Loen Skylift, Norway: One Of The Steepest Cable Cars in The World

Did you know that the Loen Skylift in Norway is one of the steepest cable cars on our planet? In fact, it whizzes you almost vertically up the rocky mountainside to the summit of Mount Hoven in a matter of minutes. If your legs turn to jelly when it comes to heights, then maybe don’t look down until you’re back on solid land, as this is not a ride for the faint-hearted!

But If you’re planning a trip to this part of Norway, or if Olden is one of your stops on a Norwegian fjords cruise (like us) then this is one activity you absolutely don’t want to miss. I highly recommend booking yourself a ticket, jumping in that slightly terrifying cable car, and soaking in the jaw-dropping views that you’ll be talking about for years to come.

We had such a great morning up on Mount Hoven and got exceptionally lucky with clear skies, giving us epic panoramic mountain views across the turquoise fjord below. If the weather Gods are on your side, then this has to be one of the best views in the world. The very epitome of Norway. We kept saying, “Wow, this is the Norway you see on postcards!”

Before you go, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your trip and time up Mount Hoven.

Loen Skylift at a Glance 👀

As it’s a popular destination, pre-booking tickets is a good idea!
The lift takes between 5-7 minutes to reach the top of Mount Hoven
There’s a cosy cafe, restaurant and shop at the top of the mountain
You can do hikes, zip-line and via-ferrata here!
Olden cruise terminal is 10 minutes drive away

In this article...

Prebook Your Cable Car Tickets – Don’t Risk “Winging It”

The Loen Skylift is popular. Really popular. Especially when theres cruise ships in port.

I pre-booked our tickets about a month ahead, which turned out to be a very smart move. We saw people getting off the ship hoping to wing it and buy tickets on the day, only to be told it was fully booked. Disappointment was written all over their faces, and tour reps were trying to find them alternative trips to do instead (if you need some other ideas, read my blog post ‘Best Things to do in Olden Norway‘ for some inspiration)

If the Loen Skylift is on your Norway bucket list (and it should be!) get organised and pre-book tickets to avoid disappointment. If you’re not arriving by cruise ship, you might be fine bagging yourself some last-minute tickets. But always check the cruise schedule, one big ship docking could really throw a spanner in the works and make a huge difference to availability and crowds.

The Ride Up – How Long Does It Take?

The ride on Loen Skylift only takes about 5-7 minutes, but my goodness, what magical minutes they are! As soon as the cable car pulls out of the station, you’ll be shooting skywards at not only an impressively steep angle, but also an impressive speed. Within seconds all the houses, roads, and even our mega cruise ship looked like tiny Lego toys.

Each cable car holds around 35 people standing (there aren’t any seats) so it can feel a little cosy on busy days. But if you’re lucky, you might snag a space by the window which is even better at the very front. Trust me, that’s the sweet spot for the best views (and the most dramatic selfies, if there’s enough room to hold your arm out).

If you’re not a fan of heights, close your eyes, take deep breaths, and know that the reward at the top is 100% worth the wobbly knees on the way up. It’s over quickly too, and the ride itself is super smooth.

Loen’s Glass Viewing Platform

A short walk from exiting the cable car, you’ll find the viewing platform thats wrapped by a large glass balustrade.

The angled glass leans out over the edge slightly, which is a bit dizzying at first and can make you feel a bit funny! But the space is big enough that you don’t feel crammed in, and people naturally move on to explore other areas of Mount Hoven. It’s the perfect spot for your first “I can’t believe this place is real” moment, and a great opportunity to take some photos – especially if the weather is on your side.

Adventurous Things to Do at the Top

Mount Hoven isn’t just about standing still and gawping at the view (though I could have easily done that all day given the chance). If you’re more adventurous and want to get your adrenaline pumping, why not take on the zip-line or complete a Via Ferrata?

Zip Line

Their promotional photos make it look like the zip-line goes wizzing right over the fjord, but that is a little deceptive! It actually crosses a smaller valley, but the angle makes it look epic! Although this zip-line doesn’t stand a chance at winning any awards for the longest or fastest, it makes up for that with the breathtaking fjord views!

Tickets for the zip-line are sold separately to the Loen Skylift ticket. You can purchase them online in advance (direct or with Olden Adventure) or from the shop at the top of Mount Hoven on the day (subject to availability). It was a popular activity to do, and it did look a lot of fun, so if you really want to do it – I would prebook your ticket!

There is a minimum age requirement, and sadly anyone younger than 12 won’t be able to join in with this activity.

Price: NOK 650 (£47)

Open: June – October (opening times vary during season) Click here to check when you’re going.

Via Ferrata

If you’ve got nerves of steel, zero fear of heights, and some serious experience behind you, then this one deserves a spot on your adventure list. Especially as this route is considered the toughest in all of Norway!

The Ragnorok route takes you from the very base of Mount Hoven right up to the summit, with no let-up in the steepness along the way. It’s rated an ‘F’ on the difficulty scale, which is basically as tough as it gets. It isn’t something beginners can just rock up and try either. You’ll need to have tackled at least a grade E route before you’re even allowed to attempt it.

If you do go for it, prepare yourself for some seriously hair-raising features, including the longest via ferrata bridge in Europe (dangling 750 metres above the fjord), a 36-metre-long wire bridge, and a 40-metre ladder with 120 steps that are tilted at a 45-degree slope… which, frankly, looks absolutely terrifying! Check out their website for more info.

Price: Adults 1,760 NOK (£129) 12-15 year olds 1,590 NOK (£116) (includes Skylift ticket for way down)

Hiking Trails on Mount Hoven

If you’re looking for a nice walk whilst you’re up here, you wont be short of options as theres loads of hiking trails at the top of Mount Hoven. Check AllTrails for routes, or take a look at the information board up there which shows you the lengths and difficulty levels of each route.

We only had time for a short wander over to this stone tower but if we ever come back, we’d love to spend a whole afternoon hiking here. Another good tip is to buy a one-way ticket so you can hike up and take the Skylift down (or vice versa)

Food & Drink – Because Coffee Is Better With Views

The Mount Hoven restaurant at the top looks absolutely gorgeous. It sits right on the cliff edge with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and shaped like an amphitheater so everyone has epic views of the fjord. I can only imagine how magical it must be to have dinner here at sunset whilst watching the mountain peaks turn gold. Stunning.

The menu had a great selection of dishes such a pumpkin soup, salmon, lamb shank, burgers and mountain pizza. Along with a small children’s menu for the little ones.

We didn’t stop for food (still full from the cruise ship breakfast) but we did pop into the café/bar next door for a much needed caffeine hit. The interior had such a cosy ski-resort vibe, think chunky rustic wooden tables, roaring fires, fur throws (i’m not sure if they were faux or real) and a view that took your breath away. Outside there were relaxed chairs and picnic-style benches, perfect for soaking up the scenery. Though don’t be fooled, even in sunshine it’s chilly at 1,000 metres up! We sat outside for a bit just staring in awe, before scurrying back in to warm our hands on our mugs.

Loen Skylift outside cafe/restaurant area

Gift Shop and Cinnamon Buns

No Scandinavian attraction would be complete without a cute gift shop to grab a holiday souvenir! Next to the main viewing platform, there’s a small but busy gift shop selling items such as hats, tea-towels, books, teddies, and cute felt sheep ornaments to name a few! Although it was the smell of freshly baked cinnamon buns thats tempted us inside. They were worth queuing for too. Soft, warm, and sweet. A proper little pick-me-up treat.

They also sold hot and cold drinks, ice-creams, donuts and of course the cinnamon buns. So if you’re feeling a little peckish, it’s the place to go if you just want a quick and easy grab-and-go option.

The Journey Back Down To Loen

When you’ve had enough of the views (not possible) got too cold (more likely) or need to head down for your next Norway activity, simply head into the top mountain station and scan you ticket to open the barrier, then join the queue for the next cable car.

You might get lucky and get a cable car to yourself on the way back down. The two cars that went before us were practically empty – but ours was full. We did manage to get a spot right at the front though to enjoy the views on the way back down which was amazing as we were squished in the middle on the way up.

How Long Does The Cable Car Journey Take?

The journey only takes between 5-7 minutes, which is pretty rapid seeing as the Loen Skylift climbs over 3000ft in that short time. You soon notice how quickly people on the ground begin to look the size of ants before they become unnoticeable.

How Far Is Loen Skylift From Olden Cruise Port?

Loen is the next village along from Olden, so it’s only a short 10 minutes coach ride away from the cruise terminal. It’s a beautiful journey as the road runs right beside the edge of the fjord. The return shuttles back to Olden cruise port seemed to be roughy every 30 minutes. Just remember to keep an eye on the time and don’t miss the last one back!

Loen Skylift Ticket Prices

Ticket prices vary depending on the time of year and wether you’re visiting during peak season or not. Click here to check their website for up-to-date pricing and seasonal timetable. We bought our tickets through Olden Adventure which included the transfer from Olden cruise terminal.

Peek season price: Adults NOK 950 (£69), 6-15 year olds NOK 460 (£34), under 6’s Free.

Is There Enough Time To Do Loen Skylift & Briksdal Glacier In One Day?

If you plan your day well and get an early start, then yes, it’s definitely possible to do both the Loen Skylift and the glacier in one day. That’s exactly what we did!

We set the alarm early, grabbed some breakfast, and joined the queue to disembark the ship as soon as we could. By the time we’d collected our tickets and hopped on the coach, we were at the base of the Skylift by around 9:30am.

There was about a 35-minute wait for the cable car (queues can get much longer later in the day, so it’s worth being early), and once we were at the top, we spent a lovely couple of hours exploring and soaking up those incredible views. We caught a cable car back down just after midday.

Our glacier tour coach was scheduled for 1:30 pm, and we were back by around 5pm. Tired but very happy that we’d managed to fit two unforgettable experiences into one day!

Olden guide of things to do. Briksdal Glacier

Key Info at a Glance

How many fit in a cable car? Around 35 people standing.
Journey time: 5-7 minutes
Opening times: Check the official website, as they vary seasonally.
Is it busy? Yes, especially on cruise days.
From Olden cruise port: Just a 10-minute coach ride along a winding fjord road.
Shuttle bus: Roughly every 30 minutes when we visited.
Prams & bikes: Allowed for a small fee.
Age limit: None, it’s family-friendly.
Mountain height: Mount Hoven stands at 1,011 metres above sea level.
Time needed: A couple of hours minimum, but longer if you’re hiking or dining.
Can you combine with a glacier trip? Yes, if you plan well. Though both are big highlights, so it’s worth dedicating time to each.
What to wear: Layers! Even on sunny days it’s cold up here.

Final thoughts

The Loen Skylift was honestly one of the highlights of our Norway trip, and if you get the chance, it’s absolutely worth it.

And a little tip from me to you: hold on tight as the cable car tips over the edge on the way back down. It sways just enough to make your stomach flip. Enjoy!

Don’t forget to take a look at all the other fun things you can do in Olden! And If you’re visiting other places in Norway, check out my other Norway posts on things to do in Hellesylt, Haugesund and Stavanger.

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