Årdal
Municipality · Vestland
About Årdal
Hike Utladalen to Vettisfossen's 275-metre free fall, Norway's highest protected waterfall, or drive the Tindevegen toll road towards Jotunheimen.
What to do and where to stay in Årdal
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1VettisfossenHike
A 275 m free fall, protected since 1924, reached on a 12.3 km return walk from Hjelle along the Folkevegen farm road and a path past Vetti farm.
Utladalen, from the car park at Hjelle (10 min from Øvre Årdal) · 3–4 h (12.3 km return, 445 m ascent) · June – September
2Vettismorki viewpointViewpoint
A T-marked path from Vetti towards Ingjerdbu leads to a platform at the cliff edge, the best place to look at Vettisfossen.
Above Vetti farm, towards Ingjerdbu, Utladalen · About 2.5 h return from Vetti (plus the walk in from Hjelle) · June–September
3Vetti Gard og TuriststasjonFood & drink
An old farm at the foot of Vettisfossen that has taken in travellers since the 1870s, serving simple meals to hikers in summer; no car access.
Vetti, Utladalen (only on foot or bike, about 5 km from Hjelle) · 30–60 min · Summer
4Avdalen GardHistory & culture
A restored mountain farm above the Avdalsfossen waterfall, where the old mill house can be seen grinding grain, up a marked path from the Folkevegen 1.5 km past Hjelle.
Utladalen, side path from Folkevegen · 2–3 h return from Hjelle · Staffed late June – September; DNT cabin open all year
5Utladalen Naturhus (Skåri farm)History & culture
An exhibition on the nature and culture of Utladalen and western Jotunheimen in the old barn at Skåri farm, open since 1998, with waffles in the farmhouse café in summer.
Flåten 4, Øvre Årdal, at the mouth of Utladalen · 45–60 min · Café 20 June – 20 August; check opening hours before you go
6TindevegenViewpoint
A toll road open May to November from Øvre Årdal over the mountains to Turtagrø, with short walks to views of the Hurrungane peaks and Store Skagastølstind.
Tindevegen from Øvre Årdal to Turtagrø (Luster) · 1 h drive (more with stops) · May – November
7Tusenmeteren (1000-meteren) and TunnelvegenLocal oddity
A former construction and summer road, now gated, climbs from 400 m to a viewpoint at 1,000 m with about 40 hairpins and a tunnel; walk or cycle, bring a light.
From parking at the '400-meteren' on Fv53 above Øvre Årdal · About 4 h return · Summer–autumn (snow-free)
8Indre OfferdalHistory & culture
Once Årdal's administrative centre, this fjord-shore settlement is kept as a museum of ten 19th-century buildings, among them a mill, a sawmill and a shoreside warehouse.
Årdalsfjorden shore, 17 km from Årdalstangen via Seimsdalen · 1–1.5 h (plus 17 km mountain road each way) · Outside visible all year; guided tours June–August or by appointment (unconfirmed for 2026)
9Årdal kyrkjeHistory & culture
A wooden long church from 1867 at Årdalstangen, built to replace an older stave church on the site.
Årdalstangen · 15–30 min · All year (interior mainly at services)
10Moakamben – Årdal's day-trip cabin (dagsturhytta)Hike
A 0.7 km path from the Moa car park on Fv53 climbs in about 40 minutes to a day-trip cabin at about 245 m with a view over the village.
Moa, above Øvre Årdal · About 1–1.5 h return (40 min up) · Most of the year (winter conditions not described)