Lake and Olden Lake and a view of the Mjelkevollen glacier. There is no live guide, and food and snacks are extra.
Check availability →Shore excursions and tours from Olden
Glacier trips, fjord boats and guided walks that start in Olden, with live prices and availability.
The Briksdal glacier shuttle
A commercial bus from Olden harbor to Briksdal. The data below is as published by the operator, without a stated year.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Price, age 15 and up | NOK 590 |
| Price, children aged 3–14 | NOK 295 |
| Infants aged 0–3 | free |
| Departures | 09:30, 11:00 and 13:00 |
| Season | 1 April to 1 November |
| Duration | 3.5 hours, with about 2 hours in Briksdal |
| Drive | about 40 to 45 minutes each way |
| Refund | full, up to 24 hours before, or if the operator cancels for weather or because the ship does not arrive |
The age of 3 appears in two groups, so ask when you book. You meet at the pre-booking desk next to Olden Adventure on the pier. If the ship anchors, there is also a check-in at the tender harbor. The return trip uses the same bus. The drive times differ between two places on the operator's page, so treat them as rough.
Check what your ticket includes before you rely on a troll car. The troll cars run only in Briksdal, and the operator has no transfer from the cruise terminal. For the walk and the car rides at the glacier see Briksdal Glacier.
Other ways to spend the day
The Skylift in Loen lifts you from the fjord to the mountain Hoven in 5 to 7 minutes. Ships that tender at Loen land right next to the lower station. See the Loen Skylift page for prices and hours, which change with the season.
The public bus does not suit a short port call. Skyss line 115 reaches Briksdalen from the cruise quay in Olden, but its tourist morning run was limited to 15 May to 15 September 2026. In October there is no such bus. A taxi or private car is a possibility, and the prices for those are not given here.
Lake and valley trips such as Lovatnet and the Kjenndalsbreen need more time than a short call allows. The wider ice cap and its three visitor centres are on the Jostedal Glacier page.
For other ports on the western Norwegian coast and routes between them see Norwegian fjord cruises. If you add Geiranger to your trip, the Geirangerfjord has its own guide.
If you stay longer
Olden works as a base as well as a port. Stryn and Loen offer other bases, so choose by what you plan to do. Where to stay in Stryn, Loen and Olden sorts the villages by use. Go back to the Stryn guide for the whole region.
Wear shoes with grip and bring a rain jacket for the valley, and check the forecast on the morning of your call.
Olden: frequently asked questions
Where do cruise ships dock in Olden?
Olden has a cruise quay and a tender stop at the Olden Cruise Park. Some ships anchor and tender instead. Check your ship in the port call list of Nordfjord Havn.
How many cruise ships visit Olden each year?
Nordfjord Havn reports more than 200 planned calls in 2026 for its destinations together. A figure for Olden alone is not published there, and planned calls can change.
How much is the Briksdal shuttle from Olden?
NOK 590 for ages 15 and up and NOK 295 for ages 3–14, as published by the operator. The trip lasts 3.5 hours and starts at 09:30, 11:00 or 13:00 in the season from 1 April to 1 November.
Can I change to a later bus on the way back?
No. You return on the same bus, and there is no free change to a later one.
Can I get my money back if the ship does not arrive?
The operator states a full refund up to 24 hours before and when it cancels the trip because of weather or a missing ship call.
Does the shuttle include the troll car?
That is unclear, so ask the operator before you book. The troll cars run only in Briksdal.