Balestrand (locally called Holmen) is a village in Sogndal Municipality in Vestland county, Norway.

The village is located on the northern shore of the Sognefjorden, at the mouth of the small Esefjorden.

The small village of Tjugum lies less than 700 metres (2,300 ft) north of Balestrand, across the Esefjorden.

The local Tjugum Church is located there, serving the people of the village of Balestrand.

[3] The compounded name Balestrand was created by the Norwegian writer Henrik Wergeland as he traveled in Sogn in 1832 and wrote the poem "Framnæs-Balestrand".