Moritsgarden

I spent two months living one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. The place is perfect—right in the middle of the fjords, with good access to a supermarket and other services. The surroundings are incredible if you love the mountains. I climbed the mountains around the area and got lost in the pure Norwegian forests, which are literally five minutes from the coliving. There are many hiking routes for all levels, and no matter which direction you walk, the scenery is spectacular.

The coliving has every comfort in excellent condition. The kitchen, bathrooms, and rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the workspace has everything you might need. The staff is lovely and always attentive, and as long as you’re reasonable, you can pretty much do whatever you want within a logical order.

It’s a place I will always recommend to visit Norway and to work remotely—literally from paradise. I always carry the feeling inside me that one day I will return. This is a place you never forget and deeply miss when you go back home.

I have spent over 2 months in Bjorkedal across different years staying at the coliving hosted by a warm host and I have even brought family here. I can truly say she has become a friend of mine during my times there. There is nothing like it. There are many hikes accessible by walking, a cool lake to swim in, beautiful views from every window, and such lovely neighbors if you get the chance to meet them. During my times spent in the coliving, there was always a car accessible to share with others staying in the home for grocery runs and day trips. Either a host or another guest have also offered their kindness in bringing me to or from the ferry/airport when making my way into Norway.

My first time coming was in the beginning of the coliving and I assisted the host in preparing some of the rooms for new guests to come. Watching the coliving come back to life was magical.

My second time back, I got to see the community that it had become. The house rules are simple. There are none from the host; they are to be decided by who is living in the house amongst each other. Some may have complaints over this, but I think it's a beautiful way for community to form amongst those who are staying in the home.

I cannot wait to return to Bjorkedal and see how it has progressed.

If you are going to stay here, as others have said - keep an open mind. It is a 400-year-old farmhouse in a village of 100 or so people. It's old, it creaks, it has character. It's not for everyone, but it's an incredible place to visit if you're looking for something quiet, refreshing, and a slow life.

There are so many opportunities for adventure, a free car to use, a cabin nearby, places to swim, hike, and relax outdoors. There are adorable cows and sheep everywhere too!

I absolutely love this place and the people who offer it to be used! I would recommend it to anyone and again, I cannot wait to return! :)

Western Norway is one of the most affecting regions on earth, and I owe my immersion in that awesome landscape to a wonderful coliving space. The coliving is wonderfully affordable (a novelty in Norway), rustic, and charming. More importantly, it is built and managed to foster authentic connection and community among its guests, the highest calling of any coliving space; nearly eight months after leaving, I still communicate semi-regularly with friends from my stay, and I hope to see some of them again when I return.

You’ll notice how many disparate accounts are posting in reaction to a neurotic review by a roommate everyone (except, honestly, me) tried to understand and accept. I think that reviewer has a lonely, isolated life ahead of him. But I’m thankful his slanted negativity created an opportunity to rally and show affection for this coliving space. I see four of my roommates among these reviews and suspect I’ll see more shortly.

The coliving succeeds for its historic, rural ambiance. Unless you hate old country homes, you’ll be charmed by the living space. My room had a comfortable bed (I have back issues but slept wonderfully), an excellent desk and ergonomic chair, and big windows facing mountains where, after every rain, a half dozen waterfalls appeared. (I regularly sent waterfall videos to my family in the United States, expressing awe and good fortune at having stumbled across this webpage.) The common spaces were used frequently for group meals, movie nights, and long discussions. During weekday mealtimes there were sometimes too many cooks in the kitchen, but it took only a little strategy and negotiation to manage this. Meanwhile, the big refrigerators and two freezers meant everyone could stock up on food without difficulty, and the yard was filled with berry trees and mint bushes.

Finally, the car. Among the best and happiest moments in my recent life were driving the car provided so generously along winding mountain roads. Going for groceries in that little car was an opportunity to marvel at Norway’s stunning nature. Organizing trips to local spas or fjord-side saunas was as easy as sending a WhatsApp message. And when roommates wanted to see glaciers or cliffs covered in puffins, all they had to do was ask.

There is more to say: the wood-fired hot tub on the lake, the mountain cabin, the crystalline swimming spots, the hillside mists, the ferry rides up to Älesund… so many details that made this coliving one of the best decisions of my life, and a home away from home I will visit again.

I spent 5 incredible weeks at this coliving! The house has everything needed to feel comfortable and is always clean. I used the car provided for free several times to go grocery shopping and also to explore the surroundings with the other residents. The host is attentive, always ready to help, available, and incredibly kind.

This coliving is not just a house; it's a community that is created with its inhabitants!

I stayed at a coliving last summer and it was a wonderful experience. It is a lovely little village by the lake, surrounded by beautiful nature. It’s very peaceful, and you can enjoy amazing hikes in the area.

As in most rural parts of Norway, public transportation is basically non-existent, but there is pick-up and drop-off from the nearest town, which was highly appreciated. Additionally, there was a communal car we could use for grocery shopping and getting around, which made my stay much easier — I was truly grateful that this option was available, as it made everyday life there so much more comfortable and accessible.

There were also bikes and kayaks available free of charge — everything you need to make your stay as smooth as possible. The internet worked very well, so we could focus on our work during the day, and there was also a separate coworking office inside the house. We even had a projector, so sometimes we watched movies together in the evenings.

The staff are very friendly. They often brought us cookies and created a space where we could organize the coliving experience ourselves, allowing us to collectively shape our own routines and shared agreements so that everyone felt comfortable, rather than imposing strict rules from the start.

The house is quite old, but it has its charm and gives you a true rural Norwegian experience.

If you long for simplicity, kindness, and want to immerse yourself in beautiful nature, this is the perfect place for you.

I have stayed at the coliving not just once but two times, both during summer (and also when the person with the negative review was there).

This is a place for people who love being in or surrounded by nature, prefer quiet over noisy, calm over busy, and enjoy a small, but great community.

You'll be in a quiet village surrounded by gorgeous nature in the middle of Norway with plenty of things to do and areas to explore (from amazing beaches in the west to the deepest lake in Europe and the biggest glacier on mainland Europe, also several hiking trails start right in the backyard, and you don't even need a car to get there). There is no public transportation to Nordfjordeid or to the ferry at Folkestad (which brings you to Volda; from there you can take a bus to Ålesund - a day trip is possible). So if you're not here with your own car, you will (or should) be really grateful for being allowed to use the community car for free (you just chip in for gas) if you don't want to rent a car.

The house is old and with that comes certain downsides, yes, but it has so much charm and makes you truly feel at home. If something is missing, the caretaker is trying to provide it. This coliving has by far the best equipped kitchen of all the coliving spaces I've stayed at and allows you to properly cook and keep up with your usual diet. There's even a pizza oven outside and a hot plate to make crêpes, svele, dosa, etc. Plus, you can borrow the kayaks to paddle on the lake and some bikes to cycle to e.g., Folkestad or the little gym close by for free.

I don't recommend coming here if you expect the place to be hyper clean, if you are looking for a place to go partying or going out to restaurants on a regular basis, or if you prefer to have a lot of solitude (then you should at least not come in summer and come in off-season instead).

I do recommend coming here if you love Norway, if you want to go hiking and/or surround yourself with nature away from the hassle, want to provide your nervous system a place to calm down, want to escape the heat of summer, want to stay active and/or slow down, want to surround yourself with nice people in a small community, and be somewhere that actually feels like a home away from home.

This is one of those places you could call your home away from home. If I didn't come from the other side of the world, I would visit every year.

Is it an old home? Yes! 400 years old in fact, and that is what makes it so special with so much history. It has been a family home that has been kindly opened up to the coliving community to get a real culture experience of life in Norway.

The weather may not be bikini weather, but every time the sun poked through the clouds, I ran across the road to the lake for a quick (and freezing) dip. It was incredible being surrounded by mountains and getting to share that with a small group of other digital nomads.

I wouldn't recommend this place for those who want to party, enjoy being in a bustling city, or want a 5-star coliving... it is for those who enjoy the simpler things, want to slow down, enjoy nature, and experience something a little different whilst in Norway.

I would like to address the one-star review that's been posted by "John" (I unfortunately can't directly reply to it). I want to stand up for Anne and the coliving as I think this review is extremely harsh and really doesn’t paint a fair picture.

I have stayed in the coliving last September, and the person who I assume this review is from (it seems written under a pseudo name) was there too - someone who was quite critical and negative in general.

Yes, there is some truth to the review; I won’t deny that. The house is pretty old and not super well maintained; that's something that could definitely be improved. It's a bit messy, not brand spankin' clean. If you expect a fancy coliving place with a cleaner twice a week, this is not the place for you.

However, it's extremely cosy and homey. The old farmhouse really has its charm and makes you feel like a local living there. It's well equipped and well heated. It's a unique opportunity to stay in a remote little village in Norway. The surrounding area is just breathtaking. Anne was maybe not super involved (she seems to have a lot of projects running and I think her rationale is that the coliving is its own self-managing community), but she was very kind and generous and let us use the hot tub outside, the kayaks, the bikes, and the car for free. We were even allowed to use her cabin up in the mountains. I had a truly incredible time.

In my eyes, the coliving is really a hidden gem. Expect to find peace here.

is more than a coliving place. I lived there for a month in August, and it transformed my perspective on life in so many ways. Work doesn’t have to be stressful when there’s a window overlooking the lake right next to your desk. Exercise doesn’t have to be hard when the hiking trail starts at your back door, with the inviting smell of wood and moss all around.

The management has managed the place beautifully, providing enough convenience we need—office desks and chairs, a community car, boats, and even a jacuzzi by the lake—while still leaving space for us to interact with others to get things done.

I particularly love the community in the coliving. There are no big parties and no obligation to join community events, yet we wanted to participate because we truly felt part of something created by us, supporting us, and reflective of who we are. It was a truly unforgettable and healing experience.

I highly recommend this coliving to anyone who loves nature and people. Welcome to join us ;)

I spent a month at a coliving in Norway, and it was exactly what I needed. The location in the west of Norway is beautiful, with plenty of attractions to visit. I had the chance to explore the area on my motorcycle every day, which was amazing.

The atmosphere at the coliving was calm and peaceful, and I felt relaxed and happy throughout my stay. It was the perfect balance of work and personal time, allowing me to enjoy both nature and the quiet environment. Highly recommend if you're looking for a place to unwind and explore Norway.