Bergen is such a fun city and there are of course so many things to do in Bergen, but a big reason why a lot of people choose to visit Bergen is actually to leave the city – for the fjords! In fact, the fjords were part of why I chose to move to Bergen.
And luckily there are so many scenic drives you can take from Bergen. Here I’m sharing my recommendations for the best fjords near Bergen, as well as the most scenic mountain routes and best hotels to stay at on a road trip from Bergen.
And if you’re heading to Oslo, I’ve shared the best ways to get from Bergen to Oslo here.
Further down in the article I go into more detail about each possible stop along your road trip from Bergen, including different hotel options and detours, but here are a few examples for Bergen road trip itineraries based on how much time you have (these examples include about three hours of driving per day, except for the day trip, which will take six hours):
Day trip from Bergen: Drive from Bergen to Flåm, then take the Aurlandsfjellet Scenic Route to the Stegastein viewpoint, and then return to Bergen.
1 – 2 days from Bergen: After driving up to Stegastein, return to spend a night at 1. Fretheim Hotel in Flåm or 1. Hotel Aurlandsfjord in Aurland. You could also add a night at 2. Vatnahalsen Hotel near Myrdal, a night at 2. Gudvangen Fjordtell in Gudvangen, or a night at 2. Fleischer’s Hotel in Voss.
3 – 5 days from Bergen: Spend one night at 1. Fretheim Hotel in Flåm or 1. Hotel Aurlandsfjord in Aurland. Then take the Aurlandsfjellet Scenic Route and continue past Stegastein and drive to Balestrand. Spend a night at 2. Kviknes Hotel in Balestrand, and then drive up to Fjærland for a night at 3. Fjærland Fjordstue. After Fjærland, take the Gaularfjellet Scenic Route and drive back to Bergen.
5 – 7 days from Bergen: Spend one night at 1. Hotel Aurlandsfjord in Aurland, then take both the Aurlandsfjellet Scenic Route and Sognefjellet Scenic Route and drive up to Jotunheimen National Park and spend a night at 2-3. Leirvassbu Fjellstue. Add an extra night here if you want to take a day to hike in Jotunheimen. Then drive down to Fjærland for a night at 4. Fjærland Fjordstue. Then take the Gaularfjellet Scenic Route and loop back to Balestrand for a night at 5. Kviknes Hotel. Then drive back to Bergen the next day.
10 – 15 days from Bergen: Spend one night at 1. Hotel Aurlandsfjord in Aurland, then take the Aurlandsfjellet Scenic Route and drive to Balestrand for a night at 2. Kviknes Hotel. From Balestrand take the Gaularfjellet Scenic Route and then drive to Fjærland for a night at 3. Fjærland Fjordstue. Then take the Sognefjellet Scenic Route and drive into Jotunheimen National Park. Spend a night or two at 4-5. Leirvassbu Fjellstue.
Then drive to Geiranger and spend a night at 6. Hotel Union Geiranger. Then take the Geiranger – Trollstigen Scenic Route to Åndalsnes (edit: Trollstigen will be closed for repairs until 2025) and spend a night at 7. Grand Hotel. Then drive to Ålesund and spend a night or two at 8. Hotel 1904. Then drive along Hjørundfjorden to Sæbø and stay at 9. Sagafjord Hotel. Then drive to Stryn and spend a night at 9. Hjelle Hotel. Then either drive all the way back to Bergen, or split up the drive with a night at 10. ThonPartner Hotel Førde.
Driving on the National Scenic Route Aurlandsfjellet
If you only have a day or two, drive to Flåm and then take the Aurlandsfjellet National Scenic Route that runs 47 kilometers between Aurlandsvangen and Lærdalsøyri.
The Aurlandsfjellet Scenic Route will take you up to the famous Stegastein viewpoint, which has incredible views out over Aurlandsfjord, which is a branch of Sognefjord, the largest and deepest fjord in Norway.
The drive from Bergen to Stegastein takes three hours one way, so this is actually doable as a day trip from Bergen if you don’t have much time. If you only have a day to see the fjords, this would be an excellent option.
Aurland & Flåm
Or if you have a bit more time you could spend the night in Aurland or Flåm. In Aurland I recommend staying at Hotel Aurlandsfjord and in Flåm I recommend staying at the Fretheim Hotel. And while you’re in Flåm book a session at the floating sauna just a short walk from the hotel (you can see my TikTok from the sauna here).
My friend Lisa grew up near Flåm and shares her tips for things to do in Flåm here.
Myrdal & Vatnahalsen
From Flåm you could also take the Flåm railway up to Myrdal. Or if you prefer you could drive, though the road doesn’t go all the way to Myrdal. But if you want you can hike the last few kilometers, which will take you up the famous Rallarvegen road, which is especially popular amongst cyclists.
This is also where the Flåm zipline is! I did this hike this summer (2022) and then spent the night at the top at the Vatnahalsen Hotel, which can actually only be reached by hiking or by train. This is such a lovely, traditional mountain hotel and absolutely worth the hike (or train ride from Flåm) here. The views from the hotel are beautiful and the food at the restaurant is excellent, and very Norwegian.
Gudvangen & Nærøyfjord
A cheaper option on the way back to Bergen is the Gudvangen Fjordtell, which I’ve also stayed at and really enjoyed. The views here are stunning, and you can also check out the Viking Village. This isn’t a museum, but a village where people live like Vikings. There are regular guided tours from June to September, and you can talk to the locals who have chosen to live like this even today.
And then from Gudvangen you can also take a fjord cruise through Nærøyfjord, which you can book here.
Voss
Or you could drive a bit farther towards Bergen and check out Voss. You can read my full guide to Voss here.
But if you have a few more days to explore the fjords, keep driving along the Aurlandsfjellet Scenic Route past the Stegastein viewpoint.
It’s funny, there are so many tourists at Stegastein, but as soon as you drive farther up the mountain almost all the tourists disappear. I guess most people do just come here for the viewpoint. But the rest of the drive is also beautiful! You’ll quickly find yourself above the tree line and you’ll really feel like you’re up in the mountains.
After Aurlandsfjellet you’ll have two options if you want to keep driving: you can either drive west towards Balestrand and the Gaularfjellet Scenic Route, or you can drive north to the Sognefjellet Scenic Route.
My recommendation would be to drive west towards Balestrand. This option also lets you loop around back towards Bergen, so it’s a great choice if you’re trying to spend a few days driving around the fjords from Bergen.
I would choose the Sognefjellet route if you’re planning to drive farther north towards Ålesund. Or if you have lots of time, you should first go to Balestrand and then take the Gaularfjellet route, then stop in Fjærland, and then head up north to Sognefjellet.
Balestrand
Balestrand is about three hours from the Stegastein viewpoint. And on the way you can stop at the Kaupanger Stave Church. I’ve written more about visiting Balestrand here.
Balestrand itself is such a sweet little fjord town, and it’s near the start of the Gaularfjellet Scenic Route.
The highlight of my time here was definitely staying at the Kviknes Hotel. This grand 18th century hotel is right on the water, with both a modern wing and a historic wing filled with art and antiques.
This is one of my favorite hotels I’ve stayed at in all of Norway! I splurged on a room with a view in the historic wing and was so glad I did. My room had a huge balcony right on the water.
The best part of the Kviknes Hotel is definitely its stunning location in Balestrand though, so if you prefer something more budget friendly the Balestrand Hotel would also be a great choice. In fact, if you book breakfast here you actually get to eat at the breakfast buffet at the Kviknes Hotel!
Fjærland
Then after Balestrand I recommend driving up to Fjærland (or if you’re going to drive farther north after, take the Gaularfjellet route first, then go to Fjærland, and then up to the Sognefjellet route).
Fjærland is an idyllic little town tucked into the mountains along an arm of Sognefjord. I especially love their cute little book town, which is home to over four kilometers of books! There is the giant Tusund og ei natt bookstore, as well as small outdoor Sjølvplukk (pick-your-own) shelves calling themselves “the country’s most honest bookstore” where you leave a bit of money for each book you take.
I recommend staying at the Fjærland Fjordstue Hotel. This old family-run hotel dates back to the 1930s and it just oozes character, while also maintaining an impressive level of luxury. The hotel is right on the fjord, and from the delicious Norwegian meals served in the restaurant to the old antique Norwegian furnishings, staying here is the perfect way to experience Norway.
While this perhaps might not be ideal for people looking for a modern luxury hotel, if you want to experience more of Norwegian culture the Fjærland Fjordstue Hotel could not be more perfect. I stayed here with my friends Sher and Sam and they said it was a highlight of their time on the Norwegian west coast.
Gaularfjellet Scenic Route
From Fjærland you can take the Gaularfjellet Scenic Route and then head down towards Lavik and back to Bergen. The drive from Gaularfjellet to Bergen takes about three hours.
The Gaularfjellet Scenic Route does split into two different branches. I’ve driven them both and to be honest you don’t really need to drive both – just take one of the branches and then head back to Bergen.
Or if you’re heading farther north, take the Gaularfjellet Scenic Route from Balestrand and then drive to Fjærland to spend the night, after which you can head up to the Sognefjellet Scenic Route.
Sognefjellet Scenic Route
The Sognefjellet Scenic Route is another mountain drive that will take you high up into the clouds.
Jotunheimen National Park
Then from Sognefjellet you can drive over to Jotunheimen National Park. Jotunheimen is home to some of Norway’s (and Northern Europe’s) highest mountains, making it a mecca for hikers. In fact this “Home of the Giants” has 250 mountains taller than 2,000 meters, including the 2469m high Galdhøpiggen. The park covers roughly 3,500 square kilometers, so there is a lot to see here.
If you don’t have much time, an excellent way to see some of the park is to stay at the Leirvassbu Fjellstue which is actually in the park. This mountain lodge is right by Leirvatnet lake at 1400 meters high and serves as an excellent base camp for all sorts of hikes in the area. It’s a really fun place to stay because everyone here is going on hikes, with some being quite long, so you’ll meet plenty of people with interesting stories. The staff are also really helpful if you’re unsure of which hikes to do.
You can drive all the way to the lodge in the summer, though you will have to pay to use the special mountain toll road. I also recommend booking a room with a private bathroom, as the cheapest rooms with a shared bathroom don’t include linens, so with the price of linens you might as well upgrade to the private bath.
Gamle Strynefjellsvegen Scenic Route
From Jotunheimen you can then drive back to the fjords to Geiranger, which lies on Geirangerfjord, one of the most famous fjords in Norway.
If you’re up for a short detour, I recommend taking the Gamle Strynefjellsvegen Scenic Route on your way to Geiranger. This is one of my favorite roads in Norway, and I even camped here once with Alfie.
Geiranger
Geiranger itself is an odd little town, as it’s so small but has become an enormous tourist hub, especially for cruise ships. In fact for this reason I would try to avoid downtown Geiranger if possible, as it will be swarmed with tourists if a cruise ship is in town.
However it’s still worth visiting Geiranger for the incredible views of Geirangerfjord! Many Norwegians consider this the most beautiful of all the fjords in Norway, and it’s easy to see why.
My top recommendation for hotels in Geiranger would be the Hotel Union Geiranger. Overlooking Geiranger Fjord, this is a spa hotel with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna and hot tub – and of course lots of beautiful views! The hotel is set up a bit from the fjord, so you won’t be right in the midst of the tourist crowds while here.
I stayed here with my dog summer 2022 and I absolutely loved my experience here. I splurged for a room with a view, which I felt was definitely worth it. And the breakfast here was one of the best I’ve had at a hotel in Norway. Definitely, definitely stay here if you can.
I’ve also stayed at Hotel Utsikten in Geiranger, which is a much smaller, quiet hotel even farther up from the fjord. But to be honest, the Hotel Union was better in most ways – my room was way bigger (and cost the same), the breakfast was better, and there was a spa and pool.
The one thing that was better at Hotel Utsikten was the view from my room. Since the Hotel Utsikten is a higher up from Geiranger, the view is a tiny bit nicer. But you don’t get this view from the dining room, so I would only stay here if you upgrade to a room with a view.
Geiranger – Trollstigen Scenic Route
N.B. The Trollstigen Scenic Route will be closed for repairs until 2025.
Trollstigen might just be the most famous road in Norway. There are several viewing platforms at the top where you can admire Trollstigen’s eleven hairpin bends, as well as the surrounding mountains. Just make sure that it’s open when you visit, as this road does close in the winter. You can check if it’s open here.
Åndalsnes
After driving down Trollstigen you’ll come to Åndalsnes. I absolutely love this region of Norway as the views are incredible, with some of my favorite fjords and mountain hikes. Åndalsnes itself isn’t particularly special, but it makes a great base from which to explore. If you have time for a hike, the Rampestreken hike is famous for its viewing platform over the Romsdalsfjord and Romsdal Alps.
In Åndalsnes I recommend staying at the Grand Hotel. Or if you’re up for a longer drive, you could keep going and drive all the way to Ålesund today instead. Ålesund is about an hour and a half from Åndalsnes.
Ålesund
Many Norwegians would say that Ålesund is the most beautiful city in all of Norway, and I think they might be right.
Ålesund is truly stunning, and well worth a night or two. You can read my full guide to things to do in Ålesund here, which includes recommendations for where to stay depending on your budget. If you want to splurge, definitely try to stay at Hotel 1904, Ålesund’s oldest hotel.
And then if you want to continue farther north, from Ålesund you could drive up to Molde, Kristiansund, and Norway’s famous Atlantic Ocean Road. But if you’re heading back towards Bergen you can head down to Hjørundfjord next.
Hjørundfjord
Sognefjord and Geirangerfjord might be Norway’s most famous fjords, but I actually think Hjørundfjord is the most beautiful fjord in Norway.
I’ve written more about visiting Hjørundfjord here, including how to get to Norway’s most beautiful swing (pictured above).
On Hjørundfjord I loved staying at the Sagafjord Hotel in Sæbø, which is the cutest little town right on the fjord. The hotel restaurant is also excellent, with gorgeous views of the fjord.
Or you could continue farther down to Øye, on Norangsfjord, which is a branch of Hjørundfjord. If you want to spend the night you could stay at the Hotel Union Øye.
The Hotel Union Øye is definitely a splurge, but the location is stunning, and the hotel itself has so much history. You can read about my stay at the Hotel Union Øye here.
You could also go on this kayaking trip from Øye, which takes you up Hjørundfjord.
If you’re trying to decide between the Hotel Union Øye and Sagafjord Hotel, they’re both wonderful but I might actually go for the Sagafjord Hotel, because Sæbø is such a lovely town and the fjord views here are maybe even more spectacular than in Øye.
Stryn & Lovatnet
Stryn is famous for its majestic mountains, glaciers, and bright turquoise lakes.
While in Stryn you should also drive to Lovatnet, which is probably the most beautiful glacial lake in the area. If you want to spend the night on Lovatnet lake, the Sandeåsen Feriesenter has rooms with amazing views out over the lake.
And the nicest hotel near Stryn is definitely the historic Hjelle Hotel, built in 1896 right on the edge of Oppstrynsvatnet, which is another gorgeous lake in Stryn. Or if you want to stay right in Stryn, the Stryn Hotel is another great choice.
Bergen
And then after Stryn you can either drive all the way back to Bergen, which will take about five and a half hours, or you could split up the drive with a night at the lovely ThonPartner Hotel Førde.
Van @ Snow in Tromso says
You’ve got to stop posting pretty pictures of the South – you make me want to quit my job and move there like tomorrow!! 😀 No seriously, I CANNOT WAIT to get my butt down there and start exploring!! Thanks for all the inspiration 🙂
Silvia says
Haha I wish you would come sooner!
RAJIV says
Breathtakingky beautiful!
Silvia says
It is!
Charlotte says
Engangsgrill! So the cartoons by Janny K Blake are true! (Sorry I had to do that.)
Nynke says
Haha, I missed that! Totally convenient though, grilling like that…
Silvia says
haha of course!
Nynke says
These fjords and the tourist route and Flåm were already on my bucket list, but now I’m thinking maybe I should start looking for cabins to rent next summer. Soooooo gorgeous! So worth exposing yourself to rainy camping conditions, even!
Silvia says
Renting a cabin around there would be soooo nice, you should totally do it!
Emily says
Those views are unbeatable! I’d love to explore Iceland like this one day.
Silvia says
It was really fun finally getting to see more of Norway after living here for a year.
Emily says
Oh good lord, I said Iceland! Such an idiot! I have a friend who just did a similar trip through Norway and you think I would have got this right 😉
Silvia says
Haha I think really it was a compliment to Norway – being called Iceland could only be a good thing 🙂
Meghan says
I seriously need to go to Norway. Your photos are incredible.
Laura Horn says
I love this post so much! My husband and I are road tripping through Western Norway in June and I’ve been mapping our route based on your posts. THANK YOU!!!
Silvia says
Oh June is such a good time to go! I hope you have an amazing time.
Asha says
Hi Silvia,
I am planning a road trip to Norway from Stockholm, Sweden in 2 weeks. I gonna have 7,8 days to drive and want your recommendations regarding one of the 2 options I have:
– Visit Lofoten archipelago . Taking ferry from Bodo to Moskenes and taking road route on return from Lappland (Kiruna), down to stockholm.
-Visit west coast of norway (bregen, fjords).
One limitation which I have is that my wife is not able to hike much , so going to west coast would be more of a road trip rather than hiking to trolltunga.
Thanks
Silvia says
I would definitely choose Lofoten! Both are amazing road trips (and you’ll see plenty even without hiking) but the views in Lofoten are more dramatic. Have an amazing time!
Arash says
Great post (I wish I had found your blog sooner- would have saved me days of frustrating research). I definitely want to do the roadtrip from Bergen. Question is- should I take the train directly to Bergen from Oslo? or follow the “nutshell” route like you explained in a different post?
Silvia says
If you’re doing this road trip route then you can just take the train directly to Bergen, as this route goes by the sites you would have seen on the nutshell route. Have an amazing time!
Arash Dabir says
That makes sense. I actually ended up booking a flight from Oslo (for about the same price) and return from Bergen via train. For some reason the minipris was only available on the return. This way I get the “train experience” also:D
Manuel says
I am planning on visiting on October 10th for a couple of days, will I have enough daylight hours? I’m thinking of renting a car, will there be snow, frozen roads?
Silvia says
It normally closes in November, so you should be fine in early October. And it’s still very light in southern Norway then too (the sun should be setting around 18:30), so you shouldn’t need to worry about daylight hours.
Eva says
Thank you so much for posting this !
We are flying into Oslo during Easter (landing on Thursday night and departing on Monday night) with the view of spending that long weekend exploring the fjords around Bergen/Flam/Gudvangen. Initially we wanted to fly from Oslo to Bergen and do a Norway in a Mitchell tour. But given that there are 4 of us it is turning out cheaper to rent a car and drive from Oslo.
Unfortunately, it seems that both Aurlandsfjellet and Sognefjellet are partially closed.
In that case would you recommend we still drive from Oslo to Bergen or just fly into Bergen and rent a car there to explore the fjords?
Additionally would you recommend we base ourselves in Bergen and explore OR make several stops in different towns?
Thank you so much if you can help!
Silvia says
The drive to Bergen will still be beautiful in Easter, even with the higher mountain roads closed. Personally I might want to stop in towns along the way, but Bergen also makes a great base if it’s easier for you not to change hotels everyday. If you have more questions feel free to join my Facebook group and I’m sure we can answer more of your questions there! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ScandinaviaTravel/
Gin says
Hi, amazing your web. The best that i found.
One question about this route, ¿Can i see it in a map?
Thanks
Kristen says
All these places are so beautiful! We are planning out first trip to Norway for May13th, and our first stop is Bergen. So far we have planned a day for the city itself, and a day for exploring the fjords outside the city before we start heading up the coast.
We will be driving up the coast and exploring the sognefjord and staying for a night before we head up to Alesund for a few days. We will be in Trondheim for a night before we head up to the Lofoten Islands for at least 3 days. Is there a certain route/fjord you would recommend that would be a day trip from the city? Or is it a must to add another day to explore the fjords around Bergen?
Thank you so much if you can help!
Franzi says
Thanks for all the info! The pics are great 🙂 how was the weather in September? We’re planning to go to Norway with our campervan by beginning of September…how was the temperature?
All the best,
Franzi
Silvia says
It was very rainy, but warm enough to camp in a tent even in the mountains, so you should be fine in a campervan. Of course the weather always changes year to year, so I guess there’s no guarantee. But I think you will be totally fine!
Jerry han says
Hi, what kind of camping gear you use for camping in sep? I am wondering what i need in particular for the cold. Like what temperature rating sleeping bag you use? And if you have any insulated mat?
kaitlin says
I commented on your last post about Norway in a nutshell about not renting a car. It looks like we’re planning on renting a car. I was hoping to do this road trip and stay at a hotels on the way instead of camping… Any recommendations? I was looking at booking in Bergen and Gudvangen any other areas you recommend staying an extra night at or any stops for cool activities?
Vicki King says
In June, I am going on a cruise that ends in Bergen. From Bergen, we will be making our way by train to Oslo and then Stockholm for our flight home.
We are offered an excursion in Bergen by the cruise line called “The Flam Railway”. It is a full day excursion to Flam by coach, then the railway to Myrdal, and return to Bergen by coach.
Seeing as I am already going on a train from Bergen to Olso after the cruise, should I spend my money on this cruise ship excursion? Or will I already be seeing all this Norway beauty on the train from Bergen to Oslo?
I’m just wondering whether this would really be two train trips to see the same thing.
Thank you! I love your website.
Silvia says
No, you’ll see different sights on the Flam Railway – it really is a beautiful trip.Though you will do the railway trip between Myrdal and Bergen on your trip to Oslo. You can also look at booking it independently though, as it might be cheaper (https://www.heartmybackpack.com/norway/nutshell-tour-diy-review/)
Carly says
Hi Silvia!
Your blog has been immensely helpful in planning my family trip to Norway. We plan on renting a car in July to travel from Bergen to Alesund and hope to do a one day trip if possible. Your recommendations for the first half are very helpful but I was hoping you could give me a recommendation on completing the drive in one day while seeing the most we can. Small hikes along the way would be an added bonus!
Silvia says
After this half we drove here: https://www.heartmybackpack.com/norway/gamle-strynefjellsvegen-road-trip/ and then finished the drive to Alesund here: https://www.heartmybackpack.com/norway/trollstigen-geiranger-road-trip/
Tess says
How long did the Sognefjellet tourist route take you to drive? I like getting out of the car for wanders, and am not sure if I should allow for a half day or full day. Thanks!
Silvia says
We did it in half a day.
Selma Erasmus says
Thanks for all the fantastic tips! After days of research your site is just the best!
Is it possible to do Bergen to Flam and the Aurlansfjellet route AND the Sognefjellet from Gaupne to Lom all in one day?,…and sleep close to Lom?, or should I split it over 2 days? We are planning a road trip with a rented car in Sept from Bergen to Alesund.
Would you suggest to do the route South to North ( it seems like most people do ) or is north to south just as impressive?
Many thanks!!!
Pinki says
That’s a lovely blog and some gorgeous pictures. I’m so excited a out our trip!
We are hiring a car in Norway. Can we drive part of the Flam-Myrdal route (until the part where there is a road) or do you suggest taking the flam railway? Is there anything we would miss out on if we just drove?
Silvia says
Nope, you can drive it – it’s really beautiful!
Michael Labish says
My wife and I are trying to decide the best way to see the most sceanic parts of Norway and need to choose between a 15 day cruise up the coast of Norway, the Norway in a nutshell option from Olso or doing it ourselves as you have suggested. We are in our early 70’s and it is tempting to allow others to do all the work but you make me think we could do this ourselves if we stick to the South where the most amazing fiords are anyway.
Which month would you reccomend, May or June ?
We would fly into Oslo, see that city then take train to Bergen with at least one over nite stay on the way (where should we stay over nite on this train route?)
Stay 2 nites in Bergen to see that city, do the Flam train and then rent a car for a few days to follow your recommendation.
Thank you so much, looking forward to your feedback, Isaac
Silvia says
Personally I think May is most beautiful, because there’s usually snow still in the mountains but in the valleys it’s warm. June is also really beautiful though. I hope you have a lovely trip!
Lani Rag says
So glad to have found your website.
We are debating about flying to Bergen and renting a car one way to Alesund. Would we still see highlights if we flew to Alesund, and rented a car roundtrip Alesund? After Alesund, we plan to head to Svalbard.
Thank you for your tips and for the recommended things you love, we are ordering some items!
Silvia says
To be honest I would skip Bergen, as the Alesund is just as interesting and the surrounding nature is far more spectacular than that around Bergen. But if you can afford the one way rental that would also be a great option!
Sasha says
Hi Silvia! Wonder if you could comment on how easy of a drive it is? My husband is concerned that it will be a long and tough drive with a manual transmission from Bergen to Flam if the roads are narrow/windy/hilly and he has to constantly change gears. Any advice you have is greatly appreciated!
Silvia says
Hm it is a bit tough if you’re not used to driving manual as there are points where it’s steep and windy, but there’s very little traffic on the road so if you stall there probably won’t be anyone behind you to see you struggling! I’m not the best driver but I find Norway one of the easiest places to drive simply because there’s little traffic and everyone here drives quite slowly anyway.
Jada says
Hey Silvia,
Thanks for such a great blog!! It’s been so helpful! My friend and I were wondering if we could get your expert advice… 🙂
We planned on renting a car from Bergen and wanted to drive to see the Fjords and sights of Norway. We plan on renting a car for 3 days (2 nights) and were considering 2 options:
(1) Driving around through scenic routes, staying a night or 2 in different locations and heading back to Bergen. i.e. the trip you posted about above! Nonetheless, Ideally a circle route to see as much as possible!
(2) Drive around through scenic routes, stay at different cities along the way, and then end at a different location other than Bergen (i.e. Alesund) and fly out from that city.
Do you recommend one option over another? And the best route to utilize beautiful sites and time?
Jada says
Hi Silvia,
Your blog is amazing and soo helpful!
My friend and I were wondering if we could get your expert advice 🙂
We wanted to rent a car for 3 days (2 nights) and take a scenic drive. We were considering 2 plans:
(1) Drive from Bergen and take a trip similar to the one you posted about above, expect we don’t have any tents… so hostels + housing somewhere along the way.
(2) Drive from Bergen and take scenic routes, staying at different cities along the way, and flying out from a different city (i.e. Alesund) or maybe another city?
Do you recommend one option over another?
Silvia says
Option 2 would show you more, and that’s essentially what I did, except then I drove back home from Alesund.
Dave says
Hi Silvia,
Would you recommend driving around Bergen, Alesund and the fjords in the middle of April? Are the roads likely to be passable at that time of year or will everything be blocked due to snow and ice?
Silvia says
The really high roads will still be blocked, but if you stick close to the coast you should be fine.
Will says
We just drove the snow route today after doing a sunrise hike up Mt Prest, it was absolutely breathtaking on a bluebird day. We’ve been in Norway two weeks so far and it’s the first time we’ve seen the sun :D. We’re going to follow your advice and hop on the ferry as we’re want to head up to Geiranger and do the atlantic road etc etc
Alison says
Hi Silvia- I just wanted to thank you for your blog. I just spent three days driving much of these routes mainly on your recommendation and pictures here. It couldn’t have lived up any better to expectations. The views were spectacular and it was so good to get away from the mass of tourists and for much of the time be the only vehicle on the road. We read your blog avidly and you provided us with so much good advice- thanks!
maily says
i absolutely agree with your ideas about Bergen. All of these landscapes are just so wonderful and breathtaking. Thank you so much for giving us many useful information before our trip. Your writing has made our trip best than ever. Love from Finland.:)
Dalat Train says
Hello Silvia. I am looking for information before the trip and find out your article. And surely my trip will soon depart. Thank you again
Noam Rubinstein says
Hello
first butifull post
I want to ask if this road going all the way on E16 or going on bjorganvegen and then to fv243 to Aurlandsfjellet?
reagards
Lisa says
Silvia,
Your extensive knowledge and suggestions are so very helpful. Perhaps you can advise me regarding a trip we’re planning for late August/early September to celebrate an anniversary. My husband and I – in our 60’s and 70’s – will be flying into Bergen. It will be my first trip to Norway. Our interests are beautiful scenery, fjords, long walks or short hikes (up to 10 -12 km), comfortable and welcoming B&B’s, and good food. After 2 nights in Bergen, we would like to rent a car for a total of 6-7 days and drive, probably taking your recommended route, to Ålesund, and then return to Bergen for a flight to Reykjavik. We won’t be camping en route – would prefer to stay at charming comfortable inns (like Validal Fjordhotel near Geiranger). Are there well-marked trails – or guided hikes – we could find in the vicinity of Flåm or Alesund (or elsewhere)? Should we overnight in/near Flåm and take a fjord trip there? What is the best route for our return to Bergen? (We may need to sacrifice scenery a bit if we are running out of time. . . )
Thank you so much for any thoughts or suggestions you may have (including where to find a good road map).
gail knight says
Hi Lisa, I was reading these comments and me and my husband are planning pretty much exactly what you are. We are the same ages and looking at the exact same time of year and length of trip, hikes, accomodations, etc. Have you heard anything back on this, and we need a good road map too! Thx, Gail
Elena says
Reading your post making me wanting to go there sooner! My husband and I are visiting Norway in Sept. We are thinking to rent a car and drive around the region for a day. What is the best route you would recommend? Appreciate your help.
Elena says
Reading your post making me wanting to go there sooner! My husband and I are visiting Bergen in September. We are thinking of renting a car and drive around the region as day trip. Which route would you recommend? You suggestion will be much appreciated.
Silvia says
Oh I’d definitely recommend this route for a day trip!
Elena says
I presume there is not much to worry about driving in Norway in September.
Kim says
Hello!
thanks for your blog and for the invite to ask questions or leave a comment. I wonder if you could help me plan a little trip. My partner and I will be in Bergan for about a week at the end of June attending a conference. We have about 4 days to explore and we are looking for a two day through hike with an overnight at a catered chalet/hut. Can you make any recommendations? I have tried to find a route on the hut system website and the visit Norway site but without a better understanding of geography and place names, I am struggling to find a few good options. We are fit, experienced hikers from Alaska.
thanks!
Sudipto Ghosh says
Hi Silvia –
I was planning a 2 day road trip from Bergen & back to Bergen. Basically on the day before (Saturday), I would be doing NiN from Oslo to Bergen. Then plan to rent a car in Bergen for Sunday & Monday .. our flight out of Bergen is on Tuesday.
I was thinking that I would do the scenic route of Hardanger (& Hardangervidda) on those 2 days, sleeping at some place (Hotel or AirBnB) in between. I am sure you would have also looked at this route when you decided on the other one you took.
Any reason or preference why you would say one of them is better than the other ? (We will be travelling as a family of 4 & interested mainly in natural beauty, Fjords, etc)
Marcus says
Hi there, just come across your site whilst planning our one month family motorhome trip around Norway. Stunning posts and pictures. Do you have the route you describe above shown on a map at all please?
Thanks,
Marcus
Jc says
Love the itinerary. Trying to decide car rental vs public transport for a trip starting 5/5. Noticed certain roads may be closed. Would you recommend avoiding a car in early May?
Silvia says
I would definitely recommend traveling by car – the main roads should all be open by early May, and you’ll get to see so much more if you have a car!
BEGOÑA says
VERY HELPFULL IN PEPARATION FOR OUR TRIP TO NORWAY. THANK YOU
Nicole says
Thanks so much for this info! I’ve been stressing about how to get around in Norway on our first trip there. After ready a couple of your posts it sounds like a car is the best way to go. Is it difficult figuring out how to cross on the ferries? How well does gps work around the area?
Silvia says
The ferries are super easy – they tell you exactly where to park, so no need to be nervous. And gps works everywhere!
Ronnie says
Lovely photos and helpful tips. We’ve purchased your guides as well.
Do you have any suggestions regarding one-way car rental drop off? The fees we are seeing for pickup in Oslo and drop-off in Bergen are 50% of the 3-day rental!
Silvia says
Personally I would never do a one-way car rental, as you’re always going to have to pay incredibly high fees. Maybe you could take the train from Oslo to Bergen, then rent a car in Bergen to explore the fjords?
Molly Roose says
Hi Silvia, thank you so much for your helpful recommendations! Is there a reason that you suggest going to Balestrand before Fjaerland in your 3-5 day itinerary? It seems that we could drive past the Stegastein viewpoint, and go to Fjaerland, stay in Fjaerland, then take the Gaularfjellet scenic route towards Balestrand after? Thanks for your help!
Silvia says
You can do it either way!
Betsy says
Hi Silvia,
I’m passing through Lom area in September and wondering if you would suggest one of these hotels over the other: Brimi Bue and Roisheim Hotel? I would probably do the pre fix dinner at whichever I end up staying at. Thanks for all the amazing information–I’ve been using so much of it to plan my trip.
Silvia says
Personally I would choose the Røisheim because it’s more my style, but they’re both great locations!
Mike says
Hello Silvia. What a wonderful website. We are planning our trip to Norway for July 2025. We’d like to fly into Oslo, rent a car, drive to Bergen via Heddel Stave Church (like you recommend), stay a few days in Bergen and hike a trail or two, then go on the 10-15 day road trip that you recommend. But we wish to end up in Oslo (to return the car), not Bergen. But the drive from the Hjelle Hotel would take about 6 hours. via R15 and E6. Where might you recommend we stop during the day between Hjelle Hotel and Oslo? Should we instead rearrange the trip so that we end up in Fjaerland before returning to Oslo? Or rearrange the trip to stay in Leirvassbu before going to Oslo. My wife wants to visit Jostedalsbreen National Park, but it seems so large that we wouldn’t know where to begin. Is there anyplace between Oslo and the places I mention that you would recommend we stay? Alternatively, we can drive right through, but I thought I’d ask for your opinion.
Silvia says
I really loved staying here, which is a nice stopping point between Hjelle and Oslo: https://www.booking.com/hotel/no/traditional-timber-farm.html?aid=7911596
Kiri says
Thank you for your great Southern Norway e-book! It was the best resource for planning our first Norway trip for this summer. We are doing a road trip from Bergen based on your suggestions and spending the first 3 days in Bergen. Do we want/need a rental car in Bergen or should we go pick it up after our stay there?
Silvia says
Definitely wait until after your stay to pick up the car!
Rosalind says
Silvia, thank you for your amazing posts! We’re planning our honeymoon and are finding them incredibly helpful. We’ve got a car question. We’ve noticed that electric vehicle rentals are way cheaper than gas vehicle rentals, and the internet suggests that EV charging stations are excellent (and ubiquitous) in Norway. Do you think your roadtrips (e.g., your 5-7 day model) are manageable with an electric vehicle? I’m having a hard time imagining that there are really enough charging stations along these routes, but we don’t know Norway so thought we’d ask you. Thanks so much again for all your wonderful advice!
Silvia says
I don’t have an electric car so I don’t have personal experience, but most of my friends do and haven’t had problems. I imagine it will be easy to find charging stations, but could be a pain waiting around for the car to charge if you’re short on time.