I love places where you can easily get around using solely public transportation, but unfortunately Norway isn’t really one of those places. I mean, if you stick to the cities then public transport will be fine, but if you want to venture into the countryside? You’ll need to rent a car for that in Norway.
Luckily driving in Norway is an amazing experience – in fact I tell everyone who visits that they have to consider a road trip when planning a trip to Norway! I have lived in Norway for eight years, and all of my best trips here have been road trips.
Plus, public transport can also be really expensive in Norway, so if you’re traveling with other people and want to see as much of Norway as possible, you’re definitely best off renting a car here.
Renting a car in Norway is actually a really good option for budget travelers not only because public transport is expensive here, but also because the cheapest accommodation options are usually outside of the main tourist areas where buses might only pass through once or twice a day. So by renting a car in Norway you can potentially save on transportation AND accommodation.
Plus road trips are so much fun!
If you’re looking for the perfect Norway road trip itinerary, I have put together over thirty Norway itineraries here, most of which are best done by car.
While I’ve now been living in Norway for eight years, I’ve also spent most all of my summers in Norway since I was a kid (visiting family here), so I’ve definitely learned a thing or two about the whole process of renting a car and planning a road trip in Norway.
I mean, with Norway’s nonstop breathtaking nature it’s kind of impossible to have a bad road trip here, but here my best tips for making yours truly epic.
Norway Travel Guides! I’ve gathered all my best advice for planning an incredible trip through Southern and Northern Norway in two 95-page ebooks covering my top recommendations for places to visit (both on and off the beaten path), the best times of year to visit, how long to visit for, the best accommodation choices, transportation, what to eat, what to pack, and how to plan the perfect itinerary.
Car rental in Norway – things to know about renting a car in Norway
The good news is, if you’re traveling with multiple people, renting a car in Norway is going to be a lot cheaper than relying on public transport here. Plus driving in Norway is really easy, as the roads are all well-maintained and there’s very little traffic. Of course the bad news is, it’s still going to be expensive.
At least, a car rental in Norway is going to cost more than rentals in southern Europe where you can get a car for like $50 per week. But! If you book well in advance you can actually get some really good deals on car rentals in Norway too.
I always recommend Auto Europe for car rentals in Norway because they compare prices to give you the best deal. Norwegian laws are quite strict with car rental companies, so you can rest assured that any car rental agency in Norway will be reliable.
And as fuel in Norway is expensive, definitely go for the smallest, most fuel efficient car you can find.
You’ll also likely be covering huge distances, as Norway is a really big country, so I always opt of unlimited mileage. Or at least make sure you get a minimum of 200 – 300 km a day, depending on what you have planned.
And don’t worry, all cars in Norway have to have winter tires in the winter by law. This isn’t the case in other places in Europe, though. My family has rented cars during the winter in Germany before and then driven up to Norway with them. And it’s always incredibly difficult to drive in Norway on year-round tires!
Driving in Norway
I’ve written a more detailed guide to everything you need to know about driving in Norway here. But here’s a brief overview:
Toll Roads in Norway
In Norway toll roads are managed by AutoPASS with toll booths that take photos of your license plate automatically and send a bill at the end of the month. This happens automatically, so you don’t even need to slow down as you pass under the toll cameras. You will receive a bill from your Norwegian car rental company after your trip. You can contact the car rental company if you have more questions about when you will receive the bill for the toll roads.
However if you’re driving a foreign vehicle not registered in Norway, paying Norwegian tolls is a bit more complicated. AutoPASS will send an invoice to the registered address of the vehicle. But you can actually speed up the process by registereing with Euro Parking Collection (EPC), which will give you access to all your invoices online. I definitely recommend doing this if you’ll be driving a foreign car in Norway! But also don’t freak out if you forget – you’ll just get your invoice in the mail instead.
Car ferries in Norway
Probably one of the most common questions I get about driving in Norway is how to use the car ferries.
No, you don’t need to book short ferries in advance (in fact you usually can’t). You will want to try to arrive fifteen minutes before the ferry leaves to ensure you get a place on the ferry, but to be honest I sometimes arrive right before it’s leaving and I’m almost always able to get on (I think the only exception would be in July when Norway is more crowded).
As you drive on the ferry, a person will take a photo of your license plate and then wave you forward onto the ferry. Then your rental company will send you the bill (often a month or so later). However, if you have a foreign license plate, the person taking the photos will stop you and you can pay by card. I think you can only pay by card – at least I’ve never seen someone paying for ferries in Norway by cash.
Someone will wave you onto the ferry and tell you exactly where to park. On most car ferries everyone gets out of their car and goes to a communal area. If you’re unsure of whether or not to wait in your car, just watch what everyone else does and do the same. On longer (30 minutes +) ferries there will be a cafeteria selling sandwiches, hotdogs, waffles, and coffee.
Plan for winding roads
If you’ll be driving with anyone prone to getting carsick, you might want to come prepared as Norwegian roads are very curvy. In fact I pretty much always get a bit carsick when riding in a car or bus as a passenger. Though one thing that has really helped me has been sea-bands. It doesn’t seem like they should work, but I promise they do! You can buy them in most pharmacies in Norway, or you can be on the safe side and order them in advance on Amazon here.
Driving in the dark during polar night in winter
Another big concern people have about driving in Norway is driving during polar night.
In the winter northern Norway experiences polar night, which means that it will be dark for most of the day. However even when the sun doesn’t rise, mainland Norway still gets a few hours of daylight each day, so you will still be able to see the beautiful landscape here. In fact I find the colors during polar night incredibly beautiful and well worth the trip.
Roads here are dark with very few streetlights, but the edges are always marked by reflective sticks, so you can easily see where the road is. We actually have to have our headlights on at all times in Norway – even on sunny days – but then of course you can use your high beams when it’s really dark (just remember to turn them off if you pass another car!).
Driving in snow in Norway
Okay this is a big one. Should you plan a winter road trip in Norway if you’ve never driven in snow before?
This is of course something you need to decide for yourself, but I can give you a bit of an overview of what driving in snow in Norway is like.
As I mentioned before, you’ll definitely want to rent a car from Norway (or the Nordics) as we all have winter tires here, which is very important! In fact in northern Norway most cars will have studded tires, which is the best for driving on icy roads (you can ask your rental company for a car with studded tires).
Speaking of icy roads, yes, expect a lot of snow and ice! We don’t really salt the roads here, so in the winter there is almost always a thick layer of snow and ice on the roads. Trucks will of course still plow and grit the roads, but if you’re driving in a snow storm there’s a good chance you could be driving on thick snow.
This isn’t actually as scary as it sounds though. I know a lot of people who have driven in snow for the first time during their Norway road trip. Most important is not to drive too quickly and use the brakes as minimally as possible, as braking is when you risk skidding. Either pump the brakes or slow down by gearing down instead. You should be fine as long as you take it really slowly (don’t worry about the cars behind you – it’s better to be slow than to get in an accident).
The same applies for starting a car in the snow. You’ll want to be very gentle when pressing the gas so that the wheels don’t dig into the snow. Ease out of your parking spot as slowly as possible and then you should be ok. And if you do get stuck in the snow somewhere, just wait for someone to drive by to help you. Most Norwegians with larger cars will have equipment to pull other cars out of the snow here, as it happens so often. So be patient as help will arrive!
Parking in Norway
A lot of towns have free parking, but if you do have to pay there will be a meter, or you can pay on the EasyPark app or Parklink app. These are the two most popular parking apps used all over Norway.
I’d definitely recommend downloading the apps and setting them up (adding your payment method and car license number) beforehand, as it’s always much easier to simply use the app to pay for parking. Plus with the apps you can adjust your parking time as necessary, instead of running back to the meter or overpaying in advance.
Choose your starting point wisely
Norway is enormous, and with all those mountains and fjords even what look like short distances on a map can take a really long time to cover. Luckily Norway is full of airports, many of which have international flights, so I’d highly recommend deciding what you want to see in Norway before choosing your flights. And if you can’t find a direct flight into the region you’d like to explore then check out the domestic flight options.
The main international airports in Norway are in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Tromsø, Trondheim, Ålesund, and Haugesund.
As a (very) general guide:
- If you’re interested in Norway’s cities and mountains fly into Oslo.
- If you’re interested in the fjords but still want to see a city fly into Bergen.
- If you want to do Preikestolen, Kjeragbolten, and Trolltunga – probably the three most famous hikes in Norway – fly into Stavanger. (Though if you only want to do Trolltunga then Bergen is closer.)
- If you’re interested in fjords and mountains, including Geirangerfjord, Trollstigen, and the Atlantic Road, fly into Ålesund.
- If you want to see the Northern Lights, the Arctic, and Lofoten fly into Tromsø or Bodø.
If you’re still unsure of where to go, click on the different regions of the map below for a summary of the region’s main attractions and links to my blog posts about each area.
Norway
Use the National Scenic Routes in Norway as a guide
Norway has a lot of absurdly scenic roads, but it also has its fair share of boring highways. And you definitely don’t want to spend the bulk of your epic Norwegian road trip driving through tunnels, which Norway has a lot of.
An easy way to find Norway’s most scenic roads is by using the National Tourist Routes map. Just to warn you, their website is super glitchy and I still haven’t managed to get the map to load on my phone, but it’s 100% worth pulling out your laptop to check out this site, because every single road listed on it is guaranteed to be amazing.
I always check the map before setting out on a road trip and I try to take detours through as many of the tourist routes as I can. I’ve now driven 15 of the 18 routes and have never been disappointed. In fact driving in Norway is kind of my favorite thing ever, thanks to all the amazing views!
VARANGER: The far north of Norway truly does feel like the edge of the world. This is actually one of my favorite areas to drive in, especially in the summer when it’s one of the few places in Norway that isn’t crowded with tourists. Plus in the summer you’ll find lots of reindeer roaming the roads! Just be careful not to hit any.
HAVØYSUND: This is another stunning northern route, and can be combined with the Varanger scenic route above. You can find my full road trip itinerary including both Varanger and Havøysund here.
SENJA: Senja has been growing in popularity but is still way less crowded than places like Lofoten and the fjords in southern Norway. The mountain peaks here are stunning, and personally it’s one of my top picks for northern lights viewing in the winter. You can read about my winter trip to Senja (including the best accommodation) here.
ANDØYA: The Vesterålen islands are a great quieter alternative or addition to a trip to Lofoten. Again I can particularly recommend this route in the winter, where you can see whales, the northern lights, and the most beautiful pink skies during the polar night. You can find my guide to the Andøya route in Vesterålen here.
LOFOTEN: This is widely considered amongst Norwegians to be the most beautiful drive in Norway. Here you’ll find jagged mountains rising out of the water with lots of cute red fishing cabins, as Lofoten is a center for cod fishing in Norway. Lofoten is incredibly touristy these days, but still worth the crowds for those beautiful mountain views and picturesque red cabins. I have a bunch of Lofoten guides on my site, but you can start with this guide to planning a Lofoten trip.
HELGELANDSKYSTEN: The Helgeland coast is my favorite are in all of Norway! In fact I love Helgeland so much that I ended up moving here. The Helgeland coast is spotted with countless islands, with similar jagged mountains to Lofoten but far fewer tourists. If you want to get off the beaten path a bit, I definitely recommend Lofoten. You can read my Helgelandskysten guide here. It’s best in the summer, but Helgeland is also beautiful in the winter.
ATLANTIC OCEAN ROAD: The Atlantic Road is probably one of Norway’s most famous roads. This road includes lots of bridges connecting islands, and it was incredibly expensive to build, so Norway put a lot of marketing behind it to draw in visitors. I’d say it’s certainly one of Norway’s most impressive roads, but I wouldn’t put it at the very top of the list – maybe around #10. It’s similar to the Helgeland coast and Lofoten, but the landscape isn’t anywhere near as dramatic. You can read my experience driving the Atlantic Ocean Road here.
GEIRANGER – TROLLSTIGEN: I always say if you only have time to visit one place in Norway, one of my recommendations would be the Geiranger – Trollstigen area (you can find my other recommendation here). Trollstigen is famous for its many hairpin turns, but actually I find the mountain views at the top the most impressive. And Geirangerfjord is widely considered one of Norway’s most beautiful fjords. You can read my guide to the Geiranger – Trollstigen scenic route here.
GAMLE STRYNEFJELLSVEGEN: This is probably my favorite drive in southern Norway. It’s only open in the summer as the road winds high up into the mountains, but definitely try to make it here if you get the chance. You can read about my experience driving Gamle Strynefjellsvegen here.
RONDANE: This is apparently the most dry area of Norway, and the landscape here really is unique for the country. I’ve written about my trip to Rondane National Park here as well as here.
SOGNEFJELLET: This route isn’t too far from Bergen, and takes you from beautiful fjord views up into a barren mountain landscape.
AURLANDSFJELLET: The Sognefjellet scenic route leads into Aurlandsfjellet as you head south, which will take you down into the beautiful fjord area outside of Bergen. You can read about my experience driving on both Sognefjellet and Aurlandsfjellet as well as wild camping here.
VALDRESFLYE: Farther inland than the Sognefjellet and Aurlandsfjellet routes, the Valdresflye scenic route is a great option if you are heading north (or south) and don’t have the time to take lots of ferries along the coast. I used to drive this route when driving from southern Norway up to Trondheim and back, and it never disappointed. You can read more about my experience driving the Valdresflye scenic route here.
GAULARFJELLET: If you want to spend more time along the fjords, take this route along the fjord and up into Gaular Mountain. This is also a great place to spend the night (or several nights!). You can find my guide to the best accommodation along Sognefjord here.
HARDANGER: This coastal drive is especially beautiful in the spring, when the fruit trees along Hardangerfjord are in bloom, but you can take this route any time of year. You can read about my experience driving the Hardanger scenic route here.
HARDANGERVIDDA: I used to live at the foot of Hardangervidda National Park, but while I’m a huge fan of the park, this is one of my least favorite of the 18 Norwegian scenic routes. Yes, you’ll get to go up on Hardangervidda, the largest plateau of its kind in Europe, however the road itself is just a busy highway. If you do choose to take this route I would try to stop along the way to hike into the park a bit. Or you could take the ferry into Hardangervidda instead.
RYFYLKE: This is one of the most famous drives in all of Norway, and for good reason. You’ll be passing by two of Norway’s most popular hikes, Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) and Kjeragbolten, and then ending up near Norway’s third most famous hike, Trolltunga. You can find my itinerary including this drive in my Norway itinerary guide.
JÆREN: Last and, unfortunately least. This drive is surprisingly boring and I can’t quite understand why it’s one of Norway’s scenic routes. This is just a busy road along the coast, and not a particularly scenic piece of coastline at that. I would skip this, unless you’ll already be heading this way, for example if you’re driving from Kristiansand to Stavanger.
Connect with people on Couchsurfing and Facebook
Of course not every scenic road in Norway has made it onto the list of National Tourist Routes, so to find more beautiful drives you’re best off asking locals! Norwegians love to gush about the beautiful nature here, and I feel like at least once a week someone is telling me about a drive that I just have to do here.
I personally love to use Couchsurfing to connect with locals from an area (even if I’m not planning to use it for accommodation) but of course you can also find people on Facebook or other social media channels.
I never would have visited Åna-Sira if a local hadn’t told me about it!
Keep an eye out for the northern lights
If you’ll be traveling to Northern Norway in the winter, one of the best things about traveling by car is getting to chase the northern lights!
You’ll want to keep track of both the weather and aurora forecasts and try to get to clear skies, especially with views north. It’s definitely worth marking out the spots on your route with good views north (you can often tell simply by looking at a map), and then stopping in those areas to check the skies.
Northern Lights Guide!
I’ve also written an in depth ebook covering all aspects of planning your northern lights trip, including the best places in the Nordics to see the northern lights, the best time to see the Northern Lights, my top accommodation choices, tour options, how to chase the northern lights (including which apps I use), how to photograph and film the northern lights, what to pack for your trip, and other exciting Arctic activities to try on your trip up North.
If you want to ensure you have the best northern lights trip possible, you can purchase the ebook here.
Check if the roads are open when planning a trip to Norway
A lot of the high mountain roads close during the winter, and it’s easy to forget that winter in Norway can mean September to June.
You can check the current status of roads at on this map, though unfortunately it’s only in Norwegian. If a road is closed for the season Google will tell you – something which is important to keep in mind if you are mapping out your route in the winter, as Google will avoid any roads that are closed unless you change the dates to the summer.
Schedule at least one free day to make up for bad weather
Even if you’re traveling on a tight schedule, it can still be worth leaving one day free. I’d especially recommend doing this if you’ll be visiting a particular place that you’ve always dreamed of seeing, because the weather here can be really unpredictable so you might end up needing an extra day to (hopefully!) let the skies clear.
I wish I could have stayed an extra day to see Trollstigen without the fog!
Pack rain gear and warm clothing
Even if you’re visiting Norway in the summer, you’ll need some warm clothing – especially if you’ be driving up into the mountains. And if you have a good waterproof jacket and waterproof trousers (I love these ones!) then you won’t need to let bad weather stop you from enjoying Norway’s nature.
Even in the summer I would recommend bringing warm thermals to wear under your clothes while in the mountains, a good quality wool sweater, and of course a raincoat and rain pants.
If you’re camping, bring a really warm sleeping bag and pitch away from the main road
Even in the summer the nights in the mountains get really cold, so make sure your sleeping bag can withstand freezing temperatures.
And while wild camping is totally legal here, I do try to camp out of sight of the road. Last summer there was a lot of press in Norway about European tourists loading their cars with food and camping their way through Norway, spending almost no money while here, so a lot of locals don’t look too kindly on tents.
It’s really silly, but the one time I did camp by the side of a road I was honked at all night, and when I asked other travelers about it many had experienced the same thing. Besides, it’s much nicer camping away from the noise of traffic anyway!
Alternate between grocery store meals and restaurants
Having the extra space of a car makes it a lot easier to buy and store food for meals, which can save a ton of money while traveling in Norway. I generally eat one restaurant meal a day on my travels and balance out the expense with cheap grocery store meals the rest of the day.
If you are traveling on a tight budget then read my post about eating on a budget in Norway.
Anyone have any tips to add? Share them in the comments!
P.S. I’ve written up loads of guides for the best accommodation in Norway for different budgets, including lots of hidden gems in the more popular areas. You can see all my accommodation guides here.
Want to see more of my travel photos? Follow me on Instagram here ♥
Kelsey says
I love all your posts and your writing always keeps me entertained. I can’t wait to actually get my ass over to Norway and take advantage of your amazing tips!
Silvia says
Aaah thanks, Kelsey! I hope you make it over here soon 🙂
Molly says
So, coming over at the end of April. The train I wanted is already booked, sadly. I’m on a tight schedule. Would driving from Oslo to Flam, where I hope to do a boat tour, be safe at that time of year generally speaking.
Silvia says
Of course, that drive is very easy and should be fine in April.
lake says
I am flying into olso march 9th and was hoping to drive to Flam as well and explore the fjords. Ive been having trouble finding information on how realistically possible that is given weather/road conditions. Thoughts or advice? I would rather not train as I prefer to be mobile during my whole stay
Silvia says
I think you should be fine in March.
Kelly says
A road trip through Norway is definitely very high on my bucket list BUT I’m mostly commenting to say that I LOVE your new header and “about me” photo!! *heart eyes emoji*
Silvia says
Aaaah that makes me so happy! I tried to hire someone to make a new logo but couldn’t get my aesthetic across, so I ended up putting this together on my own, ha. And I SO needed a new about photo!
Nynke says
I am so going to use this advice to plan a roadtrip for next year! Thanks 🙂
PS I love your new ‘about me’ pic!
Silvia says
Thanks, it was definitely time for a new photo! And I hope you have an amazing road trip when you do come 🙂
Joella says
I just noticed your new header/logo and design. So cute!
Silvia says
Thanks, Joella!
Marina says
Beautiful country! <3
Silvia says
It really is!
Kate Newman says
Norway looks like such a magical place. You’ve given some amazing pointers, I’ll definitely have to look back at this post when I plan my Norway trip X
Silvia says
I hope you love it as much as I do when you come!
Nynke says
I was just reminded that I do have a tip for roadtrippers: if you don’t plan on camping, but do want to go in summer, book really early! Accommodation anywhere near any of the big fjord tourist draws fills up incredibly early, so you may have to book half a year in advance if you want to sleep in one of the prettiest villages on the Geiranger fjord, for instance.
Silvia says
Oh that is a good tip – I didn’t realize that since I’ve never traveled in Norway in the high season! Trying to avoid it, haha.
Brittany from Boston says
Definitely looks like a beautiful place to go road tripping! And it’s great to have these words of wisdom from a seasoned road tripper!
Silvia says
Haha I am the biggest fan of road trips ever.
Natalie says
Norway looks so beautiful and green! Complete opposite to London where I currently live!
Thanks for sharing and your photos look amazing.
Aimee says
Hey I was wondering if anyone could answer a quick question. When do you think is best to carry out a trip like this? I’d love to see the Northern Lights but I’d hate to freeze to death wild camping. I’ve wanted to see the NL for so long I am prepared to hold it off a little longer if it means my road trip will be a lot more enjoyable. What do you think?
Silvia says
Yeah, I don’t think you can camp during a northern lights trip, since you’ll want to be really far up north, and you’ll need to go sometime between October and March when it’s still dark. You might want to split up the trips – or you could go somewhere cheaper like northern Sweden to see the lights, and do a separate road trip through Norway when it’s warmer.
Aurélie says
Hi Silvia,
first off, your website is really great! so much usefull information…
Planning on going on a road trip with a friend next month to Norway. (Been keen onto for so long 🙂 – so yay!)
She has a sort of camper van, with a roof that opens up. So can sleep in this, but also bring a tent.
My question is, can you wild camp with the van? Or if we use the tent, where do you park the car? As you suggested in your post to stay away from the roads, to avoid getting honked at :). but what do you do with your car?
PS: is there’s a website or something ro have an overview of the ferry crossings within Norway, and maybe their costs?
thanks in advance!
warm regards,
Aurélie
Tracy Cooper says
Hi Silvia,
my companion and I have hired a campervan for the last week of August and the first week of September 2017. We have worked out a rough route starting in Oslo/Jesshiem, heading straight up the RV3 and E6 to Mo i rana. From there we will head south to Trondheim, Alesund, Bergen, Stavanger and finally back to Oslo. We hope to have enough time to go via the Atlantic Highway, Trollstigen, Gerainger, Dalsnibba and Nigardsbreen.
Do you have any suggestions for places that we should make a point of stopping at along our route, other than those I’ve mentioned. I would hate to miss a “must see” because I was unaware of it.
I should point out that the route is not “set in stone”, it will depend on how much time we spend in various places along the way. If we find somewhere we particularly like, we may spend more time there and perhaps miss out one or two of other planned stops.
Any other tips you have would be greatly appreciated.
kind regards
Tracy (and Glenda)
Grayson says
I’ve been reading your Norway travel posts eagerly because I snagged an insanely cheap ticket to Oslo in March. I’m from Texas so I’m not intimidated by the size of Norway so much as how wintry it’s going to be! I lived in Colorado and have some snow-driving experience but I’m still trying to get my head around how to plan the trip. So thanks for all of your informative posts!
Silvia says
Oh that’s very exciting! The roads will mostly be fine in March except in the mountains, where it will still be quite snowy. It’s a beautiful time of year to visit!
Jo says
I’m heading there in January. Is it crazy to plan any kind of road tripping at that time?! We’re flying in to Oslo then taking the train to Bergen, I think. From there, I was planning to rent a car and take us up to the fjords and mountains (not sure where yet).
Silvia says
A lot of the mountain roads will be closed in January, but otherwise it should be a beautiful time for a road trip!
Kim says
My husband and I will be in Norway in about 2 weeks for about a week. By far, your website has given us the most helpful information. We are both VERY excited and very overwhelmed at the same time! We don’t like to plan our trips much in advance and are realizing that with as much as we want to do in Norway, we will need to do some planning!! First off, thank you for taking time to post all of this detailed information!! Would you be willing to exchange a few emails with us as we attempt to plan our honeymoon?
SIFF says
Hi Silvia,
My husband I are planning to go July next year for 7 days from 12th July to 19th July and without any research we booked our flights to Tromso and coming back from Oslo. What could be reasonable roadtrip look like without missing the fjords, the pretty villages and the main sights. Please not we are not big fans of big cities so we can skip those if needs be!
Thank you in advance!
Silvia says
If you’re up for a long time in the car, I’d try to stick to the coast and then drive from Bergen across to Oslo at the end. That would be a lot of driving though, so you could also take the highway inland straight down to Oslo. Also check out the national tourist routes and see if you can hit some of those!
Alexandra says
Love your blog, and your love of Norway! We are visiting from the UK for the first time in December…and will be making a road trip!!! I’m a little nervous, my hubby more relaxed I just wondered whether you think it is necessary to book all
Hotels in advance or it’s ok to make W wait as we may think we want to drive a little further on certain days etc, if that makes sense?
Would appreciate your advice!
Thank you
Warm regards
Alexandra
Silvia says
Hmm it depends where you’ll be heading and if there’s much accommodation in the area, but when I travel around Norway I often just book things as I go (sometimes I end up in some pretty random places because of it though!). If you’re traveling around the holidays though I would definitely book in advance, but earlier in December you should be okay to book as you go.
yani says
do you recommend to drop off the car rental at the different place. for example.. take the car at oslo and return at bodo and rent different car at moskenes lofoten.. return it at narvik
Silvia says
That will often make the car rental much more expensive, but if that isn’t an issue for you then it could be more practical!
Bill says
Hello, Silvia. We are planning a trip to Sweden and Norway. We lived in Stockholm for two years many years ago and visited the Norwegian fjords via a cruise. This time, we are traveling with our daughter and would like to gain a different perspective of Norway and the fjords. In May, we will fly into Bergen from Stockholm on the 14th; we have a return flight to the USA reserved for the 19th from Oslo. Because of jetlag, I have had trouble staying awake when driving in Europe for long distances, so I am wondering whether you could suggest an itinerary for the length of our trip that will not include long driving distances – maybe a combination of driving around the Sognefjord and public transportation for the longer legs of the trip, such as our final leg to Oslo. We will be grateful if you share your firsthand insight. Thank you!
Silvia says
It’s hard for me to suggest something without better knowing your interests, but if you’d like to get some local advice I’d encourage you to join my Facebook group dedicated to Scandinavia travel – I’m sure we can help you over there! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ScandinaviaTravel/
Puneet says
Hi Silvia
Very interesting article you created!
I alongwith my cousin am planning to do a road trip for 9 days. If I fly to oslo, then you think I can cover by car to tromso and back to Oslo in 9 days? Or its a challenging trip to plan.
I really need someone to assist since there is so much on the web to read and due to work pressure, im not able to give too much time to create an awesome plan.
My objective is to hire a car, go through the mountains and check out northern lights. Can you please advice what route we should take.
Thank you so much!
Silvia says
Oslo to Tromso is over 20 hours of driving, but I guess it would be doable in 9 days. Though if you’re just interested in the Northern Lights you could just drive up to Bodø, which is closer to Oslo but still above the Arctic Circle. If you want to drive through the mountains you should try to stay driving in Norway, even though maps might want you to go through Sweden as they have bigger roads (but the scenery isn’t as nice).
Have a lovely trip!
Puneet says
Thank you Silvia for your prompt reply! You are a star!
Few more questions –
1. Is round trip from Oslo to Tromso and back to Oslo possible in 9 days in March?
2. If above is no, then please give few name of the places where i can see mountains and nature sceneries (in Norway). This is help me to make my route plan and book the bed and breakfast accordingly.
3. Whether my starting point to start roadtrip should be Tromso to Oslo or Oslo to Tromso? Which way its got better sceneries and nature sightseeings.
Thank you once again for your help!
Paul Bernthal says
This is very helpful. Thanks! I’m driving from Bergen to Oslo and would like to stay overnight in towns along the way. I’ve stayed in Flam before, which was nice. Any recommendations for small towns to stay in along the drive? Maybe one closer to Bergen and one closer to Oslo? It could be two nights in one town or two separate locations. I’m just trying to break up the drive and want to stay in beautiful locations with lots of views and nature, the towns themselves are less important.
Pieter Cautreels says
Hi Silvia,
Great tips&tricks! Do you have a,y experience with small campervans (2pers.) to disover Norway? 🙂
Thx!
Najeeba says
Hi,
Love your blog. It will help us a lot planning our trip.
My Husband and I are planning to have a mid April 2018 Scandinavian road trip starting in Copenhagen and ending in Oslo.
Our main concern is the roads, and if we will be able to enjoy the scenery.
According to our current plan, we will reach Norway in beg May. How are the roads conditions at this time?
And you think a road trip in mid April to mid May is a good idea? or its best to postpone to Summer?
Excuse my poor English.
Regards,
Najeeba
Deanna says
Hi, I am loving your articles, so easy to read and lots of great tips and to especially get off the beaten track. We are looking forward to coming to Norway in August, we know it will be busy, but we are coming from Sydney and this is part of our european summer escape, and probably the only time we will get to visit. We are very lucky to be staying with friends in Trondheim and Alesund, but we are undecided about what to do when we first arrive in Norway. We fly into Amsterdam and then are debating whether to fly from Amsterdam to Oslo, spend one day, then pick up a hire car for three days, drive to Bergen via Telemark and then spend two days coming back to Oslo to drop off car, then fly to Alesund. Or do the train trip from Oslo to Bergen and pick up a hire car there for three days (maybe even follow your Norway in a Nutshell hack love it). Alternatively, we fly direct to Bergen from Amsterdam, have a hire car for four days from Bergen to explore area, but won’t visit Oslo or possibly Telemark…. Basically shall we miss Oslo to have more time with the hire car from Bergen? We will visit the Geiranger fjord from Alesund so I don’t think we need to do any ferry trips from Bergen. Any tips you can provide would be wonderful.
Perscilla Bartley says
Loved this article! Super helpful as it will be my first time in Norway.
In relation to the “wild camping” is it also acceptable to sleep in cars? as long as we have lots of blankets and layers with us to stay warm?
Also couch surfing as a young women is safe in Norway? I would love any advise 🙂
Liz says
I stumbled on your blog and it is so helpful. My husband and I are planning our first trip to Norway in early June for 10 days. We have never travelled internationally before and I’m soaking up all your advice. We are flying in to Oslo and want to spend 3 days or so in central Norway visiting the fjords before going to Bergen. Any tips on an itinerary are must sees/dos? Places to stay? After reading your blog, I’m leaning towards driving for budget reasons. Thanks for any advice!
mila holt says
Hi, I’m feeling really overwhelmed trying to plan 13 days in Norway. There are too many choices and so many different opinions online! We are flying into Oslo in mid-May. We want to see beautiful sites at a fairly relaxed pace. And no, we don’t want to wait in line to hike up Troll’s Tongue. Is there a good itinerary you would recommend? What would be best for first-timers visiting during the second half of May for 13 days? THANK YOU for your help!
Andy says
Your road trip guide is a big gem to me! A few quick questions after reading the guide…
Is Norway really cashless? Is it ok if I come with just a credit card?
Do you think it’s a good idea to rent a car at one place and return it elsewhere (e.g. Stavanger and Oslo)?
Thx a lot.
Silvia says
I can’t remember the last time I used cash in Norway, haha. Picking up and dropping off a rental in different places can be super expensive, but sometimes you’ll find a good deal, so I would just check out your options/budget and go by that.
Andy says
Very busy planning my road : ) and come up with another question. Can I pay by credit card for taking ferries to cross the fjords? I’m wondering exactly how I do that when driving my car onto the ferry. Do I have to get off my car and pay at a counter? Thx a lot.
Andy says
Thx to your road trip guide I managed to come up with 2 adventurous north and south road trips bridged with domestic flight. Your pics are gorgeous and I look forward to seeing all the beautiful scenery myself in 3 months’ time : ).
Marloes says
Hi! Thanks for the great advice! We are planning to make a roadtrip to Norway this summer and to try out wildcamping, but we were still wondering about one thing. You say it’s nicer to camp awy from the side of the road, but where do you leave your car then? Just by the side of the road or is it allowed to drive a little off-raod so you have your car close to your tent?
Thanks!!
Silvia says
Yeah I always leave my car on the side of the road (I’ll pull off in a pull off space of course – I don’t just leave it in the road). But definitely don’t drive off the road closer to the tent, as you’ll damage the nature!
Ryan VanCampenhout says
In July my wife and I will be traveling to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. For the Norway portion of the trip we plan on renting a car in Stavanager then driving it to Alesund. I just wanted to get a sanity check to see if the driving portion of my trip will be too crazy combined with the activities we were thinking:
Saturday, June 30th – Arrive in Oslo at 12:10 PM, explore city and then sleep in Oslo
Sunday, July 1st – Explore Oslo, 9:00 PM flight to Stavanager, Arrive at 9:50 PM, sleep – Stavanager
Monday, July 2nd – Hike Pulpit Rock then drive to Odda. Sleep in Odda
Tuesday, July 3rd – Hike TrollTunga, then drive to Bergen. Sleep in Bergen
Wednesday, July 4th – Free Day in Bergen. Sleep in Bergen
Thursday, July 5th – Drive from Bergen to Skei (Scenic Highway E16). Sleep in Skei
Friday, July 6th – Drive from Skei to Geiranger. Do Kayak Tour of Geirangerfjord. Drive to Alesund.
Saturday, July 7th – Free Day in Alesund
Sunday, July 8th – Half Day in Alesund and then Fly to Stockholm. Sleep in Stockholm
Monday, July 9th – Free Day Stockholm
Tuesday, July 10th – Free Day Stockholm
Wednesday, July 11th – Morning Train to Copenhagen. Half day in Copenhagen
Thursday, July 12th – Free Day Copenhagen
Friday, July 13th – Free Day Copenhagen
Saturday – Afternoon flights back home
If we need to add an extra 0.5 or 1.0 days in Norway we would likely take it from Stockholm
Silvia says
I think it’s doable, but your days will be packed – especially with two big back-to-back hikes! But if you’re up for it then it really does sound like an amazing trip! Just be aware that the Trolltunga hike is very difficult, so you will likely be exhausted after it.
Kathy says
Hello! Traveling with my 75yr-old mom end of May (starting Huritugren cruise Tromso to Trondheim – then driving Trondheim to Bergen over 4-5 days to drive the scenic routes). Just wondering if you have suggestions besides our current plan of driving the scenic routes and stopping at pretty places – any must-see or must-do that does not require hiking for my mom that we should definitely see outside of the main towns like Bergen and Alesund? Thanks!!!
Hugh Burley says
Hi,
Thanks very much for taking the time to make this blog!
Meanwhile I’m coming to Norway from Sydney for a short visit from May 28-June 2. I know it’s not long, but I’m in Europe for my friend’s wedding and I don’t have much leave from Work :]. I’d really love to pack in as much outdoors stuff as possible, and I’m thinking it would be best to just pick an area and focus on that.
My plan is ::
Fly into Bergen in the arvo. Two nights here, one day exploring the fjords – maybe a boat tour is the best way in a day?
Next day, rent a car and drive to Trolltunga, via a scenic route if possible. Two nights in Trolltunga, then one day doing the walk.
Then I need to decide whether I drive back to Bergen and see something else on the way back via a different route (i.e. flying back to Oslo), or drive all the way to Oslo. I prob don’t have the time to go to Oslo so it’s probably better to stay closer to Bergen and see more of that region.
It would be great to also visit a national park with forest, I understand Trolltunga is more of a geological wonder than an forested area? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Also if you’d like any travel tips for Australia just let me know – I’ve been all over the place down here :]
Hugh
Tara vickery says
Hi
Really great reading. I am converting a van into a camper at the moment, with a view to traveling Europe alone., (I’m a 48 year old lady) is it safe for me to do this alone I norway? Many thanks
Hayley says
Hello!
Thanks for a great article. I’m wondering if you could help with a question I can’t seem to find an answer to anywhere!
My husband and I are going to Norway for 2 weeks with our little girl early September. We’ve booked a campervan for 12 days to do a round trip from oslo back to Oslo (where we then fly up to Tromsø for the last 2 days)
We’re a little stuck on how much we should bring with us for spending money for this time. Bearing in mind we will need money for fuel, food shopping from a grocery store for meals and snacks and other spends while we’re there (we have paid for excursions already).
I don’t suppose you would know a rough figure that we’d be needing that would comfortably cover this? We’d hate to run short so we’d rather bring more than necessary!
Thank you so much for any help!
Hayley
Kushal says
Hi Silvia, thanks to your blog I have got a different perspective to Norway than what others usually talk about. I am keen on arriving Norway in August and planned to rent a car. Is it true that the driving license should be held since more than a year, in order to rent a car in Norway? I received my license 4 months ago so do I hold a chance to rent a car in Norway?
Kushal (aged 30)
Silvia says
You should email the car rental company and ask.
Ram Raja says
Hi Silvia,
Finally we are doing our Scandinavian trip this August. We will be renting a car in Copenhagen then traveling to Stockholm prior to arrive in Oslo. The following is plan for our Norway trip and do you think it is doable.
8/11/2018 Travel to Oslo, Norway
8/12/2018 Discover Oslo
8/13/2018 Discover Oslo
8/14/2018 Eidsbygda
8/15/2018 Atlanterhavsveien
8/16/2018 Trollstigen/Geiranger/Tafjord
8/17/2018 Travel to Oslo
8/18/2018 Cruise to Copenhagen
I do understand travel to Eidsbygda is the longest trip and we are traveling with kids.
Silvia says
Looks great! It will be a lot of driving, but all of the drives should be beautiful so you won’t get bored.
Anji says
Hi Silvia,
Hope you are doing great 🙂
First I would like to say thank you so much for the valuable information and your time. All of your images just an awesome. Some how I visited ur blog and Norway became as my dream. I don’t have any idea about Norway but I like to be there any cost. I have done some research and I made one plan. Please have a look and advise me.
Here my concern is about Cost and time. Please let me know how much cost and time required to visit below locations. Shall I skip few of them or is it possible to cover all of them?
I am from India (Hyderabad) and I like to fly to Stavanger. So my journey will start from Stavanger. I like to go by Car and we are two members.
Please advice me with Cost and days so that accordingly we will plan.
1. Preikestolen
2. Ana – sira
3. Kjerag
4. Langfossen falls
5. Trolltunga
6. Bergen
7. Geirangerfjord
8. Trollstigen
9. Atlantic Ocean Rd
10. Alesund
11. Lofoten (Bodo)
Anji says
Hi Silvia,
Hope you are enjoying lot in Scotland 🙂
Once you done ur trip please have a look my message and let me know your view 🙂
Regards
Anji
Linda says
Hey! Jæren is actually really beautiful. Lots og pretty beaches and beautiful scenery. I would def. go there! I should try and highlight what’s beautiful about Jæren instead. Then you probably haven’t seen alot of it! 🙂
Lisa Kutschera says
Hello, My husband and I are planning an 8 day trip the last week in August. We are flying into Bergen. My husband then wants to drive North up the coast. I was thinking we could drive to Alesund (making some stops along the way? Geiranger?) then go onto Molde and then over to Trollstigen. Then we want to make our way down to Sognefjorden (seeing Flam?). Then move on to Hardagerford and finally over to Odda to hike Trolltunga. Then we would make our way back to Bergen. Is this to ambitious? We are renting a car. Any and all information/recommendations would be most helpful! Also what road map to you recommend we buy? I wanted to try and purchase one before we leave. Thank you SO much for taking the time to read and respond to this!
Lisa 🙂
karthick says
Hi
you are such a wonderful writer. Could you please tell me whether I can get a blabla car or something for a road trip? I need to travel in a car through Atlantic Road?
Silvia says
You’ll need to rent a car from a rental agency – sixt.com and hertz.com usually have pretty good rates.
jacopo says
Good morning, is it feasible in 8-9 days to do the whole E39 route from Stavanger along the atlantic coast until Kristiansand? Then catch the flight in Oslo.
Do you have an idea of the total cost for tolls and ferries or any other cost along this route?
Thank you very much!
Joe says
Me and my partner are very keen hikers and having spent almost two years in Canada, we love the outdoors and what nature has to offer. And the sleeping spectacular mountains and lakes of course!
We are planning a trip to Norway next July and will be renting a vehicle and most probably paying a one way fee in the process. We would like your advice on which one of the two routes to take during our trip, which will be approx. 10-14 days. We have briefly looked into Stavanger to Bergen (RV13) or Stavanger to Oslo. Based on the fact we love to hike, really enjoy being outdoors and look in awe at amazing landscapes, which of the two would you recommend please. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks and really enjoyed looking through the site and the tips and advice you provide.
Silvia says
Definitely Stavanger to Bergen. Have fun!
Hugo says
Hey Silvia, Great article, really inspirational!
I’m planning a roadtrip in Norway for next month! We’re thinking about renting a car in Karlstad, Sweden (we’re exchange students) and driving up to Bergen and back. We want to experience as much of the rough-fjord-nature.
How is your experience with hostels on the road? Is it possible to make 200km a day and find some hostels?
Thank you for your answer!
Silvia says
It should be possible, though it might be smart to try to book some places in advance. Have fun!
Lowna says
Hi Silvia,
Iam planning Norway trip of 8 days with my family (2 adults and 3 kids) on March 22 flying to Oslo. 2 days in Oslo and then will take a train to Bergen. From there I would like to rent a car for the rest of my trip. Is it possible to do road trips and what places to visit. Iam clueless as I read the roads are closed and there will be snow (I dont have snow driving experience). Your suggestions will be greatly helpful.
Regards,
Lara Aurora says
Norway is one of the dream place to visit. Lots of places to explore may 1 month is not enough to explore. Thanks For sharing your views upon hiring a car to explore the Norway. May its a great experience. We are visiting to Norway. First to Oslo. So we thinking to explore with campervan rental. We thinking to book a campervan in oslo. Starting trip from Oslo. Own bed, and kitchen. Is it good idea to hire a camper van in Oslo and explore Norway by road. Is this cheapest or we will hire a car, What you suggest?
Silvia says
Actually from my experience I wouldn’t recommend hiring a camper van. Petrol here is very expensive and with the cost of staying at campsites you won’t really save money. I would recommend hiring a smaller rental car and staying in self catering cottages and apartments instead. Have a great trip!
Campervan Oslo says
Hy Silva,
Thanks for your reply and for recomodations
Nenu Singh says
Hello Silvia, your Norway blogs are extremely helpful. I was super confused about our upcoming trip to Norway in late June. I was convinced to buy NIN and add days to that cruise. But now, I think we will drive down. We will be in Oslo after touring Sweden and Copenhagen. We plan to spend 6.5 days in Norway. I was debating if we should go to North(Lofoten) or around Bergen/ Ålesund. We have two kids 11/12 yrs. What do you suggest they will enjoy more?
Although, I am leaning more towards Bergen/ Ålesund 🙂 Also, can we drive from Oslo to Bergen/ Ålesund and get back to Oslo in 5 days?
Thanks Much and I look forward to reading more about your adventures.
Harshad Datar says
Hi silvia,
We are in the midst of planning a trip to Europe. Norway was actually not on my horizon. All that has changed after I chanced upon your blog and realised what I was missing. Now my focus has shifted to bringing in Norway into my tour. We would be making that trip around May – Jun 19 and at the moment it looks like we may visit Norway, Sweden, Finland and three of the Baltic States.
I also like your idea of connecting with couchsurfers. I have been on Couchsurfing but have never used any of their options.
Thanks for writing such a lovely blog and giving me motivation to think Norway for our visit pla.
Lara Aurora says
Yes! Driving in Norway is one of the best adventurous experience. There are lots of best scenic road trips in Norway. you can choose different locations Routes. In last Year were 3 friends visited Norway and hired a campervan from Oslo for 30 days. An Amazing experience riding on Norway roads. Amazing stay. Our mobile kitchen and bed with us every time. But Your guide really described very well. This summer we also think to tour of Norway to explore rest of places. Your guide help us more. Thanks
Stacey says
Hi, Planning a trip April 17-26 ( have already purchased my ticket) I’m wondering how driving will be, from what i’ve read today, most of the scenic routes may still be closed. What are are my realistic options, should I switch to train travel? I was looking forward to driving but not sure it’s the right option now. Also, I am flying into Oslo was planning on going north/west with my main focus being Stave church’s, Fjords, small interesting towns. I will be traveling by myself, although I grew up in snow, driving just want a realistic expectation. Thank you!
Alexia says
Such helpful information. This will be my 2nd time to Norway. But I am planning on end of September for northern Norway. I know most of the will not be running at this time from what I’ve researched. But for closed roads, would it make a difference for the beginning of Sept vs the end of Sept into October?
Thanks so much in advance!
Silvia says
Some roads do start to close at the end of September, so early September would be a safer bet!
James Jayalath says
Hi Silvia,
We are planning to travel to Norway in July 2019. We are planning to stay there for 6 days. Then I am thinking to hire a car from the Airport and return to the Airport. Can you please let me know the best route from Oslo to cover train and ferry journey and return back to the Airport. My main concern is, can you find parking when you travel by train or ferry’s in certain areas and whether you have to pay for parking.
Please advise.
James Jayalath says
Hi Silvia,
We are planning to travel to Norway in July 2019. We are planning to stay there for 6 days. Then I am thinking to hire a car from the Airport and return to the Airport. Can you please let me know the best route from Oslo to cover train and ferry journey and return back to the Airport. My main concern is, can you find parking when you travel by train or ferry’s in certain areas and whether you have to pay for parking?
Abbie Mawhinney says
Hi there,
Thx so much for answering everyone’s questions!! I plan to be in Oslo early Sept w a sml car and really want to explore Norway including some slow time and hikes. Do you think 2 weeks is a good amount of time and wld that allow me to make it to Loften & Senja? I’ll be looping back down to Oslo again.
x A
Ripley says
I took a rental car with Autopass included from Oslo airport,
used Avis/Budget badged subcontractor located there who assured
me the Autopass etag was working, nothing more for me to do or pay,
before I drove away – contrary to what the Avis rental contract states!
The Autopass etag proved to be a dud; suspected when passing through road
toll points, then proved when ferry onboarders tried their handheld scanners
to no avail. When I was eventually overcharged I put the message through to
Avis/Budget customer service, they went silent, then I went to Norway Innovation
(Govt agent) they pointed me at the Ministry… no response. Cannot use Norwegian
Consumer Council because you need to be a Norwegian resident with a national ID to
do that. The Norwegian Govt behaves as though it cannot manage Norwegian businesses
that behave fraudulently, so sad, too bad, won’t be back. Certainly would never recommend
Avis/Budget at Oslo Airport as a rental car source.
Silvia says
Yeah I’ve heard bad things about Budget in Norway as well. Personally I always rent through sixt.com, as they have a great reputation in Norway.
Tina says
Love this guide, perfect for anyone planning a Norway road trip! As a Norway native I agree with everything, except the part about “the roads are all well-maintained”.. I wish it was true! hahaha. Thank you so much for sharing your tips!
Naomi Hagen says
Silvia:
Thank you SO much for your travel tips. I’m working diligently on my plan for our upcoming July trip to Norway and am finding your blog to be so helpful! Can’t wait to visit this stunning country!
Naomi
KatieM says
Hello Silvia, I love your blog! We are planning a road trip to Norway and all of your blog posts have been so helpful! We are flying in and out of Bergen. Our first night we haven’t decided where to stay, we land in Bergen around 3pm and then We’re driving to Flam the next day, any tips on where to stay either on the way or a bit out of the way as we’re game for adventure and driving 🙂
Thank you!
Katie
Silvia says
I’ve compiled a list of my favorite hotels in the region here: https://www.heartmybackpack.com/norway/best-sognefjord-accommodation/ Aurland is especially idyllic!
Kathryn says
I love your blog 🙂 It’s been very helpful during the planning process for my upcoming trip to Norway (April 30 – May 9). I’ve been running into some trouble with my itinerary since there seem to be some road closures and was wondering if you had recommendations. Right now I have:
April 30: Arrive to Oslo
May 1: Oslo
May 2: Norway in a Nutshell train to Bergen
May 3: Bergen
May 4: Bergen
For May 5 – May 9 I was hoping to include Alesund, Geirangerfjord and back to Oslo (possibly stop somewhere else if there is time). Do you have any suggestions for how to do that during that time of year? The only thing booked right now is our Oslo flights, so if this isn’t possible, we are also considering Oslo to Lofoten instead. Thanks so much for any help you can offer!!
Silvia says
Most roads should be open in May if the road closures you’re seeing now are due to weather, though Trollstigen doesn’t open until late May or early June. You’ll definitely be able to drive from Bergen to Alesund though.
Kathryn says
Thank you for your quick reply, Silvia! You rock 🙂 Do you know if it is possible to get from Alesund to Geirangerfjord easily since Trollstigen is closed?
Silvia says
Of course! Trollstigen isn’t actually part of that route anyway, and the main road will definitely be open. Or you could take a boat trip from Alesund – I have more suggestions in my Alesund guide: https://www.heartmybackpack.com/norway/alesund-travel-guide/
Kathryn says
Thank you so much!
Malerie says
Hi, Silvia! Your blog is wonderful! I’m planning my first trip to Norway this summer. I’m spending four nights in Lofoten (already have a wonderful Air BnB booked), and then plan to spend four nights in the Mor Og Romsdal region. I want to explore Alesund, do the Atlantic Road, visit Geirangerfjord, and Trollstigen. Ahh! Where should I base myself? Do you recommend homesteading in Alesund and just planning to drive a lot, or doing two and two somewhere? Thank you!
Autumn says
Hello Silvia 🙂
Thank you for your wonderful website and always being so prompt at responding to all of your social media. You helped me out late last year and I was able to change my plans to arrive after Easter. So thank you again for that. I’m hoping you might be able to help me out with some other information I’m really having problems finding answers to online.
I will be flying into Oslo on the 24th of April and flying out on the 7th of May. My trip is going up through Norway and down through Sweden.
I’m having trouble figuring out whether to look at Winter or Summer hours/fees? Most websites I’ve looked at completely leave out April and May when they show the dates that each is for.
I also am planning on renting a car and driving but I am having trouble figuring out if I can cross boarders and whether there are fees for it? The rental websites are so unclear about it.
Thanks for any help
Bruce Alpert says
Thoughts on a roundtrip drive from Bergen to Geiranger in 4 nights, five days in June. Towns to overnight?
Route?
Sheila says
Like what I read event hough I would not be driving. Keep the good info going.
Sheila says
Am schedule to visitScandinavia in July 2020. I hope to reach Geiranger by ferry from Bergen and return to Oslo in 30 hours. I already paid for accommodation which maybe a problem.
Lenka says
Norway is the country my heart fell in love with. First I had to come back year by year and now it´s time to move there and show this beautiful country to other adventurers. Lofoten is the most beautiful part that I love, but now it´s time to explore south as well.
Katie McDonald says
Amazing blog to read!
I am landing in Oslo and doing a full coastal road trip curving round and finishing just North of The Atlantic Road.
Heading back South to Oslo for our returning flight, I was wondering if there is a mountainous route which is worth stopping for 1 or 2 nights before reaching Oslo.
Thank you so much!
Patty says
Silvia,
Thank you for the tip on Auto Europe. It turned out to be the cheapest rate for us. Looking for 9 days and manual transmission plus unlimited miles! Made a difference.
Laura says
Hei! I came across your website while looking for information about planning a road trip in September from Trondheim to Tromsø. Great and very useful article, thanks! I checked out the rain pants you recommended, but they are no longer available at the link you provided 🙁 since I’m looking for a good pair of rain pants, I wanted to ask you if those you recommended are made to wear over something (like if I’m already wearing jeans and I can have them over) or they are more to wear by themselves or maybe with woollen underpants if cold. I’m not even sure which would be more versatile, but I just want to understand more and make the right purchase! And if you update your link, just reply with it 😉 thanks in advance!
Joseph Jones says
Appreciating the time and effort you put into your website and in depth information you offer. Awesome places to explore. I would like to suggest it to my friends so that we can plan a trip and take a time for ourselves in this busy schedule. Keep posting such wonderful places. Thanks!
Stefan Robert says
Here, one thing is very important. Like when you will go for visiting Norway in summer. You should need to bring a warm cloth to keep protect your cold environment. Your clothes should be waterproof.
Keith says
Loved the information and I was planning to travel again after this pandemic. You know you’re in good shape when you become uninterested in thinking back. Keep it up!
Bec says
Thanks for all your blogs that I’ve read so far!
My trip planning is still very early days, but I’m hoping (covid pending) to visit Norway next May-June.
I’ll be doing a trip up to Svalbard and then would like to road-trip south through Norway, potentially starting at Alta, heading east and then back over to the west coast, unsure yet where I’d finish but let’s say Oslo.
Is it possible to do this in 2 weeks or would you recommend allowing longer or starting elsewhere?
Vanna says
Hei Silvia – what a wonderful, absolute gem of blog for Norway travellers! Kudos to you! I moved to Norway last year (all the way from the warm Pacific) to start my new job here. Your blog is sooooo helpful, it’s such a blessing for new travellers.
Really appreciate all this effort you’ve put into sharing your experiences!
Best,
V.
kaaba says
Thank you so much!
Tracy Shannon says
Hi Silvia!
Your website and information is awesome! I’m from the USA and I’m leaving for various Countries in the EU March 1st ( VERY soon!) for my latest female Solo travel adventure. I’m starting in Denmark (visiting friends)then headed to Norway 3/22 or 3/23 for 10 days before I head to Switzerland and then Italy. I wish I could stay longer but the rules are strict that I must only stay in the Schengen area for 90 days. I have been reading a lot of blogs on the Internet but they were all from Travelers so when I saw yours I was thrilled because you’re a local! I’ll be leaving Copenhagen and was thinking about heading north first in the hopes of still catching the northern lights. I would really love your opinion of the best trip I could hope for in my short 10 day stay. I will be renting a car and I am completely unaware of where I’ll be staying since I don’t even have my itinerary mapped out. I’m feeling a little stressed because it will be time to leave so soon now!
Any help or suggestions that you can give me would be so very very much appreciated. If it turns out that you’re available while I’m in your beautiful country I would be happy to meet you for coffee and a pastry perhaps 😎
I love to hike and road tripping like you!
Silvia says
If you want to see the northern lights I would fly up to Tromsø and rent a car from there. You’ll be right at the end of the northern lights season, but should still have a chance at the end of March. The distances here are really great so I don’t recommend trying to see too many places at once. I think my top pick would be Tromsø and Senja. You could also drive around Kvaløya, the island next to Tromsø, and Sommarøy during the day, and then Kvaløya is also a great place to watch northern lights at night. These posts should help: https://www.heartmybackpack.com/norway/tromso-northern-lights-tour/ https://www.heartmybackpack.com/norway/things-to-do-in-tromso/ and https://www.heartmybackpack.com/norway/things-to-do-in-senja-norway/
2 Cups Of Travel says
Awesome shots! This looks stunning. We didn’t have Norway on the list for our 2022 trip but maybe need to add it in!
Steve Wheller says
Just came across your fab and informative blog. I am looking at planning a trip to Norway with my son before he heads off to University. We are looking at coming for a week in the last week of august, first week of September.
I am a photographer so looking to capture the amazing landscapes. We are going to fly from Cardiff and then hire a car. What would be the best road trip for a week to capture the best of the norwegian landscapes.
Thanks
Steve
Bryan says
Hello,
Your info on Panama was a great help when I did that trip and now I found your info on Norway! Just one question. If we rent a car and plan to camp in the evening, is it legal and is there room to just pull off on the side of the road somewhere?
Thank you.
Silvia says
Yes, totally legal as long as you’re 150 m away from buildings, houses, or cabins and not on farmland. You can usually find plenty of places to pull off.
carl woodward says
this would be my dream
Tina says
Hi Silvia,
Thank you so much for all the tips, tricks and ideas on your Blog concerning Norway. Though it does makes planing a trip way more difficult, as there is so much to see 😉
One thing in was wondering in relation to cars is, if you have any experience with electric cars in Norway. From what I could find, Norways is well equipped with a Network for charging an all, but I was wondering, if you have by chance any experience in using an electric car for a road-trip with medium-long drivedays.
I’m planing a trip for May 2023 an would like to do it as sutainable as possible. I’m already planing on traveling by train up from Switzerland where I live all the way to Bodø (with stops in between to explore obvisously) but I was thinking of probably renting a car in Bodø for ~1 Week to do the Lofoten, Tromsø and Lyngen Alps Area.
Would love to hear, if you have any experience with this.
greetings from Switzerland,
Tina
Silvia says
I’m afraid I don’t have any experience with this myself. But yes, there are lots of charging stations all over, so finding a place to charge shouldn’t be a problem.
Tina Baumgartner says
Thank you !
Rob says
Silvia, well done on such a wonderful set of articles!
next June a friend and I will be riding motorcycles down the coast of Norway from Nordkapp to Bergen. You know motorcyclists sometimes it’s more the road and what it holds than stopping and walking long distances into the hills. A question if I may, what would you consider a reasonable daily distance, [some have suggested 300 km tops] bearing in mind our sort of “getting on with it” mindset?
Anna says
Me and my friends rented a campervan in Norway and we couldn’t do better! Not only it was the best budget option for us, but the freedom we got in return was priceless. Travelling Norway by campervan should be mandatory haha! I can’t imagine seeing and exploring all the beautiful places in any other way.
I recommend travelling in June – it’s still quite quiet on the roads, yet the weather is more than perfect and nature is in full of life. Oh, I loved it all. Want to come back asap…