Romsdalsgondolen, Aerial tramway in Åndalsnes, Norway
Romsdalsgondolen is an aerial tramway in Åndalsnes, western Norway, connecting the town center to the summit of Nesaksla mountain at 708 meters (about 2,320 feet). The ride takes roughly seven minutes and crosses a steep slope directly above the Romsdalsfjord.
The idea of building a gondola to Nesaksla was first proposed in 1964, but two separate attempts over the following decades came to nothing. After years of debate and a narrow vote by the local council, the gondola was finally built and opened in May 2021.
The gondola station sits just above the center of Åndalsnes, making the ride feel like a natural extension of the town rather than a distant attraction. At the top, the restaurant serves food made with local ingredients, and many visitors linger there to take in the view of the valley below.
The gondola runs year-round, so a visit is possible in any season, though clear days offer the best views of the surrounding peaks and valley. Hikers who want to walk the Romsdalseggen ridge can use the gondola for either the ascent or the descent, as the trail down is steep in places.
Because there is no road to the top of Nesaksla, all construction materials for the gondola had to be flown up by helicopter. A narrow tunnel was also drilled from the fjord to bring water, electricity, and sewage connections to the summit station.
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