A roadtrip through the valleys, mountains and over the fjords

Our Norwegian Road Trip began in Bergen, where we picked up our rental car. We chose an electric vehicle, and Norway proved to be the perfect place for it. Charging stations are plentiful, reliable, and easy to use, making electric travel completely stress-free.

Before leaving the city, we spent two days exploring Bergen and stayed at the Heimen hotel close to the harbour. We wandered through the historic Bryggen wharf with its colourful wooden buildings, enjoyed the spectacular ride on the Fløibanen funicular for panoramic views over the city and the surrounding fjords, and strolled through charming narrow streets lined with traditional wooden houses.

The following day, in typical Norwegian weather, we drove through rain and dense fog towards Flåm. Along the way we stopped at the beautiful Tvindefossen waterfall, whose powerful cascades provided a memorable contrast to the misty landscape.

In Flåm we stayed at the Flåmsbrygga hotel. A very nice hotel but the restaurant was disappointing. On the next day we went for a scenic cruise through the magnificent fjords Aurlandfjord and Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen and back. Towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls and tiny farms clinging to the mountainsides made this one of the highlights of our journey.

The next morning, our route led us through the Lærdal Tunnel, the world’s longest road tunnel, stretching an impressive 24.5 kilometres. To keep drivers alert, the tunnel is divided into sections illuminated every few kilometres with striking blue and green lighting, creating an almost surreal atmosphere.

After emerging into daylight, we continued along the spectacular Sognefjellet Scenic Route, one of Norway’s highest and most scenic mountain roads. Surrounded by dramatic alpine landscapes, we eventually reached the charming village of Lom, famous for its beautifully preserved stave church, one of Norway’s finest examples of medieval wooden architecture.

Our stay in Lom was made even more memorable by our hotel, the Brimibue — a wonderfully modern place with a restaurant that turned out to be one of the culinary highlights of the entire trip. It was the perfect base before setting off on the next leg of our journey.

Leaving Lom, we didn't head straight for the coast — first came one of the most wounderful stretches of the entire trip. The road took us toward Geiranger, and as we descended into the valley, the Geirangerfjord opened up below us in that impossibly dramatic way photos never quite capture. We stopped at the viewpoints along the way, staring down at the deep blue water hemmed in by sheer cliffs, with waterfalls like the Seven Sisters tumbling down the rock face. We skipped the village of Geiranger itself, though — it looked a bit too geared toward souvenir shops and tour groups for our taste — and instead lingered at the quieter viewpoints, taking in the views at our own pace.

From there, the road climbed again — this time up the legendary hairpin bends of Trollstigen. The switchbacks stacked one after another up the mountainside, and even with our full attention on the driving, it was impossible not to be amazed by the exposure and the waterfall thundering down beside the road near the top. At the summit we stopped at the viewing platform, looking back down over the string of bends we'd just climbed and the valley stretching out below.

Coming down the other side into the valley, we found our stop for the next two nights: the lovely Hotel Aak, tucked right at the base of the mountains just after the descent from Trollstigen. It was a perfect place to unwind after a day of dramatic driving — quiet, scenic, and with a view that made it hard to leave.

Our second day there turned out to be a rainy one, so we drove over to Trollveggen, Europe's tallest vertical rock face. Unfortunately, the clouds had settled in low and thick, and the famous wall stayed hidden from view the entire time — not exactly what we'd hoped for. But we made the best of it, finding a lovely walk through the woods nearby instead. There was something quite peaceful about wandering under the dripping trees with the mist hanging around us, and it turned out to be one of those unplanned magical highlights you don't forget.

From Hotel Aak, we continued north toward the Atlantic Road. The drive itself was already a highlight — winding through the Norwegian countryside, the landscape slowly shifting from inland fjords and mountains to something wilder and more exposed to the sea.

On the Atlantic Road itself, we made two stops. The first was at the famous Storseisundet Bridge, its dramatic curve arching against the sky — but it turned out to be the busiest spot of the day, packed with tour buses and crowds of tourists all angling for the same photo. We snapped our pictures and moved on to a quieter stretch further along, where we could properly take it all in: waves crashing against the rocks, small islands and skerries scattered across the water, and that particular feeling of driving on a road that seems to have been built directly on the ocean.

By late afternoon we reached the coast and arrived in Ålesund. The town's Art Nouveau architecture — rebuilt almost entirely in that style after the great fire of 1904 — gives it a completely different character from anywhere else we'd seen in Norway. Colourful facades, turrets, and ornate details line the canals, and the whole town felt both elegant and cozy at the same time.

We spent two nights at the Hotel Brosundet, right on the water in a beautifully converted old warehouse — a lovely place to stay, and a great base for exploring. Rather than climbing all the way up to the Aksla viewpoint, we spent a relaxed morning in the pleasant park at its base, enjoying the greenery and the views over the rooftops and canals from below. We wandered the harbour, browsed the little shops and cafés, and took our time enjoying fresh seafood by the water — and it must be said, the food throughout Norway thoroughly impressed us, from the freshest seafood to hearty local specialties, far exceeding what we'd expected. It has to be said that not every corner of town lives up to the postcard image — a few modern buildings have crept in among the Art Nouveau facades and don't quite fit the charm of the rest — but overall, the town's character still shines through. The pace here was slower than the rest of the trip, and it was exactly the kind of place that invites you to just sit back and soak it in.

Eventually, though, it was time to begin the journey home. We left Ålesund and made our way south toward Bergen, breaking up the drive with an overnight stop at Hotel Gloppen. It was a peaceful spot to rest along the way, right by the water, before continuing the final stretch south the next day.

Driving in Norway needs a lot of fjord crossings, mostly by ferry. But travelling in June meant we sailed straight onto every ferry without a single queue — short, scenic crossings that became a trip highlight, standing out on deck with the wind and the fjord views while the car sat parked below.

Back in Bergen, we made time for one more highlight before catching our flight: a visit to the Fantoft Stave Church, just outside the city. The dark, dragon-headed silhouette rising from the surrounding forest was striking, and stepping inside felt like stepping straight into Norway's medieval past — a beautiful and fitting way to round off the trip. Bergen itself greeted us with its usual charm too — the wooden houses of Bryggen, the bustle of the fish market, and that unmistakable smell of sea air mixed with rain. We used our last hours there for a final stroll through the old town before heading to the airport to catch our flight home, already talking about when we might come back.