I put Odda on my Norway itinerary for the same reason that many people flock to Odda: I wanted to hike to the famous Trolltunga rock structure. While Trolltunga is an excellent reason to visit Odda (more on that below), there’s so much more to do than just the Trolltunga hike.
>> Read my full 10-day No-Car Norway Hiking Itinerary Here
>> Check out my in-depth review of my overnight Trolltunga hike experience with Trolltunga Active here
Norway is a breathtaking country with so much to see, so I’m not sure whether I’d put Odda on a must-see Norway itinerary if someone had no interest in Trolltunga. That being said, if Trolltunga is on your list and you’re making your way to Odda one way or another, I think it absolutely deserves an extra night or two. If you find yourself with some extra time and are wondering what to do in Odda, look no further. Read on for the best things to do and see in Odda, as well as a bit of logistical information on transportation and where to stay.
How to get to Odda
Getting to Odda by car
If you’re renting a car in Norway, this is the easiest way to get to Odda. Odda is a 3-hour drive from Bergen or a 5.5-hour drive from Oslo.
Getting to Odda by bus
Luckily, Odda is also accessible by public bus (Skyss Bus) if you’re not renting a car! From Bergen, you can take the 930 bus, which takes about 3 hours. I arrived via the 990 bus from Voss, which took about 2 hours.
NOR-WAY also runs express buses during certain times of the year. These connect Odda with cities and towns including Oslo, Sandefjord, and Larvik. You can find timetables and booking info here.
Where to stay in Odda
Odda is an industrial town that has experienced a boom in touristic activity in recent years due to the rising popularity of the Trolltunga hike. However, it still doesn’t give off the vibes of a fully touristic town, and the accommodation options can be a bit limited.
One good mid-range option is Trolltunga Hotel, located at the top of the hill in Odda and on the edge of a beautiful lake. It is one of the cheaper options as far as Odda hotels go.
There are no hostels in Odda, but the cheapest accommodation option you’ll find is Trolltunga Camping, which offers budget cabin accommodations as well as tent spaces.
Otherwise, if you’ve got a bit more budget or the above options are full, booking.com lists several other hotels that may suit your needs well.
What to do in Odda
1. Embark on the Trolltunga hike!
If you’re in Odda, you’re likely planning on hiking Trolltunga. Trolltunga is a demanding hike which is ~16 miles round trip (depending on which parking lot you start from). Many people hike it in one day, but some stay overnight on the mountain. The apex of the hike is a slab of rock that sticks out over a vast valley and fjord below, giving fantastic views and arguably even better Instagram-worthiness.
When I visited during the shoulder-season month of May, I did a fantastic Trolltunga overnight winter hike with Trolltunga Active. I’ve written a full post on the incredible experience, so if you want to learn more about the overnight experience or the hike itself, give it a read.
2. Tackle the Buerbreen Glacier hike
Buerbreen is a short but scrambly hike just outside of Odda. However, there are no good bus lines leading to this trailhead, so you’ll either need to have a car or hire a taxi.
The ~3.5-mile hike takes you to the base of, you guessed it, Buerbreen Glacier. For much of the trail, you’ll hike along a glacier runoff river, and the hike has great waterfall views. This hike involves some chains/ropes and scrambling with all four limbs, so this is not the hike for you if you’re looking for a gentle walk! I didn’t personally make it to this hike as I didn’t have a car, but Will from Feral Escape gives a great rundown of the hike on their blog.
Depending on the time of year, the water can be high which can make sections of the hike impassable. Check out recent Alltrails reviews to get a sense of the conditions before you head out.
3. Hike the Bondhusdalen trail
Bondhusdalen is a shorter hike about 30 minutes away from Odda which takes you to a stunning turquoise lake. It’s about 6 miles round trip without much elevation, so it’s a great warmup for Trolltunga. Once you get to the lake itself, you can continue to hike around the lake to find a massive waterfall which is well worth the extra effort.
Bondhusdalen is easily reached by car if you have one, but is accessible by bus as well. Catch the 760 to Bondhus, a village stop that is only a short walk from the trailhead. The bus runs every hour or two from the Odda bus station, and a ticket will only set you back ~$4.
4. Visit the Låtefossen waterfalls
Perhaps you’re looking for a more low-key activity in Odda with no hiking required? Luckily, the Låtefossen waterfalls are right on the road and are just a 15-minute drive from the center of town! These formidable waterfalls mark the point where two streams come together, forming one. The water passes right under the bride that you drive along, sending up dramatic spray.
While you can’t stop on the bridge, there’s a small pullout from where you can safely admire the falls. Fair warning, during the summer, this popular sight attracts quite a few tour busses, so the bridge and parking area can get crowded if you get the timing wrong.
5. Taste local Hardanger apple cider
Odda is the largest town in the Hardanger district of Norway, named for the Hardanger fjord. One of the things that the Hardanger region is known for is its hard apple cider. I enjoy a casual cider from time to time, but when I tasted some Hardandergutane cider on my overnight Trolltunga hike, I was completely blown away. My guide explained that the Hardanger region takes cider brewing as seriously as the Champagne, France region takes Champagne production, leading to some incredible products.
The region is proud of its cider, so you’ve got plenty of options to soak it in:
- Odda hosts a cider festival every year, so if you’re lucky enough to be in town for it, absolutely check it out!
- Norway in a Nutshell offers this cider tour which can optionally be started at Odda.
- Trolltunga Active offers this Rib Boat tour with a cider tasting.
- This cider tour from Trolltunga Tours offers not only a cider tasting, but also a tour of a cider farm! It departs from Tyssedal, less than a 10-minute drive from Odda.
6. Try a polar plunge in Sandvin Lake
Odda is situated right on a picturesque fjord, which is what you’ll see when you arrive. However, if you make your way up the hill, you’ll also find Sandvin Lake, a beautiful glacier-fed lake. I visited in early May when it was just above freezing outside, and the lake certainly wasn’t much warmer. However, I took advantage of the easily accessible lake to do a pre-Trolltunga polar plunge!
If you’re feeling brave, there is a car pullout with a dock just across the street from Trolltunga Hotel. This makes it easy to access the lake for a quick dip! I was staying at Trolltunga Hotel, so the access to a warm shower afterward was perfect. There’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush from a cold plunge, so if you want a refreshing shock, go for it!
7. Indulge in outdoor adventures beyond hiking
If you want more time in the beautiful Norwegian outdoors but have had your fill of hiking, you’re in luck. Depending on the time of year, tour companies offer rib boat tours, kayaking, snowsports (skiing, snowboarding, andsnowshoeing), biking, and fishing out of the Odda area. Check out the Trolltunga Active activity page as a starting point – I did a Trolltunga overnight hike with them which I loved!
With the rise in popularity of the Trolltunga hike, Odda is quickly becoming an outdoor activity hub in Norway. However, Trolltunga certainly isn’t the only thing to do in Odda. From turquoise lake hikes to indulgent cider tasting, I wholeheartedly enjoyed my three nights there. If Odda finds a place on your Norway itinerary, I hope you find time to explore its beauty beyond Trolltunga!
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