Nestled deep within the dramatic Romsdalen valley, Åndalsnes, Norway, is a port that promises adventure and awe-inspiring scenery the moment you step ashore! If your cruise itinerary includes the Andalsnes cruise port, you’re in for a treat.
Often dubbed the ‘Alpine Town by the Fjord,’ Andalsnes (Åndalsnes) offers a breathtaking array of natural wonders right at your fingertips. Wondering what to do in Andalsnes from a cruise ship? This guide is packed with things to do in Andalsnes on your own, from soaring high on the Åndalsnes cable car (the Romsdalen Gondola) for epic views, to tackling the famous Rampestreken viewpoint, or enjoying a scenic ride on the historic Rauma Railway.
Update June 2025: Trollstigen is currently closed but will re-open on 14 July 2025
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Andalsnes Norway: Is a DIY Excursion Easy? 😎😎😎😎😎 Easy Peasy
A DIY Shore Excursion in Andalsnes Norway is absolutely 😎😎😎😎😎 Easy Peasy! Your ship is docked right near where all the action is:
- Minutes from Andalsnes Train Station: Andalsnes Cruise Port is just a few minutes walk away from the train station, where you can hop onto the famous Rauma Railway (aka the Golden Train)
- Cable Car to Nesaksla: Ok, it’s technically a gondola (as it “swings”). Departing from right next to the cruise pier, it will take you up to the top of Nesaksla Mountain. There’s viewing platforms and a restaurant at the top, with an optional 15-minute walk to Rampestreken Viewpoint
- Walkable Town Centre: If you just want to walk around and enjoy the fjord views, then Andalsnes town centre is relatively flat.
Andalsnes Cruise Port Essentials: All You Need To Know
- Currency: Norwegian Kroner
- Cash or Card? Norway is mostly cashless! I have travelled extensively in Norway and I’ve never needed cash, not even for a cup of coffee. So I won’t worry about having to go to an ATM.
- Language: Norwegian but English is very widely spoken
- Official Tourism Website: Visit Norway has the best info on Andalsnes
- eSIM for Norway: For a great data connection without the huge roaming fees, use an eSim data pack from Airalo. I always recommend having a smartphone with a valid plan when you’re at port touring. Get US$3 off your first eSIM data pack from Airalo when you use ROXANN1666 when you sign up or apply it at checkout
Andalsnes Cruise Port Map
- On Desktop | Laptop? Use buttons on bottom left to zoom in/out. Click on the upper right hand corner to see a bigger version.
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- If map is not loading correctly, click here to see it directly on Google Maps
Top Things to Do in Åndalsnes, Norway
1. Rauma Railway aka The Golden Train
The Rauma Railway was named by Lonely Planet as Europe’s most scenic rail journey! It’s easy peasy to do this as a DIY shore excursion, as the train station in Åndalsnes is just a few minutes walk from the cruise pier!
The full Rauma Railway line runs for 114 kilometers (about 71 miles) between Åndalsnes and Dombås (which is on the main Dovre Line connecting Oslo and Trondheim).
But the most popular section of the journey for cruisers is a round-trip journey between Åndalsnes and Bjorli, which takes around 2.5 hours. (A one-way train ride from Åndalsnes to Bjorli is about 50-60 minutes. The train will stop in Bjorli for about 30 minutes before heading back to Åndalsnes.)
The Rauma Railway is very much a tourist train, so there’s guided commentary in multiple languages and photo stops along the way. You won’t need to lean outside the window to get good photos!
What to See on the Rauma Railway
- Rauma River: The Rauma Railway runs along the emerald green Rauma River for much of the journey
- Trollveggen (Troll Wall): The Troll Wall is Europe’s tallest vertical rock face! There’s towering mountains on either side of the Romsdalen valley – note you’ll see the Troll Wall from the side view on the train. (Don’t confuse Trollveggen with Trollstigen Road – the road with all the hair pin turns).
- Kylling Bridge (Kylling Bru): The Rauma Railway will cross this distinctive stone arch bridge
Along the way, there’s numerous waterfalls cascading down the mountain sides and lush valleys.
How to Plan your trip on the Golden Train
- Andalsnes Station: The Rauma Railway starts at Andalsnes station, just a few minutes walk from Andalsnes Cruise Port
- Timetables: There’s usually two departures a day during peak summer months, a morning departure at 9:55am and an early afternoon departure at 12:23pm.
- Journey Time: Return trip is about 2.5 hours. A one-way journey from Åndalsnes to Bjorli takes about an hour. The train stops at Bjorli for about 30 minutes before heading back to Åndalsnes. So if you’re on the AM departure, you’ll be back in Åndalsnes by lunch time.
- Tickets: This is a very popular excursion and there’s only a few train carriages, so I recommend booking online if you’d like to ride the Golden Train.
- Which Side to Sit On: For the best views heading from Åndalsnes up towards Bjorli, sitting on the left side of the train when facing the direction of travel.
- What to Bring: Drinks and snacks (if you want any on the trip) plus a charged smartphone with your own headphones to access the commentary. (There’s no physical audioguides headsets.) WCs are available onboard.
You can easily combine the Rauma Railway with a trip up to Nesaksla. There’s definitely enough time to do something else if you intend to spend a full day at port. Alternatively, if you prefer to experience the hairpin turns on the Troll Road (rather than just seeing it from the train), then you’ll need to join the Troll Road excursion below.
History Behind the Golden Train
The train has been nicknamed “The Golden Train” because the Rauma Railway was involved in the “evacuation” of Norway’s gold reserves from Oslo in April 1940, when Nazi Germany invaded Norway. 26 tonnes were secretly transported by train, from Oslo to Lillehammer, then up the Gudbrandsdalen valley, eventually reaching Åndalsnes via the Rauma Line.
From Åndalsnes, the gold was then loaded onto British cruisers and other Allied ships and transported to Britain for safety. Eventually, the gold was moved to Ottawa, Canada (to Bank of Canada) and to New York (the Federal reserve Bank of New York in Manhattan). Most of the gold was not repatriated until 1988 and the remainder sold.
2. Romsdalen Gondola to Rampestreken Viewpoint
The Romsdalen Gondola (Romsdalsgondolen) is a modern cable car that transports passengers from the fjord in Andalsnes up to the summit of Nesaksla mountain.
The fjord station (lower station) is just by the cruise pier and the train station. The mountain station (upper station) is on Nesaksla, at an elevation of 708 meters (~2,300 feet) above sea level.
- Frequency: The Gondola runs every half hour, on the half hour and on the hour.
- Gondola Ride Time: The gondola ride itself only takes about 5-7 minutes. The ride is smooth and gives you panoramic views of Andalsnes, the Romsdalsfjord, the Rauma River, and the surrounding majestic peaks like Romsdalshorn.
- Upper Station: At the mountain station, there’s a restaurant and a viewing platform and walking paths if you’d like to walk around.
- Opening Hours: Gondola operates daily from 9am to 11pm during peak months from June to August. Check online for other months here.
- Tickets: NOK 560 round trip adults, NOK 315 for kids aged 6-17, free for kids under 5. NOK 380 one-way adults, NOK 230 for kids aged 6-17. Cards are accepted.
Reaching Rampestreken Viewpoint from the Gondola
Rampestreken is the iconic steel viewing platform that juts out 20 metres from the mountainside, 537m (~1760 feet) above sea level.
But note that you need to walk downhill from Nesaksla (the upper cable car station, after you’ve exited the gondola) to get there. The walk is about 15 minutes. Afterwards, you’ll need to walk back uphill to the gondola station afterwards to take it back down to Andalsnes. The walk to the viewpoint is not steep but you’ll feel the incline.
You can also walk all the way back down to Andalsnes but it’s for keen hikers and walkers only, as it’s quite steep and will take about an hour or so.
Hike Up to Rampestreken
If you’re a keen hiker and want to hike up to Rampestreken instead of taking the gondola, I’ve marked the start of the Romsdalstrappa trail from the base in Andalsnes in my Andalsnes Cruise Port map above. While the trail is well maintained, it’s quite steep and will take 1.5 hrs to 2 hrs depending on your pace.
3. Norwegian Mountaineering Centre
Right by the cruise pier is Norwegian Mountaineering Centre – or Norsk Tindesenter. (In the photo 🖼️ 👆above, it’s the patterned, angular facade on the right-hand side). You’ll find exhibitions on Norway’s rich mountaineering history, the evolution of climbing techniques and the unique geology of the region.
For those who want more active pursuits, it has Norway’s highest indoor climbing wall at 21 metres (~70 feet)! There’s routes for various skill levels.
- Opening Hours: 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm weekends
- Tickets: NOK 155 adults, NOK 140 students, NOK 95 kids – ticket includes entrance to the museum as well as the indoor climbing wall.
Climbing Nesaksla via Ferrata
The Centre also runs guided climbs on the Romsdalsstigen Via Ferrata. “Via Ferrata” (Italian for “iron path”) is a protected climbing route. In Åndalsnes, the Romsdalsstigen Via Ferrata allows you to ascend the steep mountainside of Nesaksla using a network of fixed steel cables, iron rungs, and suspension bridges. You are secured to the cable via a specialised harness and lanyard system, making it a safer way to experience rock climbing and exposed terrain.
If you’ve always wanted to try a Via Ferrata climb, then Andalsnes is a great place because there’s an “Intro Wall” suitable for beginners.
No prior climbing experience is required; you just need to be of normal fitness. This is because the Intro Wall finishes to join the Romsdalstrappa hiking path to continue up towards Nesaksla, passing the Rampestreken viewpoint, or descend. So you need to be fit enough to walk up (to catch the gondola back down to Andalsnes) or walk down the trail. Read more about the Ferrata experience here.
If you have climbing experience, then the West Wall (Vestveggen) is longer and more challenging. This more experienced route is a 5-6 hour return trip.
4. Stroll Along the Fjord & River Rauma
Before returning to Andalsnes Cruise Port, you may want to take a stroll around the harbour area. Route #64 (the main road) takes you to where the mouth of the Rauma River flows into Romsdalsfjord.
There’s some souvenir shops in the town centre as well. If you’re after outdoor gear, then there’s excellent shops for outdoor clothing and equipment, including quality Norwegian woollens. Åndalsnes “Beach” is by the camping area – marked on my Andalsnes Cruise Port Map. Don’t expect a sandy beach but it’s a scenic spot by the water and if you’d like to take a quick dip in the clear, crisp fjord water, then this is the place to do it!
Andalsnes to Trollstigen (The Troll’s Path)
Update June 2025: Trollstigen Road is currently closed but will re-open on 14 July 2025.
The legendary Trollstigen Road is one of Norway’s most iconic National Tourist Routes. It’s a masterpiece of engineering too. Translating to “The Troll’s Path,” this dramatic mountain pass snakes its way up the steep mountainside with breathtaking views, sharp hairpin bends, and the mighty Stigfossen waterfall thundering alongside.
Long before the modern road was carved into the mountainside, the route over the mountain between Åndalsnes (Romsdalen) and Valldal (Sunnmøre) was a vital, if treacherous, path. For centuries, this was the “Troll’s Path” – a bridleway and later a packhorse trail used by farmers and traders to connect the inland and coastal communities.
Construction of the Trollstigen began in the 1920s and it took 8 years to finish. The road has a steep incline, averaging around 9%. The 11 hairpin bends, each with its own name, is not suitable for those who gets motion sickness easily!
- How to Get There: The Trollstigen viewpoint 👆 at the top of the pass is approximately a 30-45 minute drive (around 20-25 km or 12-15 miles) from Åndalsnes one-way.
- Tour from Andalsnes: Unfortunately, no public buses run from Andalsnes through to Trollstigen. So your best bet is a tour – this starts from the Norwegian Mountaineering Centre, a stone’s throw from the cruise pier at Andalsnes.
The option to visit Trollstigen is also possible from Alesund Cruise Port if your cruise is stopping in Alesund but the journey is longer.
Andalsnes Cruise Port is definitely one of the lesser known cruise ports in Norway but it’s not less beautiful! So if your cruise is stopping here, then I hope this DIY guide has given you sufficient ideas to plan your port day in Andalsnes, Norway. Have a wonderful cruise!
Featured Photo by Nils R
