Cruise Port Guide
Olden Cruise Port
Quick answerShips berth at the cruise quay at Olden Cruise Park, about 700 m (10–15 minutes' flat walk) from the village; a second ship anchors and tenders. Briksdal glacier is about 20 km away by tour, Olden Adventure shuttle or the summer glacier bus, and the Loen Skylift rises to 1,011 m. Be back on board 60 minutes before all-aboard, 90 if your ship is tendering.
Checked October 2026 · Sources
At a glance
Terminal to centre
On foot
10–15 min to the village centre · Free
Walkable to centre
Partly
About 15 min · 0.7 km
Tender
No
Dock port
Typical time ashore
~9h
Check your own itinerary
Buffer before all-aboard
90 min
PortTrip planning default
Currency
NOK
Norwegian
Transport and cost figures are estimates — always confirm current fares at the terminal.
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When to head back to the ship in Olden
Olden village centre (ship at the cruise quay)
Flat walk of 10–15 min back to the quay
Leave by
16:15
Olden village centre (ship at anchor)
Walk 10–15 min to the tender landing at Olden Cruise Park, then the tender queue
Leave by
15:45
Briksdal glacier (Briksdalsbre Fjellstove)
Glacier bus or Olden Adventure shuttle, about 45 min; public bus returns only at 13:30
Leave by
15:15
Briksdal glacier lake (on foot from the lodge)
Walk 40–60 min down to the lodge, then about 45 min by bus or shuttle
Leave by
14:15
Where to leave from, and when
on foot bus, train, boat taxiPins show when to leave each place. Lines: route back to your ship.
Where people get it wrong: Missing the single 13:30 glacier bus back from Briksdal and finding no taxi.
Times count back from all-aboard using the travel times and buffers in this guide. Your ship's daily programme always wins.
Open my full Olden day, timed to 17:30 Get this for every port on your cruise, with alerts on the day Write about Olden? Put these leave-by times on your blog, freeTransport: Port of Olden (Nordfjord Havn, Olden Cruise Park) to Olden village
Olden is a village of about 500 people at the mouth of the Oldeelva river on the inner Nordfjord. The cruise quay can take the largest ships and sits a short walk from the village, but the reasons to come are inland: the Oldedalen valley and its lake lead to the Briksdal glacier, an arm of Jostedalsbreen, and the Loen Skylift climbs Mount Hoven nearby. Public transport is thin, there are few taxis, and the Loen Shuttle bus is not running in summer 2026, so most passengers rely on pre-booked shuttles or ship tours. Plan the glacier first and fit the village around it.
Walkable? Partly · about 15 min (0.7 km)
Olden village, its churches and the riverside are a flat 10–15 minute walk from the quay. Briksdal glacier and the Loen Skylift are not walkable.
Where your ship docks
- Olden Cruise Park (cruise quay and tender landing) · 0.7 km to the centre — Small terminal with an information desk, bike rental, souvenir shops and public toilets. Tour buses load just outside; taxis and private transfers wait here. Olden Adventure's shuttles leave from the pier.
On foot
Free10–15 min to the village centre
A flat walk along the river from the quay to the village and the old church.
Glacier bus (Brebussen) to Briksdal
Paid by card on board; fare not publishedAbout 40 minutes from Olden harbour to Briksdalsbre Fjellstove
Summer-only service from Stryn via Loen and Olden harbour. On the published timetable it leaves Olden harbour at 10:05 and reaches the lodge at 10:45; the return leaves the lodge at 13:30 and is back at Olden harbour at 14:02. No booking needed; the operator gives a seat guarantee. Check the current timetable on skyss.no before relying on it.
Olden Adventure shuttle
Check current prices with the operatorAbout 45 minutes each way to Briksdal
Independent operator at the cruise pier running shuttle buses to Briksdal glacier and to the Loen Skylift, with optional troll-car packages. Usually cheaper than the ship's tour; book ahead on busy days.
Taxi
Agree or check the fare firstVaries
Taxis wait outside the terminal but are few and often pre-booked on cruise days. Best for a direct return if you are running late.
Loen Shuttle
Not running—
The Loen Shuttle bus, which stopped at the cruise park in earlier years, is not operating in summer 2026.
Know your all-aboard time? Build the whole day around it.
Return timing: getting back to the ship on time
Be back on board 60 minutes before all-aboard if docked, or at the tender landing 90 minutes before if your ship is at anchor. From Briksdal, be on a bus or shuttle down at least 135 minutes before all-aboard.
The village is close and flat, so the risk is inland. The public glacier bus has one return from Briksdal (13:30, back at Olden harbour 14:02); if you miss it there is no later bus. Taxis are scarce, so do not count on finding one at the glacier lodge.
If you're running late
If you miss your return from Briksdal or Loen, phone for a taxi at once and call the port agent number on your daily programme.
One cruise quay at Olden takes the largest ships. When more than one ship is in, others anchor and tender to the tender landing at Olden Cruise Park, and smaller ships sometimes anchor off Loen and use the tender quay at the Loen Skylift. If your ship tenders, add 30 minutes to every return time.
A one-day plan for Olden (all aboard 17:30)
Assumes the ship docks at 08:00 and all-aboard is 17:30, in summer while the glacier bus is running.
08:15 Walk ashore and along the river into Olden village. See the old church of 1759.
09:45 Back to Olden harbour for the glacier bus.
10:05 Glacier bus from Olden harbour, along Oldevatnet lake to Briksdalsbre Fjellstove (10:45).
10:50 Walk the 2.5 km path to the glacier lake, past the Kleivafossen waterfall; 40–60 minutes each way. Troll cars are an alternative for most of the way.
12:45 Lunch or coffee at the lodge.
13:30 Glacier bus back from the lodge, arriving at Olden harbour at 14:02.
14:15 Free time in the village or by the fjord; shops and cafés near the cruise park.
16:30 Back on board, 60 minutes before all-aboard (16:00 at the tender landing if at anchor).
What to see in Olden on a cruise day
Briksdal glacier (Briksdalsbreen)
An arm of the Jostedalsbreen ice cap, ending in a glacier lake at the head of Oldedalen.
⏱ Half a day including travelWalk from the lodge free; transport and troll cars extra
Tip: 2.5 km from Briksdalsbre Fjellstove, 40–60 minutes each way, about 180 m of climb. Wear proper shoes; the path is shared with troll cars.
Troll cars at Briksdal
Small open vehicles that cover most of the road from the lodge towards the glacier.
⏱ 1–1.5 hours return including the final walkPaid separately; book ahead
Tip: You still walk about 500–700 m at the top. Book in advance in May and from 20 September.
Loen Skylift
One of the steepest cable cars in the world, rising to 1,011 m on Mount Hoven above Loen and the Nordfjord.
⏱ Half a day including transfers; the ride itself is 5–7 minutes each wayNOK 530 adult return, NOK 270 child 6–15 (2026–27 price list)
Tip: The ride takes 5–7 minutes. Views depend on cloud; check the sky before paying.
Oldevatnet lake and Oldedalen
The long glacial lake and valley on the road to Briksdal.
⏱ Seen on the way to the glacierFree
Tip: The glacier bus and shuttles follow the lake, so you see it without a separate trip.
Olden village and churches
A small village with an old church from 1759 and a newer church from 1934.
⏱ 1–2 hoursFree
Tip: Flat walk from the quay; public toilets near the new church and the supermarkets.
Huaren viewpoint
A steady uphill trail to a view over the harbour and fjord.
⏱ 1.5–2 hours returnFree
Tip: Good use of a morning if you are not going to the glacier.
Kayaking on the Nordfjord
Guided paddles from Olden with a short briefing; suits beginners.
⏱ 2–3 hoursVaries by operator
Tip: Book ahead; operators include Discover Olden.
Beaches near Olden cruise port
Olden village shore
Walk from the cruise quay · 10–15 min · Free
A tiny beach locally billed as Norway's coldest and smallest.
Alvleinsvika
Ask at the terminal information desk · Varies · Free
A local swimming spot; the water is cold all summer.
What to eat in Olden
Coffee and cakes
Yris Kafe, Olden village
Hotel restaurant meals with fjord views
Olden Fjordhotel
Family-friendly meals
Mølla Gjestehus, Olden
Lunch and coffee at the glacier
Restaurant and café at Briksdalsbre Fjellstove
Lunch with a view at 1,011 m
Restaurant and café at the Loen Skylift top station (book the restaurant ahead)
Picnic supplies
Bunnpris or Coop Prix in Olden
Ship excursion or do it yourself?
Varies by line
Ship excursion avg, per person
See table
DIY day avg, per person
Depends on line
Saving, per person
Ship tour prices differ by cruise line and change often, so we only show ones we could verify. Check your line's cruise planner.
| Item | Ship tour | On your own | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Briksdal glacier | Varies by line; check your cruise planner | Glacier bus (card on board) or Olden Adventure shuttle; walk from the lodge free | Depends on line |
| Loen Skylift | Varies by line; check your cruise planner | NOK 530 adult return (2026–27 price list) plus transfer | Depends on line |
Briksdal is easy to do without the ship: Olden Adventure runs shuttles from the pier and, in summer, the public glacier bus stops at Olden harbour with a fixed return in good time for most all-aboards. The ship's tour is worth it if your call is short, if you want a guaranteed seat with no transfer risk, or if you want to combine Briksdal and the Skylift in one day. For the Skylift alone, a pier shuttle plus your own ticket is simpler, but book the transfer before you sail because the Loen Shuttle bus is not running in 2026.
Common mistakes cruise passengers make in Olden
Expecting a hop-on bus or the Loen Shuttle to the Skylift.
Instead: The Loen Shuttle is not running in summer 2026. Book an Olden Adventure transfer or a ship tour before you arrive.
Missing the 13:30 glacier bus back from Briksdal.
Instead: There is no later public bus. Be at the lodge stop by 13:20, or use a shuttle with a return time you know.
Assuming troll cars take you all the way to the ice.
Instead: You still walk the last 500–700 m on a gravel path. Wear proper shoes.
Counting on a taxi at short notice.
Instead: Taxis are few and pre-booked on cruise days. Arrange transport before you leave the pier.
Paying for the Skylift under low cloud.
Instead: Check visibility first; on a cloudy day spend the time in Oldedalen instead.
Safety: is Olden safe for cruise passengers?
Olden is quiet and safe. The hazards are natural: keep to the marked path at Briksdal, do not approach the glacier front or walk on the ice, and give way to troll cars on the shared road. Weather changes quickly, and the Skylift top station is much colder than the quay. Carry a waterproof layer.
Emergency number: 112 (police), 113 (medical), 110 (fire)
Practical information
Crowds
Nordfjord Havn expects more than 200 cruise calls across its ports in 2026, and two-ship days at Olden fill coaches, troll cars and the glacier path. The public glacier bus has a fixed time; troll cars should be booked ahead on busy days.
Accessibility
When docked, the quay and the walk to the village are flat. The Briksdal path from the lodge is described by the tourist board as suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, but it climbs about 180 m on gravel, so expect hard pushing. Some glacier tours with troll cars are listed as not wheelchair accessible. Tender days are harder; ask the ship about tender access.
If it rains
Briksdal is still worth it in rain, as the waterfalls are fuller, but the path is wet and views of the ice may be limited. Skip the Skylift if the cloud is down to the fjord. In the village, the churches and cafés are the main shelter.
Money, language, time
Currency: NOK · Language: Norwegian · Time zone: CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer
Your whole cruise, planned like this
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The day plan above assumes a 17:30 all-aboard. Your ship's times will differ, and so will every other stop. Pro builds the plan from your ship's real times: a timed day in Olden and every other port, a leave-by time for each stop, and a Plan B if you run late. Ultimate adds a live leave-by countdown from where you are on the day. Every plan uses the same checked facts as this guide. Nothing is made up.
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Other ports on cruises that call at Olden
Hellesylt cruise port guide
Walk to townHellesylt has a 143 m cruise pier about 200 m from the village; when more than one ship is in, or on short drop-off calls, ships anchor and tender.
Read the Hellesylt guide
Geiranger cruise port guide
Tender portMost ships anchor and tender to the cruise terminal in Geiranger village; one ship a day can tie up to the Seawalk floating pier and walk ashore.
Read the Geiranger guide
Ålesund cruise port guide
Walk to townShips dock at Storneskaia, Stornespiren or Prestebrygga, about 200 m from the centre, so you walk straight into town.
Read the Ålesund guide
Molde cruise port guide
Walk to townShips dock at Storkaia or Moldegård, about 100 m from the town centre, and the main square is a five-minute walk.
Read the Molde guide
Olden Cruise Port — Common Questions
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Sources & method
Facts checked against official sources: October 2026
- Nordfjord Havn – Cruise
- Nordfjord Havn – Olden mooring plan (PDF, 2026)
- Nordfjord Havn – Regulations and tariffs
- Loen Skylift – Opening hours and prices
- Loen Skylift – Loen Shuttle (not operating summer 2026)
- Nordfjord.no – Loen shuttle bus
- Nordfjord.no – Olden Adventure
- Fjord Norway – Glacier bus to Briksdalsbreen
- Visit Norway – Briksdalsbreen walk
- Visit Norway – Troll cars to Briksdalsbre glacier (Oldedalen Skyss)
- Visit Norway – The troll cars
- UT.no (DNT) – Briksdalsbreen easy hike
- Regjeringen – Nullutslippskrav til passasjerskip i verdensarvfjordene (April 2025)
- Celebrity Cruises – Olden port guide
- HX – Trollcar excursion in Briksdal
- CruiseMapper – Olden port
- Adventour Begins – Olden cruise port guide (updated May 2026)
- Jetsetter Guide – Olden cruise port
- Life in Norway – Briksdal glacier by troll car (2025)
- Life in Norway – Loen Skylift
- A Brummie Home and Abroad – Olden and the Briksdal glacier
Independently researched
None confidenceRelated Cruise Planning Guides
Authority Guide
The Ultimate Mediterranean Cruise Port Planning Guide
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