Hardanger is a traditional region in Hordaland, Norway. It comprises the Hardangerfjord, the surrounding shores and valleys, and related uplands, mountains and glaciers. Despite its location below the glacier and the rough highlands, Hardanger enjoys a mild climate and has for centuries been a centre for fruit production in Norway. Hardanger also include wild waterfalls, alpine summits, high plateaus and major glaciers.

Hardangerfjord is 180 km long and about 850 m deep. This the second longest and second deepest fjord in Norway, only surpassed by Sognefjord, and outside Norway these are only surpassed by fjords in Greenland. Hardangerfjord is complex with branches and underwater thresholds. At Utne/Kvanndal the fjord makes a u-turn and with Åkrafjord in Sunnhordland district it creates a peninsula. The highest parts of this peninsula is covered by the Folgefonna glacier.

Hardanger consists of the following municipalities: Kvam, Granvin, Ulvik, Eidfjord, Ullensvang (former Ullensvang, Odda and Jondal).

• 60.0688896.5455561 Odda — The only real town in the region. Industrial centre at the far end of Sørfjorden branch of Hardangerfjord.
• 60.3666676.1333332 Norheimsund - Commercial centre of the region. Entrance point when arriving from Bergen.
• 60.3880566.19253 Øystese - Commercial centre. Almost merged with Norheimsund.
• 59.9833066.0166394 Rosendal - Small village that is a popular stop among tourists. Famous for Norway's only barony, dated back to 1665.
• 60.6211117.0802785 Ulvik - Small village around a sheltered bay in the far end of the Hardangerfjord.
• 60.5269446.7194446 Granvin - Small village. Entrance point when arriving from Voss.
• 60.4966377.1411137 Eidfjord - Small village. Entrance point when arriving from Oslo.
• 60.32556.66028 Lofthus - Small village. Home to the annual cherry-festival

• 60.0519897.0180331 Hardangervidda - largest mountain plateau in Europe and the largest national park in Norway.
• 606.3333332 Folgefonna - a glacier located on the mountain plateau the east side of the Hardangerfjord and west of Sørfjorden, mostly protected as national park. Available mostly by hiking as there are no roads within. The main glacier is visible from far and low altitude branches are visible at Buerbreen (Ullensvang) and Bondhusbreen (Mauranger).
• 60.3872225.9716673 Kvamskogen – upland area with several ski resorts.

When thinking of Norway, most people think of fjords and mountains, and to that degree, Hardanger is one the most stereotypical Norwegian areas in Norway. The region covers the area from Kvam in the west, up north along the Hardangerfjord to Granvin and Ulvik in the north, Eidfjord in the east, and down along the Sørfjord to Odda in the south. Roads cling to the mountainsides along the fjord, and there are three ferries crossing the fjords. Apart from the grand nature, the region is known for its extensive fruit production with almost half of all fruit growing in Norway. Apple growing was probably introduced by British monks in the 14th century. Farms growing apples, pears, cherries and plums cover almost all the space along the fjords. This makes the region a lovely place during the fruit blooming in May and early June. The region is also home of several notable artists, musicians and writers. The mountain-areas of the region are good locations for skiing and winter sports. The Folgefonna glacier also has a summer-ski centre.

Ulvik is a village and the administration centre of Ulvik municipality (pop. 1,107 as of 2008) which also includes Finse and parts of Hardangervidda, some small settlements, and a number of farms (many of which are abandoned). Ulvik village sits at the end of Ulvik fjord. The inner part of the fjord is relatively shallow and almost closed off from the main fjord like a lagoon. The village is surrounded by fine small farms and fruit gardens. One of these farms were run by poet Olav H. Hauge, his "This is the Dream" was voted Norway's best poem of all times. His poems often reflects life among the apple trees in pretty, sheltered Ulvik. The well-known final words of the poem "...that one early morning we will slip into a bay we have never known" may resonate with sailing up Ulvik fjord.

People of Hardanger are known as harding and the dialect is also known as harding. Modern Hardanger dialect has guttural R but lighter than in Bergen. Widespread use of unusual, ancient diphthongs such as baot (båt in most dialects) makes the dialect stand out. Harding people are well aware where they are from. Origin of the name Hardanger is not known for certain, one possibility is the germanic tribe hǫrð (English: harudes) that is assumed to have settled in the area in prehistory. The suffix -anger is an ancient word for fjord such that Hardanger was in fact the fjord itself. The name of the fjord later transferred to the surrounding district and eventually -fjord was added to distinguish the watercourse from the land.

If you bring a bicycle, the area is well suited for biking trips. Hiking in Hardanger is also recommended.

By bus

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If you would like to travel by bus or coach, the national coach operator is called NOR-WAY Bussekspress. Further regional and local buses are managed by the public transport authority in Hordaland, Skyss^{[dead link]} on Public Service Obligations. In Hardanger, you may find some lines to be rather infrequent. Some lines run only a handful of times per day, some only on schooldays and so on. Even so, the network does cover most areas.

60°19′26″N 6°30′32″E

Map of Hardanger

The hardanger fiddle (hardingfele) is a characteristic instrument from Norway. The oldest existing hardanger fiddle was built i 1651 by Ole Jaastad, sheriff of Ullensvang. Master fiddlemakers in Hardanger produced a large number hardingfele around 1700 and later some of which are still in use. This idiosyncratic violin has four or five sympatheic or resonance strings beneath the standard four strings, and made from thin, delicate and decorated wood. The haunting, powerful sound is used to create traditional folk music: dance music as well as "listening music". The oldest hardanger fiddles are from the 17th centuries and one from 1650 is held at Bergen museum. Edvard Grieg and other modern composers incorporated folk music for the hardanger fiddle in their own music.

• 60.3872225.9711471 Kvamskogen ski resort (Road 49). Kvamskogen is a mountain plateau in Hardanger, situated between 400 and 1300 metres above sea level in Kvam municipality. It is a popular target for ski enthusiasts from Bergen and the surrounding areas in the winter. Kvamskogen is only accessible by car or bus. The closest airport and port are all located in Bergen. In the winter season, there is a "ski bus" Saturdays and Sundays, daily in school vacations.  

Hardanger is famous for its fruit. Small fruit stalls can be found along all major roads from late summer 'till mid-fall. Most of these stalls are not manned, but rely on the honesty of the customer. Most often there is a small jar where you leave the money for the purchased products. Stealing from these jars would be considered extremely rude.

• Den Grøne Kafe (The Green Cafe), Promenaden 7, 5730 Ulvik, ☏ +47 56 52 61 87. 

Several apple farmers produce fine apple juice and cider from various types of apple. The cider comes in alcoholic and non-alcoholic variants.

Ulvik

Three of Ulvik's four hotels are owned by the same hotel chain. All four are located in Ulvik village.

• Ulvik Fjord Hotel, Eikjeledbakkjen 2, 5730 Ulvik, Hardanger, ☏ +47 56 52 61 70, fax: +47 56 52 61 70. Check-in: 14.00, check-out: 12.00. Privately owned, family run. 19 rooms, WLAN, restaurant, bar, Large garden. kr 950,-. 
• ^{[formerly dead link]} Rica Brakanes Hotel, 5730 Ulvik, Hardanger, ☏ +47 56 52 61 05, rica.brakanes.hotel@rica.no. 143 rooms, wlan, pub, bar, etc. 
• ^{[formerly dead link]} Rica Ulvik Hotel, 5730 Ulvik, Hardanger, ☏ +47 56 52 62 00, rica.ulvik.hotel@rica.no. Restaurant. The guests have access to all the facilities of Rica Brakanes Hotel. 
• ^{[formerly dead link]} Rica Strand Fjordhotel, 5730 Ulvik, Hardanger, ☏ +47 56 52 63 05, rica.strand.fjordhotel@rica.no. Restaurant and swimming pool. The guests have access to all the facilities of Rica Brakanes Hotel. 
• Øydvin Gardsturisme, Øydve Ulvik. High standard holiday home by the fjord. 

Visitors should keep a generous distance to glaciers. Hiking on glaciers is only for experts and visitors must join a guided tour for a walk on the ice. Waterfalls are surrounded by slippery and treacherous areas.

• Voss
• Bergen
• Sunnhordland
• Telemark
• Hallingdal, Geilo
• Ryfylke
• Haugesund
• Setesdal

Hønefoss ← Geilo ←	E  W	→ Trengereid (E16)
Stavanger ← Suldal ←	S  N	→ Voss → Balestrand