Kevin and I put a ton of effort into crafting an awesome 2-week Norway road trip itinerary – and it was truly an unforgettable trip. A word of warning, the itinerary is for the more aggressive traveler featuring a lot of stops and long legs of driving; if you’re looking to travel at a slower pace, then I would recommend following this itinerary but extending it into a 3-week period instead. From epic hikes, cruising through scenic fjords, mountain train rides, and charming Norwegian villages…this 2-week Norway road trip has a little bit of everything. Check out our trip recap below!
TIP: Everything in Norway is expensive, especially fuel, so try to find the most fuel-efficient car rental possible. Driving in Norway is pretty easy and has a huge number of beautifully scenic routes – there’s lots of space, plenty of free parking, and the roads are well-maintained.
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Getting to Norway
There are several international airports to fly into in Norway including Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, Tromsø, and Ålesund. You’ll find the best selection of flights flying into Oslo, which allows you to access Norway’s main cities but also is within a reasonable driving distance to the outdoor attractions. We chose to fly into Stavanger as it’s closest to some of Norway’s most famous hikes (hiking Trolltunga was one of our major ‘must-do’s for the trip). If you want to skip the hiking and want to focus on scenic fjords, then I would recommend flying into Ålesund.
Best Time for a Road Trip through Norway
The best time for a road trip through Norway is during the summer months, as several of the mountain passes are typically closed until mid-May. Opening dates of the various routes can vary depending on snow cover and weather, so it’s important to check out the latest road conditions and projected opening dates through the website of Norway’s Public Roads Administration. We completed our road trip in the middle of July and had some great weather – plenty of sun for days we wanted to go out and kayak or hike, even though there was still snow in the mountains.
Important Things to Note for your Norway Road Trip
- Food is very expensive in Norway so when you can, I’d recommend picking up groceries and eating in the car. You are on a road trip after all! I have to admit that my diet during this trip consisted of a LOT of pre-made veggie platters and dips, and Oreos.
- Be prepared for all types of weather! Even though we visited in the height of summer, we faced several cold days and nights and were so glad that we brought our winter jackets. Layers and waterproof boots are a must!
- There are a lot of toll roads in Norway. If you’re renting a car in Norway, then the toll fees happen automatically which is convenient (most cars have the AutoPASS and you receive a bill from the car rental company after your trip).
- You will likely need to take multiple car ferries on your road trip through Norway. While it’s not necessary to book the shorter ferries in advance, it’s important to get there at least 15-30 minutes in advance to ensure you get a spot. For longer distances (for example, if you’re taking the car ferry to the Lofoten Islands like we did), then you should DEFINITELY book in advance. Most of the ferries have cafeterias on board, where you can purchase sandwiches, hot dogs, waffles, coffee, ice cream and more. Kevin and I especially enjoyed the puffy Norwegian pancakes they served on the ferries (known as svele), whuich are served with brunost norwegian cheese and butter. Apparently, sveleis the ‘official’ snack of Norwegian ferries!
Day 1: Stavanger
Stavanger is Norway’s fourth-largest city, and was our first stop during our 2-week Norway road trip. It’s a great base if you’re looking for easy access to some of Norway’s most famous hikes, and it’s also a charming old town. Day 1 of our itinerary was dedicated to stretching our legs (you’ll want a fairly relaxing day after a long flight, and before an intense hike), and just letting ourselves roam around the city without much of a plan. We stayed at the Comfort Hotel Square which is a modern design, budget-friendly hotel. It was a pretty no-frills hotel but did the job – we chose it primarily for it’s convenient location (around a 5-minute walk into the heart of the city).
Gamle Stavanger (a.k.a Old Stavanger)
We spent the first part of our day exploring Gamle Stavanger, which is a small historic part of town located near the old Vagen harbour with restored white-painted wooden buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Strolling through the streets was like stepping back in time, and we loved getting lost in the various alleyways and hidden nooks-and-crannies of the area.
Ovre Holmegate
This colorful street is filled with lively cafes, popular bars and restaurants, and creative street art. Located in the center of the city, it’s a great place to spend a few hours wandering the various shops and appreciating the different color painted buildings. Locals call it ‘Fargegata’ (a.k.a. the color street), and for good reason!
Day 2: Pulpit Rock to Odda
Hike to Pulpit Rock
Day 2 of our Norway road trip was dedicated to the popular hike to Pulpit Rock (also known as Preikestolen). This moderate family-friendly 5-mile round trip hike can get extremely crowded, so go early! We were lucky to visit on a sunny morning (left Stavanger around 9:00am), and the crowds on the trails were insane.
Pulpit Rock is a giant rock tower that stands 604 meters tall; it’s famous for incredible views looking over Lysefjord, and was also featured in a Tom Cruise Mission Impossible movie. There are two ways to get to Pulpit Rock with the car, both requiring that you take a car ferry (either from Stavanger to Tau, or from Oanes). You can also take a public bus to the trail through Go Fjords, which also includes a bonus cruise on Lysefjord. It took us around 3-hours to complete the trail, and that included a long snack break at the top.
Afterwards, we completed a long four-hour drive to the town of Odda which would serve as our base for the hike to Trolltunga. We picked up groceries for dinner (along with our breakfast and snack items for the hike), and called it an early night. For those looking for a no-frills but clean stay that is in a convenient location for Trolltunga, I would recommend staying at Bakkegata (a.k.a., ‘The Blue House’).
Day 3: Hike to Trolltunga
Day 3 of our 2-week Norway road trip was one for the books, and started off with a 5:00am wake-up call. The hike to Trolltunga (a.k.a., ‘The Troll’s Tongue’) has been on my bucket-list for ages, and was one of our primary reasons for visiting Norway. This insane cliff is situated over 1000 meters above sea level, with the ‘tongue’ overlooking the Ringedalsvatnent lake.
It was a 20-minute drive from Bakkegata to Skjeggedal, which is where the start of the hike to Trolltunga is located. This 13.6-mile long hike is extremely steep and strenuous, and took us around 9-10 hours to complete.
IMPORTANT: There is a new car park (Trolltunga Road Lot) that cuts off the first big climb of the hike (and not a scenic part of the hike at all), saving you about 1.5 hours of hiking. I highly recommend trying to park here; there are only 30 parking spots available, and the road opens every morning at 6am and you must have pre-booked tickets to drive up to this area.
Sitting at the edge of the tongue was truly an unforgettable experience. Although there were several other hiking groups, there is plenty of space at the top for everyone to relax, and the queue to take our shot on the tongue moved very quickly. Several people even offered to take a couple’s photo of Kevin and I on the tongue (I think there’s some comradery that forms after knowing that everyone around you has just completed the same brutal victory of making it to the top!).
To be honest, I was extremely nervous that I wouldn’t be ‘fit’ enough to complete the hike (Kevin and I are pretty active, but we aren’t used to extremely long hikes!); I found the first 1/3 of the hike the most difficult as it required a steep hike up stone steps, but everything else was manageable. Yes, I was absolutely exhausted by the end of the hike, but really only suffered some sore thighs and feet for a few days afterwards. The best tip I can give you for tackling Trolltunga is to plan for several short snack breaks along the way, and just keep going!
Day 4: Bergen
Day 4 of our 2-week Norway road trip was focused around the city of Bergen, which is the second-largest city in Norway and around a 2.5 hour drive from the town of Odda. Bergen was by far my favorite city stop on our road trip in Norway – this cultural hub still holds all the charm of an old town, but also has some great attractions to see. Similar to our day in Stavanger, we spent the day taking it easy and resting our bodies after our hike to Trolltunga, and spent the day slowly meandering through the city and enjoying the summer sun.
While in Bergen, we stayed at the Zander K Hotel, which was again, a very budget-friendly but clean lodging option that was close to the city. The free breakfast buffet at the hotel was outstanding, and we definitely took advantage of it (did I mention that everything in Norway is expensive?).
Bryggen
My favorite part of Bergen was the colorful waterfront facade of Bryggen, the old Hanseatic Wharf. This UNESCO World Heritage site features gorgeous medieval wooden structures, and there are several local shops, galleries, and cafes tucked away in the surrounding alleys. Apparently, the buildings have burned down and been rebuilt multiple times, but they are always reconstructed in the same building techniques, design, and layout as the original buildings to preserve a slice of history.
I was surprised by how many wonderfully charming streets and small parks there were in Bergen to explore.
Bergen Fish Market
During the summer months, there is a huge outdoor fish market that takes place every day near the Malthallen Food Hall. We wandered around the various stalls with some fresh berries in hand, and also got some delicious seafood to-go. The city’s fish market has a long history as the spot has been used for centuries as the primary trading place for merchants and fishermen.
Fløibanen Funicular
Although you can take a short hike to the top of Mount Fløyen, we opted to take the funicular Fløibanen to the top. This is one of Norway’s best-known attractions (and also serves as a commuter service for the locals who live on the hill), and offers sweeping views over the city. There is a small café and several short nature trails at the top.
Day 5: Flåm
Day 5 of our 2-week Norway road trip was spent traveling to and experiencing the village of Flåm (about a 2.5 hour drive away from Bergen). Flåm is a heavily-visited fjord destination in Norway due to it’s location – it sits at the end of Aurlandsfjord, and along Sognefjord. We stayed in Flåm Ferdaminne, which was a great apartment-style lodging option in the heart of Flåm.
Gudvagen
Note: If you have some extra time in your itinerary, you can stop in Gudvagen on your way to Flam (about a 2-hour drive away from Bergen, and 20-minutes from Flåm) to visit a traditional Viking Valley village. Here you can take a guided tour through the village and learn what life was like as a Viking, and also enjoy a Viking lunch of bread, cured sausage, and cabbage salad. I’ve included Gudvagen in this itinerary even though we didn’t actually get a chance to make it here; unfortunately, even though we were originally planning on making a stop in Gudvagen, we ran out of time, but it sounds super fun and I would’ve loved to learn more about Viking history.
Flåm Train Ride
Flåm is not just famous for it’s proximity to the great fjords of Norway, but also because it’s home to the Flåm Railway, which is considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful train journeys. The train ride was around an hour each way (the specific route goes from Flåm to Myrdal mountain station), and took us past gorgeous fjord landscapes, through winding mountain passes and storybook homes, with a short pit-stop at the lush Kjosfssen waterfall. The Flåm railway is also known to be one of the greatest engineering feats in Norway, with one of the steepest standard gauge lines in the world!
TIP: For the best views, sit on the right side of the train!
Ægir Brewpub
As you can probably tell from the itinerary so far, we didn’t spend a lot of time eating out while we were in Norway, due to the exorbitant prices of food! However, since we ran out of time to visit Gudvangen, we decided to treat ourselves to a romantic dinner out at the Ægir Brewpub in Flåm, which was definitely one of the highlights of our stay in the village. This craft brewery is Viking-inspired, with the building designed in the style of a stave church. With wooden walls, blazing open fires, and fur-rug covered benches….it was a cozy place to enjoy a hearty flight of beer and dinner.
Day 6: Ferry to Kaupanger, to Geiranger
Scenic ferry ride
Day 6 of our trip was dedicated mostly to traveling. We took the car ferry from Gudvangen to Kaupanger (around 2.5 hours), which was a great way to experience several of the most beautiful fjords in Norway: the Nærøyfjord, Aurlandsfjord and Sognefjord.
Bøyabreen Glacier
Afterwards, we made the long drive from Kaupanger to Geiranger (around 4 hours). This drive took us past the Bøyabreen Glacier, which is one of the glacier arms of Josteldalsbreen (one of the largest glaciers on the European continent) and easy to see from the Highway 5 road. It was absolutely crazy to see this glacier relatively up-close, nestled between two giant mountain peaks.
Gamle Strnefellsvegen
We then took a short detour off the main highway towards Geiranger to complete a nearby National Scenic route (one of 18 designated Norwegian Scenic Routes) called Gamle Strnefellsvegen. This 27km loop of road was built as a dedicated tourist road, but is a bit out-of-the-way, so we had it entirely to ourselves! It took us past several lakes and rivers in the brightest turquoise color, and we got out several times to walk around, stretch our legs, and experiment with some drone shots!
Geiranger Skywalk
From there, we continued on to the viewpoint at Dalsnibba, which features a tourist observation platform called the Geiranger Skywalk. Dalsnibba is a mountain pass located in the Western part of Norway, and the road to the summit is extremely steep and features several hairpin turns up a winding toll road. The viewpoint at Dalsnibba is approximately 1500 meters above sea level, and offers the highest fjord view in Europe.
We ended the day in Geiranger where we checked into the Grande Fjord Hotel. This 4-star boutique hotel was a bit of a splurge for us, but was SO worth the cost. It was literally located in the heart of Geiranger, with some of the most stunning views overlooking the Geiranger Fjord. Stay here if you can!
Day 7: Geiranger
Our time in Geiranger was another major highlight of our 2-week Norway road trip. This charming village sits at the head of the UNESCO-protected Geirangerfjord, and is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and rushing waterfalls. The village itself is extremely small so it’s easy to walk around the town in an hour or two. This place is famed for it’s plethora of outdoor adventures, and an extra day or two in Geiranger would’ve allowed us to take more advantage of the various hikes (for example, next time, I want to walk the Fosserasa National Hiking Trail which passes behind the Storsaeter waterfall).
Kayaking in Geiranger
Outside of hiking Trolltunga, another one of my major ‘bucket list’ things to do was to go kayaking in a Norwegian fjord, and Geiranger was the perfect place to do it. There are plenty of kayak rental spots along the waterfront, so we chose one at random, and even during peak tourist season, we were able to secure two single kayaks for a few hours each.
Kayaking through the fjord was a surreal experience. We started on the right side of the fjord and visited the Seven Sisters waterfall (named this way because the waterfall looks like the hair of seven women), which falls 820 feet down a steep rock cliff into the water.
On the opposite side of the waterfall, we admired the “Suitor” waterfall. According to local Norwegian legend, the Suitor tried to woo the Sisters, but was always rejected.
Flydalsjuvet
After a morning of kayaking, we made our way to Flydalsjuvet. This viewpoint in Geiranger provides an iconic view over the Geiranger fjord and features several great photo spots including the art installation called “Fjordsetet” (a.k.a. the “Queen’s Chair” since it was unveiled by Norway’s Queen Sonja).
Buffet at the Grande Fjord Hotel
We ended the day feasting on an amazing buffet at the Restaurant “Hyskeje” at our hotel. This was another ‘splurge’ for us, but honestly, despite a pricey cost, we found the buffet to be worth it (I’d rather spend a little extra money to get fresh, unlimited, high quality food rather than waste it on a bunch of average but still expensive dinners). There were so many different food stations – from fresh seafood, to handmade pastas, to different salad and dessert bars….and the restaurant had the most romantic views overlooking the fjord.
Day 8: Trollstigen and Alesund
Day 8 was focused on traveling between Geiranger and the city of Alesund (around a 2-hour drive).
Fossevandring
Before leaving Geiranger, we made a morning pitstop to the waterfall walk known as Fossevandring, which is a 327-step elevated walkway along the surging Storfossen waterfall. It was so fun being able to wind through the various stairs and platforms to get an up-close-and-personal view of the waterfall.
Trollstigen Drive
Our drive towards Alesund took us along the National Tourist Route between Geiranger-Trollstigen (road 63), which was an exhilarating driving experience. The Trollstigen road twists and turns through 11 hairpin bends as it climbs up the mountain Stigrøra. There are several viewpoints, tourist shops, and walkways at the top of Trollstigen which allow you to see dramatic views of the winding road and the surrounding countryside.
TIP: It’s worth driving Trollstigen earlier in the morning to avoid the tourist buses that struggle with hairpin bends. It’s a single lane road so you definitely don’t want to get caught behind one!
Day 9: Ålesund
Ålesund is built on a row of islands extending into the ocean, featuring gorgeous multi-colored Art Nouveau-style buildings. The city is fairly small and walkable, and so we enjoyed spending the first part of the day strolling through the city with an ice cream in hand, and admired the different buildings. Note – While in Ålesund , we stayed at the First Hotel Atlantica, but I wouldn’t really recommend staying at the hotel – even though it was budget-friendly (that was the theme of most of our hotel stays in Norway), the rooms were pretty small and dated. Better options include Hotel 1904 and the Quality Hotel Alesund.
Aksla Viewpoint
By far, the best thing to do in Ålesund is to walk up to Fjellstua, which is a great viewpoint overlooking the archipelago and town center. The path starts in the main city park, and takes you up 418 steps.
Atlanterhavsparken
The Atlanterhavsparken is Norway’s first marine science center, and is home to a public aquarium built along the coastline. Kevin LOVES aquariums (and zoos…and really anything to do with animal viewing), so a pitstop to the aquarium was a must for our Norway trip. We spent a few fun hours roaming the aquarium, laughing at the penguin exhibit, and enjoying the activity room where you could feed and pet various small fish, crabs, and starfish.
Atlantic Ocean Road
From Ålesund, we made our way towards the Atlantic Ocean Road, which is a 5.2 mile long road that stretches between the towns of Kristiansund and Molde, over the Norwegian Sea. The road itself is built above water, and is spread across several small islands and spanned by eight bridges. Often dubbed as “the world’s most scenic drive”, the road is also one of Norway’s National Tourist Routes, and is one of the coolest roads I’ve ever seen!
Trondheim
We ended the day by staying the night in Trondheim; to be honest, we didn’t spend much time in the area (there’s really not a lot to see), and primarily chose Trondheim as our resting spot since we were headed to the Trondheim Airport the next day to complete the final leg of our Norway road trip; the Lofoten Islands!
Day 10-14: Lofoten Islands
The next morning, we departed Trondheim by flight and arrived in Bodo, which is the main point of departure for car ferries to the Lofoten Islands.
The Lofoten Islands is so incredibly beautiful, and there are so many things to do there that it deserved it’s own dedicated post. Read on to learn more about the last leg of our amazing 2-Week Norway Road Trip by checking out this post: “10 Epic Things To Do in the Lofoten Islands“.
And there you have it, the exact itinerary we followed on our 2-week road trip through Norway. I really hope that one day I’ll have another chance to make it back to this beautiful country and experience some of the sights that we had to miss due to lack of time. I hope you found it useful! If you have any questions or comments, leave me a note below.
Would you ever include a price break down? What you budgeted but then actually spent? Planning a very similar trip and people comment how expensive it is to travel to Norway but then never include the cost of there trip. Thank you 🙂
hello. this is by far the most impressive itinerary ive seen which covers almost all the highlights that i personally want to see too! have you by any chance uploaded a road trip route map anywhere?
Hi – Your Norway road trip description is great, and will be a big help as my wife Lauren and I – though in our mid-60’s – plan a similar trip next August (though probably starting from Bergen). (I’m also very impressed by all the traveling you and your husband have done, and what great destinations! I’m on my way to being a fan!) A question for you – and our biggest initial planning challenge- concerns car rental: I’m assuming you did a one-way car rental to Trondheim? And then another from Bodo to Evenes airport, for the Lofotens part of your trip? Weren’t these very expensive? Any suggestions for economizing? Thanks in advance! Gerry (and Lauren)