Adventure / Norway
Norway's Fjords by Road
Western Norway · 8 min read
Western Norway is a landscape that keeps interrupting itself. Roads run out at the water and continue on a ferry, tunnels burrow under mountains for ten kilometres, and every second bend has a waterfall on it.
It is one of the great road trips, and it works best without rushing.
A workable route
Bergen to Alesund via Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord and the Atlantic Road covers the highlights in about a week. Add Lofoten only if you have two weeks and are willing to fly north.
The Trollstigen and Gamle Strynefjellsvegen mountain roads are seasonal and usually open from late May to October.
Ferries and logistics
Car ferries are part of the road network, run frequently and rarely need booking. Automatic toll and ferry billing is linked to your hire car, so ask the rental company how it is charged.
Fuel and food are expensive. Supermarket lunches and self catering cabins are how Norwegians travel their own country.
Getting out of the car
Preikestolen and Trolltunga are the famous hikes and both are long, busy days. Quieter alternatives such as Rampestreken above Andalsnes give similar views for less effort.
A fjord kayak morning changes the scale of everything. From the water the cliffs read properly for the first time.
Why it is worth the effort
The driving itself is the attraction, which is rare, and the infrastructure makes a demanding landscape easy to travel.
Book cabins ahead in July. Otherwise, keep the route loose.
