Olden is a tiny village used mainly as a base for Briksdal Glacier and the Loen Skylift. Both need transport: book a bus, tour or taxi. There is little to do in the village itself.
Where Olden lies
OldenBergenOsloStockholmÅlesundFlåmGeirangerGothenburgHammerfestHaugesundHellesyltHelsinkiHonningsvågKristiansandLeknesMoldeNordfjordeidSkagenSkjoldenStavangerTallinnTromsøVisbyWhere your ship docks
Ships normally dock at the cruise quay in Olden village at the end of the Nordfjord (some ships may tender on busy days, unverified).
Shuttle. Olden Cruise (oldencruise.com) sells shuttles for cruise guests to Briksdal and to the Loen Skylift. Check your ship's planner too.
Getting to the sights
| The way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise shuttle bus (Olden Cruise) or tour, then short walk or Troll Car to Briksdal Glacier | Shuttle trip about 3.5 hours in total; Troll Car round trip about 1.5 hours | Shuttle from NOK 590 (Olden Cruise). Optional Troll Car: NOK 300 adult round trip or NOK 200 one-way up; children 8-15 NOK 200; guided Troll Car tour with shuttle from NOK 990. |
| Cruise shuttle (Olden Cruise), public bus or taxi to Loen, then cable car to Loen Skylift | Lift ride 5-7 minutes each way; package shuttles leave about every 15 minutes | Skylift ticket + transport package from NOK 890 (Olden Cruise). Lift alone: NOK 530 adult return, NOK 270 child 6-15 (winter prices, 12 Oct 2026-30 Apr 2027); summer 2027 prices not yet published. |
Cruise shuttle bus (Olden Cruise) or tour, then short walk or Troll Car to Briksdal Glacier
- Book the shuttle ahead at oldencruise.com (or a ship tour).
- At Briksdal, walk up or ride the Troll Car to Kleivane.
- From Kleivane it is about 500 m on a wide, easy path to the glacier lake.
Troll Car runs May-October, 7 people per car; in May and from 20 September it must be booked ahead. Without the Troll Car, the walk up from the parking area is uphill. Shuttle prices are 'from' prices on the operator's site; 2027 bookings opened 1 October.
Cruise shuttle (Olden Cruise), public bus or taxi to Loen, then cable car to Loen Skylift
- Book the shuttle package at oldencruise.com, or take a bus to the Loen Active stop (500 m walk) or a taxi (Olden Taxi +47 950 86 146).
- Ride the Skylift up Mount Hoven.
Weather can close it or hide the view. Lift closed 1-9 December for maintenance.
What to see
Briksdal Glacier
Arm of Europe's largest mainland glacier, Jostedalsbreen.
- How
- Shuttle/tour plus 500 m path from Kleivane (walk up or Troll Car).
- Time
- Half day
- Tickets
- Free to walk; Troll Car NOK 300 adult round trip (2026)
Loen Skylift
Steep cable car to a big fjord view.
- How
- Transport to Loen.
- Time
- 2-3 hours
- Tickets
- NOK 530 adult return (winter 2026/27); summer 2027 not yet published
Oldedalen valley
Lakes, farms and waterfalls.
- How
- On the way to Briksdal.
- Time
- Included
- Tickets
- Free
Your day, hour by hour
Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.
- Pre-book Briksdal or Skylift transport.
- Do one main sight in the morning.
- Short village walk afterward.
- Back on board 45-60 minutes before all-aboard.
What goes wrong, and how to avoid it
Beware
- Very limited local transport, book ahead.
- Rain and low cloud.
Do this
- Bring rain gear and walking shoes for the glacier.
Fees, money and access
Rules & fees
- Norway has no cruise passenger tax in 2026. A national fee of NOK 100 per passenger per 24 hours in port is proposed from January 1, 2027, if approved (reported by The Local Norway, March 2026). Norway's separate local tourist tax of up to 3% applies to hotel stays, not cruise passengers.
Accessibility
Village near quay is flat. Briksdal walk is steep.
Money
Norwegian krone (NOK). Cards (tap-to-pay) are accepted almost everywhere, even for small amounts. You rarely need cash. Tell your bank you are traveling.
More of the Norway & the Fjords
Sources & what we could not confirm · 6 sources · checked 2026-11
- Cruise Industry News: Norway to introduce cruise taxes for guests (June 2025)
- Olden Cruise: shuttles and tours for cruise guests
- Briksdal: Troll Car glacier ride (2026 prices)
- Loen Skylift: opening hours and prices
- Loen Skylift: how to get here
- The Local Norway, how the proposed cruise tax will work (Mar 2026)
- Docking details (berth vs tender)
- Summer 2027 Skylift prices
- Public bus times and fares Olden-Loen
- Olden Cruise prices are 'from' prices; year not stated
- An independent check in November 2026 could not confirm this: Ships normally dock at the cruise quay in Olden village at the end of the Nordfjord (some ships may tender on busy days, unverified).