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25 July 2023 by Angela Perro
For many of my clients, Norwegian travel begins and ends with a coastal cruise or wintery escape. And yes, the Northern Lights are magical as is dipping in and out of the fjords aboard a Hurtigruten ship. However, the humble Norwegian road trip deserves so much more recognition. The roads are pristine and the routes simply spectacular, with rollercoasters knitting together fissured islands and precipitous sweeps bringing you alongside shimmering fjords. For me, the scenery really is right up there among Europe’s most dramatic and fills you with that sense of relaxation and rejuvenation. I've picked out two of my favourite itineraries to help whet your appetite.
Norway: Best of the West
Flying into Ålesund, you’ll be welcomed to Norway’s cragged western coast by a delightfully colourful aesthetic; the city was entirely rebuilt in Art Nouveau fashion following a 1904 fire. To take it all in, I highly recommend the walk up Mt. Aksla for a spectacular view of the town and its island frame. After a night here, you’ll pick up your hire car to drive into the Western Fjords, passing towering cliffs and plunging waterfalls en route to Norangsfjorden and your 130-year-old accommodation – a Relais & Chateau gem. You’ll drive on, via ferry crossings and the spectacular switchbacks of the famous Eagles Road, to be based out of the gorgeous Storfjord, perfectly poised for everything from hikes and cruises to spectacular drives into the surrounding region. After two days to explore, you’ll then return to Ålesund for flight home.
Hotel Union Oye, Hjørundfjord
Browse our Best of the West itinerary
Bergen & the Atlantic Road
While many summer visitors head for the big-hitting Western Fjords, the coastline between Molde and Kristiansund – around 500 km north of Bergen – is, for me, just as spectacular. Pretty islands dot the sparkling sea, all linked by a series of bridges that make up part of what is certainly one of the world's most spectacular self-drive routes – the Atlantic Road. Our recommended itinerary charts this very route, pairing it all with a stay amid Bergen's Hanseatic treasures. If you've time, we also recommend looping back through Molde to drive the switchbacks of the famous Trollstigen Mountain Road to arrive in UNESCO-listed Geirangerford. It really is the ultimate Scandi road-trip.
Atlantic Road near Molde
