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Balestrand Norway Cruise Port Guide
Location:
The dock is within walking distance of town.
Printable maps to take along on the cruise.
Watch a destination video.
Live Nautical Chart with Wikipedia Markers
Monthly Climate Averages for Balestrand Norway
Sightseeing:
Towering snow-covered mountains and beautiful, lush fjord scenery
as far as the eye can see. It is easy to understand why the Norwegian
fjords were voted the "World's Best Travel Destination" in 2004.
On the northern shores of the Sognefjord, located at Balholm in Balestrand
you will find the tranquil Kviknes Hotel. With inn-keeping traditions
dating back to 1752 and a popular tourist destination since the
mid 19th century, this hotel is one of the reasons why Balestrand
to this day keeps its position as one of the most renowned tourist
resorts in Norway.
Sognefjord Aquarium Over 100 different species are on view at the local aquarium. Here you will also find Gallery Munken with its fascinating display of wood carvings and textiles. There is an open-air restaurant on the jetty and it is possible to hire boats and canoes to explore the local fjord region.
Tours Excursions Transportation:
Daily departures by ferry from Balestrand take you to the magnificent Fjærlandsfjord and on arrival, after a short bus ride, the most breathtaking scenery awaits you. Fjærland is a friendly little village, known for its eye-catching architecture and the spectacular mountain and glacier views, a true favorite among artists. A visit to the award-winning glacier museum comes highly recommended as well as a stroll through this charming village known for its arts & crafts and second-hand book shops.
Nearby Places:
Shopping and Food
Currency:
The Norwegian currency is the Norwegian crown (Norske krone), abbreviated kr. A 1/100th krone is called øre. 1.00 EUR = about 9 NOK. Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world!
ATM's in Norway are called Minibank.
Nearly all stores accept major credit cards such as Mastercard and Visa (Bring your passport/driver's license, as you are required to identify yourself when using a credit card).
Communication:
Norwegian is the official language of Norway. The language is very close and mutually intelligible with the two other Scandinavian languages, English is widely spoken.
Most Norwegian households are connected to the internet in some way (often broadband), making Cybercafés hard to find outside major cities, due to a relatively small market. Most public libraries have free public access to the internet. WiFi is in many spots (not free).
Opening Hours and Holidays:
Opening hours in Norway are better than they used to be but many smaller stores still close early on Saturday (1 PM or 3 PM is typical) and nearly everything is closed on Sundays. You'll often see opening hours written as "9-21 (9-18)" on doors, meaning 9 AM to 9 PM weekdays, 9 AM to 6 PM Saturday.
For public holidays click here.
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