Vangsvatnet is the long, deep lake that gives Voss its setting — the town strung along its northeastern shore, mountains rising sharply on both sides. From the water the place looks more dramatic than from the streets, and a stroll along the lakefront promenade in front of the Fleischer's Hotel is the easiest way to take the town in.
In summer the lake fills with sailing dinghies, paddleboards, and the occasional wakeboarder. A round-the-lake walk takes about four hours at a brisk pace. In winter it freezes hard enough that locals drive cars onto the ice, and there is usually a marked skating loop near the town beach. The water is glacial cold year-round; swim only if you mean it.