Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sleeping & Eating
Utne Hotel
HISTORIC HOTEL €€€
( 53 66 64 00;
www.utnehotel.no
;
Utne; s/d annexe Nkr1190/1590, main bldg
Nkr1390/1790; )
The historic wooden Utne Hotel was built in 1722 after the Great
Nordic War, making it Norway's oldest hotel. Restored in 2003, it overflows with period
touches from the 18th and 19th centuries. The hotel's fabulous decor makes it worth a look
even if you're not staying, and it also has the best restaurant in town.
Hardanger Gjestegård
GUESTHOUSE €€
( 53 66 67 10;
www.hardanger-gjestegard.no
; Alsåker; d from Nkr750)
This at-
mospheric guesthouse, 10km west of Utne on Fv550, is in a pretty 1898 building with
character-filled rooms that brim with cutesy folk touches. It offers good weekly rates.
Getting There & Away
Ferries run between Utne, Kinsarvik (per person/vehicle Nkr32/86, 40 minutes) and
Kvanndal (Nkr15/39, 20 minutes) at least six times a day.
Odda
POP 7050
DespitethepromisinglocationatthefarendofHardangerfjord,Oddaisanindustrial,iron-
smelting town, and pretty ugly as a result. That said, it serves as a gateway to Folgefonna
National Park, home to the Folgefonn glacier, and has a host of activities on offer.
Sights
Trolltunga
NATURAL ROCK FEATURE
Norway seems to make a speciality of extraordinary rock platforms offering both panor-
amic views and postcard-perfect photo opportunities. Up there with all the others is Troll-
tunga, a narrow finger of rock that hangs out over the void high above the lake Ringe-dals-
