Norway Road Trip

Norway is simply beautiful! Join us on an unforgettable road trip where you'll experience all facets of the country. Majestic waterfalls and gigantic fjords await you.

Everyone knows the breathtaking pictures of the incredible Norwegian landscape. Endless fjords alternate with impressive mountain ranges and forests where you can find moose, bears, and wolverines. A trip to the glacier, a rafting tour on a mountain river, or a leisurely walk along the apple orchards in the south - all of this is no problem in Norway. Here you'll find everything your heart desires.

The only downside: If you want to discover all the beauties of the country, you need a lot of time. However, most people don't have that. We would like to show you how to make the most of your Norway road trip. For this, we tested two popular means of transportation: After arriving in Oslo, we first took the train to the beautiful city of Bergen, and after a brief stay, we traveled through Norway in our rental car, along the fjords, waterfalls, and gorges back toward Oslo. Here you will find our travel report with helpful tips.

Short on time for lots of scenery? The Bergen Railway solves this problem perfectly. For those traveling in Economy Class, tickets are available from €53 one way. A good price for a journey of six and a half hours. A seat in Comfort Class requires a few more Norwegian kroner, but you get more legroom and complimentary coffee and tea. There is free Wi-Fi (as is almost everywhere in Norway), and for kids, there is a dedicated play car. A few cars down, the dining car awaits with its red seating groups reminiscent of an American diner.

The ride on the Bergen Railway starts out of Oslo, taking you up to Europe's highest plateau, Hardangervidda. The Finse station is located at an elevation of 1,222 meters, where there is still plenty of snow even in June. The train winds through breathtaking landscapes on the way to the plateau. It alternates between the fjords, passing charming colorful wooden houses, and through forests and meadows where horses graze.

Cozy hours with fantastic views...

One place that particularly stuck with us was the ski resort Geilo. Primarily because of its name, but also the mountains with their wooden cabins, the ski slopes, and the lakes make this location a real highlight. In winter, it's quite the scene. After a long climb to the snowy Finse station, the Bergen Railway slowly descends back down the plateau. After several cozy hours with fantastic views, the train finally arrives in Bergen. The ride on the Bergen Railway is the perfect start for a Norway tour. Here you get a first impression of how diverse, varied, and impressive the landscape is. Curiosity rises - now it's off into nature!

After a day of sightseeing in Bergen, it's finally time to hit the road - nature is calling. Picking up the rental car at the Bergen airport is no problem at all. The office is located right in the entrance area, and the rental cars are parked a few hundred meters away. Within minutes, all formalities are taken care of, and the journey can begin. The nearly new VW Golf we receive is very well-suited for our plans - small and nimble, it weaves through the narrow mountain roads and has enough horsepower to accelerate to the speed limit on the highway. The interior and features make the drive easier, especially the cruise control and automatic transmission are worth their weight in gold in Norway. Long driving times of two to three hours can be comfortably endured.

Our plan is to drive from Bergen leisurely towards the south. However, we have a detour planned towards Eidfjord and the Vøringfossen, one of Norway's largest waterfalls. From there, we will head towards Odda. Close to the city is the Trolltunga, possibly the most famous rock ledge in the world. After that, the journey will lead us towards Preikestolen. This rock formation has been on our list of must-see places for years. After this hike, we don't have any specific destinations. We've decided to just drive along the coast towards Kristiansand and stay overnight wherever we particularly like. After six days and 1,300 kilometers, we will finally fly back to Germany.

Driving in Norway during a road trip is extremely relaxing; horns are rarely honked, and all drivers adhere to the prescribed speed limit. Speeding here can be quite costly - already, going six to eight km/h over the limit can cost you €80. A speed violation of more than 50 km/h can cost over €1,000. Many routes incur tolls: Many rental cars have a chip installed that is automatically registered by the toll stations. The costs are settled later. Here, you can also see where the toll fees go - the roads are very well maintained, and they are constantly being renewed. Fueling up in Norway is somewhat more expensive than in Germany. A liter of diesel costs around €1.60. Our economical compact car can travel about 850 kilometers on a full tank.

The roads along the fjords wind tightly around the mountains, which can get a bit tricky when encountering oncoming traffic, especially since many campers are out there. Occasionally, gigantic bridges span across the water, but in most cases, ferries transport drivers and pedestrians across. These charge a small fee, but the crossing is worth it just for the view. As you can see, your Norway road trip will be an adventure against a picturesque backdrop.

In Norway, the same principle applies as in the United States: The journey is the destination. Usually, there's something extraordinary to see along the roadside, prompting a brief stop. With some luck, you'll stumble upon true natural wonders. On the route from Odda to Jørpeland, for example, you will find Låtefossen, a two-part waterfall that you can spot while passing by. There's a small parking area and a little hut where you can buy souvenirs. The water crashes down here so loudly and forcefully that you can't hear your own voice. Impressive!

Our first day trip is already exhilarating: The impressive hike to the Trolltunga (Troll's Tongue), an amazing rock ledge near Odda, is on the agenda. The ascent takes between 4 to 5 hours - if you don't start early in the morning, you might run into time constraints because you'll need just as much time to come back. Even in June, you can expect snow at the heights, so adequate water and provisions are as essential as good hiking gear. The hike goes through marshes, over rocks, meadows, and along the water, with red paint marking on stones or trees guiding hikers on their adventure. Upon reaching the top, an extraordinary view is offered. Trolltunga is one of the most unusual rock formations in the world and, much like Preikestolen, is a popular photo opportunity.

In Norway, you are a small light, for nature is so massive that you really feel tiny. That's what you think when standing on one of the world's most impressive rock ledges and looking down into the Lysefjord. Far below, about 600 meters beneath us, boats slowly glide across the deep blue water, and around stand other hikers mesmerized at the cliff, enjoying the views of the surroundings, taking daring memory photos of their adventure, and letting their feet dangle over the abyss.

In the face of Norway's immense nature, you feel tiny.

The path to the Preikestolen, the cliff, is somewhat challenging, and now and then a rain cloud sweeps over us. It's foggy, the ascent is steep, and here and there some snow still lies. On the ascent, the trail goes alongside some marshes, over hand-hewn stone steps, and past small lakes. Once at the top, the sun breaks through the clouds, illuminating the rocky ledge and the fjord.

Our Norway road trip takes us along the Hardangerfjord toward Ullensvang. Here lies one of the many accommodations you can rent directly by the fjord. From the living room window, we have a perfect view of the blue water of Hardangerfjord. Snow from last winter still rests on the peaks, and waterfalls full of meltwater rush down. Meanwhile, in the valley, the apple trees are in full bloom.

The further south we go, the less snow lies on the mountains. The forests become denser, and the birches greener. The beaches along the southern coast of Norway are strongly reminiscent of the North Sea. Staying in a little beach house is very pleasant. Time seems to move slower here, and many Norwegians use their free time for a little sailing trip. While boats in the fjords can be counted on one hand, it's busier here. With beautiful sunshine and 23 degrees, you can sit on the beach and enjoy life. After the last two days in the sunny south, we head back up towards Oslo. Norway's nature has left us speechless, that much is clear after a week of road tripping in Norway.

To avoid sticking to a tight schedule, we only booked accommodations for the first two nights in advance for our Norway trip. This way, we could decide later on where we liked best during the round trip through Norway. Spontaneous hotel and holiday home bookings are no problem in Norway. Even just half a day before arrival, it was still possible to rent a small cabin directly by the sea. To help you prepare a bit for the selection, you can browse our options - here you will find nice accommodations starting from €21 per person.

The combination of train travel and rental car is simply perfect. On the train ride, you get a very good first impression of the landscape and can relax while gazing out the window. You can only get off at the train stations, and even then, you have only a few minutes to look around before moving on. However, once you're on your own with the car, the Norway road trip can really begin. Complete independence is only available with a rental car, but a train journey is a beautiful alternative if you're short on time or don't want to drive.

Norway offers a new surprise around every corner, and it deserves acknowledgment. So: Stop, get out, and enjoy! Or do you want to discover the country from an entirely different perspective? Maybe a Norway cruise is just the thing for you.