Unfortunately, we only had 14 days for our Norway road trip and since we went on the round trip with our own car, the Lofoten Islands, which we had longed for so much, were too far away to fit them on our Norway itinerary. So we had to limit our road trip by car to the south of Norway. But with highlights like Trolltunga, Kjeragbolten and the Geirangerfjord, the south has more than enough destinations to offer to spend a varied and exciting round trip there.
To give you a few clues, if you are also planning such a trip by car through Norway, we have collected in our travel report, a few tips and our 2 weeks itinerary. Maybe it will help you with your vacation planning. The 2 week route through southern Norway presented by us, by the way, can also be driven super with the caravan or camper. There are plenty of campsites everywhere.
2 Week Norway Itinerary
We started in the south in Kristiansand. Our northernmost point was Molde south of Kristiansund (don’t confuse!). We drove several hours every day, but since even on the easiest roads in Norway the landscape is simply stunning, we never found it stressful or too much driving.
The individual stops on our Norway road trip are as follows:
- Kristiansand
- Flekkefjord
- Kjeragbolten
- Valle
- Odda
- Nærøyfjord
- Geirangerfjord
- Molde region (a.o. Trollkirka)
- Vågå (a.o. Bitihorn)
- Lillehammer
- Oslo
- Larvik
On a Google Maps map I have entered the individual route points. On this map you can see our exact route through southern Norway:
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Mehr erfahren
Our individual stops are then described in detail in the following chapters.
Things to know about travelling in Norway
How much is a Norway Road Trip?
Per person we spent about 1000 € for two weeks in Norway with our own car including the following items:
- Travel by car (fuel costs for 2000 km to and from and 2500 km within Norway)
- Ferry (approx. 200€ there and back for 2 persons + car)
- Overnight stays on the camping site (average 60€ / night for a wooden hut)
- Food on site (this was fortunately not so much because we took most of it with us)
- Parking costs (parking is unfortunately extremely expensive in Norway!)
- Souvenirs
We have compiled all details of our travel costs here:
Norway Prices – How much is a vacation in Norway?
How many kilometers did we drive in total on the Norway Road Trip?
In total, we drove just under 4500 kilometers by car on our 2 week Norway itinerary! But only about 2500 km in Norway. The remaining 2000 kilometers we spent on the outward and return journey. We arrived from the western part of germany and therefore already had a decent distance to drive to the ferry to Denmark.
The pleasant Norwegian Roads
However, since the roads in Norway are very relaxed to drive, also thanks to the speed limit, we never found it stressful. Driving in Norway is really very relaxed. We never experienced traffic jams or even a tense traffic situation. Except of course in the area around Oslo, there we felt almost like in Germany.
Apart from that, we found the landscape in Norway simply unbelievably beautiful. And not only in the area with the many fjords – which roughly speaking begins north of Stavanger – but also already in the deep south of Norway. Right after leaving the ferry in Kristiansand we were really blown away by the great nature. Driving in Norway is really fun!
Staying Overnight on the Norway Road Trip | Hotel vs. Camping
We had already informed ourselves in advance about the rather high hotel prices in Norway* and had therefore considered to stay a lot on campsites.
Thank god we didn’t buy a new tent. We had planned to stay in the tent every other day, but we did this only… once. But we are also not the born campers. Nevertheless, we have always spent the night on campsites in wooden cabins except for 2 days.
Overnight Tip: Wooden Cabins on Campsites
This is something that we did not researched before the trip. We thought that our tent would have to compete with the expensive hotels in Norway. Only therefore we had taken the tent at all.
When we realized that there are more or less comfortable wooden huts for little money on every campsite, we didn’t want to unpack the tent anymore.
Read more about overnight stays in Norway in our Norway Travel Guide
Alternatively, you can of course travel directly with the camper to Norway and thanks to the Right to Roam stand freely in the beautiful nature.
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Day 0: Arrival by ferry and relax in nature
We drove from the western part of germany almost 1000 kilometers to Hirtshals in Denmark. We left early in the morning, so that we are (despite traffic jams) in the afternoon already in the north of Denmark.
In Hirtshals is a large ferry port (Google Maps Link) from which various ferry companies to various destinations in Norway start. We had chosen the shortest and fastest route with Fjordline from Hirtshals to Kristiansand, which in retrospect has not been a good idea.
Why exactly, you can also read in our Norway Travel Guide. The ferry cost about 100 € for 2 people and 1 car for one way and was booked by us on directferries.com*. There you can compare the prices of different ferry companies and book the cheapest.
From the arrival at the ferry port, we were already extremely impressed by the incredible nature. We would never have thought that the fjords and rocky landscapes already start in the deep south. Right from the start, Norway’s landscape contrasted strongly with that of Denmark and, in any case, northern Germany. We would not have expected that and that was just the beginning!
Driving Distance: Kristiansand -> Flekkefjord : approx. 110 km (ca. 1:50 h)
Accommodation Flekkefjord | Relaxing with a Lake View
After the first strenuous day of travel, it is time for a little relaxation. In Flekkefjord there is a brilliant accommodation* that couldn’t be nicer. The rooms are modern and beautifully furnished and there is a sauna with a brilliant view of a stunning lake.
Here you get a first impression of what to expect in Norway. It is simply beautiful there and if you want to start your Norway vacation relaxed it is best to stay directly 2 nights.
Day 1: Kjeragbolten
For the first day of our Norway trip we chose Kjeragbolten, a supposedly easy hike. But unfortunately we (and with we I mean Sabrina :-p) have somewhat confused the mileage.
It is unfortunately not always directly apparent whether the mileage for a hike is there and back or only for one route. In addition, we had extremely heavy rain, fog and wind and that already in the parking lot. Nevertheless, we have made ourselves on the way and the really very beautiful hike on the Kjeragbolten tackled.
At the beginning the rain has subsided and we could enjoy the great view. Once we reached the top of the ridge, however, it quickly became foggy and we also had problems finding the right path. When we finally arrived at the destination of the hike, the famous rock, we could unfortunately hardly see anything and have not even dared to shoot the obligatory photo due to the slippery conditions on the rock. It was fun, of course, but it was already super exhausting. We didn’t expect that for our first hike in Norway
But you can read more about that in the corresponding travel report:
Unfortunately, we had to skip the Pulpit Rock Hike for our trip to southern Norway, although the gigantic rock cliff is one of the top sights in southern Norway. If you have a few days more time you should include the hike. If you are very sporty, you can even hike from the Pulpit Rock to Kjeragbolten in several days.
After the hike we drove to the Flateland campsite to spend the night there.
Driving Distance: Flekkefjord --> Kjeragbolten -> Flateland: approx. 210 km (approx. 4 h)
Overnight Tip: Flateland Camping Site
Day 2: Flateland Camping
After this first, extremely strenuous hike, we had considered a stopover on our journey to Trolltunga, because otherwise we would not have made the distance in one go. We happened to choose Flateland Camping, and it really turned out to be the most beautiful and idyllic campsite on our whole trip.
It is very suitable for families and (which is rather unusual for Norway) relatively off the road. We rented a cabin there, which was pretty well equipped. In front of the cabins there was still a large meadow, which was not completely occupied by tents, so that you could also spread out his blanket there.
We felt so comfortable there that we stayed for 2 nights. For a vacation where you don’t want to be somewhere else every day anyway, but want to have a “home base”, this place is perfect.
The campground also offers some (family) entertainment. There is a small rabbit enclosure and a large circus tent in which on certain days performances for the youngest are performed. At the reception you can get fresh bread in the morning and everyone is very friendly and super helpful.
Namely, we had called ahead to reserve a wooden cabin, but could not be there before the reception closed. The nice employee on the phone said only “no problem”, he would simply deposit the key in a small box outside the reception. We should just take it and come to the front desk the next day to pay. Wow! What a customer service!
- You can find it here on Google Maps Flateland Camping
Honnevje Bathing Place
In the immediate vicinity of the campsite there are beautiful landscapes and also a lot to see. Among other things, the Honnevje bathing place (Google Maps link). This is a small water landscape with attached rest area and toilets, where you can also swim or just walk around.
Route: Today none, because you will stay near the campsite
Overnight: Flateland campground again
Day 3: Buarbreen Glacier
On the third day of our road trip through Norway we actually wanted to climb the Trolltunga and wanted to take 2 days for it and therefore also spend the night on the Trolltunga. But for various reasons this just did not fit and so we decided to postpone the Trolltunga hike and instead look for another activity nearby.
Tripadvisor quickly spit out the Buarbreen Glacier. This is only about 10 minutes away from our campsite in Odda (Odda Camping*). So we spontaneously set off for our first glacier.
Both the way up and the glacier itself were really spectacular and beautiful to look at. In parts, the path is so steep that you have to pull yourself up on pre-installed ropes. At the top, you’re standing just a few meters from the base of the glacier tongue and a waterfall whistles loudly next to you.
What exactly we experienced you can read in our travelogue:
Buarbreen | On Ropes up to the Glacier
Driving Distance: Flateland-> Odda: approx. 180 km (approx. 3 h)
Overnight Stay in Odda
We recommend you to spend 1-2 nights in Odda, depending on what you want to do there. In Odda you have two options. On the one hand you can stay at the campground, on the other hand in a hotel. We have selected the two best options for you.
Camping in Odda
We spent the night in Odda at the local campground (Trolltunga Camping*), which is also not far from the city center. The place is usually very crowded by numerous Trolltunga tourists, but is therefore very picturesque directly on the lake Sandvinvatnet.
But you should be here early to get a free place. We were able to get one of the last tent sites with lake view. The campground also rents cabins and small rooms.
Camping in Odda | Trolltunga Camping*
Comfortable Apartments for Relaxation
If you want to relax after the strenuous hikes we can recommend you The Blue House* recommend. The apartments are located in a 100 year old and elaborately restored house.
Here you come in and just feel at home. The small apartments are equipped with everything you need, so you can take care of yourself there.
Day 4: Trolltunga
On the 4th day of our Norway road trip we finally went to the Devils Tongue. This should be the longest hike (22 km) of our trip. The route itself was not the most scenic compared to the rest, but at least the photo what came out at the end is probably one of the most spectacular that you can get in Norway.
We left super early from the Odda campsite to be in time at the 50€ parking lot. Nevertheless, at this early hour many, many other hikers also started their tour to the Troll Tongue. Therefore, we felt this hike also rather exhausting, not (only) because of the long distance, but because we could never really enjoy the nature around us due to the sheer “crowds”.
If you are interested, you can read more in the following travelogue, what we have experienced and where exactly the Trolltunga parking lot is located and how you can best get to the Trolltunga:
Trolltunga Hike – All You Need To Know
Driving Distance: none, because you should stay overnight in Odda again
Overnight stay: You should stay again at the Odda campsite or at the Hotel Blue House*, because the day was very exhausting.
Day 5: Voringsfossen
Today you will head north along the scenic Hardangerfjord and eventually reach one of Norway’s most beautiful waterfalls, Voringsfossen. We really looked forward to the visit of the Voringsfossen. The hike is relatively short and if you have found the right parking lot you are also pretty quickly on site.
The right place to park your car is coming from the east directly behind the tunnel (see Streetview link below). Either go directly across the street and follow the small path in front of you, or take the larger path on the right side of the street. This is a bit longer, because it leads under the road, but you do not have to cross the road.
Here at Google Streetview you can see the exact location of the parking lot.
The rest of the way is well marked and there are no alternatives. So you can not get lost. The highlight of the trail is certainly the small suspension bridge that you have to cross to get to the other side. After a few meters – the waterfall always in view – you are finally in front of this impressive natural spectacle.
At the end of the path you can go up a stony hill to get even closer to the waterfall. However, this climb is quite slippery due to the wetness and you should be very careful here. At the top you can really feel the spray, which whips wet in your face.
You will not meet many People
The whole way we met only a handful of other hikers. So you usually have enough time to take pictures (and selfies on the suspension bridge).
If you still want to see the Fossen (waterfall) from the very top, you can (after the way back) drive a little further along the road to the signposted viewpoint or a little further to a large hotel, where there is another viewing platform with a slightly different angle.
All details about the hike can be found here Voringfossen Norway | Hike to the famous waterfall
You should drive a little further west today, because the next day we are supposed to go to the beautiful city of Bergen.
Overnight Stay on the Farm outside Bergen
Today you’ll have the opportunity to stay a little outside of Bergen on a cute farm overlooking a charming lake. Solneset Farm* is located about half an hour from Bergen.
Here you will find lots of animals, modern bathrooms, a sauna and a hammock on the lakeside.
Driving Distance: Odda -> Voringfossen -> Bergen: approx. 240 km (approx. 3:45 h)
Day 6: Bergen
We had just under half a day to explore Berge on our road trip through Norway. Since we are anyway rather nature than city people, this time was definitely enough for us. Worth seeing is of course the district Bryggen directly at the harbor. Even though there were a lot of other tourists, we really liked the city, and if you are culturally interested then you can certainly spend 1-2 days here. But you can also see the best sights in half a day.
Sights in Bergen
Bryggen
The pier lying on the sea with its colorful houses is known from many photos and is the highlight of the district Bryggen. The district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a remnant of a time when Bergen was the trading center between Norway and Central Europe. There are souvenir stores, museums, galleries and many restaurants. It is a wonderful place to stroll along.
Fish market
Right next door is Bergen’s lively fish market. Here the inhabitants have been supplied with freshly caught fish since 1276. Today it is one of the most popular markets in Norway and you can buy not only fish but also fruits, vegetables and handicrafts.
Fløyen and Fløibanen
The 415 meter high Fløyfjellet is not the highest mountain in the city, but it is the most famous one. On its top there is the observation platform called “Fløyen” from which you have a magnificent view of the city and the sea. From the city you can walk up very easily and for free
You can also take the Fløibanen cog railroad up the mountain. You can buy tickets online or on site for about 15 Euro (round trip). Once at the viewing platform, you can walk along numerous hiking trails and also visit the Skomakerdiket lake.
To make some distance, you should drive a little further in the direction of Naeroyfjord today. There we have also chosen a nice hotel for you
Hotel Recommendation at Naeroyfjord
Stalheim Hotel | Mountain Hotel with Panoramic View
Stalheim Hotel is situated on a mountain and offers a wonderful view into the Nærøy valley. Right next to the hotel runs the famous serpentine road Stalheimskleiva and the nature around the hotel is just beautiful.
Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast is also included. Unfortunately, it’s not cheap, but the view definitely makes up for it.
Stalheim Hotel | Check Prices*
Driving Distance: Bergen -> Naeroyfjord : approx. 150 km (approx. 2.5 h)
Day 7: Naeroyfjord
The next stop on our trip through Norway was the Naeroyfjord. As the narrowest fjord in the world, it is probably an integral part of every trip to Norway. The more it surprised us that there is actually no place or no real viewpoint directly at the fjord.
Since we did not want to make a boat trip through the fjord, we chose a small hiking trail to see the fjord from other perspectives. Namely the Rimstigen (Link to Google Maps)!
Rimstigen Hike
To get there, just drive past the pier on the left and then straight ahead, even if it looks like you’re not allowed to drive along there. You will probably pass some highland cattle, which are running around without any fences. We even fed one of them with a carrot through the open car window. A somewhat intimidating, but totally cool experience.
After a few kilometers – just before the road ends at a small farm – you have to park as best you can on the side of the road.
From there, it goes more or less steeply up the mountain with extremely beautiful views of the fjord. The entire Rimstigen trail is only about 3.5km long, but will cost you 5-6 hours of time. You have to overcome 720 meters of altitude and is really exhausting.
After about 1.5h another (much more sporty) couple overtook us with the words, we had just made half (!) of the way up, we took a short breather and then turned back. That was probably the right decision, because first, according to the local couple, the most beautiful views of the fjord arise anyway on the route already run by us. And secondly, we still had a long way to go and wanted to arrive before sunset at the Geirangerfjord.
Overnight Stay with view to the Geirangerfjord
Who could imagine anything better than just enjoying the view of the Geirangerfjord for hours on end? You sleep here in a cozy little cabin with a well-equipped kitchen.
You can spend the evening on the terrace and just enjoy this amazing view.
Cozy cabin at Geirangerfjord at Booking*
Driving Distance: Naeroyfjord -> Geirangerfjord: approx. 300km (approx. 6h)
Day 8 of the Norway Road Trip: Geirangerfjord
The Geirangerfjord is certainly one of the highlights on a road trip in the south of Norway. But our route to the fjord started with a little detour. We did not take the direct way to the fjord, but turned before on the road 258. Why you should include this detour you will find out soon.
Gamle Strynefjellsveg
We drove over the small pass road Gamle Strynefjellsveg. The 27 km long and in winter closed national tourist road leads through beautiful and varied mountain landscapes and should be driven in any case. The route is simply awesome. We got off several times along the way to explore the area on foot and take photos.
The play of colors between the lush green nature, the turquoise-blue glacier water and the white peaks of the surrounding mountains form a perfect backdrop. So perfect, in fact, that it must have taken us three times as long to cover the distance as it actually does. We couldn’t get out of our amazement.
You can find more information about this dream road here:
Gamle Strynefjellsvegen | Norwegian Scenic Route at the Geirangerfjord
Tip: We have seen some tents on the side of this road. So it seems possible and also allowed to camp here near the Geirangerfjord, which is otherwise rather difficult due to the landscape around the fjord.
Dalsnibba
When you have successfully crossed the pass road and are now on the fastest way to the fjord again, you will inevitably pass another road that leads to the top of the Dalsnibba mountain. The way up is 15 € per car and not quite cheap, but at an altitude of almost 1500 meters you not only have a great view of the Geirangerfjord, but also have the feeling to have arrived at the true top of the world.
Because you are at the same height with almost all surrounding mountains and have a 360 ° view of countless covered with powdered sugar mountain peaks.
And of course the drive up the mountain and back down again is a lot of fun, if you like driving cars fast like I do. Sabrina has unfortunately suffered a bit on the way down, but there she just has to go through sometimes 😉
Tip: Best Photo Spot at Geirangerfjord
To get a photo like this one you just have to go left at this viewpoint past the toilets and then keep left again until you get to the precipice. There the photographer has to stand. The person you want to photograph must then simply walk along the precipice (be careful!) until just before the boundary fence. Done!
The small place at the Geirangerfjord didn’t seem to be really interesting to us. However, in the surrounding area you can still discover different hikes and viewpoints. Unfortunately, the only special view you had there was the huge stinking cruise ship that incessantly blew a dark brown cloud of smoke into the sky.
Driving Distance: None, as you will stay at Geirangerfjord
Overnight Stay: You should stay at Geirangerfjord today and spend the night again at the lodge Hole Hytter*.
Day 9: Trollkirka + Atlantic Road
On the ninth day of our Norway trip, we made the long drive to Molde to visit the Trollkyrkja. We had to take the ferry in Vestnes. However, since this probably did not drive on the two days before because of maintenance work, we had to wait for over one hour in the traffic jam.
After an overnight stay in a simple hut on a camping site not far from the ferry, we then made our way to the Troll Church. The large asphalt parking lot is located directly on the main road (see here on Google Maps) and can not be missed.
Trollkyrkja
The cave is definitely worth the short and somewhat steep hike. In the first cave, after a short walk through complete darkness(a flashlight is very helpful here), there is a small but charming waterfall. We have never seen anything like it: A waterfall… in a cave!
To get to the second cave you can leave the first cave through a narrow gap and then descend again via a ladder. There you can visit another waterfall.
When you have left the cave, you can climb a little bit higher, where is supposed to be another cave. Unfortunately we did not find it. Supposedly it is accessible through a hole in the ground. On the plateau above the first two caves, a small wooden sign also points to this 3rd cave. With a little luck (and time) you should hopefully find it.
Read more about the hike in our detailed trip report:
Trollkyrkja | Adventurous Hike to the Caves of the Troll Church
Atlantic Road
We looked at the Atlantic Road because it is not far from Trollkyrkja and looks really spectacular on the photos circulating on the internet.
The Atlantic Road is more than 8 kilometers long and belongs to the Norwegian Landscape Routes. The special thing about this road is that it leads very curvy over several bridge sections over various smaller islands. From certain angles, this road looks really great as it winds from island to island.
But when you drive over it, it doesn’t seem so special, because you don’t notice so much of the up and down and the many turns.
If you are in the area anyway, we can recommend a very special hotel. It is located on one of these small islands near the Atlantic Road.
Staying on a small Island next to the Atlantic Road
Near the Atlantic Road, you can enjoy a spectacular view at the Håholmen Havstuer*.
The hotel is located on a small island that can only be reached by private boat. You have to park your car on the mainland. The rooms are historically rustic and offer an ambience like in Norway 100 years ago, but in luxury.
Håholmen Havstuer | check prices*
Driving Distance: Geirangerfjord -> Trollkirka --> Atlantic Road: approx. 160 km (approx. 4h) including ferries
Day 10: Trollstigen + Bitihorn
Today of the 2 weeks Norway itinerary we are heading back south. The actual destination is the area around Vagamo, but before that you should make a stop at the famous serpentine road Trollstigen.
Trollstigen
Trollstigen is one of the most popular tourist routes on a road trip through Norway. The special thing about this road are the 11 hairpin curves along which you will climb more than 400 up to the top of the pass. In between you will even pass a waterfall. At the top there is a viewing platform from which you have a great view of the serpentines and the valley in front of you. By the way, the Trollstigen is also one of the Norwegian scenic routes.
Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists drive through the hairpin bends of Trollstigen and you should do the same. Besides driving over this road and looking down on it from above, there is not much to do here, but you should not miss this opportunity.
You don’t have to spend more than 1-2 hours here, but you can continue directly towards Vagamo.
For the next three days we rented a cozy room in Vågåmo* and took this as a starting point for further hikes and tours. For the first day we had chosen the Bitihorn. This is a hike to a mountain peak from which you have a wonderful 360° view of the Jotunheimen National Park.
Bitihorn
To start the hike, park at the parking lot marked below, which is directly across from the Sami tent with the souvenirs. You can also see the exact location here on Google Streetview.
There is a sign in the parking lot that says something about a 5€ fee in Norwegian. Since we could not imagine how this fee was to be paid – since there was no parking attendant running around – we just parked our car and started walking. The way leads first on the back of the mountain, in order to run from there quite steeply on the top.
The view to the back is usually the more beautiful, because you look most of the time on a beautiful lake landscape while looking forward you always have the steeply rising peak in front of your eyes.
We didn’t make it all the way to the top, because halfway up the wind is blowing pretty hard, but we still enjoyed the great view (from almost the top). We had a very wide overview of a part of the Jotunheimen National Park and we could see from above even almost our car on the parking lot. Really an amazing panorama!
All details about the hike on the Bitihorn you can find here:
Bitihorn Norway | Hiking in Jotunheimen National Park
Stay in a Traditional Norwegian Wooden House
In Vågåmo, you can really enjoy yourself at the SOV Lodge*. From the outside, the accommodation is rather inconspicuous, like a normal Norwegian wooden cabin.
But the interior is just a beautiful mix of modern and traditional. In addition, there is a super delicious breakfast. Feel free to plan your next 2-3 nights here.
Modern and traditional Overnight in Vågåmo*
Driving Distance: Atlantic road --> Trollstigen --> Vagamo: approx. 240km (4h)
Day 11: Hulderstigen
On day 11 of our road trip through Norway, we wanted to take it a little easier and therefore only went for a short hike at Hulderstigen (Google Maps Link) and otherwise chilled a lot in our cozy accommodation.
Hulderstigen is a completely flat circular hiking trail in Jotunheimen National Park. We chose it because we needed something not so strenuous for a change and this trail was just right for that. In our opinion, it would also be suitable to walk it, for example, with small children. You run among other things past an idyllic lake and through deep coniferous forests.
In between, you also meet the one or other sheep and can (Norway-typical) sign a guest book.
If you expect a spectacular hike over hill and dale, you are surely wrong here. But if you are looking for a relaxing walk through a very beautiful forest landscape, the Hulderstigen is highly recommended. Especially for families with small children or even if you are traveling with your dog, this hike is a great idea!
Driving Distance: None, because we stayed in the same area.
Overnight Stay: You will spend the night again in the SOV Lodge* in Vagamo
Day 12 of the Norway Trip: Knutshoe
The next day of our Norway road trip we hiked our personal highlight: Knutshoe! This was for us the most beautiful and breathtaking hike of our entire vacation. We hardly met other people and had perfect weather most of the time and once we reached the top we had this incredible view that looked like it was painted. Awesome!
We purposely chose to hike Knutshoe, rather than the directly adjacent, and much more famous, Besseggen! Since our Trolltunga experience, we didn’t want to share nature with so many other people.
The Besseggen is a very famous highlight of Norway, but it is accordingly crowded there. Also, at Besseggen, the organization of the hike was too complicated for us. You have to pay for the parking and then go by boat to the start of the hike. If you come here too late, then you have to accept long waiting times.
Since we selected the rather unknown hike, we were alone in nature and could just enjoy the beautiful landscape.
Read all about our hike in our Knutshoe Hiking Guide
Driving Distance: None, because you will stay in the area
Overnight: You will spend the night again at SOV Lodge* in Vagamo
Day 13: Lillehammer & Journey towards Oslo
On day 13, our Norway itinerary took us to Oslo (we were already on our way back towards the ferry to Germany) and also to Lillehammer. Or at least the Olympic ski jumping area. That’s also the only reason why I knew the city. And we are honest, we have not really given the city a chance.
But we didn’t have time for that. We were just passing through. To have a look at the Olympic area you can make a stop, but you don’t have to of course. We found it quite nice and it meant only a small detour for us.
But on the way to Lillehammer we already noticed that we left Fjord Norway, because the fjords, mountains and lakes became gradually less. In the area around Lillehammer and Oslo you don’t really feel like in Norway (at least from the landscape), but rather like in flat Denmark.
Onward Journey towards Oslo
It goes now still scarcely 2 hours further in the direction of Oslo. So that you don’t have to drive so much on your Norway road trip today, you should look for an accommodation near Oslo. Just outside of Oslo, we can recommend a great place to stay that is just far enough away to be in the quiet countryside, but also close enough to Oslo for sightseeing the next day.
Accommodation Tip: Historic Mansion near Oslo
This stately mansion near Oslo offers really great luxury and is super for winding down your Norway road trip.
The large rooms are comfortably furnished and the whole ambience of the hotel is designed for luxury and enjoyment. By the way, a rich breakfast is also included here. The hotel is located in a park-like setting and is generally very quiet.
Losby Gods Manor | check rates*
Driving Distance: Vagamo --> Oslo: approx. 315km (4h)
Day 14: Sightseeing Oslo
Today you can drive into Oslo in just about 20 minutes to see the city. Oslo is the capital of Norway and gave us a little culture shock, because of the huge contrast to the nature of Fjord Norway.
Oslo
In Oslo itself, we got the shock in terms of crowds. And we stood for the first time on our Norway road trip again in the traffic jam (!!). In this respect, this day was also a good preparation for the everyday life at home. Apart from that, we didn’t like Oslo that much. But we are not really city people, but feel more at home in nature. But if you want to buy souvenirs, the city center is naturally predestined for this. If you like to stroll around city you should check the best things to do in Oslo.
If you want to buy souvenirs and experience some culture, Oslo is of course predestined for that. There is a really long shopping street and many opportunities to store and also cultural highlights do not come up short here.
In our opinion, you can skip Oslo on a Norway road trip without a guilty conscience. But if you want to pay a (short) visit to the city, you can check out the following highlights:
Oslo Sights
The harbor district Aker Brygge
In summer, the harbor district is a real hotspot in Oslo. Here you can find (similar to Bergen) many restaurants, stores and souvenir stores. You can stroll around and enjoy an ice cream while watching the people
Museum Peninsula Bygdoy
The museum peninsula Bygdov can be reached by ferry (line B9) and offers a selection of more than 10 museums. Here you can find among others the Kon-Tiki Museum & the Fram Museum. There you can see old replica Viking ships or information about the polar expedition of Roald Amundsen.
More information about the museums can be found at visitoslo.com.
The Royal Castle
The Royal Castle is actually still used as the King’s residence and is also used as a very distinguished guest house for foreign state guests. It is surrounded by a large palace park, laid out in the manner of an English landscape park, which is freely accessible. The castle itself can be visited from late June to mid-August. An organized tour costs about 13 Euro and can be booked at VisitOslo.
If you want to explore the most beautiful sights in a short time on foot, take a look here: Oslo sights – On shore excursion 4 hours on foot through Oslo
Drive to the Ferry Harbour to Denmark
After your visit to Oslo, you should drive a bit towards the coast so that you can take the ferry back to Denmark early the next morning. We would recommend you to drive from Oslo to Larvik and either stay in the very nice Gon Camping or in a comfortable hotel.
If you prefer a hotel for your last night, we can recommend the following:
Accommodation Tip: Antique Hotel near the Ferry Port
The Lysko Gjestegård offers antique rustic rooms with an ambience like a hundred years ago. Nevertheless, the comfort does not come too short. The roomsare really very lovingly decorated and you feel here like in a Viking museum. What a perfect end to a Norway road trip.
From the hotel you drive the next morning not 800 meters to the ferry port. If you don’t have tickets for the ferry to Hirtshals yet, you should book them at directferries.com.
Lysko Gjestegård | Check Prices*
Driving Distance: Oslo -> Larvik: approx. 135 km (approx. 1:45 h)
Day 15: Ferry & Drive back to Germany
On the last day of our 2 week Norway road trip, we took the ferry in Larvik (booked with directferries*) with a heavy heart to get back to Hirtshals in Denmark. The Colorline ferry was also a lot bigger than the Fjordline ferry we had taken on the way there.
Inside the ship there was also plenty of seating, some restaurants and other stores with the possibility to buy souvenirs. A really pleasant end to the vacation. After another 1000 kilometers through flat Denmark and northern Germany, we were finally sadly back home and could only think back longingly to the wonderful time of our Norway road trip. We will definitely be back!
Do you want to visit the Lofoten Islands?
In August 2022 we were on the road for a month in the far north of Norway and experienced quite a bit.
The Lofoten Islands offer paradisiacal beaches, wonderful hikes and a landscape that is unique in Norway.
The Lofoten are an absolute longing destination. We tell you everything important for your travel planning.
Do you have any questions or suggestions about our Norway road trip or our travelogue? Or do you have specific questions about individual stops on our Norway road trip? Just write us a comment!
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