Kviknes Hotel was constructed amid the intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated Europe in the 18th century.

As the first Fjord Hotel in Norway, Kviknes Hotel dates back to 1752. The Kvikne family, who still own the hotel today, took over in 1877. Built with the classic Swiss-inspired architecture, Ole Kvigne purchased the Holmen guesthouse in 1877. He gradually and expanded it into the Kviknes Hotel. Together with his wife, Kari, and brother, Knut, he renovated the former guesthouse in 1880, 1884 and again in 1885.

By the early 1890s, the constant flow of visitors from England and Germany caused Ole Kvigne to expand the building even further. German born architect and painter Franz W. Schiertz subsequently redesigned the entire hotel, which was ready to debut in 1890. German born architect and painter Franz W. Schiertz designed the new hotel, which stood ready in 1890. In 1894, an additional building was erected adjacent to the previous main house, which remains as the most historic part of the hotel today. Replacing the main house in 1913, another Swiss-style building joined the 1894-era building to feature a final room total of 200 beds.

Ole Kvikne's son Sigurd took over the hotel’s management in 1916. Despite the First World War and the Great Depression, business grew steadily. When Sigurd suddenly died in 1935, his wife Marta took over and the hotel's reputation continued to grow. After the Second World War, interest in the hotel was as strong as ever. Its guestbook soon featured the name of many prominent dignitaries, including the Emperor of Japan and former British Prime Minister Clement Atlee.

By the mid-1950s, Per Kvikne joined his mother in managing the hotel. This led to another expansion of the Kviknes Hotel to feature a total of 400 beds. When Per Kvikne died in 1991, his wife Mulla completely took over management. She still actively oversees the operations of the Kviknes Hotel today. While several generations have controlled the hotel over the years, the quality of the hospitality has never changed. As such, the Kviknes Hotel is among the best places to vacation in all of Norway.