TRAVELING TO NORWAY SOON? We honestly couldnt find too much food besides a bakery and some ice cream, but maybe we didnt look hard enough. The fjord cruise was super windy at times, so be sure to take a jacket! Hotel and restaurant staff were very friendly and eager to help out; other workers (at tolls, airport, etc) were a bit direct and emotionless, but did their job well. Easy peasy. Be sure to protect yourself from possible injury and theft before it happens. , youll have WiFi wherever you go (even if your phone doesnt have service), unlimited internet (on up to five devices at a time!!! ), Colombia, Italy, Croatia, and Thailand). I highly recommend booking in advance as the boat was very crowded and it was completely sold out (in high season). At first I was extremely skeptical and needed my husbands hand when getting even the slightest bit towards the edge, but I quickly warmed up and was confident in my footing and abilities after a few minutes. You just saw the fjord from up above, now its time to see it from another angle right on it! Youll first drive north to ndalsnes, then cut west for Alesund! Many cars in Norway are manual transmission, so if youre not comfortable driving stick shift, youll need to make sure to reserve an automatic car (a few extra dollars a day, but worth it for your safety). I highly recommend booking in advance as the boat was very crowded and it was completely sold out (in high season). Go if youre up for a small adventure (at the lighthouse and parking lot). Hiking boots (depending on hikes and time of year), Most international flights arrive in Oslo, which is precisely why this Norway itinerary starts in the capital! Note that theres a parking lot at the beginning of the trailhead, and no fee to enter to park (from this entrance at least). And thanks for the updates on the ferries! As with other most places in the world, youll need to pay a one-way car rental fee if you in fact choose to copy this Norway road trip itinerary from start to finish. We want to try and skip the driving of the Aurlandsfjellet route and the Sognefjellet route as we will be with kids. Could we do this itinerary without a car in 10-12days? Besides viewing the northern lights, activities will be greatly limited, and unless youre a snow bird and enjoy freezing cold temps, you may not find much to do. Proving Travel is Possible with a Full-Time 9-5. HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? Make sure to wander the streets behind Bryggen as well (through the small alleyways between the buildings on the harbor) to see what the area would have been like during the Middle Ages. I like using. Sognefjellet Scenic Road runs from Gaupne to Lom, covering a total distance of 108 km. If you have extra time and are able to check airfare into nearby cities (Copenhagen, for example), you may be able to find even cheaper flights on low-cost airlines. Wake up early from Bergen, and make the 2 hour drive to Gudvangen. Hjelle Hotel was a perfect place to rest our heads after the long day of driving and Id highly recommend it! Note that you can also drive up or take the City Train to Fjellstua (small fee) to reach the peak. Next up, the Flam Railway, which has been named one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world! was a perfect place to rest our heads after the long day of driving and Id highly recommend it! . Feigefossen waterfall: look for it across the water from 55 (close to Guapne), Turtagr hotel: red-painted modernistic building, quick photo stop. WHAT THINGS ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT during your 10 days in Norway? Youre allllllmost to your final destination of the day (Hjelle), I promise! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Excellent overview of the route. Hence, the difficulty of planning. Is 10 days in Norway actually ENOUGH for all we want to do?! I suggest booking way in advance (a few months), especially if youre visiting during Norways summer, June-August. How to get to Pulpit Rock/Preikestolen from Stavanger: Its all very easy to figure out and an incredibly smooth journey. Todays a tiring day but one for the books, and youll be driving on another National Tourist Route! :). Those Norwegians sure do love their sausages! Todays long drive encompasses 3 National Tourist Routes: Aurlandsfjellet, Sognefjellet, and Gamle Strynefjellsvegen (my absolute favorite). This ones a short one, only taking about 10 minutes and costing 79 NOK (~10) for a small sedan and 2 passengers. Stop at Stalheim Hotel viewing platform in order to see the spectacular views. Mefjellet (rest area with cool stone structure/platform), Sognefjellshytta (attractive training centre for national ski teams from all over the world) cool wooden architecture. Norway is absolutely spectacular. A true lifesaver. Oh my God, Switzerland is the most beautiful country I've ever seen, and now Norway in absolute 2nd place now and we've travelled quite a lot too, though not as much as you We got our itinerary in Switzerland from the website: thegrandtourofswitzerlandAmazing! A reservation/buying a ticket in advance is not necessary for most ferry journeys, and if you follow this exact Norway itinerary, you wont need to reserve any beforehand. Bryggen has been burning down for centuries upon centuries (with a history of fires since the 14th century when it came into being), with its most recent fire in 1955. If you book an early morning flight to Stavanger (9 or 10am), youll arrive with enough time to explore this charming little city. Although Bergen is Norways second largest city (yes, really! Our romantic room was simple yet charming, with a clean, and spacious feeling with a four-poster king bed and chandelier. No need to buy bottled water over here! Where to Park: We originally had a difficult time figuring out where to park our rental car, and after talking to a few hotel receptionists (at our hotel and others), we ultimately decided that the ByGaragen (the biggest indoor garage in Bergen) was the best choice. At less than $9 a day, this device cant really be beat. , IN A NUTSHELL: fly to Oslo fly to Stavanger drive around country, end in Alesund fly to Oslo. Tipping is not customary so whatever price is on the bill will be what you pay, which definitely helps by not adding an extra percentage! It really is such a spectacular place and the country now holds a firm spot in my top 10 (alongside. Enjoy this Norway road trip itinerary, and let me know if youre planning your own trip to the Norwegian fjords any time soon! Pulpit Rock was enough for us so we didnt stop in Odda to attempt Trolltunga. Youll absolutely love taking the Flibanen Funicular up Flyen Mountain for panoramic views of the whole town and the old harbor. It will take you about 30 minutes to get to the start of the route, and then another 2 hours+ to drive the entire thing. The country is so safe that police dont even carry guns! Be sure to take Road 258 instead of 15. we even did an extra Lookout that wasn't included in the itinerary. more info on each one throughout Norway itinerary below. The windows open at the first and last seat of every car which makes it much better for photos. viewing platform in order to see the spectacular views. Lets get this Norway road trip under way! Norway is one of the most remarkable countries Ive been to. Conquering Norways Pulpit Rock Hike: Everything You Need to Know. Norway is known to be one of the safest countries in the world, with extremely minimal petty crime. Fjaera: Super quick photo stop, only a few minutes from Langfossen. Our time was a bit rushed so Id say its possibly better to do this before the cruise (depending on the time of your ticket) or after both activities. Look out for the cruise ships passing through the fjord below, as they can only add to the uniqueness of your photos! Youll want to pull over every few minutes youll see. Im a big fan of World Nomads when traveling abroad. The city center has a very unique Art Nouveau style, which youll soon notice once you get your bearings so keep your camera handy! Id recommend going early in the morning as the road and viewpoint can get especially crowded. (No need to switch rooms, as its highly recommended to hike Pulpit Rock as a day trip from Stavanger!). Thank you for sharing those wonderful things to do in Norway. Hot Dogs and Reindeer Dogs at Trekroneren: Another top spot for the foodies, as dogs at Trekroneren just cant be missed over here. Can we go on a car ferry to see geirangerfjord instead of taking the boat? The city is absolutely beautiful, and the fact that its surrounded by mountains and fjords makes it even more appealing to visitors! Flydalsjuvet is located higher above the town of Geiranger, providing phenomenal views of the Geirangerfjord, town below, and all the surrounding mountains. 3. Be sure to go on the skywalk which has a steel and see-through floor which rails made of glass. Prices are payable by vehicle and if youre coming by car or motorbike youll have to pay 130 NOK via credit card (pretty sure the. We live in the south of Sweden, so both our region and Norway were ok regarding corona, this is why we decided to do this trip. Latefossen waterfall: Be sure not to miss this twin waterfall, as its an internationally famous attraction (but really all the waterfalls in Norway are kinda spectacular). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED especially when you dont speak the native language of the country youre visiting. Most international flights arrive in Oslo, which is precisely why this Norway itinerary starts in the capital! Note that you need to pre-pay for the number of hours you want. Hope for a clear day! The area is well organized with informational signs, toilets, upper and lower viewing platforms, and railings and fences to protect everyone. Despite the inconvenient parking situation (which was easily figured out after doing some research more on that below), we thoroughly enjoyed our time at this hotel and recommend it. + Shuttle Bus tickets, Book the Flam Railway here (called the Flamsbana). If youre just coming off a super long flight (say from the states), its totally acceptable to stay in an airport hotel really close to the Oslo airport your first night. Just remember that youll need to drive approximately 2-2 hours from Bergen to the area, so dont book anything too early unless you want to wake up at the crack of dawn. Secondly, if you want to stay here (instead of Hjelle Hotel), book Hotel Utsikten as soon as you know your dates. Where to Stay in Alesund: Radisson Blu Hotel lesund. I can't wait to get back to Europe once it is safe again! Sognefjellet is the highest and most impressive mountain pass in Northern Europe, so its easy to see why this road made it as one of Norways 18 National Tourist Routes (scenic roads). Floyen: Nature fiend like I am? I found it easier to think in hundreds and kept these numbers in my head when figuring out the bill/shopping: 100NOK = ~$12USD. Note that only routine vaccinations are required to visit the country, and you probably had those all when you were younger (check with your doctor). 7. From here youll enjoy more magnificent panoramas of the town and fjord, although be aware that weather plays a key role in how visible your views will actually be (like at Flydalsjuvet). Dear Jessica, thank you so much for this itinerary! You can also check out the The Hanseatic Museum if youre interested in doing so.