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The Ultimate Norway Travel Guide: What to See + Insider Tips for Your Trip

Planning a trip to Norway? You’ll love it. From the best time to visit to unmissable places to see and insider tips – here’s your step-by-step Norway travel guide.

It’s probably a bit unfair to outrightly declare a country the most beautiful in the world, but Norway would certainly be a top contender. Its otherworldly landscapes of deep fjords, rugged coastline, majestic glaciers and jagged mountain ridges make for a stunning adventure .

Throw in the picturesque fisherman huts and the colourful Northern Lights that dance around the skies and you have one hell of a country to explore. 

It’s certainly not cheap and, in summer, its popularity makes for some serious crowds around the main areas in the south, but there is still so much of the country that will invoke a sense of true remoteness and of reaching the far corners of this planet.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime sort of trip. 

PS: Planning your trip to Norway? Watch this video packed with tips!

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How to plan a trip to norway: before you go, best time to visit .

High season in Norway is during summer between June and August, when domestic tourists tend to take holidays along with most other Europeans.

During this time, the days are long and it’s ideal for hiking, cycling and cruising, although there’s no guarantee of much warmth. Accommodation and transport like trains are especially busy in summer and it’s hard to secure places and tickets on short notice.

The best time to visit Norway is in the shoulder season, particularly the months either side of summer. May and September offer mild temperatures but far fewer crowds than in summer. 

Although winter is traditionally considered low season, because of the bitterly cold weather, it’s not technically a terrible time to visit. If you dress properly and come prepared for the cold then Norway is a true winter wonderland. For cross country skiing and other winter sports, this is the best time to visit Norway.  

The Northern Lights, one of the country’s biggest drawcards, dances around the sky from September onwards and tends to peak over winter between December and February. Want in on the action? Check out my guide to stunning Northern Lights Hotels in Norway .

Handy Resources for Getting To Norway 

To help plan your trip to Norway, these resources and websites will help you with logistics and for getting decent prices.

• Skyscanner is one of the best flight resources for comparing prices. You can also search for an entire month to see when the cheapest dates are to fly for a particular city or country.
• Look into travel passes like Travelpass Nordland which offer multi day passes on different types of transport and their app also has a handy travel planner with transport information so you can plan ahead
• Maps.Me is a mapping app that allows you to download for offline use and is one of the best all round navigation apps for any country. You can also pin locations, allowing you to plan where you want to go and what you want to see. For hiking it’s also a good safety mechanism as most trails are marked on the app and the GPS means you can check where you are, if you think you might be lost
• Booking an all-inclusive tour with companies like Intrepid Travel or G Adventures eliminates many of the hassles of trip planning and logistical challenges. However, it also reduces some of your freedom and last-minute ability to change plans
• For day trips, using Get Your Guide is the best way to find high-quality tours with reputable companies. There are hundreds of options in Norway on there, from fjord cruises to foodie tours.

Where to Stay 

Hotels and hostels are of quite a high standard in Norway, although they’re also likely to take up a huge chunk of your budget. The country’s HI Hostels which is run by the Norwegian hostelling association are the budget traveller’s mainstay and can be booked through their website. Otherwise, Booking.com is where you can compare and book hotel accommodation in advance.

Cabins dot the Norwegian landscape in their thousands and are often referred to as hytter or rorbuer or wooden cabins. They are usually self-catering affairs with a couple of bedrooms. They are always found around campgrounds and they are the most popular choice of accommodation on the Lofoten islands. You can often rent a hytter starting from around 800kr per night. 

Camping is a popular choice for both locals and foreign visitors and there are literally hundreds of campgrounds ranging from basic tent sites to complex setups with first-class facilities. You can expect to pay around 300kr for two people and a tent with a car.

Packing for Your Norway Trip

Let’s be honest, no matter what time of year you decide to go, the most important item to pack will be a warm coat or down jacket. The weather in Norway is notoriously unpredictable and even in summer you can face all four seasons in one day. 

The best way to pack for your trip is to think about layers. That way you can be prepared for whatever weather you encounter. 

Other than a warm jacket, a weatherproof or rain jacket is also a good addition, especially if you plan on hiking or getting outdoors. A good pair of walking shoes or insulated hiking boots are also good footwear options if you plan on heading anywhere remote or doing any outdoor activities. 

Surprisingly, sunscreen is also a must pack for Norway. The air is often so cold that you don’t feel that you’re burning, but the sun is extremely strong at any time of year. 

Travel Insurance

It’s important to arrange travel insurance before you depart for your trip. If you pay for full comprehensive cover, it should protect you from illness, injury, theft and cancellations. 

If you plan on doing any extreme or winter sports like skiing, you may need to check if your insurance will cover you, as generally this may require an additional payment.

The same goes for hiring a car. Check that your personal insurance will cover you for any injuries obtained while driving and whether there is an additional cost. 

Suggested Guidebooks

The best guidebooks for travelling in Norway are Lonely Planet Norway and The Rough Guide to Norway . Both are considered the best in the guidebook game and can help plan your trip. 

There are also e-book versions available if you prefer not to lug a heavy guidebook around with you.

Norway Visitor Guide: What to Do During Your Norway Trip

Top 10 things to do in norway , explore the capital, oslo.

One of the most exciting cities in Europe, it has a growing music scene, modern architecture, wide bike lanes, some of the best baristas in the world and the northernmost three-star Michelin restaurant.

But that’s not all. A nearby island filled with some of the coolest museums in Europe, a Royal Palace and the epic Nobel Peace Center are a few more reasons you need to visit. And don’t get me started on the pastry scene.

Take the Train from Oslo to Bergen

An incredibly beautiful train journey through some of the country’s best scenery, you’ll be astonished at the feat of engineering it would have taken to build such a rail line. 

Wander Through the Streets of Bergen

The medieval wharf of Bergen is UNESCO listed and the beautiful old buildings with fairytale-like houses and bustling art galleries makes this city especially enchanting. 

Take a wander through Bryggen, the wharf area of the city, before heading up on the Fløibanen funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen. From here, marvel at the city below you.

 See the Northern Lights from the Lofoten Islands

If seeing the Northern Lights isn’t on your Norwegian bucket list, I don’t know what to say…

Scattered with traditional villages against a mountainous backdrop, Lofoten is one of the country’s biggest drawcards. It’s also one of the best places to see the Northern Lights .

Visit the Gateway to Norway’s North, Tromso

The largest city in the far north and often referred to as the capital of the Arctic, from this city you can admire fjords, whales, the midnight sun and take a tour to see the northern lights without having to travel too far from the centre. Many people decide to try dog sledding in Tromso too.

Road Trip the Kystriksveien Coastal Route

This stunning road trip along the coast is often described as one of the most beautiful drives in the world, passing every sort of landscape you can possibly imagine

Experience Extremities in Svalbard

What happens if you mix an icy haven with one of the world’s toughest terrains and plenty to see and do – including an ex-soviet ghost town? Svalbard, of course.

A huge group of islands in the northernmost part of Europe takes extremes to the next level, with 60% of the area covered in glaciers and an array of Arctic wildlife you’ll likely never see anywhere else, such as polar bears which outnumber people there.

Hike to Pulpit Rock near Stavanger

The now-insta famous lookout at Pulpit Rock is crowded with people in summer, but you can’t deny that the two hour hike up to this spectacular viewpoint is worth it.

Despite what you might think, this hike is actually pretty easy. Though it does get chilly – wrap up warm or you might just end up very very angry (and cold)

Take a Ferry Along Geirangerfjord

Frequently considered as one of the world’s top natural attractions and best ferry rides, you can admire the waterfalls running down steep mountains and the bright blue water of this incredible place.

Spend Time in Lively Trondheim

The country’s third-largest city has colourful wooden buildings with plenty of cool cafes and food markets and festivals frequently bringing the streets to life.

There’s much to see and do in Trondheim, but a couple of unmissable spots are the historic Kristiansten Fortress, which sits on a hill overlooking the city. As well as this, the adorable streets of Bakklandet are home to well-preserved wooden buildings and cosy cafés. people-watching opportunities for daysss.

Suggested Norway Trip Itineraries 

In Northern Norway you can experience the best of the Arctic and experience things you can’t see in many other places in the world. For a truly unique trip follow this two week itinerary north:

Oslo – Trondheim – Bodo (northernmost stop on the train line) – Narvik – Tromso – Alta – back to Tromso – Lofoten Islands – ferry to Bodo – back to Oslo

If you have plenty of time and want to see as much of the country as you can, here’s an itinerary for catching all of the highlights of Norway, possible by using a combination of train, bus, flights and rental car if you are happy with driving in Norway . It would take around three weeks to complete.

Oslo – train to Bergen – Stavanger – Geirunger for a ferry through the fjord – Trondheim – take the Kystriksveien Coastal road trip – Bodo – Narvik – Tromso – Lofoten Islands – back to Oslo 

How to See the Best of Norway for Free 

Norway is known as an extremely expensive country to travel in and so seeing as much of the country for free as possible is certainly ideal. Here are some tips on how you can get things for free in Norway.

Couchsurfing is a great way to explore Norway for free. You can basically stay or ‘crash’ at someone’s place and create meaningful interactions with the locals and your host at the same time. In the larger cities like Oslo and Bergen, it will not be difficult to find a host for the night. However, in the smaller towns and more remote areas you may have to plan and reach out to a host in advance. 

Wild camping is also a great way to not only stay for free but also experience some of the best of Norway’s landscapes. If you come prepared with proper camping gear and warm clothing, wild camping is allowed in most outdoor places. You only have to respect basic rules like, leave no trace, do not pitch on private property and keep away from any buildings. 

Hitchhiking is also a popular way of getting around and is quite common, especially in the southern half of the country where roads are busy enough. Although there are certain risks with hitchhiking, especially if you travel solo, you’ll find other travellers also hitching a ride in order to reduce the cost of transport. Just listen to your gut instincts. 

Dishes to Try in Norway 

• Reindeer – usually roasted, it’s one of the main dishes non-vegetarian tourists like to try at least once on their visit to Norway
• Cheese – Norway’s cheese has been made internationally recognised by Jarlsberg, first made in 1860 and you can find it in most tourist-oriented restaurants 
• Stockfish – unsalted cod dried in Norway’s cold air on wooden racks is one of the country’s longest sustained export commodities
• Fish is generally considered a food staple in Norway and is eaten three or four times a week. Salmon is particularly popular and surprisingly, relatively cheap compared to other dishes

Top Drinks in Norway 

• Aquavit – considered the national drink, this is a potent distilled spirit made from potatoes and flavoured with a variety of herbs and spices such as fennel, cumin or cardamom
•   Glogg – the traditional Scandinavian mulled wine adds aquavit to red wine simmered with cloves and cinnamon
• Mead – also known as honey wine, is a fermented drink made from honey, it’s considered a traditional Viking drink 

Norway Travel Guide: Things to Know Before You Go to Norway

Tips for travelling to norway.

• Consider the month you are travelling around Norway and research how much daylight there is and what the weather will be like because this will not only influence what clothes to pack but also whether certain roads will be blocked or certain experiences like seeing the Northern Lights will be possible
• Book train tickets and accommodation in advance for cheaper deals, particularly if you are travelling in summer when things book out weeks in advance
• You can get a local SIM card for your phone that should cost around 100kr and cover about 80% of the country, which is pretty remarkable considering how remote a lot of the towns are

Tipping In Norway

Tipping is by no means compulsory in Norway, but it is customary for Norwegians to leave a tip of about 10-20% in a restaurant or bar if the service was good. It’s uncommon to tip outside of the hospitality industry so don’t feel obliged to tip taxi drivers or hotel staff.

Interesting Facts 

• Around half of the population live around Oslo, in the far south of the country
• Two-thirds of the country is mountainous
• Off Norway’s coastline lies around 50, 000 islands amongst the fjords and glaciers
• The Norwegian economy is largely dependent on the petroleum industry
• Norway has one of the lowest population densities in Europe

Handy Phrases for Travelling to Norway

Most people in Norway speak almost fluent English and will not expect a foreign traveller to learn any Norwegian words. However, if you want to try and learn some basics, here’s some phrases to keep handy.

Takk – Thank You

Hallo – Hello

Ha det – Goodbye

Vær så snill – Please

Hvor er…? – Where is…?

En billet til… – One ticket to…

Jernbanestasjon – Train station

Busstasjon – Bus ststaion

Flypass – Airport

Hvor mye koster billetten? – How much is the fare?

Time Zones 

Norway is situated in the Central European Standard Time (CEST) or Central European Time (CET), depending on daylight savings. Daylight savings applies in Norway, like many other European countries and clocks are set one hour forward at the end of March and one hour back at the end of October. 

Electricity + Adapters

Norway uses the common plugs in other European countries, Type C and F, which has two round prongs. Most Scandinavian electricity outlets use 220 volts. 

There is a relatively low health risk associated with travelling to Norway, with rates of disease and illness at a similar rate to other European countries. 

Tap water is also completely safe to drink and of a high quality, so you don’t need to worry about buying plastic bottles or filtering your water.

Still, regular vaccines are recommended such as Hepatitis A and B, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), tetanus, typhoid, pneumonia and influenza. However, there are no required vaccines that will affect your entry into the country.

There is a relatively well-connected and reliable public transport system in Norway, linked by buses, trains and ferries.

However, outside of the southern cities, places are few and far between and towns are sprawled outwards for kilometres. This means that renting a car is the preferred mode of transport for travellers wanting to get deep into Norway’s far north, although this is not exactly the cheapest way to go. 

Car rental for a week can start at 3500kr, although you can often get deals for a weekend rental or in the quieter months.

The major highways are well taken care of and generally open all year round, although you’ll find many of the smaller roads in the north will close for months over winter. 

The national railway has lines connecting Oslo to Stavanger in the southwest, Oslo to Bergen in the west and Oslo to Trondheim and onto Bodo in the north. Many of the train rides start at 800kr for a standard fare ticket, although this will change depending on how early you book and what class you want.

Train travel in Norway is most popular for those wanting a comfortable journey between the major cities. 

Buses reach almost every corner of the country, with the main long-distance company being Nor-Way Bussekspress. Prices are much more reasonable than the trains and can often be bought on the bus on the day, although it’s possible to secure a seat in advance if you’d prefer.

Taking a ferry is almost a highlight of any trip to Norway and around the Lofoten Islands they are almost impossible to avoid. They are usually both for passengers and vehicles and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. 

There are also more speedy and comfortable boat trips and cruises that operate for multiple days along the coast with cabins and restaurants on board. 

There are some relatively cheap internal flights that you can score which can save you time spent on buses and trains.

From Oslo to Trondheim you can expect to pay around 650kr, for example. This only means that you will miss out on some of the fabulous scenery along the way.

Check flights on Skyscanner

Norway is one of the safest countries in the world and its crime rates are extremely low. However, in the major cities you should still be wary of your belongings and valuables, as you should be in most other countries. 

If you practice basic common sense and personal awareness, you shouldn’t have any problems travelling around Norway.

Costs and Budgeting for a Norway Trip

Here’s the bad news – Norway is one of the most expensive countries in Europe. Your budget will need to be much greater and more flexible than perhaps travelling to most other countries.

However, in saying that, there are ways of cutting costs like getting a multi-day transport pass, giving up alcohol for the duration of your trip and self-catering your meals. 

A budget traveller who has a picnic lunch and stays in cheap hostels or hotels could look at spending around 800kr per day. For slightly more comfort, like staying in 3 star hotels and eating out for meals, you could spend around 1500kr per day. 

Read More Norway Travel Guides

• A Guide to the Lofoten Islands Norway: Brilliant Things to Do + Travel Tips

A Snowy Sami Reindeer Experience in Tromso, Norway

Norway in winter: why it’s worth visiting, best time and places to see the northern lights in norway.

• A Food-Lover’s Guide to the Lofoten Islands: A Culinary Adventure in Norway’s Arctic Circle

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I’m Julianna Barnaby - a professional travel writer and geek extraordinaire. I started The Discoveries Of to help you to discover the best of new destinations from around the world.

Discovering new places is a thrill - whether it’s close to home, a new country or continent, I write to help you explore more and explore differently.

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Two to Three Week Norway Fjord & Culture Itinerary

September 24, 2020 by Silvia 3 Comments

Originally I was going to try to condense my four week road trip into a two week itinerary of highlights, but then I thought, why not share the whole thing and let you decide which parts to include? This itinerary takes you through some of Norway’s most beautiful fjords, as well as to historic cities, towns and villages that will give you a true taste of Norwegian culture.

You will need to rent a car for at least part of this trip. Personally I find that you can see so much more of the fjords and get to know the cities and towns here better by car than by boat, so I always recommend a road trip over a cruise. Plus then you will have the freedom to get off the beaten path and stay in some really unique places!

I’ve gathered all my best advice for planning an incredible trip through southern Norway (from the far south up to Trondheim) in a 93-page ebook covering my top recommendations for places to visit (both on and off the beaten path), the best times of year to visit, how long to visit for, the best accommodation choices, transportation, what to eat, what to pack, and a sample itinerary that covers my personal favorite route through the south.

You can purchase The Southern Norway Travel Guide here .

Day 1: Røros

The order of this will depend on where you want to rent your car. If you have two weeks to make this trip, I recommend doing the first few days with public transport and renting your car on Day 6 in Kristiansund.

If you’re flying into Oslo or Trondheim, you can get the train to Røros. You can check the train schedule and book your ticket here . You can book up to three months in advance, and the earlier you book the cheaper the tickets usually are.

Or if you don’t have much time, you could skip Røros and Trondheim and start your trip in Kristiansund.

However if you have three weeks you could start your trip in Trondheim and rent a car there, in which case you’d first spend a day (or however long you like!) in Trondheim, and then drive down to Røros.

Røros is a copper mining town founded in 1644, now one of the oldest towns of wooden houses in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can read more about visiting Røros here .

Røros Accommodation

In Røros I stayed at  Ålbyggården , which is housed in a beautifully renovated old barn and is conveniently just a 5-minute walk from the train station. This is actually one of my favorite places I’ve stayed in Norway, and is the perfect mix of culture and luxury.  Check current rates and availability here

If you want a cheaper option,  Solheim Pensjonat  is also right downtown, looks really lovely inside, and has excellent reviews.  Check current rates and availability here

Day 2: Røros to Trondheim

If you rented your car in Trondheim you can skip to Day 5 and head down to Kristiansund, otherwise today you’ll get the train from Røros to Trondheim!

Trondheim Accommodation

If you want an affordable mid-range hotel in Trondheim, I would opt for  the Best Western Chesterfield Hotel , which is right by the train station downtown. I’ve stayed here a couple of times and really love it.

Or if you want a luxury hotel, Trondheim’s best hotel would definitely be  the Britannia Hotel , which first opened in 1870 and is where all the celebrities and royals visiting Trondheim stay. It’s one of the nicest hotels I’ve stayed at in Norway and the breakfast is amazing.

I’ve also written a full guide to  accommodation in Trondheim (from budget to luxury) here .

Day 3: Trondheim

Trondheim actually served as Norway’s capital during part of the Viking age and has a really beautiful downtown. Trondheim was the first place I lived in Norway after moving here in 2015 and I’ve written a full guide to things to do in Trondheim here .

Day 4: Trondheim to Kristiansund

Today you’ll either get the  coastal express ferry  from Trondheim to Kristiansund, which takes about 3.5 hours, or the Hurtigruten, which takes 6.5 hours. Coastal express tickets cost 680 NOK for adults and the Hurtigruten costs 700. And you don’t need to book the tickets in advance – you can just buy them on board with either cash or card.

Personally, I’d prefer to save time and take the express ferry, especially as while the Hurtigruten will be full of tourists, the coastal express is primarily used as a commuter service, so you’re unlikely to see any other tourists on board. But the schedule is a bit strange depending on what day you’re leaving, so you might have to get the Hurtigruten instead. You can find the coastal express schedule  here  and the Hurtigruten  here  (you’ll need to translate it with Google).

Kristiansund Accommodation

My personal favorite stay in Kristiansund is the Thon Hotel Kristiansund . I stayed in their standard double room and it was right on the water with views of the ocean out all of the windows. It felt like being in a boat! And the breakfast was superb (even post corona).

Day 5: Kristiansund

Kristiansund is a lovely little coastal city of about 24,000 people, so you can get a nice feel for it in just a couple of days, but as a stop on the popular Hurtigruten cruise, there is a lot here for tourists to enjoy.

I’ve written a guide for things to do in Kristiansund here .

Day 6: Atlantic Ocean Road

Today you’ll drive to Molde via the Atlantic Ocean Road. This is one of Norway’s most famous drives (along with Trollstigen, which is also included in this itinerary!) and was even voted Norway’s engineering feat of the century.

I’ve written more about Norway’s Atlantic Ocean Road here .

Molde Accommodation

I stayed at  Molde Fjordstuer , right by the harbor in downtown Molde, which was perfectly fine, but I would actually recommend the  Thon Hotel Moldefjord  instead, as it has free parking and a better breakfast.

Day 7: Molde

I didn’t know much about Molde before visiting but ended up completely falling in love with the city. It’s about the same size as Kristiansund but set a bit inland along a fjord, with the most amazing panorama views of mountain peaks from downtown. I’ve written more about my visit to Molde here .

Day 8: Romsdalsfjord

I’m working on a guide to Norway’s most beautiful fjords, and Romsdalsfjord will definitely be featured because the views here are incredible.

From Molde I drove to the start of the Tarløysa hike, which has amazing views even from the start, so it doesn’t matter too much if you actually make it to the top.

I wrote about my time hiking and camping along Romsdalsfjord here .

Alternatively, if you’ll be spending the night in Åndalsnes you could do the famous Rampestreken hike , which also has incredible views.

Romsdalsfjord Accommodation

I spent the night at  this tree tent camping site on Airbnb , however if you don’t feel like camping (or if the weather is bad!) you could stay at this gorgeous holiday home  along the fjord, the Grand Hotel Bellevue in Åndalsnes, or this very budget friendly hostel .

Day 9: Trollstigen & Hotel Union Øye

Today you’ll make your way to Norway’s historic Hotel Union Øye , and the drive here will be stunning.

I was traveling in June so Trollstigen was closed, so instead I took the long way around, along Romsdalsfjord. But if Trollstigen is open you should definitely opt for that route, as this road’s eleven hairpin bends and epic views will probably be a highlight of your trip. You’ll also pass Geirangerfjord before driving up into the Sunnmøre Alps for the night.

I’ve written about driving Trollstigen here (from a previous trip).

Hotel Union Øye

Staying at the Hotel Union Øye is an experience in itself, and the views here are beautiful. I’ve written about my stay at the Hotel Union Øye here .

Day 10: Hjørundfjord

Today you’ll head to yet another beautiful Norwegian fjord: Hjørundfjord.

I’ve written about  visiting Hjørundfjord here .

Hjørundfjord Accommodation

I stayed at the Sagafjord Hotel in Sæbø, which is a super cute little town right on the fjord.

However next time I think I’ll stay at this house in the village of Urke.

Day 11: Hjørundfjord

Hjørundfjord is so incredible that I think it deserves two days, if you have the time.

Day 12: Hoddevik Beach & West Cape

From Hjørundfjord I headed out to the west coast to see Norway’s popular surf spot Hoddevik Beach. I also drove out to the West Cape, which is the westernmost point of mainland Norway. I’ve written more about visiting Hoddevik and the West Cape here .

Selje accommodation

I spent the night at the Skottneset Feriesenter , in a lovely apartment right on the water. You could also spend the night by the coastal town of Selje. The  Frimansbudda  looks like a good budget option, and or you could stay outside of town in  this beautifully designed cabin  or at  this yoga school .

Day 13: Kråkenes Lighthouse

You could skip this part if you’re pressed for time, but after Hoddevik I continued down the coast to spend a night in the Kråkenes Lighthouse, which was a really cool experience. I wrote more about staying at the Kråkenes Lighthouse here .

Day 14: Hjelle Hotel

You might want to look at a map and decide how to break up the journey back to Kristiansund, if that’s where you rented your car. If you want to stay at another historic hotel I’d recommend spending the night at the Hjelle Hotel . The drive from the Kråkenes Hotel through Stryn to Hjelle is  so , so beautiful.

Day 15: Kristiansund/Oppdal

If you rented your car in Kristiansund, today you can return to Kristiansund, and then either fly from Kristiansund to Oslo, or get the boat back to Trondheim and fly out there. The drive to Kristiansund takes about five hours, but you could break it up by Geirangerfjord or in Stranda, if you want to spend more time around the fjords.

Or if you rented a car from Trondheim and want to take three weeks for your trip you can continue up to Oppdal. I spent the night at the Oppdal Gjestetun Hotel , which I mostly chose for the location but it was perfectly fine, and budget friendly.

Day 16: Oppdal to Hitra

Again, you can skip this if you don’t have time, but if you want a quiet coastal escape after lots of driving, I recommend heading to Hitra! I had originally planned to stay here two nights, but I loved Hitra so much that shortly after arriving I decided to extend my stay an extra night.

I wrote more about my visit to Hitra here .

Hitra Accommodation

I stayed at  this cottage on Airbnb , which is enormous and even has a jacuzzi.

Days 17 – 18: Hitra

If you have the time, spend a couple more days on Hitra, exploring the surroundings, fishing in the sea, or just relaxing on your cabin deck.

Day 19: The Golden Road

From Hitra you could return to Trondheim, or you could drive about an hour and a half north of Trondheim and spend a night or two along The Golden Road (also called The Golden Detour, or  Den Gyldne Omvei in Norwegian). I mostly went here to write about it, but if you’re a big foodie or into art galleries and local distilleries, this could be the perfect way to finish up your trip.

I’ve written about visiting The Golden Road here .

Golden Road Accommodation

The  Saga Hotel Inderøy  and  Oldefars Gjestehus  both look super cute, but I ended up booking two nights at  Husfrua Farm Hotel , which is on a small family-run farm, in a farmhouse from 1867, built by the great-great-grandfather of the current owner.

Day 20: The Golden Road

Take today to explore The Golden Road’s galleries, shops, distilleries, and farm-to-table restaurants.

Day 21: Trondheim

Today you can return to Trondheim to get your flight or train home!

Of course as I was living in Mosjøen , I instead drove farther north and spent a couple of nights at this lovely Airbnb outside of Rørvik, before finally driving along the Helgeland Coast back to Mosjøen.

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September 26, 2020 at 12:01 am

Really good looking tour around central Norway with plenty of variety. Lots of options with or without your own transport.

Coupla small ideas. Åndalsnes has this unusual chapel in an old railway coach, if you need an escape from the pace of life downtown (slightly kidding). Nice view of the waterfront and a change from stave churches…. https://www.visitnorway.no/reisemal/vestlandet/nordvest/listings-northwest/%C3%85ndalsnes-togkapell/13780/ And the Rauma railway to/from Åndalsnes is a real gem.

About the one plus to being stuck in the UK all this time is that when I do get back to Norge I’m going big. Might have to build a replica kon tiki from discarded face masks to get there tho…

September 26, 2020 at 5:17 pm

You have read my mind! I’m currently planning a summer trip to Norway! Just wondering, is it better to go in July to do the Trollstigen? 🤔 I really want to go in June but it seems that not everything is open until the beginning of July, like certain roads, fjord cruises, etc.

Silvia says

October 2, 2020 at 1:07 pm

Traveling in Norway in July is a bit of a nightmare, as the entire country has summer holiday then and most hotels and ferries are full. Usually Trollstigen would be open by the end of June, otherwise if you can I’d recommend August instead.

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Once a full-time nomad, I'm now trying to find a balance between continuing to explore off the beaten path places around the world while also building a home in Norway. Want to know more? Head to my About page !

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14 Day Norway Road Trip | The Ultimate Guide On What To Do In Norway

Unfortunately, we only had 14 days for our Norway road trip and since we went on the round trip with our own car, the Lofoten Islands , which we had longed for so much, were too far away to fit them on our Norway itinerary. So we had to limit our road trip by car to the south of Norway. But with highlights like Trolltunga, Kjeragbolten and the Geirangerfjord , the south has more than enough destinations to offer to spend a varied and exciting round trip there.

To give you a few clues, if you are also planning such a trip by car through Norway, we have collected in our travel report, a few tips and our 2 weeks itinerary . Maybe it will help you with your vacation planning. The 2 week route through southern Norway presented by us, by the way, can also be driven super with the caravan or camper. There are plenty of campsites everywhere.

2 Week Norway Itinerary

We started in the south in Kristiansand . Our northernmost point was Molde south of Kristiansund (don’t confuse!). We drove several hours every day, but since even on the easiest roads in Norway the landscape is simply stunning, we never found it stressful or too much driving.

The individual stops on our Norway road trip are as follows:

• Kristiansand
• Flekkefjord
• Kjeragbolten
• Geirangerfjord
• Molde region (a.o. Trollkirka)
• Vågå (a.o. Bitihorn)
• Lillehammer

On a Google Maps map I have entered the individual route points. On this map you can see our exact route through southern Norway:

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Our individual stops are then described in detail in the following chapters.

Things to know about travelling in Norway

How much is a norway road trip.

Per person we spent about 1000 € for two weeks in Norway with our own car including the following items:

• Travel by car (fuel costs for 2000 km to and from and 2500 km within Norway)
• Ferry (approx. 200€ there and back for 2 persons + car)
• Overnight stays on the camping site (average 60€ / night for a wooden hut)
• Food on site (this was fortunately not so much because we took most of it with us)
• Parking costs (parking is unfortunately extremely expensive in Norway!)

We have compiled all details of our travel costs here:

Norway Prices – How much is a vacation in Norway?

How many kilometers did we drive in total on the Norway Road Trip?

In total, we drove just under 4500 kilometers by car on our 2 week Norway itinerary! But only about 2500 km in Norway. The remaining 2000 kilometers we spent on the outward and return journey. We arrived from the western part of germany and therefore already had a decent distance to drive to the ferry to Denmark.

The pleasant Norwegian Roads

However, since the roads in Norway are very relaxed to drive, also thanks to the speed limit, we never found it stressful. Driving in Norway is really very relaxed. We never experienced traffic jams or even a tense traffic situation. Except of course in the area around Oslo, there we felt almost like in Germany.

Apart from that, we found the landscape in Norway simply unbelievably beautiful. And not only in the area with the many fjords – which roughly speaking begins north of Stavanger – but also already in the deep south of Norway. Right after leaving the ferry in Kristiansand we were really blown away by the great nature. Driving in Norway is really fun!

Staying Overnight on the Norway Road Trip | Hotel vs. Camping

We had already informed ourselves in advance about the rather high hotel prices in Norway * and had therefore considered to stay a lot on campsites.

Thank god we didn’t buy a new tent. We had planned to stay in the tent every other day, but we did this only… once . But we are also not the born campers. Nevertheless, we have always spent the night on campsites in wooden cabins except for 2 days.

Overnight Tip: Wooden Cabins on Campsites

This is something that we did not researched before the trip. We thought that our tent would have to compete with the expensive hotels in Norway. Only therefore we had taken the tent at all.

When we realized that there are more or less comfortable wooden huts for little money on every campsite, we didn’t want to unpack the tent anymore.

Read more about overnight stays in Norway in our Norway Travel Guide

Alternatively, you can of course travel directly with the camper to Norway and thanks to the Right to Roam stand freely in the beautiful nature .

Day 0: Arrival by ferry and relax in nature

We drove from the western part of germany almost 1000 kilometers to Hirtshals in Denmark. We left early in the morning, so that we are (despite traffic jams) in the afternoon already in the north of Denmark.

In Hirtshals is a large ferry port (Google Maps Link ) from which various ferry companies to various destinations in Norway start. We had chosen the shortest and fastest route with Fjordline from Hirtshals to Kristiansand, which in retrospect has not been a good idea .

Why exactly, you can also read in our Norway Travel Guide . The ferry cost about 100 € for 2 people and 1 car for one way and was booked by us on directferries.com *. There you can compare the prices of different ferry companies and book the cheapest.

From the arrival at the ferry port, we were already extremely impressed by the incredible nature. We would never have thought that the fjords and rocky landscapes already start in the deep south. Right from the start, Norway’s landscape contrasted strongly with that of Denmark and, in any case, northern Germany. We would not have expected that and that was just the beginning!

Driving Distance : Kristiansand -> Flekkefjord : approx. 110 km (ca. 1:50 h)

Accommodation Flekkefjord | Relaxing with a Lake View

After the first strenuous day of travel, it is time for a little relaxation. In Flekkefjord there is a brilliant accommodation* that couldn’t be nicer. The rooms are modern and beautifully furnished and there is a sauna with a brilliant view of a stunning lake .

Here you get a first impression of what to expect in Norway. It is simply beautiful there and if you want to start your Norway vacation relaxed it is best to stay directly 2 nights.

Day 1: Kjeragbolten

For the first day of our Norway trip we chose Kjeragbolten, a supposedly easy hike. But unfortunately we  (and with we I mean Sabrina  :-p) have somewhat confused the mileage.

It is unfortunately not always directly apparent whether the mileage for a hike is there and back or only for one route. In addition, we had extremely heavy rain, fog and wind and that already in the parking lot. Nevertheless, we have made ourselves on the way and the really very beautiful hike on the Kjeragbolten tackled.

At the beginning the rain has subsided and we could enjoy the great view. Once we reached the top of the ridge, however, it quickly became foggy and we also had problems finding the right path. When we finally arrived at the destination of the hike, the famous rock, we could unfortunately hardly see anything and have not even dared to shoot the obligatory photo due to the slippery conditions on the rock. It was fun, of course, but it was already super exhausting. We didn’t expect that for our first hike in Norway

But you can read more about that in the corresponding travel report :

• Kjeragbolten Hike – Fight through Fog and Rain

Unfortunately, we had to skip the Pulpit Rock Hike for our trip to southern Norway, although the gigantic rock cliff is one of the top sights in southern Norway. If you have a few days more time you should include the hike. If you are very sporty, you can even hike from the Pulpit Rock to Kjeragbolten in several days.

After the hike we drove to the Flateland campsite to spend the night there.

Driving Distance : Flekkefjord --> Kjeragbolten -> Flateland: approx. 210 km (approx. 4 h) Overnight Tip : Flateland Camping Site

Day 2: Flateland Camping

After this first, extremely strenuous hike, we had considered a stopover on our journey to Trolltunga , because otherwise we would not have made the distance in one go. We happened to choose Flateland Camping, and it really turned out to be the most beautiful and idyllic campsite on our whole trip .

It is very suitable for families and (which is rather unusual for Norway) relatively off the road . We rented a cabin there, which was pretty well equipped. In front of the cabins there was still a large meadow, which was not completely occupied by tents, so that you could also spread out his blanket there.

We felt so comfortable there that we stayed for 2 nights. For a vacation where you don’t want to be somewhere else every day anyway, but want to have a “home base”, this place is perfect.

The campground also offers some (family) entertainment. There is a small rabbit enclosure and a large circus tent in which on certain days performances for the youngest are performed. At the reception you can get fresh bread in the morning and everyone is  very friendly and super helpful .

Namely, we had called ahead to reserve a wooden cabin, but could not be there before the reception closed. The nice employee on the phone said only “no problem”, he would simply deposit the key in a small box outside the reception. We should just take it and come to the front desk the next day to pay. Wow! What a customer service!

• You can find it here on Google Maps Flateland Camping

Honnevje Bathing Place

In the immediate vicinity of the campsite there are beautiful landscapes and also a lot to see. Among other things, the Honnevje bathing place (Google Maps link ). This is a small water landscape with attached rest area and toilets, where you can also swim or just walk around.

Route : Today none, because you will stay near the campsite Overnight : Flateland campground again

Day 3: Buarbreen Glacier

On the third day of our road trip through Norway we actually wanted to climb the Trolltunga and wanted to take 2 days for it and therefore also spend the night on the Trolltunga. But for various reasons this just did not fit and so we decided to postpone the Trolltunga hike and instead look for another activity nearby.

Tripadvisor quickly spit out the Buarbreen Glacier. This is only about 10 minutes away from our campsite in Odda ( Odda Camping* ). So we spontaneously set off for our first glacier .

Both the way up and the glacier itself were really spectacular and beautiful to look at. In parts, the path is so steep that you have to pull yourself up on pre-installed ropes. At the top, you’re standing just a few meters from the base of the glacier tongue and a waterfall whistles loudly next to you.

What exactly we experienced you can read in our travelogue:

Buarbreen | On Ropes up to the Glacier

Driving Distance : Flateland-> Odda: approx. 180 km (approx. 3 h)

Overnight Stay in Odda

We recommend you to spend 1-2 nights in Odda, depending on what you want to do there. In Odda you have two options. On the one hand you can stay at the campground, on the other hand in a hotel. We have selected the two best options for you.

Camping in Odda

We spent the night in Odda at the local campground (Trolltunga Camping* ), which is also not far from the city center. The place is usually very crowded by numerous Trolltunga tourists, but is therefore very picturesque directly on the lake Sandvinvatnet.

But you should be here early to get a free place. We were able to get one of the last tent sites with lake view. The campground also rents cabins and small rooms.

Comfortable Apartments for Relaxation

If you want to relax after the strenuous hikes we can recommend you The Blue House * recommend. The apartments are located in a 100 year old and elaborately restored house.

Here you come in and just feel at home . The small apartments are equipped with everything you need, so you can take care of yourself there.

Day 4: Trolltunga

On the 4th day of our Norway road trip we finally went to the Devils Tongue. This should be the longest hike (22 km) of our trip. The route itself was not the most scenic compared to the rest, but at least the photo what came out at the end is probably one of the most spectacular that you can get in Norway .

We left super early from the Odda campsite to be in time at the 50€ parking lot. Nevertheless, at this early hour many, many other hikers also started their tour to the Troll Tongue. Therefore, we felt this hike also rather exhausting, not (only) because of the long distance, but because we could never really enjoy the nature around us due to the sheer “crowds” .

If you are interested, you can read more in the following travelogue , what we have experienced and where exactly the Trolltunga parking lot is located and how you can best get to the Trolltunga:

Trolltunga Hike – All You Need To Know

Driving Distance : none, because you should stay overnight in Odda again Overnight stay : You should stay again at the Odda campsite or at the Hotel Blue House* , because the day was very exhausting.

Day 5: Voringsfossen

Today you will head north along the scenic Hardangerfjord and eventually reach one of Norway’s most beautiful waterfalls, Voringsfossen. We really looked forward to the visit of the Voringsfossen . The hike is relatively short and if you have found the right parking lot you are also pretty quickly on site.

The right place to park your car is coming from the east directly behind the tunnel  (see Streetview link below ). Either go directly across the street and follow the small path in front of you, or take the larger path on the right side of the street. This is a bit longer, because it leads under the road, but you do not have to cross the road.

Here at Google Streetview you can see the exact location of the parking lot.

The rest of the way is well marked and there are no alternatives. So you can not get lost. The highlight of the trail is certainly the small suspension bridge that you have to cross to get to the other side. After a few meters – the waterfall always in view – you are finally in front of this impressive natural spectacle.

At the end of the path you can go up a stony hill to get even closer to the waterfall. However, this climb is quite slippery due to the wetness and you should be very careful here. At the top you can really feel the spray, which whips wet in your face.

You will not meet many People

The whole way we met only a handful of other hikers . So you usually have enough time to take pictures (and selfies on the suspension bridge).

If you still want to see the Fossen  (waterfall ) from the very top, you can (after the way back) drive a little further along the road to the signposted viewpoint or a little further to a large hotel, where there is another viewing platform with a slightly different angle.

All details about the hike can be found here Voringfossen Norway | Hike to the famous waterfall

You should drive a little further west today, because the next day we are supposed to go to the beautiful city of Bergen.

Overnight Stay on the Farm outside Bergen

Today you’ll have the opportunity to stay a little outside of Bergen on a cute farm overlooking a charming lake . Solneset Farm* is located about half an hour from Bergen.

Here you will find lots of animals, modern bathrooms, a sauna and a hammock on the lakeside .

Driving Distance : Odda -> Voringfossen -> Bergen: approx. 240 km (approx. 3:45 h)

Day 6: Bergen

We had just under half a day to explore Berge on our road trip through Norway. Since we are anyway rather nature than city people, this time was definitely enough for us. Worth seeing is of course the district Bryggen directly at the harbor . Even though there were a lot of other tourists, we really liked the city, and if you are culturally interested then you can certainly spend 1-2 days here. But you can also see the best sights in half a day.

Sights in Bergen

The pier lying on the sea with its colorful houses is known from many photos and is the highlight of the district Bryggen. The district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a remnant of a time when Bergen was the trading center between Norway and Central Europe. There are souvenir stores, museums, galleries and many restaurants. It is a wonderful place to stroll along.

Fish market

Right next door is Bergen’s lively fish market. Here the inhabitants have been supplied with freshly caught fish since 1276. Today it is one of the most popular markets in Norway and you can buy not only fish but also fruits, vegetables and handicrafts.

Fløyen and Fløibanen

The 415 meter high Fløyfjellet is not the highest mountain in the city, but it is the most famous one. On its top there is the observation platform called “Fløyen” from which you have a magnificent view of the city and the sea. From the city you can walk up very easily and for free

You can also take the Fløibanen cog railroad up the mountain. You can buy tickets online or on site for about 15 Euro (round trip). Once at the viewing platform, you can walk along numerous hiking trails and also visit the Skomakerdiket lake.

To make some distance, you should drive a little further in the direction of Naeroyfjord today. There we have also chosen a nice hotel for you

Hotel Recommendation at Naeroyfjord

Stalheim Hotel | Mountain Hotel with Panoramic View

Stalheim Hotel is situated on a mountain and offers a wonderful view into the Nærøy valley. Right next to the hotel runs the famous serpentine road Stalheimskleiva and the nature around the hotel is just beautiful.

Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast is also included. Unfortunately, it’s not cheap, but the view definitely makes up for it.

Driving Distance : Bergen -> Naeroyfjord : approx. 150 km (approx. 2.5 h)

Day 7: Naeroyfjord

The next stop on our trip through Norway was the Naeroyfjord. As the narrowest fjord in the world , it is probably an integral part of every trip to Norway. The more it surprised us that there is actually no place or no real viewpoint directly at the fjord.

Since we did not want to make a boat trip through the fjord, we chose a small hiking trail to see the fjord from other perspectives. Namely the Rimstigen ( Link to Google Maps )!

Rimstigen Hike

To get there, just drive past the pier on the left and then straight ahead, even if it looks like you’re not allowed to drive along there. You will probably pass some highland cattle, which are running around without any fences. We even fed one of them with a carrot through the open car window. A somewhat intimidating, but totally cool experience.

After a few kilometers – just before the road ends at a small farm – you have to park as best you can on the side of the road.

From there, it goes more or less steeply up the mountain with extremely beautiful views of the fjord . The entire Rimstigen trail is only about 3.5km long, but will cost you 5-6 hours of time . You have to overcome 720 meters of altitude and is really exhausting.

After about 1.5h another (much more sporty) couple overtook us with the words, we had just made half (!) of the way up, we took a short breather and then turned back. That was probably the right decision, because first, according to the local couple, the most beautiful views of the fjord arise anyway on the route already run by us. And secondly, we still had a long way to go and wanted to arrive before sunset at the Geirangerfjord .

Overnight Stay with view to the Geirangerfjord

Who could imagine anything better than just enjoying the view of the Geirangerfjord for hours on end? You sleep here in a cozy little cabin with a well-equipped kitchen.

You can spend the evening on the terrace and just enjoy this amazing view.

Driving Distance : Naeroyfjord -> Geirangerfjord: approx. 300km (approx. 6h)

Day 8 of the Norway Road Trip: Geirangerfjord

The Geirangerfjord is certainly one of the highlights on a road trip in the south of Norway. But our route to the fjord started with a little detour. We did not take the direct way to the fjord, but turned before on the road 258. Why you should include this detour you will find out soon.

Gamle Strynefjellsveg

We drove over the small pass road Gamle Strynefjellsveg . The 27 km long and in winter closed national tourist road leads through beautiful and varied mountain landscapes and should be driven in any case . The route is simply awesome. We got off several times along the way to explore the area on foot and take photos.

The play of colors between the lush green nature, the turquoise-blue glacier water and the white peaks of the surrounding mountains form a perfect backdrop. So perfect, in fact, that it must have taken us three times as long to cover the distance as it actually does. We couldn’t get out of our amazement.

You can find more information about this dream road here:

Gamle Strynefjellsvegen | Norwegian Scenic Route at the Geirangerfjord

Tip: We have seen some tents on the side of this road. So it seems possible and also allowed to camp here near the Geirangerfjord , which is otherwise rather difficult due to the landscape around the fjord.

When you have successfully crossed the pass road and are now on the fastest way to the fjord again, you will inevitably pass another road that leads to the top of the Dalsnibba mountain. The way up is 15 € per car and not quite cheap, but at an altitude of almost 1500 meters you not only have a great view of the Geirangerfjord, but also have the feeling to have arrived at the true top of the world.

Because you are at the same height with almost all surrounding mountains and have a 360 ° view of countless covered with powdered sugar mountain peaks.

And of course the drive up the mountain and back down again is a lot of fun, if you like driving cars fast like I do. Sabrina has unfortunately suffered a bit on the way down, but there she just has to go through sometimes 😉

Tip: Best Photo Spot at Geirangerfjord

To get a photo like this one you just have to go left at this viewpoint past the toilets and then keep left again until you get to the precipice. There the photographer has to stand. The person you want to photograph must then simply walk along the precipice  (be careful !) until just before the boundary fence. Done!

The small place at the Geirangerfjord didn’t seem to be really interesting to us. However, in the surrounding area you can still discover different hikes and viewpoints . Unfortunately, the only special view you had there was the huge stinking cruise ship that incessantly blew a dark brown cloud of smoke into the sky.

Driving Distance: N one, as you will stay at Geirangerfjord Overnight  S tay : You should stay at Geirangerfjord today and spend the night again at the lodge Hole Hytter* .

Day 9: Trollkirka + Atlantic Road

On the ninth day of our Norway trip, we made the long drive to Molde to visit the Trollkyrkja . We had to take the ferry in Vestnes. However, since this probably did not drive on the two days before because of maintenance work, we had to wait for  over one hour in the traffic jam .

After an overnight stay in a simple hut on a camping site not far from the ferry, we then made our way to the Troll Church. The large asphalt parking lot is located directly on the main road (see here on Google Maps ) and can not be missed.

Trollkyrkja

The cave is definitely worth the short and somewhat steep hike. In the first cave, after a short walk through complete darkness (a flashlight is very helpful here ), there is a small but charming waterfall. We have never seen anything like it: A waterfall… in a cave!

To get to the second cave you can leave the first cave through a narrow gap and then descend again via a ladder. There you can visit another waterfall.

When you have left the cave, you can climb a little bit higher, where is supposed to be another cave. Unfortunately we did not find it. Supposedly it is accessible through a hole in the ground. On the plateau above the first two caves, a small wooden sign also points to this 3rd cave. With a little luck (and time) you should hopefully find it.

Read more about the hike in our detailed trip report:

Trollkyrkja | Adventurous Hike to the Caves of the Troll Church

Atlantic Road

We looked at the Atlantic Road because it is not far from Trollkyrkja and looks really spectacular on the photos circulating on the internet.

The Atlantic Road is more than 8 kilometers long and belongs to the Norwegian Landscape Routes. The special thing about this road is that it leads very curvy over several bridge sections over various smaller islands. From certain angles, this road looks really great as it winds from island to island.

But when you drive over it, it doesn’t seem so special, because you don’t notice so much of the up and down and the many turns.

If you are in the area anyway, we can recommend a very special hotel. It is located on one of these small islands near the Atlantic Road.

Staying on a small Island next to the Atlantic Road

Near the Atlantic Road, you can enjoy a spectacular view at the Håholmen Havstuer* .

The hotel is located on a small island that can only be reached by private boat. You have to park your car on the mainland. The rooms are historically rustic and offer an ambience like in Norway 100 years ago, but in luxury.

Driving Distance: Geirangerfjord -> Trollkirka --> Atlantic Road: approx. 160 km (approx. 4h) including ferries

Day 10: Trollstigen + Bitihorn

Today of the 2 weeks Norway itinerary we are heading back south. The actual destination is the area around Vagamo, but before that you should make a stop at the famous serpentine road Trollstigen.

Trollstigen

Trollstigen is one of the most popular tourist routes on a road trip through Norway. The special thing about this road are the 11 hairpin curves along which you will climb more than 400 up to the top of the pass. In between you will even pass a waterfall. At the top there is a viewing platform from which you have a great view of the serpentines and the valley in front of you. By the way, the Trollstigen is also one of the Norwegian scenic routes.

Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists drive through the hairpin bends of Trollstigen and you should do the same. Besides driving over this road and looking down on it from above, there is not much to do here, but you should not miss this opportunity.

You don’t have to spend more than 1-2 hours here, but you can continue directly towards Vagamo.

For the next three days we rented a cozy room in Vågåmo* and took this as a starting point for further hikes and tours. For the first day we had chosen the Bitihorn. This is a hike to a mountain peak from which you have a wonderful 360° view of the Jotunheimen National Park .

To start the hike, park at the parking lot marked below, which is directly across from the Sami tent with the souvenirs. You can also see the exact location here on Google Streetview .

There is a sign in the parking lot that says something about a 5€ fee in Norwegian. Since we could not imagine how this fee was to be paid – since there was no parking attendant running around – we just parked our car and started walking. The way leads first on the back of the mountain, in order to run from there quite steeply on the top.

The view to the back is usually the more beautiful, because you look most of the time on a beautiful lake landscape while looking forward you always have the steeply rising peak in front of your eyes.

We didn’t make it all the way to the top, because halfway up the wind is blowing pretty hard, but we still enjoyed the great view (from almost the top). We had a very wide overview of a part of the Jotunheimen National Park and we could see from above even almost our car on the parking lot. Really an amazing panorama!

All details about the hike on the Bitihorn you can find here:

Bitihorn Norway | Hiking in Jotunheimen National Park

Stay in a Traditional Norwegian Wooden House

In Vågåmo, you can really enjoy yourself at the SOV Lodge* . From the outside, the accommodation is rather inconspicuous, like a normal Norwegian wooden cabin.

But the interior is just a beautiful mix of modern and traditional . In addition, there is a super delicious breakfast. Feel free to plan your next 2-3 nights here.

Driving Distance: Atlantic road --> Trollstigen --> Vagamo: approx. 240km (4h)

Day 11: Hulderstigen

On day 11 of our road trip through Norway, we wanted to take it a little easier and therefore only went for a short hike at Hulderstigen (Google Maps Link ) and otherwise chilled a lot in our cozy accommodation.

Hulderstigen is a completely flat circular hiking trail in Jotunheimen National Park. We chose it because we needed something not so strenuous for a change and this trail was just right for that. In our opinion, it would also be suitable to walk it, for example, with small children. You run among other things past an idyllic lake and through deep coniferous forests .

In between, you also meet the one or other sheep and can (Norway-typical) sign a guest book.

If you expect a spectacular hike over hill and dale, you are surely wrong here. But if you are looking for a relaxing walk through a very beautiful forest landscape, the Hulderstigen is highly recommended. Especially for families with small children or even if you are traveling with your dog, this hike is a great idea!

Driving Distance: N one, because we stayed in the same area. Overnight Stay: You will spend the night again in the SOV Lodge* in Vagamo

Day 12 of the Norway Trip: Knutshoe

The next day of our Norway road trip we hiked our personal highlight : Knutshoe! This was for us the most beautiful and breathtaking hike of our entire vacation . We hardly met other people and had perfect weather most of the time and once we reached the top we had this incredible view that looked like it was painted. Awesome!

We purposely chose to hike Knutshoe, rather than the directly adjacent, and much more famous, Besseggen! Since our Trolltunga experience, we didn’t want to share nature with so many other people.

The Besseggen is a very famous highlight of Norway, but it is accordingly crowded there. Also, at Besseggen, the organization of the hike was too complicated for us. You have to pay for the parking and then go by boat to the start of the hike. If you come here too late, then you have to accept long waiting times.

Since we selected the rather unknown hike, we were alone in nature and could just enjoy the beautiful landscape.

Read all about our hike in our Knutshoe Hiking Guide

Driving Distance: None, because you will stay in the area Overnight: You will spend the night again at SOV Lodge* in Vagamo

Day 13: Lillehammer & Journey towards Oslo

On day 13, our Norway itinerary took us to Oslo  (we were already on our way back towards the ferry to Germany ) and also to  Lillehammer . Or at least the Olympic ski jumping area. That’s also the only reason why I knew the city. And we are honest, we have not really given the city a chance.

But we didn’t have time for that. We were just passing through. To have a look at the Olympic area you can make a stop, but you don’t have to of course. We found it quite nice and it meant only a small detour for us.

But on the way to Lillehammer we already noticed that we left Fjord Norway , because the fjords, mountains and lakes became gradually less. In the area around Lillehammer and Oslo you don’t really feel like in Norway (at least from the landscape), but rather like in flat Denmark.

Onward Journey towards Oslo

It goes now still scarcely 2 hours further in the direction of Oslo. So that you don’t have to drive so much on your Norway road trip today, you should look for an accommodation near Oslo. Just outside of Oslo, we can recommend a great place to stay that is just far enough away to be in the quiet countryside, but also close enough to Oslo for sightseeing the next day.

Accommodation Tip: Historic Mansion near Oslo

This stately mansion near Oslo offers really great luxury and is super for winding down your Norway road trip.

The large rooms are comfortably furnished and the whole ambience of the hotel is designed for luxury and enjoyment. By the way, a rich breakfast is also included here. The hotel is located in a park-like setting and is generally very quiet.

Driving Distance: Vagamo --> Oslo: approx. 315km (4h)

Day 14: Sightseeing Oslo

Today you can drive into Oslo in just about 20 minutes to see the city. Oslo is the capital of Norway and gave us a little culture shock, because of the huge contrast to the nature of Fjord Norway.

In Oslo itself, we got the shock in terms of crowds . And we stood for the first time on our Norway road trip again in the traffic jam (!!). In this respect, this day was also a good preparation for the everyday life at home. Apart from that, we didn’t like Oslo that much. But we are not really city people, but feel more at home in nature. But if you want to buy souvenirs, the city center is naturally predestined for this. If you like to stroll around city you should check the best things to do in Oslo .

If you want to buy souvenirs and experience some culture, Oslo is of course predestined for that. There is a really long shopping street and many opportunities to store and also cultural highlights do not come up short here.

In our opinion, you can skip Oslo on a Norway road trip without a guilty conscience. But if you want to pay a (short) visit to the city, you can check out the following highlights:

Oslo Sights

The harbor district aker brygge.

In summer, the harbor district is a real hotspot in Oslo. Here you can find (similar to Bergen) many restaurants, stores and souvenir stores. You can stroll around and enjoy an ice cream while watching the people

Museum Peninsula Bygdoy

The museum peninsula Bygdov can be reached by ferry (line B9) and offers a selection of more than 10 museums. Here you can find among others the Kon-Tiki Museum & the Fram Museum. There you can see old replica Viking ships or information about the polar expedition of Roald Amundsen.

More information about the museums can be found at visitoslo.com .

The Royal Castle

The Royal Castle is actually still used as the King’s residence and is also used as a very distinguished guest house for foreign state guests. It is surrounded by a large palace park, laid out in the manner of an English landscape park, which is freely accessible. The castle itself can be visited from late June to mid-August. An organized tour costs about 13 Euro and can be booked at VisitOslo .

If you want to explore the most beautiful sights in a short time on foot, take a look here: Oslo sights – On shore excursion 4 hours on foot through Oslo

Drive to the Ferry Harbour to Denmark

After your visit to Oslo, you should drive a bit towards the coast so that you can take the ferry back to Denmark early the next morning. We would recommend you to drive from Oslo to Larvik and either stay in the very nice Gon Camping or in a comfortable hotel.

If you prefer a hotel for your last night, we can recommend the following:

Accommodation Tip: Antique Hotel near the Ferry Port

The Lysko Gjestegård offers antique rustic rooms with an ambience like a hundred years ago. Nevertheless, the comfort does not come too short. The roomsare really very lovingly decorated and you feel here like in a Viking museum. What a perfect end to a Norway road trip.

From the hotel you drive the next morning not 800 meters to the ferry port. If you don’t have tickets for the ferry to Hirtshals yet, you should book them at directferries.com .

Driving Distance: Oslo -> Larvik: approx. 135 km (approx. 1:45 h)

Day 15: Ferry & Drive back to Germany

On the last day of our 2 week Norway road trip, we took the ferry in Larvik (booked with directferries *) with a heavy heart to get back to Hirtshals in Denmark. The Colorline ferry was also a lot bigger than the Fjordline ferry we had taken on the way there.

Inside the ship there was also plenty of seating, some restaurants and other stores with the possibility to buy souvenirs. A really pleasant end to the vacation. After another 1000 kilometers through flat Denmark and northern Germany , we were finally sadly back home and could only think back longingly to the wonderful time of our Norway road trip. We will definitely be back!

Do   you want to visit the Lofoten Islands ?

The Lofoten Islands offer paradisiacal beaches, wonderful hikes and a landscape that is unique in Norway.

The Lofoten are an absolute longing destination. We tell you everything important for your travel planning.

• Our Lofoten travel reports
• Lofoten Road Trip Itinerary
• The most beautiful beaches in Lofoten

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