Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Norway / Balestrand / Kviknes Hotel
Kviknes Hotel
Balestrand, Norway · Independent · Accessible Luxury
Hospitality started on the Balestrand waterfront in 1752. The Kvikne family took the house in 1877 and still run it: Swiss-style timber on the Sognefjord, a large art collection, season April through October. Kaiser Wilhelm II summered in Balestrand; the guest book runs royalty, presidents, and film stars. Restorations in 2026 added suites inside the historic building.
- Opened 1752
About Kviknes Hotel
- Family-run since the Kviknes took over in 1877; hospitality on this waterfront since 1752.
- Kaiser Wilhelm II was a frequent summer visitor to Balestrand.
- Seasonal, April through October; 2026 restorations added suites in the historic Swiss-style building.
History
Kviknes Hotel’s story begins in 1752, when hospitality first took root on the waterfront at Balestrand beside the Sognefjord in Vestland, Norway. The Kvikne family took over in 1877, and the property has remained family-run ever since, growing from a fjord-side guesthouse into one of Norway’s most storied hotels. The hotel itself says its buildings were erected in Swiss style, a key part of the regional wooden architecture that gave late-19th-century Norwegian resort hotels their distinctive profile. Over time, Kviknes has been renovated and expanded several times, but it has deliberately kept its historic character intact.
The hotel’s own history page also places Kviknes within a long tradition of high-profile summer guests: Kaiser Wilhelm II was a frequent visitor to Balestrand, and the guest lists associated with the property include royalty, emperors, presidents, prime ministers, film stars, and artists. That social cachet helped make Balestrand a destination in the heyday of fjord tourism, when national romantic scenery and elite summer travel went hand in hand.
Kviknes continues to trade on that layered heritage. Its website highlights a large art collection, seasonal operation from April through October, and a fresh round of restorations in 2026, when new suites and Deluxe rooms were completed in the historic Swiss-style building. The hotel also points to recent recognition from Falstaff for its restaurant and describes itself as Best Historic Resort Worldwide, underscoring how its history is still being actively maintained and interpreted rather than merely preserved behind glass.
Founded in 1752 and family-run since 1877, Kviknes Hotel is one of Norway’s most enduring fjord-side addresses.
The setting
4-minute walk to Sognefjord Aquarium. 12 km from Kvamsøy island.
Experiences
- Mountain hiking — Fjellvandring listed among activities using the fjord and mountains.
- Rib boat trips — Rib-boat activity listed among activities using the fjord and mountains.
- Wine tasting — Vinsmaking offered as an activity.
- Christmas party (julebord) — The hotel says it has long experience hosting julebord events.
Amenities
- Fitness center
- Pet-friendly
Open Kviknes Hotel in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.