The Viking Village Njardarheim opened in 2017 on a site where a Viking market had been held every summer since the 1990s. The name means "the home dedicated to the Norse god Njord" - Nærøyfjord itself is named after this god of trading and sailing.
The village was built by local enthusiasts using only materials found in the surrounding valley, just as Vikings would have done a thousand years ago. The buildings cover over 1,500 square metres. All the carvings are based on Viking Age finds, the ironwork is handmade by a blacksmith, and the paint is authentic - including ox blood.
What makes Njardarheim different from other Viking attractions is that the people working here are not actors in costumes doing a shift. They are reenactors who have adopted the Viking lifestyle. They know their history and take it seriously. If they need to use a mobile phone, they have to change into modern clothes and leave the village.
If you are not interacting with the Vikings, you will have a poor experience because nothing is written next to the houses, and it will be highly confusing. Not ideal if you are highly introverted.
The ticket includes a 45-minute guided tour in English which runs every hour during summer season. You can also try axe throwing and archery, watch craft demonstrations, and eat Viking food prepared from traditional recipes - things like soup with bread, sausage, and cabbage salad.
The village is open year-round but with reduced hours in winter. Summer season runs from April to October, 10:00-18:00 daily. Winter season is 10:30-14:00 with shorter tours.
Some reviews mention that the entrance fee feels high, especially in the off-season when there's less activity. But the quality of the guides and the attention to historical detail generally get good feedback. It's a genuine attempt at living history rather than a theme park.
To get there from the ferry terminal, walk over the bridge and past the petrol station.