Olden tourist information.
Cruise ships have had Olden on the map for more than a century, with the glacier as a main attraction. A ten-minute walk from the quay will bring you to the town centre. The town is a part of the Port of Nordfjord, which also includes Måløy, Selje, Nordfjordeid and Sandane.
Village Olden
Olden is a small village of about 500 people, located on the Oldeelva River in the Oldedalen Valley at the end of the Nordfjord. It is the gateway to the Briksdal Glacier (Briksdalsbreen), which has made it a popular cruise ship destination. The Briksdalsbreen is an arm of the the largest glacier in Europe, the Jostedal Glacier. Olden also has easy access to several other arms of this glacier, including Kjenndal and the Boyabreen. The proximity of so many glaciers also results in an abundance of emerald lakes and waterfalls in the area. Some people say that a shore excursion in Olden is like going back in time for its picturesque wooden houses, the forest and their humble inhabitants, and if you add the stunning Briksdal glacier, one of the most famous glaciers in Norway, this is perfect place for refreshing break.
Winter is never far away in the Olden Valley. The largest glacier in mainland Europe, the Jostedalsbre with its many arms covers an area of 487 square kilometers, or Jostedals glacier, flanks the small town of Olden on three sides: to the east, south and west. Peaceful valleys and tidy farms lie in contrast to gleaming glaciers, foaming waterfalls and towering mountains. A tour to Briksdal, a branche of the Jostedal Glacier that is millions of years old, its most well-known glacier arm, is highly recommended. You can also see the beautiful Lake Olden and its magnificent waterfalls.
The village of Olden and the Stryn region are vigorous and active, with blooming trade and businesses. They have long been known for tourism and industry, but are now also famous for contemporary design. Olden is the main cruise destination in the Nordfjord, but cruise vessels are most welcome in all the Nordfjord ports: Måløy, Selje, Nordfjordeid, and Sandane; each hosting a range of interesting attractions and excursion possibilities.
Briksdal glacier
Briksdal glacier (Briksdalsbreen) is part of the Jostedalsbreen glacier, located in the Jostedalsbreen National Park. Once you get to it, the glacier and the national park are free to visit. It takes about 45 minutes from Olden by bus to get to the welcome center, from there you have the option to hike to get a closer look at the glacier or take a troll car for a fee which gets you within about a 10 minute hike.
You can experience the frozen cascade of the million year old Briksdal Glacier, which is the best-known of the Jostedal Glacier’s many icy arms. The beautiful Lodalen Valley can be explored by boat on the ice-green, glassy Lovatn Lake and the wild Kjenndalen. Kjenndal Glacier is one of the largest arms of Jostedal Glacier. The visitor centre for Jostedalsbreen National Park is located in beautiful surroundings on the banks of Lake Stryn, and provides in-depth information about the glacier in the form of film and various exhibitions.