Getting here
No Frills Norway is by the Esefjord, just outside Balestrand. There are several ways to get here, and the best option will depend on where you're travelling from, how long you're staying and whether you want a car while you're here.
We've made this journey many times ourselves, using different combinations of flights, rental cars, buses and the express boat from Bergen.
Flying to Sogndal
For many visitors from the UK, flying to Sogndal is the most direct way to get here. Flights can be booked from London to Sogndal via Oslo, with the connecting domestic flight included in the same journey.
From Sogndal Airport you can hire a car, or take the airport bus into Sogndal and continue by local bus towards Balestrand. The local bus travels via the Hella–Dragsvik ferry, with the bus and ferry timetables coordinated, and stops about 200 metres from the house.
For a longer stay, travelling by bus can make good sense if you don't need a car every day.
Flying to Bergen and driving
Bergen is another practical option, with direct flights from the UK and a good choice of rental cars at the airport. The drive to the house takes around four hours, depending on the route, traffic and ferry connections.
In summer, one of the usual routes is via Voss and Vikafjellet, crossing the Sognefjord by ferry from Vangsnes to Dragsvik. Hiring a car makes particular sense if you want the freedom to explore during your stay, making day trips, shopping and travelling further around the Sognefjord much easier.
Express boat from Bergen
The express boat runs from Bergen to Balestrand in around four hours and is a spectacular way to travel, taking you from the coast and into the Sognefjord.
It can work very well if the flight and boat times fit together, but connections need to be checked carefully. Depending on your arrival time in Bergen, an overnight stay may be necessary.
The house is only a short distance across the fjord from Balestrand, but the final part of the journey needs some planning. There are local buses, although they don't always connect conveniently with later boat arrivals, and a taxi may be needed.
Which option works best?
There isn't one best way to get here. Cost and convenience will depend on how you're travelling, how long you're staying and whether you want a car while you're here.
For a shorter visit, the convenience of having a rental car may outweigh the additional cost. For a longer stay, travelling by public transport can become much more attractive, particularly if you don't expect to need a car every day.
It's worth comparing the whole cost of the journey and your stay, rather than simply the price of the flights.
We've made these journeys many times ourselves and are happy to help with sensible travel questions when you're planning your stay.