• Dalen Hotel (Dalen I Telemark; tel. 35-07-70-00; www.dalenhotel.no): At the terminus of the Telemark Canal, the Dalen Hotel's architecture is studded with dragon heads and Viking-inspired gingerbread. Built in 1894 and still going strong, it has kept abreast of the times. It's the kind of nostalgic and evocative Norway that we like, filled with comforting but also whimsical architecture -- including towers, turrets, and wide verandas. You'll be wined and dined royally here -- after all, the King of Siam once was a guest.
  • Hotel Ullensvang (Loftus i Harganger; tel. 53-67-00-00; www.hotel-ullensvang.no): Our favorite inn within the fjord country, the Ullensvang, from 1846, lies on the bank of the Hardangerfjord. Once it was the retreat of the composer Edvard Grieg, whose piano is still in a cottage on the grounds. Expanded over the years, the hotel has been run by the same family for four generations. These family members extend a hearty Norwegian welcome to their guests, whom they feed and house most comfortably.
  • Fretheim Hotel (Flåm; tel. 57-63-63-00; www.fretheim-hotel.no): Set in the midst of an impressive scene of mountains and waterfalls, this 1866 hotel opens onto a panoramic vista of fjord waters. Long renowned for its hospitality and now equipped with a modern annex, it houses you comfortably in attractive and well-maintained bedrooms. Salmon is the chef's specialty in the hotel's first-class restaurant.
  • Union Hotel (Geiranger; tel. 70-26-83-00; www.union-hotel.no): Located at one of the most majestic fjords in Norway, the Geirangerfjord, this is a celebrated 1891 family-style hotel. Kings, queens, and kaisers have found lodgings here in the beautifully furnished bedrooms, many with private balconies opening onto the water. The hotel's restaurant is one of the best and most traditional in the area, featuring a classic Norwegian buffet of the groaning-table variety.
  • Hotel Mundal (Fjaerland; tel. 57-69-31-01): On the banks of the Fjaerlandsfjord, a scenic branch of the greater Sognefjord, this hotel has been run by the same family since it opened its doors back in 1891. With its peaked roofs, wooden scrollwork, round tower, and cavernous dining room, it is one of Norway's most classic hotel examples of Victorian architecture. Modern improvements have ensured that it's still a wonderful choice to base yourself in one of the most scenic parts of the western fjord country.
  • Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.