Borgund stave church on the E16
The Borgund stave church is a famous medieval wooden church in Norway. The church dates from about 1180 and lies by the E16 near Lærdal, so you reach it by road. Next to it is a visitor centre with an exhibition, a café and a shop. The toilets and the café are inside the ticket area, which is worth knowing if you only want a coffee.
According to its owner, the Borgund season in 2026 runs from 15 April to 14 October. Opening hours, closing days and prices are published by the owner and can change, so check them before you drive. Ask the owner for the current times before the trip.
Our pick: Viking-age background
This guided day does not visit a stave church, but it adds Viking-age context to a trip through the region.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Sognefjord tours and day trips
Fjord cruises, rail combinations and day trips around the Sognefjord, with live prices and availability.
Urnes stave church
The Urnes stave church stands above the Lustrafjord and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979. The present church dates from about 1130, and its north portal, about 1070, was reused from an earlier building. UNESCO points to a meeting of Celtic art, Viking traditions and Romanesque spatial design. It is a Christian medieval church, not a pre-Christian temple.
Season 2026
Urnes is open from 2 May to 30 September 2026, daily from 10:30 to 17:45. It is closed on 17 May.
Entry in NOK
Adults pay 150 NOK, reduced (Honnør) 130 NOK, a family 350 NOK and a child or student 100 NOK. Groups pay 150 NOK per person. The guided tour is part of the entry. Ask at the church how the child and family rates are defined.
Ferry from Solvorn to Ornes
The church lies across the fjord from Solvorn. The crossing takes about 20 minutes and runs all year, with a winter timetable from 1 October to 30 April and a summer timetable from 2 May to 30 September. The ferry takes 11 cars and 90 people. Tickets are sold on board, with no advance sales. In 2026 an adult one way pays 75 NOK and a child from 4 to 16 years 37 NOK. A vehicle up to 6.00 m costs 210 NOK, one of 6.01 to 7.00 m 425 NOK and a motorcycle 130 NOK. Departures marked as on demand must be ordered beforehand.
Plan the visit around the church, the guided tour and the ferry crossing, and keep in mind that the ferry sets the pace of the day.
A tour with the Viking village, the railways and a fjord cruise
As a cultural addition there is a day tour from Bergen of about 10.5 hours. Its stops are a guided visit to the Viking village Njardarheimr, the Bergensbanen, the Flåmsbana and a 2-hour cruise on the Nærøyfjord, with photo stops on the way. It is a day of landscape and living history rather than a church visit, so use it as a complement to the church stops described on this page.
Getting to the churches
Borgund and Urnes lie in different parts of the fjord system, and they are not a walk apart. A car makes the day easiest. For Borgund you drive towards Lærdal; read the Lærdal Tunnel page for the construction closures from 16 November 2026 and for the Aurlandsfjellet mountain road, which is closed in winter.
Without a car, check the bus lines and the ferry timetable first. Our getting there page explains how to reach the region from Bergen and Oslo. Outside their seasons both churches are closed to visitors, so see the winter page if you travel between October and April. The fees of the Solvorn ferry, the church entry and the transport are paid separately, so keep some cash or a card ready for each.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Borgund stave church open in 2026?
According to the owner, the season runs from 15 April to 14 October 2026. Check opening hours and prices with the owner before you go.
How much is the entry to the Urnes stave church?
In the 2026 season adults pay 150 NOK, a child or student 100 NOK and a family 350 NOK. The guided tour is included.
How do I get to Urnes?
Take the ferry from Solvorn to Ornes. It crosses in about 20 minutes, and you pay on board. Order marked on-demand departures in advance.
Is Urnes a Viking temple?
No. Urnes is a Christian medieval church. UNESCO highlights the mix of Celtic art, Viking traditions and Romanesque design.