Stalheim sits at the top of Nærøydalen, a narrow gorge west of Voss where two waterfalls — Stalheimsfossen and Sivlefossen — drop in parallel down the valley walls. The Stalheim Hotel has occupied the viewpoint since 1885; guests have included Kaiser Wilhelm II, Edvard Grieg, and various Norwegian monarchs. Below the hotel, the Stalheimskleiva road descends 13 hairpin bends in 1.2 kilometres at gradients reaching 18% — one of the steepest public roads in Norway. The gorge, the waterfalls, and the view from the hotel terrace make Stalheim one of the most dramatic viewpoints within two hours of Bergen.
The view and the gorge
The view from Stalheim Hotel's terrace looks directly into the gorge and down the length of Nærøydalen toward Gudvangen. Stalheimsfossen and Sivlefossen fall in parallel on opposite sides of the valley — in spring, when snowmelt swells them both, the combined effect is extraordinary. The gorge walls are steep enough that the valley floor below is not visible from the hotel — just the waterfalls, the far valley, and the mountains beyond. This is one of the classic Norwegian views and has been painted, photographed, and reproduced since the 19th century.
The Stalheimskleiva road
The Stalheimskleiva is a 1.2-kilometre section of old road descending from Stalheim to Gudvangen in 13 hairpin bends at up to 18% gradient. In summer it is open to private cars as a one-way downhill route — drive down it from Stalheim to Gudvangen and you rejoin E16 at the bottom. It is not accessible uphill by car, though tour buses run up it in season. The road was the main route between Bergen and Oslo before the current tunnels were built and gives a visceral sense of how difficult Norwegian mountain travel was before modern infrastructure. Take it slowly — it is narrow, steep, and the hairpin radius is minimal.
Getting there from Bergen
By car: take E16 east from Bergen. Pass through Voss (approximately 1 hour 20 minutes from Bergen), then continue on E16 east. After Voss, E16 descends toward Gudvangen through the Gudvangen tunnel. Take the exit signed for Stalheim before entering the tunnel — the road winds up from the E16 junction to the Stalheim Hotel in about 10 minutes. Total Bergen to Stalheim: approximately 1 hour 45 minutes and about 120 kilometres. By public transport: train to Voss (1h20min), then a local bus or taxi toward Gudvangen — ask locally for current connections as services are limited.