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Ultimate Norway road trip itinerary planner
Few countries are made for road trips quite like Norway. One minute you’re driving alongside mirror-like fjords beneath towering cliffs, the next you’re winding across mountain plateaus, passing waterfalls that tumble beside the road and tiny fishing villages clinging to the coastline. Around almost every corner, the scenery shifts into something even more spectacular.
Yet Norway offers far more than dramatic landscapes. This is a country shaped by Viking history, colourful waterfront towns and a deep connection to the outdoors. You can hike to panoramic viewpoints, kayak through peaceful fjords, ride some of Europe’s most scenic roads and, in the north, even chase the Northern Lights beneath Arctic skies.
After spending months exploring Norway, we’ve put together our favourite road trip routes across the country. From iconic drives and famous viewpoints to lesser-known stops worth the detour, these four itineraries combine must-see highlights with practical tips to help you plan an unforgettable Norwegian adventure.
Find Your Perfect Norway Road Trip
If you’re not sure which Norway itinerary is right for you, start here. These road trips are grouped by travel style, so you can quickly choose the route that best matches the kind of adventure you’re looking for, whether that’s dramatic fjords, epic hikes, hidden beaches, or seeing as much of Norway as possible.
Pick the option that sounds most like you, then jump straight to the full itinerary below.
If you love iconic Norway and bucket-list experiences
Bergen to Nordkapp Road Trip: Perfect if you’ve always dreamed of driving Norway from south to north. You’ll tackle Trollstigen, the Atlantic Ocean Road, Arctic landscapes, and finish at Europe’s northern edge.
Best for: First-time visitors, Northern Lights, famous sights, and epic journeys.
If you love hiking and outdoor adventures
Adventure in the Western Fjords: This route is built around Norway’s most famous hikes, including Preikestolen, Kjeragbolten, and Trolltunga, with kayaking, fjord cruises, and scenic drives in between.
Best for: Active travellers, hikers, adventure seekers.
If you prefer slow travel and hidden gems
Slow Down in Southern Norway: Swap dramatic crowds for sandy beaches, fishing villages, lighthouses, and local food. Southern Norway offers a gentler pace and a side of the country many visitors miss.
Best for: Couples, relaxed road trips, coastal scenery, off-the-beaten-path travel.
If you want a bit of everything
A Road Trip from Oslo to the Fjords: Short on time? This classic route combines vibrant cities, mountain plateaus, stave churches, waterfalls, and iconic fjords in one easy-to-drive itinerary.
Best for: First-time visitors, one-week trips, variety.
Planning tools we actually use for Norwegian road trips
Norway Road Trip Map
This map shows the main bases and driving routes. You can save it to Google Maps for planning or offline use while driving.
Bergen to Nordkapp Road Trip
Route: Bergen – Loen – Geiranger – Trollstigen – Kristiansund – Trondheim – Jektvik – Bodø – Tromso – Nordkapp
Duration: 16-18 days
Distance: ~2650 km
When: June to September for midnight sun and open mountain roads; September to October for autumn colours and a chance to see the Northern Lights
Best For: First-time visitors, iconic sights, Northern Lights, epic scenery, and the ultimate Norway road trip
Why You’ll Love This Route
This is Norway’s ultimate road trip. Starting among the fjords of Bergen and ending deep inside the Arctic, you’ll drive some of the country’s most spectacular roads, including Trollstigen, the Atlantic Ocean Road, and the remote Kystriksveien Coastal Route.
It’s a journey of constant contrasts: UNESCO-listed fjords give way to colourful cities, fishing villages become Arctic tundra, and one day you could be cruising beneath waterfalls while the next you’re slowing down to let reindeer cross the road. If you want to experience Norway at its wildest and most iconic, this is the route to choose.
Begin in Bergen, where colourful Hanseatic buildings line the harbour and the surrounding hills hint at the dramatic landscapes to come. Heading north, Loen offers your first taste of Norway’s extraordinary scenery, with glacier-fed lakes and the spectacular Loen Skylift revealing panoramic views across fjords and mountains.
The route continues to Geiranger, home to one of Norway’s most famous fjords. From here, you’ll tackle the thrilling hairpins of Trollstigen before joining the Atlantic Ocean Road, an engineering marvel that dances across tiny islands buffeted by the Norwegian Sea. It’s one of those stretches of road where you’ll find yourself pulling over every few miles simply to admire the view.
Further north, Trondheim brings a change of pace. Norway’s former Viking capital is packed with history, colourful waterfront warehouses and excellent restaurants, making it a worthwhile place to linger before continuing along the Kystriksveien Coastal Route. Often overlooked by visitors, this spectacular drive weaves between fishing villages and remote islands, crossing the Arctic Circle as the landscape becomes wilder and more rugged.
Bodø marks the gateway to Arctic Norway and offers the option of a detour to the Lofoten Islands if you have extra time. Otherwise, continue to Tromsø, where mountain peaks rise behind the city, and the adventures become distinctly Arctic. Depending on when you visit, you could end your journey beneath the midnight sun or with the Northern Lights dancing overhead.
If two weeks isn’t enough, extend your adventure to Nordkapp, Europe’s dramatic northern frontier, for the unforgettable feeling of reaching the edge of the continent.
Is this your first time visiting Norway? Get all the information you need in our Norway Travel Guide, including what to pack, the best time of year to go, getting there, and practical tips to help you have the best trip!
Adventure in the Western Fjords
Route: Stavanger – Preikestolen – Kjeragbolten – Trolltunga – Flåm – Bergen
Duration: 7-10 days
Distance: ~687 km
Best Time: June to September for the safest hiking conditions, open mountain roads and long daylight hours. July and August offer the warmest weather but also the busiest trails, while June and September are quieter and often just as spectacular.
Best For: Hikers, adventure seekers and active travellers who want to experience Norway’s iconic viewpoints, scenic drives and outdoor activities, from fjord kayaking to challenging mountain treks.
Why You’ll Love This Route
If your idea of a perfect road trip involves earning the view, this is the route for you. Combining Norway’s most iconic hikes with some of its most spectacular drives, this journey takes you from dramatic fjords and soaring cliffs to glacier-fed valleys and mountain plateaus. Expect early starts, aching legs and the kind of scenery that makes every step worthwhile.
Stavanger is the perfect place to ease yourself into the adventure. With its colourful streets, lively waterfront and excellent seafood restaurants, it feels relaxed and welcoming before the serious scenery begins. Spend a little time wandering Gamle Stavanger and admiring the harbour before heading east towards Lysefjord, where Norway’s most famous rock formations await.
The first challenge is Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, one of the country’s most accessible bucket-list hikes. The trail isn’t particularly technical, but the reward is extraordinary: standing on a vast cliff ledge suspended high above the deep blue waters of Lysefjord. Arrive early if you can, especially in summer, when the crowds gather for sunrise and the classic photograph perched on the edge.
From there, the journey becomes more adventurous. Crossing Lysefjord by ferry, you’ll continue to Kjeragbolten, the famous boulder wedged between two cliffs almost 1,000 metres above the fjord below. The hike is more demanding than Preikestolen, with steep sections aided by chains and exposed stretches that require a head for heights. Even if you have no intention of stepping onto the boulder itself, the dramatic scenery makes the effort worthwhile.
Leaving Lysefjord behind, the Ryfylke National Scenic Route delivers one of Norway’s most memorable drives. Waterfalls tumble beside the road, ferries shuttle you across narrow fjords, and tunnels carve through mountains as you make your way north towards Odda and the legendary Trolltunga. This is the route’s biggest challenge: a long and demanding hike across the Hardangervidda plateau to a narrow rock ledge jutting high above Ringedalsvatnet. It’s tough, but for many travellers it’s the experience that defines their entire trip to Norway.
After all that exertion, Flåm offers the perfect change of pace. Tucked beside the Aurlandsfjord and surrounded by steep mountains, it’s a place to slow down and savour the landscape. Paddle across mirror-like waters, take a fjord safari, or ride the spectacular Flåm Railway through waterfalls and alpine scenery before cycling back down the famous Rallarvegen. Don’t miss the Stegastein viewpoint either, where a glass-fronted platform appears to float high above the fjord.
The journey ends in Bergen, but if you’re reluctant to leave Norway’s mountains behind, consider extending your adventure east into Jotunheimen National Park. Known as the ‘Home of the Giants’, it’s one of the country’s finest hiking regions and a fitting finale to a road trip built around Norway’s wild side.
More Norway Travel Ideas
Slow Down in Southern Norway
Route: Romsviga – Lindesnes – Kvasfossen – Lista – Egersund – Bore – Stavanger
Duration: 7 days
Distance: ~500 km
Best Time: May to September for long beach days, coastal walks and the chance to enjoy southern Norway’s gentler climate. July and August bring the warmest temperatures, while May, June and September offer quieter roads and fewer visitors.
Best For: Slow travellers, couples and anyone looking to experience a different side of Norway, with beautiful beaches, local food, fascinating history and off-the-beaten-path discoveries.
Why You’ll Love This Route
If fjords and hairpin mountain roads aren’t your thing, southern Norway may come as a surprise. Known as Sørlandet, this stretch of coastline has a softer, slower beauty, where whitewashed villages, sandy beaches and rolling farmland replace dramatic peaks and tourist crowds. It’s the kind of place where long lunches turn into sunset strolls and detours often become the highlight of the day.
Beginning near Kristiansand, Romsviga offers a glimpse into Norway’s maritime past. This protected 17th-century coastal settlement is linked by peaceful walking trails through woodland and along the shore, setting the tone for the week ahead. From there, continue west to Lindesnes, the country’s southernmost point and home to Norway’s oldest lighthouse. With crashing waves, rugged headlands and excellent coastal walks, it’s easy to see why people linger here a little longer than planned.
Turning inland briefly, you’ll discover one of southern Norway’s best-kept secrets. Kvasfossen and Rafossen may not attract the crowds of the country’s famous waterfalls, but that’s part of their charm. On warm summer days, the potholes carved into the riverbed at Kvasfossen form natural hot tubs, while Rafossen’s granite slabs provide the perfect spot for a picnic beside the thundering cascade.
Back on the coast, Lista combines broad sandy beaches with fascinating wartime history. Kite surfers skim across the waves at Havikstrand, families spread out along Kviljosanden, and the restored Nordberg Fort offers a sobering reminder of Norway’s role during the Second World War. Further north, Egersund introduces visitors to the strange rock formation of Trollpikken and the wild beauty of the Magma Geopark, while nearby beaches and lighthouses invite you to slow down and explore at your own pace.
As the journey draws to a close, Bore and neighbouring Ogna showcase some of Norway’s most beautiful stretches of coastline. Framed by lakes, rivers and endless sandy shores, this is a landscape made for unhurried exploration before arriving in Stavanger. The colourful harbour city provides a fitting finale, offering excellent restaurants, charming streets and the option to continue your Norwegian adventure elsewhere.
This route may not have the headline-grabbing drama of Trollstigen or Trolltunga, but that’s exactly its appeal. Southern Norway rewards travellers who take their time, look beyond the obvious and embrace the simple pleasures of life on the coast.
A Road Trip from Oslo to the Fjords
Route: Oslo – Geilo – Borgund – Flåm – Eidfjord – Bergen
Duration: 7 days
Distance: ~679 km
Best Time: June to September for open mountain roads, long daylight hours and easy access to the fjords. June and September tend to be quieter, while July and August offer the warmest weather and the fullest range of activities.
Best For: First-time visitors, travellers short on time and anyone wanting to experience Norway’s greatest hits, from vibrant cities and stave churches to waterfalls, mountain plateaus and iconic fjords.
Why You’ll Love This Route
Norway can feel impossibly vast when you’re planning a trip, especially if you only have a week to spare. This route solves that problem beautifully, combining many of the country’s defining experiences into one unforgettable journey. You’ll begin in Oslo, where contemporary architecture, excellent museums and a thriving food scene offer a glimpse into modern Norwegian life before the road pulls you west towards the mountains.
Geilo provides your first taste of Norway’s great outdoors. Depending on the season, you might find hikers exploring the surrounding trails or mountain bikers making the most of the crisp alpine air. As you continue deeper into fjord country, Borgund offers a fascinating detour into Norway’s past at its remarkable stave church, one of the country’s best-preserved medieval treasures.
From here, the route becomes truly spectacular. Choose the efficient drive through the Lærdal Tunnel, the longest road tunnel in the world, or take the Aurlandsfjellet Snow Road, one of Norway’s designated National Scenic Routes. The latter rewards drivers with sweeping mountain views, lingering snowfields and dramatic descents towards the fjords below.
Arriving in Flåm, you’ll discover one of Norway’s most iconic fjord villages. Ride the famous Flåm Railway through waterfalls and mountain landscapes, head out on a fjord safari or simply soak up the scenery from the waterfront. Continuing south, Eidfjord introduces another side of Norway’s natural beauty, where the thunderous Vøringsfossen waterfall crashes into the valley below, and the vast Hardangervidda plateau stretches towards the horizon.
The journey concludes in Bergen, the colourful gateway to the fjords. Wander the historic Bryggen waterfront, browse the fish market and ride the Fløibanen funicular for panoramic views across the city and surrounding islands. By the time you arrive, you’ll understand why this route is often considered the perfect introduction to Norway. In just seven days, you’ll have experienced the country’s extraordinary ability to combine culture, history and some of Europe’s most dramatic landscapes into one unforgettable road trip.
Planning Your Norway Road Trip
Getting to Norway
Whether you’re flying in or driving from elsewhere in Europe, Norway is surprisingly easy to reach.
Flying: Oslo, Bergen, Tromsø, Kristiansand and Stavanger all make excellent starting points for these itineraries. We usually use Skyscanner to compare routes and find the best fares.
Driving: Norway is easily accessible from the UK and mainland Europe via ferry connections from Denmark and Germany, or by driving through Denmark and Sweden. Bringing your own vehicle gives you complete flexibility and is ideal if you’re travelling with camping gear, motorcycles or a motorhome.
If you plan to rent a car in Norway, we recommend Discovercars.com to compare prices across multiple providers. For a bigger adventure, consider hiring a campervan or motorhome through Motorhome Republic or Arctic Campers and make the most of Norway’s excellent camping culture.
Camping in Norway
If you’re travelling Norway in a campervan, on a touring bike with a backpack, or you’re on a budget, there is a great network of campsites where you can stay in a campervan or car, or bike with a tent.
No tent? Most Norwegian campsites have huts and rooms for rent and often provide a communal kitchen area for people road tripping and backpacking around the country.
If you prefer to be in the wilds, the allemannsrett (all men’s rights) law means you can practice free or wild camping in Norway, where the land is not owned or cultivated or where there is no signage forbidding it.
Follow the usual free and wild camping good practice and don’t overstay your welcome. If you’re in a motorhome or campervan, use Park4Night to find the best free overnight parking and wild camping spots.
However you wild camp, always follow the “leave no trace” principle, take your rubbish and waste with you and dispose of it in the proper place.
Best Time for a Norway Road Trip
June to September
For most travellers, summer is the ideal time to visit Norway. Mountain roads are open, ferries run more frequently, and conditions are perfect for hiking, kayaking and exploring the fjords.
July and August are the warmest and busiest months. June and September often offer a better balance of pleasant weather, fewer crowds and good accommodation availability.
If you’re travelling above the Arctic Circle between mid-May and late July, you’ll also experience the midnight sun.
October to April
A winter road trip through Norway is magical but requires more planning. Snow-covered landscapes, cosy cabins and Northern Lights displays create an unforgettable atmosphere, particularly in northern Norway.
However, daylight hours are limited, some scenic roads close for the season and winter driving experience is essential. If you’re planning a winter adventure, ensure your vehicle is equipped with appropriate tyres and be prepared for changing conditions.
Driving in Norway: What You Need to Know
Do not underestimate how difficult and time-consuming it is to travel around Norway by car, especially if you want to go north enough to see the Northern Lights or enter the Arctic Circle. It takes a whopping 30 hours of solid driving from Oslo in southern Norway to the Lofoten Islands, for example.
Norwegian drivers are usually disciplined and calm, happy to give way and wait where necessary. The road system is well maintained, even on smaller ‘B’ type roads, and you can often drive long distances without seeing other vehicles.
Norway’s mountain passes are beautiful to drive, but often have very long and winding downhill stretches, which can cause brakes to overheat. To avoid this, drive in a low gear so you do not have to brake too hard or too often. On the uphill sections, keep an eye on the car’s temperature gauge as the engine can quickly overheat when driving up steep gradients.
Some mountain roads and roads around fjords that have not been replaced with tunnels are narrow, and larger vehicles may only be able to pass by pulling in at passing places. This can lead to traffic jams in popular areas like Geiranger in summer – patience is key!
Essential Norway Driving Rules
RELATED POST: Driving in Norway – All You Need to Know
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