Trolltunga is one of Norway’s most popular hikes for good reason. It is an incredibly scenic hike, ending at the Troll’s tongue, a thin sliver of rock perfect for creative photographs. This is definitely a hike to add to your bucket list.
For us, the hike to Trolltunga was our third of four hikes in Norway. Kjeragbolten was our favorite, but this hike was not far behind. The scenery along the hike is phenomenal with views out over lakes and snow capped mountains, and posing on Trolltunga for photos is a blast.
Table of Contents
How to Hike Trolltunga
Trolltunga Hiking Stats
- Distance: 28 km (17.4 miles) out and back
- Elevation Gain: 800 meters (2,625 feet)
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Length of time: 10 – 12 hours
- When to go: June 1 to September 30 (without a guide). At all other times of the year you must hike with a guide. For more information, visit the Visit Norway website.
Important Update: You have the option to park in a small parking lot that shaves off the first big climb of the hike. If you park here, the hike will be shorter with less elevation gain than what is listed above. From P3 MÃ¥gelitopp (the upper parking lot) the hiking distance is 20 km (12.4 miles) with 300 meters (1,000 feet) of elevation gain. From the car park, the round trip hike takes 7 to 10 hours. However, there are only 30 spots so you need to get here very early in the morning. Read more below.
What Makes Trolltunga Special?
Trolltunga is one of the most popular hikes in Norway. Posing for photos on Trolltunga (the Troll’s Tongue) is the main reason for doing this hike, but from start to finish it is a beautiful journey. For hiker’s, Trolltunga just may be the highlight on a visit to Norway. Many people who do this hike say that it is one of their favorite hiking experiences. Maybe you will too.
Trolltunga Trail Guide
The First Big Climb
The trailhead for Trolltunga is at the Skjeggedal carpark.
The first ascent of the hike is the most strenuous. It is 1 km of constant, steep climbing on stone steps and gravel trails before the terrain levels out.
There were once old funicular tracks here that you could climb instead of the rocky trail. This is what we did in 2013 (so we have photos of the funicular tracks but not the first part of the trail).
Note: If you park at P3 MÃ¥gelitopp, you can avoid this first big climb.
Trail to Trolltunga
Once you conquer the first 1 km climb, things get easier. The trail levels out, for just a little bit, and then you will have several smaller climbs. However, these are nothing like what you just did.
Just before the start of the another climb.
Follow the red T’s to get to Trolltunga.
Looking out over the valley and what we just hiked. If you look closely, you can see the faint line of the hiking trail.
One more climb. After this, the trail levels out for awhile.
Standing on the granite face of the trail.
This is the view from the top of that last climb.
One of the tricks to having a good experience is to take breaks along the way. From this altitude, you have amazing panoramic views of Norway. Sure, getting to Trolltunga is the goal but enjoy this whole journey…it’s awesome!
We continued our trek, dodging mud puddles, climbing over boulders, and crossing numerous streams and creeks. Once you climb that granite face, the hike levels out, for the most part. There are several small climbs but nothing too difficult. Here are more photos of the trail until you get to Trolltunga.
Stepping out onto Trolltunga
It took us three and a half hours to hike from the carpark to Trolltunga.
The views over Trolltunga and out over the lake were awesome. There were tons of people here, some waiting in line to step out onto the ledge and others were waiting to take their photos. Tyler and Kara were two of the three kids we saw during the entire hike. Go kiddos!
Kara and I went first onto the tongue (after 45 minutes of waiting in line). After stepping out onto Kjeragbolten this did not seem scary at all. Kara and I did a few poses, then I took her back to sit on a rock and wait for me. I went back out to the tip of the tongue to sit with my feet hanging over the side.
Next it was Tim and Tyler’s turn. By now we were all getting quite cold. Temperatures were in the high 40’s (8 – 9°C) and it was early August.
Fortunately, the line was a little shorter for Tim and Tyler. Here they are, posing for the camera.
It took an hour and a half for all of us to have our photos taken. By now we were very chilly and already somewhat tired. All four of us were hoping the walk back to the car would be quicker than the walk out.
The Return Hike
The walk back was slightly faster. We did not need to stop for sunscreen, photos, or much food now. The signs counting down the kilometers kept us going, and we snacked on lots of cookies. It took us three hours to hike back to a car, shaving off about a half hour from the hike to get to Trolltunga.
About Our Experience
We did this hike in August 2013 when the funicular tracks were still open. At the time we did this hike, Tyler was 10 and Kara was 8 years old.
We are very fast hikers, even with kids. The four of us hiked to Trolltunga in 8 hours (3.5 hours to get to Trolltunga, 1.5 hours for photos, and 3 hours to hike back to the car) from the Skjeggedal car park. We were constantly overtaking other people and we had perfect weather conditions. If you take your time or encounter marshy, snowy terrain, this hike can take as long as 10 to 12 hours.
How Do You Get to Trolltunga?
Trolltunga is located in southern Norway near Hardangerfjord. Most people stay in Odda or Tyssedal to hike Trolltunga.
Distances to Trolltunga:
- From Bergen: 3 hours
- From Oslo: 5 to 6 hours
- From Stavanger: 3.5 hours
Lately, we have been getting a lot of questions from people who want to day trip from Bergen, hike Trolltunga, and then drive back to Bergen the same day. That is possible to do, but it will be a very long, tiring day, and I don’t recommend it. The hike to Trolltunga can take 12 hours (although if you take the shuttle to and from the upper parking lot you can save about 3 hours). Add in 6 hours of driving for the day and that’s a very long day. Plus, you will have to drive all of the way back to Bergen after hiking 28 km. It will be a much more enjoyable (and safer) experience if you stay near Trolltunga, at least for one night.
The best way to get around this region of Norway is by car. Having a rental car gives you the freedom to take your time, stop and enjoy the views (this part of Norway is gorgeous!), and visit small towns and off-the-beaten-path destinations.
However, if you are relying on public transportation, you can get to Odda by bus and by train.
Getting to Odda By Bus
- The Trolltunga-Preikestolen Express bus connects the Trolltunga hike with Pulpit Rock during the summer months.
- From Stavanger, take the Nor-Way bus.
- From Oslo, take the Haukliekspressen bus.
- From Bergen, take bus 930.
Getting to Odda By Train
The Bergensbanen connects Bergen and Odda.
Where to Park at Trolltunga
Main Lot
From Tyssedal, drive 7 km on Skjeggedalsvegen to the car park at the start of the hike. This is where the trailhead is located. There is a parking lot (P2) with 180 space and toilets. Parking costs NOK 500.
Map of the drive from Tyssedal to the parking lot in Skjeggedal.
The road from Tyssedal to the car park (looking back towards Tyssedal and Sorfjord).
Trolltunga Road Lot
There is a second, much smaller parking lot (called MÃ¥gelitopp or P3) that holds 30 cars (NOK 600). This road is very steep, you need to have good driving skills and be able to drive tight, hairpin turns. To drive this road, you must also pay the toll road fee (NOK 200), which brings your total to NOK 800. Driving to this parking lot eliminates the first climb and final descent of the hike, shaving off a whopping 3 hours of hiking time. The gates open at 6:30 am.
Purchase your ticket in advance for Magelitopp (P3). Click here to learn more and to make your reservation.
Sue, one of our awesome readers, wrote in with more information about the new car park. She states that the road is now paved and although it is steep, you no longer need a 4×4. You can read her full report in the comment section below. Thanks Sue! 🙂
You can park in P2 Skjeggedal (the lower lot) and take a shuttle bus up to MÃ¥gelitopp, the upper lot. Taking the shuttle one way saves you roughly 1.5 hours of hiking time. Prices for the shuttle start at NOK 150. Click here to learn more.
For a map of the parking areas and a full list of prices for all of these parking options, visit the official website for Trolltunga.
Best Places to Stay Near Trolltunga
There are people who hike Trolltunga on a day trip from Bergen but we don’t recommend it. You are setting yourself up for a very long, exhausting day. For the best experience, plan on staying in one of the small towns near Trolltunga: Tyssedal, Odda, Kinsarvik, or Eidfjord. For more details on where to stay, including the best hotels in the area, read our detailed guide on the best places to stay near Trolltunga.
Helpful Tips for Trolltunga
Start early! This is a long day and you want to give yourself as much time as possible. Try to hit the trail no later than 8 am.
Don’t underestimate this hike. It’s a long, tiring hike. And yes, it really can take 12 hours. Over the course of the day, you will essentially be hiking a half marathon with lots of elevation gain. You wouldn’t just plan on rolling out of bed one day to go run a half marathon, right? 🙂 You need to be in good shape to do this.
There is no fee to hike Trolltunga. However, if you have a car, you will have to pay for parking.
Use the bathroom in the car park before starting the hike. This is your only chance to use a toilet until you get back to the parking lot.
Between June 1 and September 30 you do not need a guide to do this hike. There are enough people on the trail, and the trail is marked well enough, that you should have no issues finding your way to Trolltunga. Once you are at Trolltunga, you can have another hiker take your photograph (if you are hiking solo).
If you are hiking from October 1 to May 31, Visit Norway recommends hiring a guide. Every year there are numerous rescues for people who got in over their heads. Don’t be one of these statistics.
Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.
What to Bring on the Trolltunga Hike
- Waterproof hiking shoes
- Plenty of food and water
- Sunscreen
- First Aid Kit
- Rain jacket and warm clothing (the weather can change rapidly!)
- Camera
If you are new to hiking or are curious about what you should bring on a hike, check out our Hiking Gear Guide. Find out what we carry in our day packs and what we wear on the trails.
Can You Hike Trolltunga with Kids?
At the time we did this hike, Tyler was 10 and Kara was 8 years old. They both did awesome. They were happy and having a good time for almost the entire time (Kara struggled a little with the walk down the funicular line).
We only saw one other child (about 10 years old) on the trail. A very adventurous child, eight years or older with lots of long distance hiking experience, should be able to handle this hike.
Alternative Route to Trolltunga
If you do not like the idea of the hike, there is a combination cycle trip and Via Ferrata climb to get you to Trolltunga. The Via Ferrata was not option when we did the hike so we do not have much information about it. For more information on the Via Ferrata click here.
Help Keep this Post Updated
Have you hiked Trolltunga? Is there something we missed? Let us know in the comments below so we can keep this post updated. Thanks!! And happy hiking. 🙂
Where Are You Going Next?
To help you plan your trip, here are more articles about Norway.
ADVENTURES IN NORWAY: Pulpit Rock and Kjeragbolten are two of the best hikes to do in Norway. For an even bigger adventure, climb Svolvaergeita in the Lofoten Islands. Traveling to Svalbard in the arctic circle is an adventure in itself, but you can also go glacier kayaking or hike to one of the tallest peaks on Spitsbergen.
HIKES IN NORWAY: For an overview for some of the best hikes in Norway, take a look at our Norway Hiking Guide. We also have detailed trail guides to Romdalseggen Ridge, Pulpit Rock, Reinebringen, and Segla.
NORWAY ITINERARY: On this 10 day itinerary through the fjord region, visit southern Norway: Bergen, Geirangerfjord, and Stavanger and hike Trolltunga, Pulpit Rock and Kjeragbolten.
PLACES TO GO IN NORWAY: For a list of top experiences in Norway, don’t miss our Norway Bucket List.
LOFOTEN ISLANDS: For an overview of the best things to do, read our Lofoten Islands Top Ten List. Get lots of travel planning advice in our Lofoten Islands Itinerary. For advice on where to stay, read our Lofoten Islands Hotel Guide.
MORE GREAT HIKES IN EUROPE: From thrilling trails in the Alps to easy walks along the coast, read our article 20 Best Hikes in Europe for some beautiful hiking trails to put on your travel wish list.
Are you planning a trip to the Norway? Read all of our articles about Norway in our Norway Travel Guide.
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Comments 159
Hi. I love your blog and usually try to read up on your experience for our future trips – thank you for providing as much detail as you are able to, it’s certainly helpful!
I know you guys weren’t able to do the via ferrata but have you heard any details from people that have gone? I am trying to better understand what that experience and difficulty is like. I’ll likely reach out to Trolltunga Active to get more information but word of mouth is obviously a better/more honest review.
Thank you for all you do!
Author
Hello Anish. No, we haven’t heard any reports from anyone who has done the via ferrata. It sounds like a cool experience and hopefully you can learn more on the the Trolltunga Active website to determine if it is worth it. Have a great time in Norway! Cheers, Julie
Hello Julie!
Is the parking open 24 hours and to get there before the shuttle, do you advise we started really walking from P2 to P3 rather than taking the first shuttle at 6:30?
Author
When we did this, there was only the main parking lot (what is now called P2) and no shuttle to avoid the first climb, so everyone did the full hike. The higher parking lot was added after we did this hike. If you really want to skip the first climb, wait until 6:30 to park. If you don’t care and want to start earlier, you can park in the main lot (P2) and hike the full trail (you don’t have to walk up to the higher lot – P3). But if you already plan to start that early and can get a ticket to park at P3, that still may be quicker because of how much of the hike it eliminates. Cheers, Julie
Hi, you guys are an insipration…love your blogs and the easy way you share all relevant information for us novices to prepare.
1 quick question – what are the most reliable websites to check weather forecast for Odda or any area around Trolltunga – ones that can reasonably accurately predict weather up to 3-4 weeks forward?
Author
It would be great if there was a weather service that could accurately predict the weather that far in advance! 😊 Here is a link to the a Norway weather website. We haven’t used this yet (we used the Weather Channel on our visit). In our general experience in Europe in recent years, the weather forecast is relatively accurate 1 to 3 days out, depending on the location. The more northern locales, such as Norway and Iceland, tend to have very variable weather and even 24 hours in advance could be inaccurate. When in Norway, keep your fingers crossed for sun but be prepared for rain, and even snow. Cheers, JUlie
We hiked Trolltunga last week with our 12 and 15 year olds and we LOVED it ! I went to your website to collect all the info I could before to make it a smooth hike, and all went perfectly. The scenery is beautiful and although the tongue was covered in fog so the pictures are not amazing, it was a fun experience and the highlight to our Norway trip. We didn’t try Reinebriggen bur will be hiking up Ryten tomorrow 😊 Thanks for all the useful content and tips!
Author
You’re welcome! Have a great hike!! Cheers, Julie
Have you also hiked to Charlie’s bunion in the great smoky mountains. I did that hike and it had quite a bit of rocks throughout the entire trail. The pictures that you show on this hike seem to show some rocks, but grass in between them as opposed to one constant rock after another. How would you compare the two trails, and whether or not, they are equally strenuous? Also, what do you think the weather will be the first week in August 2023 when I would be hiking this trail? Furthermore, if I decided to hike the trail, one way and stay in a tent overnight, and then hike back the next day would it be better to start later in the morning as opposed to first thing? Also do the shuttle buses still run to get to the upper level parking lot all day or just early in the morning? Thank you
Author
Unfortunately, we have not hiked Charlie’s Bunion so I can’t compare the two trails. In August, you could have clear skies or rain so check the weather forecast as you get closer to your trip. We did this hike in August and had great weather, but two days later, had very rainy weather. As far as camping there, I see no need to get to the trailhead super early in the day. Here is the shuttle schedule. The shuttle runs all day but I am unclear if you can ride the shuttle to the trailhead in the afternoon. Since it will be driving people down the mountain in the afternoon, it seems to me like they could drive you up in the afternoon, but that is just an assumption on my part. The shuttle is new since we did this hike. Cheers, Julie
How difficult would this be for an adult with little to no hiking experience?
Think the max ive done is 10km but more on flat lands
Would it be easier if I stay and camp there over night?
Author
If you can get a parking pass for the upper parking lot this becomes a much easier hike that you should be able to do. The next best alternative is to ride the shuttle to the upper lot. Starting here allows you to skip the first massive climb. If you have to do the traditional route, it will be a long, tough hike. It’s doable, but it can take some time and you’ll be tired and sore the next few days. I recommend doing some longer walks or a few hikes before doing Trolltunga. As for camping, you will have to carry a tent and gear on the trail and that can be more difficult than day hiking the trail. Cheers, Julie
Hello,
I just booked the P3 parking lot for mid-July and it seemed like there was plenty of spaces available although it didn’t tell me exactly how many. I’m also a bit apprehensive about the drive after reading about how steep it is and how you need to be a good driver, etc. but I just did google map street view and realized that it is not that bad. Yes there are hairpin bends but the road nicely paved and if you drive slow and have a small or medium size car you should be just fine.
So excited to make this hike. We are family of 4 with two older kids ages 17 and 12. A little worried about how the 12 year old will handle it but hoping lots of junk food will keep her happy :).
Cheers
Author
Hello Aniruddha. Thanks for writing in with this info! I hope you have a great hike and I bet your 12 year old will do great! Cheers, Julie
Hi Aniruddha! Hope you had a great hike.
Can you tell us a bit more about how is the parking and the trail lately? I’m going in early August, any additional tip is appreciated.
Hi Julie and Earth Trekkers,
Looking to hike Trolltunga this coming summer and have a few questions:
-Do any of your followers know when signing up for P3 parking lot (assuming site opens in March) if you have to sign up for a very specific time to enter the area? Or is it say between 6:30am-11:00am?
– Is there a drawback (besides waiting for the shuttle) to booking P2 parking and taking the shuttle up and back?
– If we book in March (for July) , is availability for pre-booking the P2 or P3 lot and/or the shuttle difficult?
– While the gates open up at 6:30am, the road to P3 does not seem to open till 8:00am. Do we still have to get there early, or if you are pre-booked, can you show up at your designated time? Will there still be long lines to navigate anyway? Based on the website asking cars to turn off engines upon early arrival, I imagine everyone starts lining up with their cars super early. I would like to avoid all this and pre-book but not sure how much it really helps.
Would appreciate if anyone can share their knowledge and experience and any additional helpful hints to help make this as smooth as possible.
Thanks in advance.
Bronna
Author
Hello Bronna. We have not parked at P3 (this was added after our visit) but I assume that if you make your reservation in early March you should not have trouble getting a reservation for July. However, for answers to your questions, you can call customer support. There is a phone number listed on the official Trolltunga website. In my opinion, P3 is the best option, since it eliminates the first big climb. P2 is the next best option, but you will have to wait for and ride the shuttle before and after your hike. Cheers, Julie