5 finest highway journeys in Norway

In Norway, mountains spring straight from the ocean and mossy greens sit starkly towards gray, craggy, snow-capped peaks. The best way to take it all in? Behind the wheel of a automobile. 

A drive across the surroundings of nation is, fairly merely, an otherworldly expertise. From island-hopping, bridge-crossing coastal drives to hair-raising mountain passes, take your time to explore Norway at its very best with these prime road-trip routes.

1. The Lofoten Street 

Greatest highway journey for heading off the overwhelmed observe
Svolvær airport to Å; 133km (83 miles)

For these on the lookout for one thing adventurous, distant and, properly, arctic, attempt the highway that connects the islands of Lofoten, a wild archipelago that adheres to the coast and sits contained in the Arctic Circle. Removed from the overwhelmed observe of vacationer websites inside hanging distance of Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim, the Lofoten lies within the far north of the nation, which makes it the perfect place to see birdlife and the northern lights within the wintertime. This journey takes you alongside the E10 all the best way to its finish within the tiny fishing village of Å, on the far west of the archipelago.

With only one highway to comply with because it snakes its approach throughout the islands, there’s little or no probability of getting misplaced. However don’t rush: the entire drive may be performed in below three hours, or you may take just a few days to soak in all there’s to see. Because the highway hugs the coast, you’ll be handled to beautiful views of mountains rising steeply from the ocean, turquoise waters and – relying on the time of 12 months – loads of snow in winter or lush greenery and blonde seashores in summer time. Regardless of mendacity throughout the Arctic Circle, the local weather is surprisingly gentle because of the Gulf Stream. 

Alongside the best way lie just a few important sights. First on the route from Svolvær airport is the perspective at Torvdalshlsen, with its trendy benches offering shelter as you look over Vestvågøy. From there, eager twitchers ought to head over to the west facet of the world to the lakes of Gårdsvatnet, Skjærpvatnet and Storeidvatnet to see one of the best winged wildlife the area has to supply. 

Staying inside Vestvågøy, it’s on to Eggum and its amphitheater-shaped relaxation space that gives views down the rugged shoreline on one facet and towering, jagged mountains on the opposite. An hour additional west towards the tip of the highway is Rambergstranda, which options an idyllic seaside in Jusnesvika bay. The positioning is an uncommon mix of peaks, sand and azure seas, with a walkway fabricated from railway sleepers attractive you all the way down to the water’s edge. 

From Rambergstranda, it’s a 40-minute drive to the village of Å, the place the highway fairly actually ends. This tiny village was depending on fishing till the Nineties, when tourism began to take over. As one of the crucial westerly factors within the nation, the village is a superbly remoted outpost, whose purple picket fishing huts hark again to a time when vacationers would seldom enterprise this far.

Planning tip: Fly on to Svolvær airport on the island closest to the mainland, which serves because the gateway for the Lofoten highway. Fortunately, you’ll discover a rental-car firm on the airport, which saves a prolonged drive by Norway to get to the place to begin.

2. The Atlantic Street

Greatest highway journey for bridges
Molde to the Gjemnessundbrua suspension bridge; 111km (69 miles)

A frequent function of Norway’s highway community, bridges and tunnels preserve lots of the nation’s 50,000 islands linked. For these seeking to pattern a few of Norway’s most stunning bridges, look no additional than the Atlantic Street. Starting not removed from town of Molde, the route has linked the island of Averøy with the mainland since 1989.

Greatest referred to as one of many filming areas for a driving scene within the 2021 Bond movie No Time to Die, the route has a complete of eight bridges that stretch over 8274m (27,146ft) alongside the route, giving solution to some spectacular views throughout the Atlantic.

Begin by driving north from Molde on the E39 earlier than taking the exit for Rte 64 – and prepare for coastal surroundings, tradition and historical past. From right here, there’s no must take any turns because the route guides you as much as the shoreline. The breeze from the Atlantic and the bridges signify the beginning of the drive. 

When you’ve crossed the Storseisundbrua – the highway’s longest and best-known bridge – hopping from one inlet and island to the following may be fairly the expertise on a blustery day. With the ocean foam peppering the highway as you drive alongside, the preliminary stretch is magically moody when a northwest storm rolls in. On a nonetheless summer’s day, it’s equally spectacular – to not point out simpler to cease and snap some spectacular pictures.  

After the principle stretch of bridges, Rte 64 weaves its approach throughout the island of Averøy earlier than dropping down into the Atlantic Ocean Tunnel and resurfacing to affix Rte 70. As soon as throughout the attractive however sparsely populated island of Frei, the highway drops down into one other impossibly lengthy tunnel that reconnects with the island of Bergsøya briefly earlier than heading throughout the mighty Gjemnessundbrua suspension bridge. First opened in 1992, the bridge reconnects to the mainland, the place the route continues on Rte 39 again to town of Molde.

3. Sognefjellet

Greatest highway journey for an inland journey
Lom to Gaupne; 108km (67 miles)

Shifting away from the shoreline, the Sognefjellet is a highway that cuts by the center of the Bøverdalen valley. Count on always altering surroundings as this route climbs as much as a excessive level of 1432m (4705ft), making it northern Europe’s highest mountain move. Given this, a part of the route – from Rustasætre/Vegaskjelet to Turtagrø – is normally open from spring till autumn, closing for the winter months. These touring shortly after it reopens within the spring shall be handled to 3m (10ft) banks of snow lining the highway on each side, illustrating the total power of a Norwegian winter.

As soon as an essential transport artery linking the coast and inland areas, the Sognefjellet was used to hold salt and fish eastward, whereas butter, pitch and leather-based had been transported west. Now a preferred vacationer path, the route has many viewing platforms and spectacular pure options that tempt you off the overwhelmed observe.

Begin in Lom, a small village that has constructed up a repute as a culinary capital (ensure you pattern the native delicacies earlier than heading off). Midway alongside the route, a rugged stone sculpture at Mefjellet by Knut Wold is a agency favourite with photographers, because it frames the jagged mountain panorama surrounding it. 

Nearer to Gaupne, the route continues alongside the shores of Sognefjord from Skjolden towards its finish. The most important and deepest fjord within the nation, Sognefjord is known as “King of the Fjords,” and cuts a 205km (127-mile) course by the center of Norway. As soon as across the glimmering inexperienced and blue waters of Sognefjord, the route results in the small village of Gaupne, the place a conventional picket church overlooks the water.

Planning tip: Gaupne is the right place to cease off earlier than doubling again to drive the route in reverse, or proceed southwest alongside the shores of Sognefjord.

4. Scenic Route Jæren

Greatest highway journey to find Norway’s spectacular south coast 
Ogna to Bore; 41km (25 miles) 

Whereas the Jæren highway between Ogna and Bore itself shouldn’t be significantly inspiring, it gives one of the simplest ways to soak up essentially the most stunning components of Norway’s southern shoreline.

Beginning out within the small village of Ogna, choose up Rte 44 because it heads northwest, hugging the shoreline all the best way. Lower than 10km (6 miles) from Ogna lies the Kvassheim lighthouse, properly value a go to. On a shoreline suffering from shipwrecks, lighthouses are a frequent sight; Kvassheim is among the finest examples. First inbuilt 1912, the lighthouse was nonetheless in operation till 1990, when a smaller, automated beacon changed it. In the present day, the picket constructing homes a museum and customer middle.

From Kvassheim, the route continues northwest on Rte 44 earlier than breaking off to choose up Rte 507, which runs parallel to the white sands of Orrestranda, one of many best beaches in Norway. Right here you may stroll for miles alongside the sand, whereas taking within the wealthy wildlife that encompass the seaside and populate the sand dunes. Ending up, it’s a brief drive to the village of Bore, the place the route involves an finish.

Planning tip: Take your time on this journey: there are many beautiful hidden spots and detours to soak up alongside the best way.

5. Trollstigen move 

Greatest highway journey for thrill seekers and photographers
Åndalsnes to the Trollstigen customer middle; 40km (25 miles)

The Trollstigen pass (the Troll Path) is among the world’s most celebrated roads – with good motive. (You would possibly acknowledge the drive from the ultimate season of Succession.) Made up of 11 bracing hairpin bends that carry the highway up greater than 850m (2790ft) up the mountainside, the route hyperlinks Åndalsnes with the Valldal valley and Geiranger. Changing a difficult climbing path, the move scales a sheer face dominated by the Stigfossen waterfall – a vigorous physique of water that cascades off the mountain and plunges greater than 350m (1000ft) in a thundering torrent.

Beginning within the small city of Åndalsnes, take Rte 64 south out of the city for a brief distance earlier than making a left flip to affix route E136. Head alongside right here till the flip for Rte 63 comes up on the fitting, then head off south. After roughly 20 minutes of driving, the imposing sheer face of the Trollstigen will become visible, which is the place the route begins to twist its approach skywards. There’s a small relaxation space on the backside, which makes for an excellent, low-down shot of the move earlier than the climb begins. 

As soon as on the move, your eyes would possibly need to wander to the views down the valley out of the facet window – however resist the temptation to look away from the tarmac, because it snakes its approach up the mountainside with the rugged fringe of the cliff face on one facet and a hefty drop down on the opposite facet. (Fortunately, there’s a sturdy concrete barrier that strains the highway for a lot of the approach.)

As if the views weren’t sufficient, there’s one other shock on the Trollstigen’s summit. With its trendy steel-and-concrete aesthetic, the Trollstigen customer middle and cafe is a perfect stopping level to catch your breath and take all of it in. 

Better of all is a zig-zagging pathway that begins from the summit and results in viewing platforms perched excessive above the move. The construction is a formidable architectural feat – and likewise the important thing to securing the ultimate piece within the photographic puzzle for these documenting the drive. From up right here, the views on a transparent day are merely chic.

Planning tip: Harsh climate and snow make the route impassable to visitors between October and Could. The highway reopens after the annual spring rockfall, which legend has it outcomes from trolls combating on the close by Trollveggen mountain. For these on the lookout for that epic shot of a steep-sided Norwegian fjord, Trollstigen is the one.