Hotel Ullensvang is the classic place to stay on the Hardangerfjord. It is also the best answer for couples who want a fjord honeymoon with real comfort rather than a simple guesthouse. It has welcomed guests in Lofthus since 1846 and has stayed in the hands of the same family for generations. The hotel sits right on the water of the Sørfjord, surrounded by apple and cherry orchards, with the Folgefonna glacier across the fjord and the Hardangervidda plateau rising behind.
The big draw today is Fjordbadet, a bathing complex where an indoor pool connects through a swim door to an outdoor pool. An 80-meter swim channel then runs down to a horizon pool beside the fjord and a small sandy beach. Add a panoramic sauna, a main restaurant facing the water and Edvard Grieg's old composing hut in the garden. The result is a base that works in every season.
It suits couples who want to hike, drive the fjord roads and taste local cider by day, then float in warm water looking at snowy peaks by evening. It is a large hotel with families and tour groups at times, so couples after total seclusion may prefer a smaller lodge.
Highlights at a glance
- Fjordbadet with an 80-meter swim channel
- Horizon pool beside the fjord
- Panoramic sauna in the adult section
- Grieg's composing hut in the garden
- Family-run since 1846
Why Couples Love Hotel Ullensvang
The view does most of the work. Rooms and public spaces look straight across the Sørfjord to steep mountains and the edge of the Folgefonna glacier, while the light changes all day. In May the orchards around Lofthus bloom white and pink, which is one of the prettiest sights in Norway.
The hotel also has a sense of continuity that newer properties lack. Grieg rented a small hut here to compose. The hut still stands in the hotel garden, a nice excuse for a slow walk after breakfast. Family ownership shows in the details, from seasonal menus to staff who can tell you which orchard sells the best cider. Even on busy days it is easy to find a quiet corner of the garden or the fjord shore.
Rooms and Suites to Book
The hotel offers eight room types. The view you get matters more than anything else.
- Superior Fjordutsikt (Superior Fjord View) is the obvious honeymoon choice at a fair price, with the water and mountains outside the window.
- Superior Fjellutsikt faces the mountains behind the hotel. It is comfortable, but you lose the fjord.
- Deluxe rooms and Junior Suites add space for longer stays.
- The Suite and the Mastersuiten (Master Suite) are the splurge, best if you want room to spread out and watch the fjord from a sofa.
- Standard rooms are fine if you will spend most of your time out hiking.
Whatever you choose, confirm the view in writing. Room sizes and in-room features are not listed in detail online, so ask the reception team before you book.
Food, Drink and Fjordbadet
Meals focus on Hardanger produce under the motto "local when we can." The main restaurant faces the fjord and alternates between generous buffets and à la carte menus depending on the season. Breakfast with the fjord outside the windows is a highlight in itself. The bar works for an aperitif or a nightcap, while Eplehagen, the apple garden, is a relaxed spot for food and drinks that moves outside on fine days.
Fjordbadet is the reason many couples book. The adult section has its own indoor pool, an outdoor pool with a bubble bench and a panoramic sauna looking over the water. A long swim channel connects to the horizon pool at the fjord's edge. There is also a relaxation zone with heated loungers. Pool and sauna hours are limited at certain times of day, so check them on arrival.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Lofthus is surrounded by good walking. The Monk's Steps, a historic stone staircase, climb from the village toward the Hardangervidda plateau for big views over the fjord. Gentler walks follow orchard lanes along the shore, where farms sell cider, juice and fruit in season.
Further afield, Odda is about 40 minutes south and is the base for the long, demanding Trolltunga hike. Go with a guide or start very early. Go only in the summer season. The Buer Glacier walk near Odda is shorter. To the north, Vøringsfossen waterfall and the Hardanger Bridge are within an easy drive, as is the cider village of Ulvik. Ask the hotel about fjord boat trips and kayak hire.
Weather changes fast here. Pack waterproof layers and proper hiking shoes for both of you.
Getting There
The nearest airport with US connections is Bergen Flesland (BGO), usually reached via a European hub. From Bergen, the drive to Lofthus takes roughly 2.5–3 hours through tunnels, along the fjord and over the Hardanger Bridge. Driving is the easiest option. The road itself is one of the most scenic in Norway.
Without a car, combine buses and local transport via Kinsarvik or Odda, which takes longer and needs careful timing. From Oslo, the drive is long but spectacular, roughly six to seven hours. You can split it with a night at Fossli Hotel near Vøringsfossen. In winter, mountain passes can close and daylight is short, so build in extra time and check road conditions before you set out.
Is It Worth It?
For couples who want comfort in fjord country, yes. Norway is expensive across the board. Ullensvang's rates, very roughly from about $300–450 a night for a standard double with breakfast (approximate), are fair for a hotel with this setting and this pool complex. Fjord-view rooms and suites cost more, especially in summer.
The drawbacks are size and crowds. It is a big hotel that hosts families, conferences and coach tours at times. The family pools can be busy on weekends and in school holidays. Couples who want something intimate and old-fashioned could look at Utne Hotel across the fjord, which opened in 1722, or Brakanes Hotel in Ulvik. Book Ullensvang if warm pools, good food and a fjord view from your bed sound right.
Insider tips
- Book a Superior Fjord View room at minimum; the mountain-view rooms miss the main event.
- Use the adult section of Fjordbadet early in the morning or late evening for the quietest swim.
- Visit in mid to late May for blossom season, before the summer crowds arrive.
- Start the Trolltunga hike before dawn from Odda, or pick the shorter Buer Glacier walk.
