Olden occupies a narrow, fertile pocket at the head of Nordfjord, where the fjord route turns toward Oldedalen and the glaciers of Jostedalsbreen National Park. Statistics Norway counted 523 residents in the Olden built-up settlement on 1 January 2026; this is the village figure, not the population of Stryn municipality. The small scale can be deceptive. Olden is also a cruise port, and Norway’s coastal administration reported that more than 200,000 cruise passengers visited in 2025. Those are passenger visits, not unique overnight guests or residents. On busy days, the harbour and the road toward the glacier valley carry very different kinds of traffic through the same living community.
Olden’s history is older and more layered than its modern visitor role. Stryn municipality’s heritage plan records an archaeological settlement or activity area from the Roman period at Muri, east of the centre. That is evidence of activity in the region; it does not establish that Olden was founded by Romans. The village’s two timber churches offer a more visible timeline: Olden Old Church is a cruciform building from 1759, while the larger New Church at Brynestad dates to 1934. Both are listed for their heritage value. Their presence reflects a community that grew and changed over centuries, rather than a single picturesque moment preserved for visitors.
A different chapter is told at Singerheimen, the summer estate built at Muri from 1913 to 1921 by American artists William Henry Singer Jr. and Anna Brugh Singer. Its distinctive green buildings and garden bring an international story into a small farming village. Local residents remember the Singers’ connection to the community, while the property now offers guided visits and accommodation on a seasonal or booking basis; check access before arriving because it is not a walk-in museum on every day. Beyond the estate, the municipality’s 2015 Olden plan documents both farming land and tourism as important parts of local life. Oldedalen Skysslag’s roots go back to local farmers carrying tourists toward Briksdal from the late nineteenth century; the transport cooperative was established in 1924 and evolved into a locally based tourism business.
That history continues on the road south. Oldedalen runs inland between steep valley walls, waterfalls, lakes and glacial arms. At its end, Briksdalsbreen reaches down from the Jostedalsbreen ice cap into the Briksdal valley. The common walk begins near Briksdalsbre Fjellstove and is about three kilometres to the glacier area; Oldedalen Skyss also operates its characteristic “Troll cars” for part of the route, leaving a walk to continue toward the ice. Conditions around glaciers change, and the visible ice front has retreated over time, so visitors should follow current local advice, stay on marked paths and avoid treating an old photograph as a guide to today’s terrain. Other branches lead toward Melkevollbreen and Brenndalsbreen, while the valley itself is worth travelling slowly rather than using only as a corridor.
Olden’s economy now includes farming, accommodation, food and outdoor services, alongside the port and transport businesses that connect visitors with the landscape. The cruise season brings a large pulse of day visitors; a Norwegian Coastal Administration release placed Olden among the destinations receiving more than 200,000 cruise passengers in 2025. The scale helps explain why transport and public access matter. Stryn municipality’s planning work has considered safe movement around the terminal area, while local operators provide buses, guided trips and glacier transport. There are places to eat and stay in Olden, but opening hours and capacity vary with the season and ship calls. For a quieter visit, set aside time for the churches, the village centre and a walk beside the water, not only the glacier excursion.
Skyss lists line 111 between Stryn, Loen, Olden, Utvik and Byrkjelo, and line 115 between Stryn, Olden, Oldedalen and Briksdalen. The second line makes the glacier valley reachable without a private car when the service is running, but timetables can be seasonal and departures sparse. Check Skyss’s live planner and plan the return before heading inland. Olden works well as a base for a wider Nordfjord route: nearby Loen and Lodalen lie to the north, while Oldedalen leads to Briksdalen and onward mountain walks. The most satisfying itinerary leaves room for the village itself, whose working landscape and layered history explain why visitors have been travelling here for generations.
Use Statistics Norway’s settlement-population table for the dated village count and the Norwegian Coastal Administration’s 2025 cruise figures for the scale of port visits. Stryn municipality’s Olden centre plan and heritage plan document local land use and historic sites. For current access, consult Visit Nordfjord’s Olden guide, the Briksdalsbreen trail listing and Skyss timetables; confirm seasonal openings, road conditions and return connections before setting out.