Western Norway is riven by fjords, those long valleys flooded by the sea.

Norway lovers dispute (always in a friendly manner—this is Norway, after all...) which fjord (fee-YORD) is the most spectacular. Every visitor seems to have a favorite.

Here are a few suggestions:

Sognefjord
This major fjord reachable from Bergen is among the most popular with visitors, in part because it can easily be accessed from Bergen. Well east of its mouth it has branches with their own names:

Naerøyfjord
The Naerøyfjord, a tributary of the Sognefjord starting in Gudvangen (map), is among the most dramatic and picturesque fjords in Norway. More...

Aurlandsfjord
The Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the Sognefjord near the Naerøyfjord, is on the ferry route between Gudvangen (Naerøyfjord) and Flåm, at the southern end of the Aurlandsfjord. More...