Bømlo
Brandasund has two old “Landhandel” shops. Here you can experience real coastal culture, buy fishing equipment and taste Norway’s best cinnamon buns.
Brandasund, Photo: Margareth
Brandasund
Slåtterøy Lighthouse: In Brandasund, I recommend a short walk up Brandasundsåta with a wonderful view of the sea and Slåtterøy Lighthouse (duration: approx. 15 minutes). The lighthouse is the brightest in Northern Europe.
A visit to the very beautiful car-free island of Espevær is recommended. Here you will find, among other things, a UFO ring, an old “Hummer Park” (lobster farm) and a very good restaurant. link of the restaurant.
Insel Espevær
UFOring Espevær
In Moster there is the “Mostraparken”. A cultural trail runs through the park. Here you will find, among other things, “Moster gamle kirke”, the oldest church in Norway, the amphitheater “Moster Amfi”, the exhibition “Frå heidendom til kristendom” and the mining exhibition “Steinrike Bømlo”.
Moster Kirche, Photo Kvikanes
Moster Amfi
In the exhibition “Frå Heidendom til kristendom” the 1000-year history of Norway is told. The exhibition focuses in particular on the last part of the Viking Age, when the old world view was being questioned. Eventually, this led to the conversion to Christianity.
The mining exhibition shows that Bømlo has been Norway’s largest supplier of stone material for centuries. Stone Age hunters found ax material up to 6000 years old here. Soapstone was quarried here for all of Bergen’s medieval churches, and the granite from Bømlo’s mines were used to build buildings, stairs and cobblestones in Bergen. The beautiful marble from Bømlo was even exported to Copenhagen for several castles. A gold discovery in Lykling turned the little hamlet upside down in the late 1800s.
In the link below you can find more information about Moster’s attractions and opening times for the exhibitions “Frå heidendom til kristendom” and “Steinrike Bømlo” as well as for the tour of Moster gamle kyrkje.
Steinrike Bømlo
Wichmann engines were built in Rubbestadneset for many years. You can visit an exhibition in the Wichmann forge. Many of these engines are still in use on fishing boats and ferries along the Norwegian coast.
Wichmann-smia
Wickmann 25PS
Leirvik
Leirvik is a small town and harbor located about 30 km from Bryggekanten and Westside Lodges on the neighboring island of Stord. The city is the regional business center. In the center there are, among other things, two fish shops and a cozy café “59 Grad“.
Leirvik-Stord
Midtfjellet Vindpark
Anyone who discovers the many windmills on the neighboring island of Stord while fishing in Stokksund is welcome to take a closer look at them. Driving to Fitjar takes about 1 hour. Here you park on top of the mountain and walk between the windmills and enjoy a great view over many small islands to the Slåtterøy lighthouse and the open sea.
Blick von Vindpark Fitjar
Haugesund / Karmøy
For families with children, I recommend a combined day trip to Haugesund and the island of Karmøy. In summer there are often festivals in Haugesund and there are many boats along the quay. You can take a nice walk along the water or sit in the sun in one of the many restaurants and cafes or visit the area’s best fishing shop, Chr. Baardsen & Søn AS.
Karmøy also has beautiful sandy beaches that you wouldn’t expect to find around here. Here children can build sandcastles and splash around.
After the bridge from Haugesund to Karmøy you will find a small zoo, Haugaland Zoo, link:
The drive to Haugesund takes about an hour.
Another 20 minute drive is the distance to the zoo
Haugesund, Photo Anders Fagerjord
Haugaland Zoo
Bergen
In the summer, many of our guests take day trips to Bergen. The city of Bergen is the metropolis and cultural center of the Fjordland and is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Scandinavia.
The easiest and most beautiful way to travel to Bergen is by speedboat from Rubbestadneset. A 90-minute drive takes you to the city center of Bergen, right by the famous Fish Market. The ticket is relatively expensive, but you can save money if you buy the return ticket together. It takes about 2.5 hours by car. Here you have to plan for the toll for the road, the ticket for the domestic ferry and the cost of parking.
In Bergen you can discover many sights:
- The well-known and worth seeing aquarium.
- A trip on the “Fløibanen“. From Mount Fløyen you have a breathtaking view of Bergen and the coast.
- Walk through the Hanseatic district of Bryggen (World Heritage Site).
Haitunnel Bergen Aquarium
- The VilVite Center: An innovative science museum for children. At numerous adventure stations, children can go on a journey of discovery and try out many exciting experiments themselves and thus get on the track of scientific phenomena.
- A shopping spree through nice shops such as Rost, Ting & Illums Bolighus (shops with nice home accessories).
- Cozy cafes, e.g.: Krak & Kringel Bokcafé, Lille Øvregaten 14, link: Kaffemisjonen, Øvre Korskirkeallmenningen 5, Link:
- The Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen. It is a bit outside of the city center. Link:
Grieg Museum Troldhaugen
Edvard Grieg
Round trip Hardanger
I recommend a day trip to Hardanger Fjord. You first drive south from Bømlo along the E39 to the E139 and then follow it east. Along the narrow Åkrafjord, which is surrounded by steep cliffs, you pass the Langfoss waterfall, which is Norway’s fifth highest waterfall at 612 meters. According to CNN Travel, it is one of the 10 most beautiful waterfalls in the world.
Further east, the E139 leads towards Odda. On the way to the Odda Valley you will see many waterfalls, including the famous Låtefoss. From Odda you drive a short distance west to Sørfjorden towards Rosendal and use the tunnel under Folgefonna (Norway’s third largest glacier). There are several options to stop here to view the glacier.
I also recommend a stop in Rosendal. There are many sights here, so that a separate day trip to this place is worthwhile. Rosendal is home to Norway’s only barony, with its beautiful park and Folgefonna Center. During the summer months, great concerts with Norwegian artists take place in the courtyard of the Baronie in the evenings.http://www.baroniet.no/en/.
From Rosendal the trail continues along the Hardangerfjord, through a tunnel under the sea to Halsnøy, by ferry to Stord and then over the bridge back to Bømlo.
Langfoss
Låtefoss, Photo Ernst Vikne
Baroniet Rosendal, Photo Bohuslen
Trolltunga
For the more sporty holidaymaker, it is possible to go to Trolltunga as part of a day trip.
For this you should leave Bømlo in the morning at 7.00 a.m. at the latest. The total hiking distance is 20.2 km.
You should plan 6-8 hours for the hike. You will be rewarded with a spectacular view. But you should prepare well for the hike. Unfortunately, every year there are so many operations to rescue tourists who do this tour without being fit enough or poorly equipped. Link:
Trolltunga, Photo TerjeN
Engesund Visningssenter
At Fitjar you will also find the “Engesund Visningssenter“, a salmon farm that is open to visitors. Here you can take a 1.5 hour guided tour where you can learn about Norwegian aquaculture and the taste of salmon. If you would like to visit the salmon farm, I will be happy to register you there for a guided tour. Link:
Engesund Visningssenter
Fjordtun
