Sæbø

Now the fjord opens up towards Sæbø, the largest village in Hjørundfjorden and a natural hub for trade, education, daily life, and transportation. Here, fjord and mountains meet at their most magnificent, with Skårasalen, Saksa, and Slogen forming a dramatic backdrop. For hundreds of years, Sæbø has been the center of the fjord communities. It was once a trading post, mail stop, and steamship dock, and even today, it still has a grocery store, school, gas station, and ferry terminal. Ferries run to Urke and Lekneset, and Sæbø remains a vital link between the many villages around the fjord. In summer, the place fills with boat tourists, mountain hikers, and travelers passing through. But for the locals, it's everyday life that matters—schoolchildren at the dock, cows grazing on the slopes, fishermen hauling traps and nets, and community gatherings at the village hall. Along the shoreline, there’s a small swimming beach and several places to stay, and you can rent both boats and bicycles. Many use Sæbø as a base for mountain hikes—with marked trails leading straight from the village to some of the Sunnmøre Alps' most stunning peaks.