Sunnhordland
Discover Sunnhordland
Sunnhordland is the southern coastal region of Hordaland County in West Norway. It lies south of the cities of Bergen and Os. Sunnhordland stretches from the rocky islands out in the sea to fjords with steep mountainsides. Folgefonna – Norway's third largest glacier — is the icing on the cake. In Sunnhordland you can ski on eternal snow, swim in the sea, and fish a pollock in the fjord – everything in one day.
Taste of Sunnhordland...
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Culture & Religion
Religion
The people of Sunnhordland have always been god(s)-fearing – both in old Norse times and in more recent times. Olav Tryggvason choose to go ashore in Moster in 995 AD in order to take over the throne and start the Christianisation of Norway. Moster is still home to one of the oldest churches in Norway – Moster Old Church. Erling Skakke built Halsnøy Monastery on the island of Halsnøy, one of the mightiest Augustinian monasteries in Norway’s history. The name Sunnhordland is derived from "søndre Hordaland" which means "the southern part of Hordaland". People from Sunnhordland are called Sunnhordlendinger and the people in this area speak a Norwegian dialect called Sunnhordlandsmål. The Sunnhordland region is situated between Bergen and Haugesund. There are many possible ways to easily get to Sunnhordland region by plane, bus, boat and car. You can travel to Sunnhordland by using these airports: International: From Hirtshals you can take Fjord Line ferry Hirtshals-Stavanger- Berge.
Location & Landscape
Sunnhordland stretches from the rocky islands out in the sea to fjords with steep mountainsides. Folgefonna – Norway's third largest glacier — is the icing on the cake. In Sunnhordland you can ski on eternal snow, swim in the sea, and fish a pollock in the fjord – everything in one day. Sunnhordland has some of the finest and most distinctive scenery in Norway. In the outermost part of the region, the landscape is dominated by the ocean and the coastline. As you move further inland, you come to islands and fjords. There are thousands of large and small islands in the region. Norway's second longest fjord – the 179-km-long Hardangerfjord, called ”Queen of the Norwegian fjords” – starts in Sunnhordland. Furthest inland in the region, the mighty Sunnhordland mountains tower heavenwards, with some peaks as tall as 1700 metres. The mountains surround Norway's third largest glacier – Folgefonna.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe Sunnhordland region is situated between Bergen and Haugesund. There are many possible ways to easily get to Sunnhordland region by plane, bus, boat and car. You can travel to Sunnhordland by using these airports: International: From Hirtshals you can take Fjord Line ferry Hirtshals-Stavanger- Berge. Drive to from Stavanger to Sunnhordland (about 2½ hours) or drive from Bergen to Sunnhordland (about 2 hours) www.fjordline.com Domestic: From Bergen or Stavanger take passengerboat to Leirvik, www.norled.no or take carferry www.fjord1.no The Triangle Link bridge-tunnel network is based in northern Sveio, connecting the islands to the north to the mainland. The southern entrance to the Bømlafjord Tunnel is along the European route E39 highway, just south of the village of Valevåg. It is easy to use carferries or passenger boats if you are getting around in Sunnhordland with car or bicycle. Timetable information for bus, ferry, express boat and flight bus: Call 177....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The Triangle Link bridge-tunnel network is based in northern Sveio, connecting the islands to the north to the mainland. The southern entrance to the Bømlafjord Tunnel is along the European route E39 highway, just south of the village of Valevåg. It is easy to use carferries or passenger boats if you are getting around in Sunnhordland with car or bicycle. Timetable information for bus, ferry, express boat and flight bus: Call 177. Cycling is an excellent way to see the Western landscape close up. Long and/or deep tunnels can however make cycling demanding. Visitors should read map carefully and use bus or boat to avoid tunnels. Some tunnels replace old, narrow roads and these often remain open to bicycles and local traffic.
Language & Talk
The name Sunnhordland is derived from "søndre Hordaland" which means "the southern part of Hordaland". People from Sunnhordland are called Sunnhordlendinger and the people in this area speak a Norwegian dialect called Sunnhordlandsmål. The Sunnhordland region is situated between Bergen and Haugesund. There are many possible ways to easily get to Sunnhordland region by plane, bus, boat and car. You can travel to Sunnhordland by using these airports: International: From Hirtshals you can take Fjord Line ferry Hirtshals-Stavanger- Berge. Drive to from Stavanger to Sunnhordland (about 2½ hours) or drive from Bergen to Sunnhordland (about 2 hours) www.fjordline.com Domestic: From Bergen or Stavanger take passengerboat to Leirvik, www.norled.no or take carferry www.fjord1.