Kviknes Hotel

Kviknes Hotel stands in the heart of Balestrand, right on the Sognefjord in western Norway. The Kvikne family has run it since the late 19th century, and the hotel's roots go back to the 18th century.

It is a big, characterful place with 190 rooms split across two buildings. The original Swiss chalet style house holds 25 of them, and a mid 20th century wing holds the other 165. The lounges are full of art and antiques, there is a garden facing the mountains and the water, and the landscape around here has drawn painters for over a century. For couples with a long guest list who still want fjord scenery, it is a practical and atmospheric choice.

Kviknes has a dedicated wedding page and hosts private celebrations throughout the year. The kitchen serves high-end food, the hotel keeps an extensive wine cellar and the Balholm Bar is on hand for the evening. The dining rooms seat up to 400 and the main conference room holds up to 450, which gives a sense of the scale on offer. The hotel does not publish its ceremony spaces, so ask the team about where vows can be held, the garden, guest numbers for your date and the music curfew. Those details are agreed wedding by wedding. The garden and the lounges full of art and antiques give photographers plenty of corners to work with.

With 190 rooms, most of your guests can stay under the same roof. The historic building has fjord-view rooms and ten demi suites, most with balconies, and the newer wing has standard and view rooms. Connecting rooms suit families. Balestrand sits on the Sognefjord, so the fjord and mountains fill the days around the wedding. Rooms in the original building are Swiss chalet in style, while the modern wing is simpler and practical for family groups. Bergen is about 200 km away, roughly four hours by car, and the hotel also points guests to the express boat from Bergen. Førde Airport is 96 km from Balestrand.