Etne is a municipality in Hordaland, which is now Vestland County in Norway. It is located farthest south-east in the county, and with European Route 134 running through it, it serves as a mighty mountainous gateway into the higher inlands. Its prime characteristics are the fjords leading into the open water of the Sunnhordland region, the sharp towering mountains all around wherever one may stand in the municipality, and perhaps most of all: The 32km (19,8m) long Åkrafjorden cutting deep into the village of Fjæra. From there it goes upward toward Haukeli and Telemark county, as well as to the town of Odda on the other side.

Understand

The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Etnesjøen. It stands on a large flat area with the Etne river running out into the fjord. Among other villages are Skånevik, formerly its own municipality until merging with Etne in 1965. From there one can ride a ferry to Kvinnherad, or a passenger boat to multiple other towns in the region. The rest are very minor and rural areas that one can see along the roads and fjords.

Get in

By bus: Some local routes go by or through Etne. Kolumbus has route 260 from Haugesund, and Skyss has 640 from Odda, going through Etne to neighbouring village Ølen. Otherwise the national bus NW180 "Haukeliekspressen" can be taken from Haugesund, Bergen or Oslo, running basically E134 front to back.

By boat: Skånevik has ferry connections to Utåker and Matre (both in Kvinnherad municipality). There is also a high-speed craft going from Leirvik.

Get around

By bus: Skyss, the bus operator for former county Hordaland has routes 640 - 644 going in and around Etne to various villages within there.

See

• 1 Langfoss Waterfall (Langfossen) (On route E134, 5 km southwest of the village of Fjæra.). The fifth highest waterfall in Norway: water falls down a towering mountain about 612 metres (2,008 ft) before the water leaps into Åkrafjorden at the base of the mountain. Road E134 runs on a bridge across the waterfall. The site has a picnic area and toilets. Ranked by CNN as one of the 10 most beautiful waterfalls in the world. free. (updated Jul 2016)

Do

• Mountain hiking: DNT (Den Norske Turistforening / The Norwegian Hiking Association) has a well established networks of trails and cabins running the mountains between Ølen, Etne, Røldal and Sauda.

Buy

1. Etne Senter. Shopping mall in the main village Etnesjøen.
2. Åkrafjordtunet. A shopping- and cultural center in the village of Markhus. Rich with local food and products, there is both a grocery store and a cafe.

Sleep

• 1 Rullestad Aktiv Fritid, ☏ +47 53 51 83 22. 
• 2 Skånevik Fjordhotel, 5593 Skånevik, ☏ +47 53 77 07 00. 
• Fugl Fønix Hotel, Torget 1, 5590 Etne, Norway, ☏ + 47 53 77 14 40, booking@fuglfonix.no. (updated Aug 2024)

Go next

East: Ullensvang

North: Rosendal

West: Haugesund