The small fjord town of Balestrand made a fantastic home-base for our exploration of the Sognefjord. The quaint town is easy to reach on the Express Boat from Bergen, but feels like you have stepped a bit off of the beaten path.
The Main Street in town houses a handful of shops, restaurants, grocery stores, along with the friendliest and most helpful TI in the area. The historic Kviknes Hotel is located just around the bend from the port on the coast overlooking the fjords.
Although there are a handful of lodging options, we decided on the most budget friendly one, Hostel Balestrand. We were pleasantly surprised to find that it was much more like a hotel than a hostel!
After seeking assistance from the TI, purchasing some groceries, and checking into our hostel, we headed out for an afternoon hike on the Nature Trail Kreklingen. The TI armed us with a map and suggested a few of the trails that had fantastic views of both the city and the fjords. The well marked trail system is just a short walk from town and was a great way to spend our first afternoon in town.
We also thought Balestrand was a great home-base for exploring the region. Between the ferry, which will take you to other (more touristy) towns, the bus, or even a rental car for a day, you can easily access other towns in the area.