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/ Norway / Where to Go in Norway If You Only Visit One Place

Where to Go in Norway If You Only Visit One Place

October 7, 2024 by Silvia 18 Comments

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Last week I shared three itineraries that essentially aimed to show you as much of Southern Norway as possible within one week. But after I finished congratulating myself on managing to fit so many different parts of Norway (fjords! cities! mountains! villages!) into seven days, it dawned on me that actually, some people would really hate to travel like this. I’ve shared all my 30 Norway itineraries here. 

While usually I want to see as much of a country as I possibly can, sometimes the thought of spending hours each day traveling somewhere new and having to check out of a hotel every morning feels downright overwhelming. And in fact, some of my favorite trips have been when I’ve chosen to get to know one place really well instead of touring the country.

Norway is an enormous country with so many wonderful places worth visiting, but you don’t necessarily have to cram your itinerary full of destinations here to fall in love with Norway. You could have an amazing trip to Norway and get to know this country incredibly well even if you only manage to visit one place – as long as you choose that place wisely.

Most people will choose either Oslo or Bergen. They’re great choices.

In Oslo you get to experience the capital with all of its many museums and shops, while you also have access to wonderful parks and even some countryside on the outskirts of the city.

And in Bergen you get a beautiful city full of history, and then as a day trip you can also follow the popular Norway in a Nutshell route to see some fjords.

Like I said, they’re great options. But they’re not the best.

where to go in Norway

I’ve visited every county in Norway, and probably most municipalities at this point, and if I had to recommend one single place for you to visit in Norway it would be Lofoten or Møre og Romsdal.

The Lofoten Islands

I’ve heard a lot of Norwegians say the Lofoten Islands are the true Norway in a nutshell, and I totally agree. Lofoten has pretty much everything people visiting Norway are looking for.

Here you’ll see rugged mountains rising out of the sea, small fishing villages, Norway’s famous red wooden houses, and the northern lights.

best view on lofoten where to go in norway

madelhea cabin reine lofoten

I think the last one is especially significant as you can’t actually see the northern lights in Bergen, Oslo, or other parts of Southern Norway (or at least, it’s very rare to see them – I’ve only seen them a couple of times this far south).

Though if your main goal in visiting Norway is to see the northern lights, I strongly recommend visiting Tromsø instead for the best chances of seeing them. I used to live in Tromsø, and I’ve shared my Tromsø northern lights guide here.

Lofoten is also touristy enough that you’ll have a really easy time planning your journey and activities. They’re used to tourists up there. But at the same time, if you rent a car and drive away from the main spots you’ll find yourself all alone with Lofoten’s stunning landscape. There’s really nothing like it.

You can compare car rental prices here. And I’ve shared a guide to driving in Norway here. 

And on a personal note, Lofoten is the one place in Norway that has most impressed me. There’s a reason I keep returning to Lofoten over and over again! I’ve visited Lofoten around a dozen times now, and I’m sure I’ll be back again soon. 

You can read all about planning a trip to Lofoten in my Lofoten guide here, as well as here. I’ve also shared a guide to Reine, Lofoten’s most picturesque village, here. 

lofoten winter norway snow

reinebringen hike lofoten norway

Møre og Romsdal

Okay, I’m cheating here a little bit by naming an entire county, but you only need to base yourself in one place within Møre og Romsdal – I just wanted to suggest a few different options.

While I love living in Bergen, Møre og Romsdal is probably actually my favorite area in Southern Norway, and again an excellent place to see Norway in a nutshell. You won’t have a great chance of spotting the northern lights here, but you will find fishing villages, mountain views, colorful wooden houses, and something Lofoten doesn’t have: fjords!

Møre og Romsdal is home to four of Norway’s most spectacular sights: Trollstigen, Geirangerfjord, Hjørundfjord and Ålesund. They’re simply so Norwegian. You can see my favorite Møre and Romsdal itinerary here. 

Trollstigen

Trollstigen is a road with eleven hairpin bends up a steep mountain to some of the most beautiful views I know.

Trollstigen road Norway

Åndalsnes would make a great base in Møre og Romsdal, as not only is it right by Trollstigen and a beautiful town in its own right, but it’s on the train line so you could get the train here from Oslo! Then you could either rent a car in Åndalsnes to explore the surrounding area, or you could just set up camp here and relax amongst the beautiful views.

In Åndalsnes I recommend staying at the Grand Hotel.

åndalsnes norway

Geirangerfjord

And Geirangerfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site commonly considered Norway’s most beautiful fjord. And guys, it really is worth all the hype.

geirangerfjord norway

geirangerfjord geiranger Norway

What’s not worth the hype, however, is the town of Geiranger, which many visitors to Norway falsely assume must be the best place to stay along the fjord. However Geiranger itself is mostly just a tourist hub these days, swarmed with cruise tourists each day. 

If you stay in Geiranger, I highly recommend staying uphill from the village itself, either at the Hotel Union Geiranger (my personal favorite) or Hotel Utsikten. Or you can stay somewhere along the fjord, outside of Geiranger. I’ve put together a list of my top accommodation choices along Geirangerfjord here.

Hjørundfjord

But actually my favorite fjord in Norway is Hjørundfjord! This fjord is gorgeous, and nearby Ålesund, which also happens to be Norway’s most beautiful city! At least it is according to me and everyone I know who lives there. I also love that Hjørundfjord remains a bit under the radar amongst tourists and even Norwegians.

Along Hjørundfjord I recommend staying in the adorable town of Sæbø, and then you can fly in and out of Ålesund. I wrote about my stay in Sæbø here. 

hjørundfjord beautiful fjord in norway

hjørundfjord swing christian gaard pub norwegian fjord

Ålesund

Ålesund sits on a row of islands extending out into the Atlantic, and after a fire destroyed most of the city in 1904 Ålesund was built in vibrant Art Nouveau, making for a unique and beautiful city center.

ALESUND NORWAY

ålesund city center art nouveau norway

You can either fly into Ålesund or get the train to Åndalsnes and then take the bus here. Though if you’re going to make Ålesund your base for the week I would still strongly recommend taking some day trips to Geirangerfjord, Trollstigen and/or Hjørundfjord. Personally I would rent a car for a few days to give myself the most freedom, though you can also get to the fjords and Trollstigen with public transport.

You can read my complete guide to Ålesund here.

 

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Comments

  1. Emily says

    May 29, 2018 at 6:17 pm

    I think I’d enjoy a more settled approaching to traveling to one of these places, or maybe picking two and splitting the time in half. That way you don’t feel like you’re not “making the most of your time there” but you also don’t run yourself ragged by moving every single day.

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      May 30, 2018 at 5:50 pm

      Yeah, it’s always a tricky balance!

      Reply
  2. Nynke says

    May 30, 2018 at 11:35 am

    Ha – Ålesund was the only destination I saw coming! Åndalsnes sounds like a really great option, and one that I should definitely remember. (Also: this always reminds me of ‘King of the Andals and the First of Men’ in Game of Thrones…)

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      May 30, 2018 at 5:50 pm

      Yeah I think people often forget that the train goes to Åndalsnes! Apparently it was meant to go all the way to Ålesund when they were building it but they got lazy and decided to send a bus from Åndalsnes instead.

      Reply
  3. Dominique | dominiquetravels.com says

    May 30, 2018 at 10:07 pm

    Ohh such beautiful photos! I have only been to Tromso in Norway. I didn’t love the town that much, so I should really visit some more places in Norway to get a better feel of the country.

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      June 5, 2018 at 11:03 pm

      I haven’t been to Tromso since I was little but am about to go back and I’m super curious if I’ll like it or not. But other areas in the north are amazing, so I’m sure you’d find somewhere else you could love.

      Reply
  4. Maggie says

    June 1, 2018 at 1:11 am

    Hi Silvia – Awesome post and pictures, thank you for all of the content you share! I just recently started researching Norway as I’m trying to plan a trip there in early July. After coming across your blog, I was obsessed and have read a countless number of your posts, all so very helpful. I have about 12 days give or take, which is great, however I’m really looking to see a wide span of Norway (North, West, South… all the good stuff.. so the whole country), with a lot of hiking woven in which is of course time consuming. Ideally I wanted to rent a car and just go for it, but my biggest problem is that I will be alone. Sadly I couldn’t find any company that could take the time off and I’m not letting that stop me from seeing this place! Anyways, this is quite a loaded question but do you have any suggestions on how I can go about seeing the major breathtaking highlights of Norway with a more outdoorsy focus, although not totally avoiding cities, alone? I tried looking into some tours but not many of them span as much of Norway as I want to see, nor do they have much hiking involved. So sorry for the lengthy comment. Based on your worldly travels, I’m sure you’ve been in my place before! Appreciate any/all guidance. Cheers!

    Reply
    • Dag says

      June 16, 2018 at 10:27 pm

      Hi Maggie,
      I am from Ålesund.
      If you travel to Ålesund then you are about an hour drive from a place called Valldal. And you will really like the drive.. 😉
      In Valldal you are just in the middle between Geiranger and Trollstigen. And only 15mins from a really nice and beautiful place called Tafjord.
      There are millions of choices for outdoor activities in our area. Hiking of course, but like in Valldal you could rent an kayak and enjoy the nature from the seaside. Bring a rod and fish your own dinner. Fishing in the sea is free for anyone.
      In Ålesund you should also go to Alnes on the Godøy island. It is only an half hour drive trough the underseas tunnels. A really calm nice place with a great cafeteria.
      You should also visit Borgundgavelen. A museum area I go to myself a lot to walk and enjoy.
      Fjellstua where the pictures from Ålesund above is taken is mandatory. Dont drive ! Walk the 418 steps, an easy hike but you will understand why I ask you to use your feet as you get closer to the top. While there ask for directions to Rundskue if the weather is good.
      Everything I have mentioned here (except kayak rental of course) is totally free. You can also bring a tent and wild camp. Do not be afraid to ask locals for tips, help or directions. We might seem reserved, but most of us are proud of our country and love talking about it 😉
      Enjoy your stay and welcome ! 🙂

      Reply
      • Maggie says

        June 20, 2018 at 2:34 pm

        Hello Dag! Thank you for this information, it is extremely helpful. I definitely plan to visit Ålesund, Valldal, and other parts of Møre og Romsdal. In terms of camping, do you have any suggestions on the most beautiful places to pitch a tent for the night? Again, thanks for all the info! Greatly appreciated.

        Reply
        • Dag says

          June 22, 2018 at 11:05 am

          As you probably are aware of, there is a law here stating that you can tent anywhere as long as you are not disturbing anyone. No need to check who might own the land.
          Still use some caution. I find it better to ask if there are houses in the proximity.
          We call this “allemannsretten”, “The right for everyone” to freely move in the norwegian nature.

          Free tenting is great if you are used to it and if the weather is nice. But if not a camping site might be better. In Ålesund I think Volsdalen Camping is great. In Valldal there is one by the sea that has an amazing view. Me and some friends rented a cabin in there and I made this video from our model airplanes/drones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5xnnWSj9S0&t=80s

          But in short you will have no problem finding tenting opportunities with great views here. I think the biggest worry is the weather. Very unstable unfortunately..

          Reply
  5. عطلات says

    June 6, 2018 at 9:42 am

    Great work , interesting post and fantastic photos , thanx for sharing this enjoyable article

    Reply
  6. Anne says

    June 17, 2018 at 8:52 pm

    I’ve only been to one place in Norway – Narvik. I thought it was a great introduction to Norway. A beautiful fjord, ancient rock paintings, a couple of museums, lots of WWII history and in winter you’d definitely see the Northern Lights up there.

    Reply
  7. Jessyca says

    June 28, 2018 at 12:09 am

    Thanks so much for your blog, it is so interesting to read you! A lot of people recommend to rent a car, can visiting Norway be done my train/bus/ferries? I’d love to visit Geirangerfjord region, but I’m afraid it’s gonna be a pain for me as I don’t feel super comfortable driving yet…! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      June 29, 2018 at 5:41 pm

      It’s a bit of a pain by public transport, but definitely doable! Be sure to book your trains in advance to save money! You can usually save by booking the buses in advance as well, though sometimes you have to just buy them from the driver on board.

      Reply
  8. Kate Hauxwell says

    June 9, 2024 at 5:41 pm

    Hi Silvia! 😊

    I love your stuff / blogs / information! 😊

    How long have you lived in Norway?
    And in what places have you lived?

    I remember you lived with your boyfriend in Bodø? – or was it Mosjean? or Mo-i-Rana? – I can’t remember?
    Then I remember you moved to Tromsø on your own ( I remember you moved to an apartment and got a little dog! 😊 ).
    I remember reading about your experiences in Tromsø in the lead up to Christmas 2020 – I was in a quarantine hotel near Gardermoen airport at the time ( around the 14th December 2020 ) and reading your Facebook posts about living in Tromsø was so interesting! 😊

    So now you live in Bergen! – does it rain a lot there?! 😊

    Many thanks,

    Kate 😊

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      June 10, 2024 at 1:41 pm

      I’m so happy to hear that! I lived for six months in Trondheim, three years in Telemark, two years in Mosjøen, two years in Tromsø, and now I live in Bergen. Actually I find that it rains less here than it did in Tromsø – or at least the rain here is less intense than it was up north. So I’m enjoying the weather here! I just miss the snow and northern lights 😭

      Reply
  9. Andy says

    December 28, 2024 at 2:26 am

    Hi Silvia, this is such an amazing blog – comprehensive and so well written!

    We are planning just a 3 day trip to Norway in June, focused on seeing Alesund and Geirangerfjord. After Norway, we will be in Denmark, Sweden and Amsterdam, total trip will be about 8 days (that’s all the time we have available) because of weddings and other events in family.

    Is going by boat the best way to go from Alesund to Geirangerfjord? On the way back, is there an option to go by train or bus from Geirangerfjord?

    I’ve read people saying that the scenery at Geirangerfjord is a bit underwhelming when you are on the water, and the best views are from a higher level. If that’s correct, what are the vantage points that you can get to without a car or staying at the Union Hotel?

    I also see that Hjorundfjord is actually the most scenic fjord in Norway. Would that be a good substitute for Geirangerfjord? In looking at ferries from Alesund to Hjorundfjord, it appears there is just one service with mixed reviews.

    We originally considered doing the Norway in a Nutshell route, but thought the schedule looked tiring. That means we won’t be able to take the scenic train to Flam, so the question is there another train that we can take on the way to Geirangerfjord or Hjorundfjord that is equally scenic?

    Sorry for so many questions – but your advice is really appreciated!

    Reply
    • Silvia says

      January 3, 2025 at 12:25 pm

      I agree that the best views of Geirangerfjord are from land. The Union Hotel has incredible views of the fjord! There’s no train here, so you’ll have to travel by bus or boat, or rent a car. If you want to visit Hjørundfjord from Ålesund you’ll see the most if you can rent a car and drive.

      Reply

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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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