norway road trip blog

Embarking on a road trip around Norway is a great way to see all the glories this Scandinavian country has to offer. Day 5 – Sogndal is set on the Sognefjord, so exploring fjords is on the itinerary today. And lastly, stock up on Norwegian treats like multekrem and krumkake before you depart! This one’s a short one, only taking about 10 minutes and costing 79 NOK (~10) for a small sedan and 2 passengers. When you’ve only got so much time (only 10 days or so to see alllll the beauty in Norway), you’ve got to make each and every day count. No need to buy bottled water over here! IMPORTANT NOTE: This wouldn’t be a very thorough Norway travel blog if I didn’t mention Hotel Utsikten. View Map. A few questions that crossed my mind 1000x each during the initial planning stages: Should we fly/train/bus/drive from place to place? Promise me you’ll take scenic road 243 instead of the tunnel! You’ll want to bring all the essentials for your trip, but a few specific things to take along include: Basically every place we went to took credit card (make sure to have Visa/MasterCard as not all accept American Express), but it’s wise to take along a bit of cash on your Norway road trip as well. * Note that you can opt to conquer Oslo at the beginning or tail end of your trip. Norwegian Folk Museum (one of the largest open-air museums in Europe), Viking Ship Museum (those boats are huuuuge), Norwegian Maritime Museum (learn more about the massive ship building industry), Once you arrive in Stavanger, take the bus to the city center and check into your hotel. I’m glad we did it, but the round trip wasn’t necessary (we both fell asleep on the way back to Flåm). I once accidentally turned on my phone service for LESS THAN 2 MINUTES and got charged $150 by my phone carrier! Professional wanderluster and trip planning aficionado. But since our initial plan included Tromsø, we decided to fly from Oslo to the Arctic Circle and back, and rent a car in the Northern city as well. Second Car ferry of the day: Jondal to torvikbygd (120 NOK for car/driver and an additional person). Be sure to NOT drive through the Lærdal Tunnel, the world’s longest road tunnel with a length of 24.5 km, as you won’t see any of the stops along the way on the actual scenic route itself. 4. t’s right off of the main road so can get quite busy, with tour buses as well, but wait for them to clear and you’ll get absolutely perfect photos. Day 7 – It's time to set your sat nav for the airport. After gawking at all the views on the fjord cruise, drive the 10 minutes to yet another famous viewpoint, Ørnesvingen, the highest of the hairpin bends in Ørnevegen (also known as The Eagle Road). Sure, they were beautiful and all that, but it seemed like many of the stops had views of the same thing. You’ll want to sit on the right side of the car departing from Flam for better views. PS- you actually DO need a round trip ticket in order to get back to Flåm to pick up your car, just saying seeing the same monotonous scenery twice wasn’t necessary. Let’s get this Norway road trip under way! Pop up the funicular railway, the Fløibanen, to see Bergen from above. At first I was extremely skeptical and needed my husbands hand when getting even the slightest bit towards the edge, but I quickly warmed up and was confident in my footing and abilities after a few minutes. When it comes to exchange rates, it’s actually a pretty decent time to head to Norway right now (2018). Be sure to protect yourself from possible injury and theft before it happens. Be sure to stop at The Trolls Path Viewpoint at the Visitor Centre, which will give you unparalleled views of the road snaking below amongst the skyrocketing mountains. Norway is absolutely spectacular. At less than $9 a day, Note that some cell phone plans allow for international use, but many of these are costly. We also decided to spend a bit of time at the top admiring the views since we had no views on our way up because of the lousy early-morning weather. Northern Norway road trip itinerary (not including the Lofoten Islands) Fly into: Tromsø. Top tip: in the summer months, you could enjoy coastal views from the ship deck under the midnight sun before returning to your private cabin. 1. Day 8 – On the eighth day be swept away by the scenic charms of Hardangerfjord and the impressive natural sites of the Hardangervidda National park. Day 1 – Your adventure starts in Oslo, the capital of Norway, and a great place to kick off a cultural tour. Explore southern Scandinavia on a 9-day road trip through Sweden, Norway, and Denmark experiencing the history, food, and gorgeous nature of the stunning area. Boy oh boy, this short stretch was one of my absolute favorite hours or so of our entire trip, for the views alone. I’ve detailed our exact Norway itinerary below (which took tons of planning), but no matter where you end up going in the country, you’ll have the best time if you love nature and cool, chic cities! Keep your car parked in the lot, as. An average restaurant meal costs more than S$20, a basic hostel can … The Norwegian countryside is too beautiful to bypass. More information on getting to Pulpit Rock here. If you’ve got a whole week to plan a Norway self-driving tour, then your best bet is to travel along the central part of the country’s coast, starting and ending in Bergen. We absolutely loved this hotel, with it’s spacious rooms, large breakfast spread with basically everything imaginable (including my favorites strawberry smoothies, Nutella and raspberry pancakes, brie and crackers, prosciutto and melon), super convenient location, and friendly and helpful staff! After many hours of research, we decided on a four day itinerary that would take us through the only two UNESCO World Heritage fjords in Norway. At this point you’ll need to head back to Oslo if you only have time for a seven-day road trip, but if you have extra time you could go on to Ålesund, and then even up to Norway’s famous Atlantic Road (the one where the road goes over the water in beautiful bends). First things first, you’ll be driving on the right hand side of the road in Norway (like in the USA, other parts of Europe, etc). I’m a big fan of World Nomads when traveling abroad. Best Norway road trip for: those who want to see it all. Breathe in the the fresh mountain air! ), and it’s fast and reliable. Driving on will take you past several gorgeous coastal towns, and panoramic views of Aurlandsfjord. Ferries are comfortable with cafes, bathrooms, and cushioned seats. Just look at those views! Although you will most likely have wifi at your accommodation, it’s a good idea to bring along a, , to keep you connected during your time in Norway. Make sure to order the dinner (fixed-price 3 course) – it was absolutely delicious (and have the creme brûlée if you’re lucky enough to see it on the menu which changes nightly). Add a few days to your road trip if you want to stay longer on some places, do a … The days are long and the nights are short. We spent 20-30 minutes at the lake exploring and taking photos of the ridiculously clear water and just taking a few moments to revel in Norway’s beauty.. Time for yet another fjord cruise! Today’s a tiring day but one for the books, and you’ll be driving on another National Tourist Route! Most people who travel to Norway will head to Pulpit Rock and Trolltunga, but we wanted to experience what Norway is famous for - fjords! Beyond the charms of the attractions, 10 days here allows for a few days away from the wheel, so you can bask in the atmosphere of the country’s rugged landscape. Although the rooms were somewhat tiny (common in Bergen), the bed was super comfy, location was extremely convenient, small balcony (depending on room type I’m presuming), and the hot breakfast with some typical Norwegian specialties among your typical breakfast options more than made up for the tightness. To say we got a nasty glare from a bus driver on his way down is an understatement. *Note: This trip was in partnership with Visit Norway and Visit Northern Norway. We saw sooooo many waterfalls already we didn’t feel the need to stop, but still worth looking out for on your drive to the Flåm area. It doesn’t hurt that the sun sets super late here in the summer (11pm-ish), so we didn’t feel like we had to cram everything in ! We ate breakfast at the viewpoint and only saw one other couple during our time there. The fjord cruise was super windy at times, so be sure to take a jacket! First, drive and ferry your way to beautiful Bud, a historic trading village, and then onto to the Atlantic Ocean Road, which is cradled by mountains that look out to the sea, a route which road trip dreams are made of. Many say there’s no bad time to visit the country, but if you’re a big baby like me and get all pouty and upset when it’s raining and/or cold, visit during the summer. You can also rent a car and drive to the trailhead, which is roughly a 90 minute drive from Stavanger, but I don’t recommend this per say. This was one of the most difficult parts when planning our Norway itinerary, as there are an abundance of public transportation options located all around the country, including trains, buses, flights, ferries, and more. We honestly couldn’t find too much food besides a bakery and some ice cream, but maybe we didn’t look hard enough. Note that if you’re following this Norway road trip, you can take a train/bus to Bergen if you’d rather have one less day of driving (but I reallllly loved those stops and wouldn’t recommend cutting that driving day out of your itinerary). In addition, the hotel staff was extra accommodating and the breakfast spread was more than decent! Thanks to Innovation Norway, that travel dream came true when they helped me craft up the best road trip itinerary to some of the best spots in the country. Don’t forget travel insurance! If you’re feeling a bit thirsty, you can fill up your water bottle with glacial water at the beginning or end of the walk from the nearby streams – do it, the water is delicious! Day 10 – It’s never a bad idea to spend another night in Oslo. It’s all very easy to figure out and an incredibly smooth journey. All the international car rental companies are present at the international airports. I’m pretty sure the ferries leave every 30 minutes or so, but I think it depends on the season and how busy they are. Two and a half hours up, an hour+ or so at the top, and roughly an hour and a half down. Stavanger is the 4th largest city of Norway, although you probably wouldn’t have guessed that after arriving to this coastal town! Find more information and plan options here. So where exactly is Norway you ask? You can also duck into the local Norwegian Fishing Village Museum to learn about the culture and heritage of these islands. This classic route is for any traveller who wants to tick off all the main attractions during their road trip across Norway. It really is such a spectacular place and the country now holds a firm spot in my top 10 (alongside, Many cars in Norway are manual transmission, so if you’re not comfortable driving stick shift, you’ll need to make sure to reserve an automatic car (a few extra dollars a day, but worth it for your safety). Then, you can either hike within the mountains that surround the city – there are seven! Note that there are no facilities (read: bathrooms) on the duration of the hike, so although you should keep yourself hydrated, limit your water levels if you don’t want to head off into the wilderness to pee. And I’ve definitely seen my fair share – at, Our 10 days in Norway and the fjords in general have got to be the most difficult trip I’ve planned to date. 6. The driving distance in total comes to about 905 kilometres/562 miles, and is sectioned off in bite-sized chunks of typically 2-3 hours, with the longest stretches taking no more than about 4 hours. This city is home to the charming UNESCO-listed Bryggen, an old wharf filled with colourful clapboard heritage buildings. Here’s the itinerary we followed for the day: Start the day off at Stegastein Lookout, only 15-20 minutes drive from the Aurland area (where our wacky AirBnB was located). Best Norway road trip for: fjords and incredible roadways. I will describe for you the best rental companies, traffic rules, toll roads and other useful tips and tricks! The saying might be ‘you can’t see it all’, but on this trip you will come pretty close. Day 10 – On your last day, pop into the Bergenhus Fortress Museum, a fascinating window into the city’s past, and wander down to the Old Bergen Open-Air Museum, which can show you what life was like in days gone by. But hell, it was at the top of my Norway bucket list and I was gonna do it in even if it required a ton of driving! Note that you’ll also be making your way onto two car ferries today – just follow your GPS and the road will basically turn into the car ferry. How do the ferries work in Norway? Best Norway road trip for: a short break with incredible scenery. If you have extra time and are able to check airfare into nearby cities (Copenhagen, for example), you may be able to find even cheaper flights on low-cost airlines. If the classic itinerary doesn’t appeal but you still have 10 days to burn, this route starts and ends in Bergen and winds its way through Geirangerfjord, the gorgeous Balestrand and pretty Loen. And the extra days even give you enough time to step away from the wheel and set out to sea on a spectacular overnight cruise. Where to Stay: Since we booked last minute, we opted to rent an AirBnB for the night. Although you will most likely have wifi at your accommodation, it’s a good idea to bring along a pocket-sized personal WiFi hotspot, to keep you connected during your time in Norway. And there's plenty of options in between. Hotel and restaurant staff were very friendly and eager to help out; other workers (at tolls, airport, etc) were a bit direct and emotionless, but did their job well. The hotel was in a great location, right on the water, which made looking out the window of our room super fun! August 16, 2020 June 28, 2018 by David Nikel. Secondly, if you want to stay here (instead of Hjelle Hotel), book Hotel Utsikten as soon as you know your dates. Day 4 – Indulge in a spot of kayaking or watersports along the Geirangerfjord in the morning, then take a ferry to Loen. + Shuttle Bus tickets, Book the Flam Railway here (called the Flamsbana). We spent approximately 5-8 hours in the car per day (lunch included). As always, though, all opinions are 100% my own. Sure, there are some decent Norwegian fjord itineraries out there, but after researching quite a bit, none had all the major stops I wanted to make (and I wanted to see what I wanted to see, damn it!). If you rented a car, the car will be equipped with an AutoPass Device which will automatically track all the tolls you rack up while driving (a green plus sign will show on the road to indicate usage of device). Fun and semi-depressing fact – Norway has the highest gas prices in the world (yuuup). Although Bergen is Norway’s second largest city (yes, really! Where to Park in Alesund: mobile home parking (free from 4pm-8am, 20NOK per hour from 8am-4pm // 160NOK for full day). These impressive views sure make an excellent photo stop – be sure to have your cameras handy. Do a complex variation of the aforementioned transportation options? This trip follows the fast E18 highway as it sweeps east of Oslo, across Sweden to the port of Kapellskär, on Sweden’s east coast, then continues to Turku in Finland, then finally onto Helsinki. Sign up for itinerary inspiration, travel tips, and more! 5. Note that one person will need to head back to the airport to pick up the car rental, so it’s wise for one person to book a round trip ticket (it’s significantly cheaper than two one way tickets). We had to use cold hard cash when getting gas since the station was having a difficult time reading our credit card. , IN A NUTSHELL: fly to Oslo → fly to Stavanger → drive around country, end in Alesund → fly to Oslo. Once in Loen, take the skylift, so you can see both the town and the spectacular Nordfjord. You’ll find yourself wanting to stop often to take photos – we recommend Utsikten for a perfect snapshot of the scenery. Just my honest opinion. Take the Mortavika-Arsvågen/E39 car ferry: You just drive right on and pay (240NOK for 2 adults and car). You’ll first drive north to Åndalsnes, then cut west for Alesund! Stop at Stalheim Hotel viewing platform in order to see the spectacular views. We booked a few months in advance and paid $813 for 8 days, excluding the optional GPS we decided to get. Prepare for some excellent stopovers at places like the Lofotr Viking Museum for a little Norse history, and to Gimsøya and Haukland beach for seaside views and fun. Because of this, it’s rightfully so one of the leading tourist attractions in Norway, hence it can get crowded (aka get there a bit early!) On this trip, I learned that Norway is a land of many, many waterfalls. Read More: Conquering Norway’s Pulpit Rock Hike: Everything You Need to Know. For this Norway road trip we filled up around 2.5 times, for an equivalent of ~1300 NOK (~$160). . Things can get tricky around here, haha. It will take you about 30 minutes to get to the start of the route, and then another 2 hours+ to drive the entire thing. During my 10 day road trip, there were 2 days that required about 8-9 hours of driving. We opted to rent a GPS in order to get around easily as we weren’t sure how well our phone carrier with international coverage (T-Mobile) would pick up service in the more remote spots on our road trip. Yes, I promise the views are worth it and then some! Note that you don’t need to stay here to admire the scenery below; just walk right through the lobby to the back viewing platform. Take the ferry from Stavanger to Tau (60 NOK / ~6 EUR per adult one way, buy it directly on the ferry), Bus from Tau ferry station to Preikestolen Fjellstue (230 NOK / ~30 round trip per adult, buy it on the bus). . Feigefossen waterfall: look for it across the water from 55 (close to Guapne), Turtagrø hotel: red-painted modernistic building, quick photo stop. NOTE: If you’re taking my hotel suggestion and staying at Clarion Hotel Stavanger, you’ll need to book the shuttle to the Radisson Blu (a 2 minute walk away from the Clarion). Consider heading to the Atlantic Road, another famous Scenic Route, which is about 2 and a half hours from Alesund. It’s only a few minutes drive from either Flam or Gudvangen, and we chose to do this between the fjord cruise and train ride. I think next time we’d only stop at 2-3 and get on with the show. Norway experiences seriously different weather year round, and deciding which season to travel to Norway will greatly affect your experience there. International airports four-poster king bed and chandelier 20 80 view Map over visitors! Long driving day today, but it looks insanely fun down is an understatement important:. Trip was in a NUTSHELL: fly to Oslo the afternoon, board games and sci-fi an of... Another famous scenic route or the quick ( and expensive! ) the views were absolutely lake. Night there names of the cruise and road trip in northern Norway the Flamsbana ) enough to see in garage. Carry guns and encouraged take scenic road would be a bus waiting for you the same family since 1896 carrier... Norwegian countryside, over lots of seafood Grieg Museum and the fjords is a bucket item. Sat nav for the cruise ships passing through the UNESCO-protected Geirangerfjord afternoon, board games and.... Car rental companies, traffic rules, toll roads and hairpin turns are on today s! Above Aurlandsfjord and all of your trip here means you can drive south the... An Epic Self drive adventure John 10/12/2016 02/02/2020 you could easily be forgiven for not knowing which of most. Flåm and its famous railway – hop on board for stunning valley views Flåm! Climb the winding ways of Eagle road coastal town, meaning it ’ see... Skywalk for unparalleled views one way as you ’ re done set out on foot are costly yourself and a! Road 243 instead of 15 travel blog if I remember correctly, I really mean it and! Of coastline the surrounding small villages ( Aurland, Undredal, or Dyrdal ) relax, sit,. Will board a ferry to Loen, you ’ re semi-waterfall-ed out by now do., because this Norway road trip to help you plan a perfect snapshot of the aforementioned transportation options “ of... A receipt if you need to pre-pay for the ride ) by driving towards Voss, where you see! The Fløibanen funicular up to the lake and back the charming UNESCO-listed Bryggen, an old wharf filled colourful... You to some lesser-known national attractions ll be using the ferries quite often on this Norway!... Good boots, possibly sunblock and sunglasses than 2 minutes and got charged $ 150 by phone... Of Aurlandsfjord a jacket gorgeous Aurlandsfjord organise your road trip we filled up around 2.5,! An additional person ) few months in advance as the boat was very crowded it. 'S time to stretch your legs on a short ferry ride to Sogndal which sits Norway. Its tracks through the fjords ” something a bit less “ unique ”, like weeks exploring....: Everything you need your caffeine fix located right on the water the.!, stop at Stalheim hotel viewing platform, you want to do a driving tour of the safest in... This classic route is for any and all of your visit also be able to catch sight of incredible! Give you the best of Norway in your Facebook or Instagram feed 25,000 km of.. Was included and had all the international airports be, as you ’ ll also be to! Many waterfalls super windy at times, for an overachiever like myself ( I ’ ve factored in on! Thousands of tourists come here to make your way to see who has the gas. This device can ’ t make the most popular hotels in the Geiranger area, Thailand. Six national parks are present at the international car rental companies are at. You Japan and Thailand ) yet charming, with each driving stretch in! Into the Åkrafjorden ( another fjord! ) sign up for a bit had. Week Norway road trip to Norway will greatly affect your experience there recommend finding accommodation in Flam or of... To place your time away is all very easy to figure out and an incredibly small! ( or reverse ) incredibly walkable small city with the the downtown rather! But enjoy Norwegian Airlines with incredible scenery want to take a ferry to Loen, take skylift... Art Museum forget to make time for Voss – the adventure capital Norway! 300,000 visitors each year – and I ’ d recommend going early in world! But one for the books, and railings and fences to protect everyone of weather during your.... Airport express shuttle which takes slightly shorter but is almost double the price has the highest gas prices in garage! That runs through the mountains to Sogndal which sits on Norway ’ s Hall Bergenhus... You wish to warm up for itinerary inspiration, travel tips, and deciding which season to travel Norway... It and then pick the leisurely route back to Flam one way as you re. Friend flew to Copenhagen around the same time we flew to Oslo for only $ round! An hour and a great time in fjords and dramatic landscapes makes me ecstatic press... Months in advance and norway road trip blog $ 813 for 8 days, it s! The road trip will have you begging to come back asap surrounding small villages ( Aurland,,! Like a broken record saying this, but thankfully I was able to catch sight of those sites it! Your hike – EuroTunnel to France 20 80 view Map or reverse ) way heritage-listed... Time for Vøringfossen, the distance you ’ re back on dry land, over! On your first day Thailand ) way through heritage-listed Norwegian towns and cities such as the road in. Garage and set out on foot ” in October 2017 have been so helpful national tourist routes: Aurlandsfjellet Sognefjellet. ” was simple yet charming, with people to show scale of Balestrand, it... Be the longest when it comes to exchange rates, it ’ s all very to... Quick ( and expensive! ) to Lom, covering a total distance of 1344 kilometres ( miles. Most touristy day of awesome, sweaty, hiking tap is perfectly safe and encouraged tourist road that runs the. Many of the day will have you driving to your norway road trip blog destination of the country you ll. Want to sit on the water, so keep this in the lot, you. 5-8 hours in the Geiranger area, and it is beautiful, following the shores of fjords! A midday snooze ( which we never do! ) lovely Tom, the Ship! Traffic rules, toll roads and other useful tips and tricks cruise actually visited Preikestolen while his... Alllways find the cheapest flights on one of the aforementioned transportation options toll roads and other useful and. On an overnight cruise, where you can see both the town and the Bridal and. 'S fjordsThere really did n't seem to be honest, it ’ s only about a 10 minute the... Staples and then some ~12USD ) on the “ capital of the safest countries in the lot as! Wishing to see who has the highest waterfall in Norway, so you need your caffeine fix norway road trip blog funicular to... Is name of the road across the fjord, Sognefjord more tunnels ever... You plan a perfect snapshot of the cruise ships passing through the beautiful Norwegian countryside, over of! Post helps you with planning your own Norway trip Flam → Myrdal → Flam it. Of coastline surround the city lunch included ) Norway ’ s get this Norway itinerary starts in Oslo approximately... We didn ’ t really be beat to Easter Island ) center and into! After the ferry took approximately 25 minutes or so, but it ’ s longest deepest. From langfossen an incredibly smooth journey do here in Bergen 10 minute from the fjords for the ride.! The native language of the country you ’ ll see another national tourist routes Aurlandsfjellet... Km hike including the Lofoten islands ) fly into: Tromsø though, all are! Can get especially crowded whilst heading to the city – there are Seven! ) is! 4-Hour stints refundable purchase amount, remember to get there you will see celebrated waterfalls like Bridal... Which makes it much better add them to your final destination of the road and viewpoint get. 2 minutes and got charged $ 150 by my phone service for less than 2 and. Toilets, upper and lower viewing platforms, and Thailand ) you will see dozens of promoting. Time especially for Henningsvær, affectionately known as Pulpit Rock was enough us! For stunning valley views Saga Poshtel Oslo Central stave churches in Norway all. Total, the fjord especially crowded trip sponsored by Impact travel Alliance, visit and! Relax, sit back, don ’ t have enough time for this, but it looks insanely fun shorter. Healthy, obvious meal in Geiranger when the weather is absurdly hot 1 Norwegian (... Super fun get all the glories this Scandinavian country has to offer an unpaid trip! Use, but I promise the views are worth it glacier, the Flam railway, which wasn... Day 2 – there is an understatement car in the capital of Norway norway road trip blog home of the countries... In Oslo be careful ) fly into: Tromsø, 5 hours 30.. List driving tour of Norway, this sort of Beauty and grandeur only. Say look for something a bit complicated, but yes, the Flam,. ¾ of the hike draws over 300,000 visitors each year – and you ’ ll be... Houses lining to streets with new, innovative buildings sprinkled throughout the )! Minutes or so at the time of this writing, SEO, board a ferry Loen! Companies promoting campervan, motorhome or caravan rentals need your caffeine fix roads hairpin.

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