The Historic Fjordside Hotel In Norway Rick Steves Suggests For Authentic Charm And Views

Solvorn is an idyllic village in the western coastal region of Norway — known as "fjord country" — that's surrounded by dramatic landscapes and offers visitors an immersive look at a bygone era when the town was a key trading post. People have been seeking out Solvorn as a destination worth visiting since the late 17th century, thanks to its tranquility, swimming beach, and proximity to glaciers. Amazingly, tourists today can stay in the very same hotel used by those early travelers.

The Walaker Hotel, perched on the edge of Lustrafjorden (a body of water that branches off Norway's deepest fjord, Sognefjord), is 385 years old and has been owned by the same family for most of that time. If you visit Solvorn, the Walaker is the place to stay, and travel expert Rick Steves recommended it in a series on his Youtube channel called Travel Bites. "Solvorn's charming Walaker Hotel harkens back to the early days of tourism," said Steves, who's a known admirer of Norway and would choose to live there if he didn't live in the U.S. "A former inn and coach station, it's been in the family since 1690. And nine generations later, Ole Henrick keeps the tradition alive." 

Henrick's son is in training to become the 10th generation to run the hotel. Though it's changed hands many times over the centuries, little — if anything — has changed, the family insists. In his video, Steves described visiting the hotel as a step back into the Romantic Period, after Norway gained its independence from Denmark in the early 1800s. Groups of people, artists and writers among them, traveled from the cities to fjord country during that time to celebrate the country's stunning nature and "traditional folklife" — the essence of what made them Norwegian, Steves explained. 

The hotel has rooms spread across four structures. The main building was constructed in 1934, and the hotel says its two best rooms are here. Both of those rooms afford views of the fjord and the hotel's rose garden, where bryony, lilacs and fruit trees blossom. If you want to sleep in the same place as those very early travelers to Solvorn, book in Tingstova, the oldest building on the property (it dates back to 1630). A newer but still historic experience can be found in the garden wing, built in 1964. Lastly, those travelers seeking a modern stay can find it at Villa Walaker, completed in 2024. The hotel describes this addition as a modern house with comfortable rooms. For a three-night stay in the summer — the best time to visit Norway — guests can expect to pay between $1,300 and $1,700.

Steves said of the Walaker that "a charming ambience pervades the place," and hundreds of former guests shared similar sentiments in their Tripadvisor reviews. One visitor wrote, "My advice is to skip the touristy fjord towns and stay at the Walaker Hotell for an authentic and unique Norwegian experience."

Guests can choose to eat at the hotel's restaurant, which serves a formal four-course dinner. Steves described the dining experience in his video, saying that it started with guests relaxing with a glass of wine in the hotel salon. They then eat in a dining room with "gentile elegance," dining on modern Norwegian dishes made with local ingredients, "many of them pulled right out of the fjord," Steves said. His courses included scallops and Arctic char, a cold-water fish comparable to trout and salmon. Steves ended his evening by taking dessert and coffee out to the hotel's porch to enjoy the view.

The surroundings of the Walaker Hotel are what make it special, according to dozens of reviews, as well as the hotel's page in the Michelin Guide. "As lovely as the hotel may be, the outdoor environment is the obvious focus here," the guide says. In Solvorn, travelers get to experience both mountains and coast, and the hotel helps its guests enjoy both. The Walaker helps guests plan a variety of adventures around the fjords, including their choice of four hikes, kayaking on the fjord, a guided tour of Sognefjord on a on a rigid inflatable boat (known as a RIB), a visit to view Jostedal Glacier, and a bicycle trip to see Feigumfossen, one of the tallest waterfalls in Norway. 

A popular destination for hotel guests is the Urnes Stave Church, which was constructed in 1130 and has the distinction of being the oldest stave church in the world.  Stave churches are Christian churches that were built from wood during the Middle Ages. More than 1,000 were built in Norway, but fewer than three dozen remain. The church in the town of Urnes is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and a little ferry, located just below the Walaker Hotel, takes guests across the fjord to visit the site.

If guests want to stick close by the hotel, they can take advantage of Solvorn's swimming beach, which is a short walk away from the hotel property. For the daring, a diving tower offers the chance to practice flips into the fjord. Visitors can also check out the Gallery Walaker, an art gallery inside an old building on the hotel grounds. It opened in 1990 to celebrate 300 years of the family's ownership of the hotel, and it includes works from local and nationally known artists.