Leirvik Stord Island Norway
Norway
1
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
Frequently Asked Questions
Right in the heart of Leirvik, the island's main town with some 14,000 residents. Shops, cafes and the marina are all within walking distance of the gangway, with no shuttle or taxi needed.
A 16 m steel sculpture standing on the breakwater pier, its twenty propellers turning slowly in the wind. It marks the harbour entrance like a lighthouse of a new kind and sets the tone for the call.
An hour or two for the inner harbour, the Storddara and the streets of the centre, then the climb to the Sunnhordland open-air museum and a coffee by the water. A hike to the ridges takes a full day.
Restored buildings brought in from across the district and gathered on a hill above town: a 16th-century smokehouse, an 18th-century wooden house, a forge, a mill and its store. In season, costumed guides answer visitors' questions.
In the middle of Sunnhordland, the region of islands and fjords halfway between Bergen and Stavanger, which ships thread through between the headlands. It has long been a favoured crossroads for coastal trade.
Yes, several marked trails leave the town for the heights. Regular walkers aim for the ridges, which open a full circle of views over the Hardangerfjord and the island-studded sea. Excursions often pair a coach tour of the island with photo stops.
No, and it does not try to. Its strength is balance: a working town rather than a stage set, residents going about their day, nature right at hand. Many passengers leave feeling they have seen everyday Norway.
Woollens and local produce, sold in the shops along the main street, steps from the old basin and its white wooden houses. Saturday morning is when the district is at its liveliest.
Layers, with a waterproof jacket in the bag. Weather changes fast on this coast, and a shower can follow a bright spell within minutes. Sturdy shoes help on the museum paths and on the heights.
The Norwegian krone (NOK), with cards accepted everywhere, and Norwegian as the official language. English is spoken fluently in shops and at the museum; French is rare.
