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Retirement Travelers

Full-time World Travel Couple

Video: Amazing Norway Fjords Vlog

Last Updated: February 28, 2024

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This video is our Retirement Travelers travel vlog of our trip through Norway. We show you how to take the Flåm Railroad and ferries to see the Fjords in 2024. This is a bucket list item for many people, especially retired travelers, and it is not too expensive if you do DIY travel. We also show you around the beautiful city of Bergen, Norway and then travel the 7-hr train journey to Oslo.

Our Norway Vlog from Bergen to Oslo

The flam railway journey from bergen.

Our senior travel guide to a rail and ferry trip through the Norwegian fjords can be an incredible retirement travel adventure filled with stunning landscapes, rich history, and unique cultural experiences. Here are several reasons why you should consider embarking on this Noway visit in 2024. The Flåm Railway and ferry loop is a popular and scenic route that connects the village of Flåm to Bergen, Norway. This journey is known for its breathtaking natural beauty and provides an excellent way to experience some of Norway’s most stunning landscapes.

Why Make This Norway DIY Loop?

Here are some reasons why you might consider taking this route from Bergen that we discovered during our Norway visit.

1. Scenic Beauty:

The Flåm Railway is one of the steepest standard-gauge railway lines in the world, and it takes you through lush valleys, past cascading waterfalls, and along steep mountainsides. The views from the train are spectacular.

2. Nærøyfjord:

The ferry portion of the journey typically includes a cruise through the Nærøyfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. This fjord is renowned for its narrow, dramatic passages, towering cliffs, and serene waters, making it a must-see for nature enthusiasts.

3. Convenience:

This loop combines two modes of transportation, the train, and the ferry, to create a seamless and picturesque journey. Just relax and enjoy the views, and never worry about the logistics of driving or navigating.

4. Cultural Experiences:

Along the way, you’ll pass through charming villages and towns to experience Norwegian culture and traditions. The journey allows for stops in some places to explore local attractions and cuisine.

5. Adventure:

If you enjoy outdoor activities, this route offers opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and other adventures in the stunning Norwegian wilderness.

6. Photo Opportunities:

The journey is filled with photo opportunities, so it’s perfect for photography enthusiasts. The Flam Railway has many great Instagram moments for your choosing.

7. Time-Saving:

Instead of taking a long and potentially tiring road trip from Flåm to Bergen, you can relax and take in the sights while making the journey.

8. Relaxation:

The peaceful and tranquil atmosphere of the fjords and mountains provides a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Overall, taking the Flåm Railway and ferry loop to Bergen is a great way to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Norway while experiencing its culture and history. It’s a memorable and convenient way to travel between these two picturesque destinations. We hope our Norway vlog inspires you to explore this amazing country.

Best Time to Visit Norway

We have linked a great website to this button showing the weather for this location by the month. Click below to be taken to Weather-and-Climate.com.

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Norway Road Trip Itinerary: Best Travel Guide for 1st-Time Visitors (West & East Area)

by Aileen Adalid Itineraries , Norway , Road Trips 39 comments

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Norway was a dream destination of mine for quite some time now. In fact, just the thought of cruising through its complex fjords and dramatic landscapes always makes me ecstatic — and thanks to Innovation Norway, that travel dream came true when they helped me craft up the best Norway road trip itinerary to some of the best spots in the country. After all, exploring the surrounding places in a car was a part of my coveted Norwegian travel dream!

And so, I spent about 12 days hopping from one place to another in a car. I surely didn’t see  all the beauty that Norway has — but it was enough  for the time I had, especially as a 1st-time visit too (though of course, another visit back is in the course *wink*).

All in all, I had such an amazing time that I can still vividly recall all the details of the wonderful experiences that I had in this Scandinavian beauty! With that, it is now my wish that you will experience the same feeling; therefore, I will be streamlining below a complete Norway road trip itinerary that I had and you’re free to edit it depending on the length of your stay and your travel style.

I hope this helps!

Table of Contents

Norway Travel Guide

» quick travel planning.

• Top tours & experiences
• Find flights to Norway
• Visa requirements
• Best hotels & hostels
• Travel insurance (5% discount)
• Stay connected

– – –

» Best Time to Visit

It depends on what you want to do! After all, any season in Norway is an ideal time to visit. To help give you an idea…

• If you want to see winter and the Northern Lights, come sometime from September to February (with the lights peaking in December to February).
• If you want long days and midnight suns (great for long hiking activities, etc.) with ideal sun and temperatures, come around June to August. I actually did this Norway road trip itinerary in July and it was PERFECT.
• If you want fewer crowds with mild temperatures, visit in May and September (with May as the blossom season).
• WINTER: Dec to Feb
• SPRING: March to May
• SUMMER: June to Aug
• AUTUMN: Sept to Nov

» Getting in to Norway

By air. There are several airports in Norway (about 50!), but the biggest of them all would be Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL). It’s the main international hub that’s located just 60km north of the capital, Oslo. Other main international airports you can choose from are Bergen, Stavanger, Tromsø, Trondheim, Ålesund, Haugesund, and Sandefjord.

By sea . There are boats traveling to Norway from Belgium (via DFDS), Germany (via Color Line), Denmark (via Color Line, Stena Line, Fjord Line, and DFDS), England (via DFDS and Thompson Cruise), and the Faroe Islands + Iceland (via Smyril Line).

» Where to Stay (Norway Accommodations)

With such a dynamic country, you’ll most likely do a grand Norway road trip itinerary as you jump from one place to another. To search for the best hotel accommodations at the best prices, I suggest cross-checking hotel prices between  Agoda  and  Booking.com . But if you’re rather interested in renting comfortable houses or apartments, you should search through AirBnB .

If staying in Oslo for a long time, I would recommend the following: Budget :  Oslo Hostel Central Mid-Range :  Saga Hotel Oslo Luxury :  Hotel Continental

» How to Get Around Norway

By air.  Doing domestic flights from one place to another is very easy in Norway — with over 50 airports, you can reach even the most remote places in no time. The largest airlines you can check for are SAS, Norwegian, and Widerøe.

TIP : Flights in the south are cheaper than in the north — and faster too than taking the train or bus. If you plan to fly to smaller towns in the north or the west, consider buying Widerøe’s Explore Norway Ticket which gives you unlimited air travel for 14 days in the summer.

By car. Driving in Norway is absolutely calm and pleasant, that’s why a lot of visitors (like me) opt to go on road trips when visiting the country. It helps to note though that gas and renting can be quite expensive, so in order to get the best deal, check with websites like Rental Cars .

TIP : You can also try carpooling with Samkjoring . If you want to rent a motorhome or camper van, just remember that it’s illegal to park overnight on roadside or rest areas — you must rest in camp grounds.

By bus. There are tons of express buses that connect Norwegian cities. But make sure to plan and book ahead! Major operators would be Nettbuss express, Nettbuss TIMEkspressen, and NOR-WAY Bussekspress.

By train. The Norwegian State Railways (NSB) operate all railways in the country. It’s best to get a Norwegian Rail Pass (equivalent to InterRail’s One Country Pass) if you’re covering a lot of destinations. Otherwise, it’s cheaper to buy Minipris tickets online. Also, watch out for scenic train rides to take — some of which I will be mentioning in this guide later on.

By boat.   There are various ferries and car ferries that operate in Norway — which is rightly so, because due to numerous fjords and islands, driving to places needs to involve ferries.

TIP : There are frequent departures on main roads for car ferries so a reservation isn’t usually needed. Just remember that most ferries don’t run after midnight. If you want to hop along coastlines from Bergen to Kirkenes (such as doing a cruise), Hurtigruten is a very popular provider.

By bicycle.  If you’re up for the challenge, biking or cycling is a great way to go around the landscapes of Norway! Due to the long distances and the number of steep climbs as well as strong winds, please just make sure to plan well in advance.

NOTE : Taking your bike on ferries is typically free (or if not, it’s at a minimal charge). On trains, you’ll have to pay a fee; and in buses, they are often forbidden unless there’s space.

TIP : For navigation on road trips (aside from using a GPS) or for navigating yourself through public transportation, you can use Google Maps .

» Visa for Norway

Norway is part of the  Schengen Area , so if you want to enter, you need to apply for one at the nearest embassy unless you are part of the  exempted countries .

• RELATED READ: How to Apply for a Norway Visa as a Filipino Tourist

» Norway Currency

Norwegian Krone (NOK) wherein NOK 9 is equal to about USD $1~ / €0.85~ (this is as of September 2022). In the event that you want to exchange your money for NOK, I highly advise that you do NOT exchange your money at the airport since the rates there are not competitive.

• How to best exchange your currency? Either exchange it at a bank or at a money exchanger in your home country or in the city center. Better yet, just withdraw from an ATM with your debit/credit card — however, you must do one big withdrawal to minimize fees with your bank. Speaking of cards, a lot of the establishments accept credit cards but it’s always advisable to have cash on hand because a lot of smaller shops do not accept international credit cards.

» Cost of Travel in Norway

To give you an idea, you should expect to travel in Norway with an average daily cost of about USD $50~ per person on a budget, or at least $150~ if you want to experience more comfort in activities, tours, hotels, and more. (Values below show low budget to medium budget ranges).

• Hotels: $25 to $60 USD / day
• Food: $15 to $30 USD / day
• Fun: $10 to $20 USD / day
• Transport: At least $7 for local transportation

» Helpful Norwegian Phrases

Norwegian is the language spoken in Norway, and it is closely related to Danish and Swedish. In fact, I once met a Swedish girl and a Norwegian girl during a trip in Bali, and they were both speaking to one another easily — I had to ask and they said that there weren’t that many differences between their laguages.

Now when you’re visiting Oslo, it doesn’t hurt to learn a few of the following basic phrases:

Hello (formal):  God dag  (Goo dag) Hello (informal):  Hei  (Hay) Thank you:  Tusen takk  (Two-sen tahk) Yes:  Ja  (Ya) No:  Nei  (Naye) Goodbye (formal):  Ha det bra!  (Ha de bra!) Goodbye (informal):  Hade!  (Ha-de!)

Excuse me:  Unnskyld  (Unn-shill mei) I’m sorry:  Jeg beklager (Jei be-klag-er) Is there someone here who speaks English?:  Er det noen/nokon som kan snakke engelsk her?  (Ær de no-en såm kann snakk-e eng-elsk hær?) Help!:  Hjelp!  (Yelp!) Cheers!:  Skål! ( Skawl! )

Norway Road Trip Itinerary

If in case you’re more of a visual person, you can already watch my video below to get a ‘ brief peek’ into what Norway can offer.

NOTE: The following section is in a tabbed format; so, in order to see the next day’s contents, just click the headings below.

Oslo, the country’s amazing capital, was my starting point — and it will be my end point by the end of this 12-day road trip.

◘◘ Do some exciting FREE things to do in the capital

As a Scandinavian destination, it’s no news that things can get pretty pricey around this area; but fret not! After all, there are LOTS of awesome FREE things to do in Oslo ! To start off, check out my article below to get some ideas:

READ : Top 10 FREE Things to Do in Oslo, an Underrated Nordic Gem (Norway) TIP : If you want a discounted pass that will let you enjoy FREE admissions to the city’s attractions and museums (as well as unlimited public transport) then it’s preferrable to get an Oslo Pass .

For the best accommodation choices in the city: Budget :  Oslo Hostel Central  /  Mid-Range :  Saga Hotel Oslo  or  AirBnB  /  Luxury :  Hotel Continental

I left Oslo on this day (but of course, if you want to spend more time in the capital — which I highly recommend — then please do so! I regrettably didn’t have much time so a day was enough for me).

Now, you might expect that it would be this time that I would jumpstart my Norway road trip itinerary; however, I decided to do that elsewhere. Besides, I wanted to experience riding the train through Norway’s breathtaking landscapes, especially after hearing that they have several scenic train rides throughout the region.

So where then did I get my car? I decided to retrieve it from Åndalsnes, which was my destination as I boarded a train on this 2nd day.

◘◘ Ride the scenic Dovre and Rauma Railway to Åndalsnes

Dovre Railway runs between Oslo and Trondheim and it goes through beautiful valleys and mountain ranges. Rauma Railway, on the other hand, is well-known as one of Norway’s wildest and most beautiful train journeys. That being said, riding both of these trains will be quite an experience!

I left early in the morning for this and I especially loved the ride through Rauma Railway because the train slows down on the best spots along the way such as the Trollveggen cliff face and the Kylling bridge.

It helps to note though that the Rauma sightseeing train runs from end of May to end of August and there are voiceovers during the trip in Norwegian, English, and German that explains the terrain .

ITINERARY:  To get to both of these railways from Oslo Central Station, you need to board the train that heads to Trondheim — but you’ll need to stop halfway at Dombås’ station. Change trains just across the platform to Rauma Railway with final destination as Åndalsnes. For more info, check  NSB .

◘◘ Visit Norsk Tindesenter

Åndalsnes is a small town but it’s in close proximity to amazing places like Romsdalseggen, Trollstigen, and more. Nevertheless, as you’re in the town itself, it would be a wise choice to visit the Norsk Tindesenter (Norwegian Mountaineering Centre) after you grab a hearty lunch.

This center features not only modern exhibits about mountaineering adventure sports and history but also an indoor climbing wall which is said to be Norway’s highest! With over 60 climbs across 20 anchors, climbers of any ability can surely give this a try.

Otherwise, you could also watch a 3D movie called Trollfolk for 15 minutes which showcases the surrounding Romsdal region.

◘◘ Drive through Geirangerfjord via Trollstigen, one of the National Tourist Routes

Bottom photo by: Jiri Havran / Statens vegvesen

After exploring Åndalsnes, I went to pick up the rental car from an Avis office that was located in the nearby Grand Hotel Bellevue. After some preparations we’re done, I embarked on my Norway road trip itinerary and had my first taste of one of the country’s popular 18 National Tourist Routes: Geiranger-Trollstigen !

This was such an epic ride especially as I went through the serpentine mountain roads of Trollstigen — just look at the photo above!

To know more about my experience as well as the other sights you can see around here, read my guide below:

READ :  Geiranger-Trollstigen National Tourist Route: One of Norway’s Most Breathtaking Roads!

◘◘ Spend the night at the scenic village of Norddal

After some time on the Trollstigen route, you will need to do a crossing on the Linge-Eidsdal car ferry. Don’t worry about booking in advance because you can just show up at the port and fall in line with the other cars.

Departures are every 30 minutes and crossing time will only take 10 minutes for only 79 NOK (I had a small sedan). For more info and rate segregation, see here.

Upon crossing, I recommend spending the night in the charming little town of Norddal as there isn’t enough time to reach Geiranger. For accommodation, stay over at Petrines Guest House.

◘◘ Continue cruising towards Geiranger

After checking out at Norddal, continue the journey via Trollstigen in order to finally reach Geiranger. One of the highlights of this drive would be  Ørnevegen or the “Eagle Road” which is the steepest part of the road on the mountainside from Geiranger to Eidsdal (it’s at 620 meters above sea level).

Afterward, the road will twist even more through 11 hairpin bends as you climb up Stigrøra which is 858 meters above sea level.

TIP:  Make sure to stop by the Eagle’s Bend ­or  Ørnesvingen viewpoint before reaching the town of Geiranger. It’s hard to miss while driving because not only is it very visible but it’s also almost always filled with people.

◘◘ Explore Geiranger and do some hikes

Geirangerfjord is a true beauty — hence, it comes as no surprise that it is a UNESCO -protected area in Norway. And so, with its majestic mountain peaks, waterfalls, and landscapes, there surely are tons of sightseeing trips that you can do here. But since our time was short, I can only do so much other than explore the village center itself. So if you have the time, I highly suggest that you make your way to viewing the “Seven Sisters ” waterfall aside from doing some other hikes.

As for us, I chose to hike to the powerful Storseterfossen waterfall as it has a unique trail that leads behind it. This hike takes approximately an hour each way and in order to get here, you just need to head over to Westerås farm — from there, the track is well marked.

◘◘ Have lunch in town

For my top recommendations, you should check out Olebuda ,  Brasserie Posten , or Westeras Grad !

◘◘ Stay the night at Hotel Utsikten and enjoy the grand view over Geiranger

I urge you to spend your night at Hotel Utsikten . Why? Well, if you ask for the rooms that face the road, you will have an amazing view over Geirangerfjord right from the comfort of your room! (As pictured above).

Nearby this accommodation, you will even find a small viewpoint by the side of the road.

This day will mostly involve driving through more of Norway’s National Tourist Routes (with stunning stops and viewpoints along the way) . So make sure you pack enough snacks and food! Don’t forget to arm yourself with a killer music playlist too.

◘◘ Drive to Kaupanger via Sognefjellet National Tourist Route

At your own pace after breakfast and check-out, make your way to Lom and then continue on Sognefjord via Sognefjellet National Tourist Route in order to reach Kaupanger by the end of the day. This scenic drive will take about 5 hours, not including stops — which I highly recommend that you do whenever you happen to glimpse dreamy and rugged terrains (that will definitely number many!).

Some added trivia for you, this Sognefjellet National Tourist Route is said to be northern Europe’s highest mountain pass at 1,434 meters high.

RECOMMENDED STOPS :

• Lom Stave Church : A stave church is a medieval wooden Christian church that has unique timber framing and corner posts called stafr in Old Norse (or ‘stav’ in modern Norwegian). As you arrive in Lom, make sure to stop by this church so you can witness an example of the elaborately-designed stav church that you would most likely have witnessed before in movies involving Vikings or dragons.
• Dalsnibba Viewpoint : You’ll find here the Geiranger Skywalk which is the highest fjord view from a road. As someone who is afraid of heights, it took every muscle in my body to stay on this skywalk for at least 10 seconds (I failed) . Nevertheless, the views here are majestic as you are surrounded by snow-covered mountains and dramatic fjords! (Toll road is open from late May to October, NOK 130).

◘◘ Check-in to Vesterland

It’s fine to go crazy on your stops while driving through Sognefjellet National Tourist Route but please remember that the reception in Vesterland  closes 9:00PM — which will be the hotel that we stayed in by the end of this day — and which I recommend.

So if you are running late, just call ahead to arrange key delivery.

After all the driving, I decided to take it easy on this day of my Norway road trip itinerary as I took some rest in the morning and did some minor side trips in the afternoon before coming back to Vesterland again for the night.

◘◘ All about glaciers

Just a 10-minute drive away, you will find Brævasshytta wherein you can enjoy the view of the beautiful glacier called Bøyabreen . You can view this from the main road or from Brevasshytta restaurant which is closer to the ice. It has big panoramic windows and if you’re lucky, you can see big blocks of ice crashing down.

RECOMMENDED SIDE TRIPS : Fjærland village to see Jostedalsbreen (the LARGEST glacier in continental Europe), Norwegian Booktown in Fjærland, and/or the Norwegian Glacier Museum.

◘◘ Head on to Gaularfjell National Tourist Route

If you still have some time, I urge you to drive to Skei, Førde, and up the beautiful Gaularfjell National Tourist Route.

This one is a bit of a hidden gem because its spectacular new viewpoint, Utsikten , just opened last June 2016. If you continue to Gaularvassdraget, you could even see protected watercourses that offer anything from wild rapids, and waterfalls to calm rivers.

◘◘ Go to Balestrand and enjoy the city for the day

From Kaupanger, you will reach the town of Balestrand in just less than 2 hours. This municipality is incredibly charming! To best enjoy your stay here I would suggest the following:

• Rent bikes at the Tourist Information center and explore the area
• Do a RIB boat trip with Balestrand Fjord Adventure (which can be booked at the Tourist Information center as well)
• Visit Sognefjord Akvarium
• See St. Olav’s Church
• Do a nature trail (Kerklingen) — a great activity for families too as there are trails with various levels of difficulties
• Tour Nærøyfjord, the most narrow fjord in the world (which can also be done with Balestrand Fjord Adventure )

◘◘ Che ck in and have dinner at Kviknes Hotel

Best hotel in Balestrand? There’s no contest really as I find Kviknes Hotel  as the best choice possible! If you’re on a budget, other options are  Balestrand Hotel  or  Holiday Home .

◘◘ Journey to Odda

Via Vikafjellet road, slowly make your way to Odda. This will take about 4 hours, after which you will need to do a ferry crossing with Dragsvik-Vangsnes   (payment for tickets can be done on board).

Somewhere along the town of Vik , if you haven’t managed to visit a stave church yet (from those I’ve already previously mentioned), you can then visit the Hopperstad Stave Church.

◘◘ Stay at Trolltunga Hotel

In preparation for tomorrow’s big hike, rest well for the rest of the day after your check-in to Trolltunga Hotel .

◘◘ Get lost around Odda

If, however, you get restless during this Norway road trip itinerary, you can stroll around the picturesque municipality of Odda. One of the things that I suggest you do is to drive to  Låtefossen Waterfall which is just 20 minutes away.

I really loved this waterfall because of its unique design! As shown in the photo above, it has two separate streams that join in the middle and then flow under the Norwegian National Road 13, thereby making it a spectacular (and wet) view as you drive through or get closer to the falls.

◘◘ Wake up early and hike the famed Trolltunga

One of the top activities that I aimed to accomplish as I traveled to Norway was to hike the famous Trolltunga (Troll’s Tongue) and reach its iconic peak (tongue) — and I did!

However, it’s no walk in the park to reach here. Truth be told, this is one of the most difficult hikes that I’ve ever done in my life: it spanned 11 hours at 23 kilometers long and 1,200 meters high! 

…but it was SO worth it. It’s no wonder to me now why it’s called one of the best hikes in the world because other than the view at the top, the scenes I saw during my hike were so darn incredible.

I give props to our guide from Trolltunga Active as well because if it was not for his guidance, I don’t think I would have reached the top (remember guys: pacing is key!). Without further ado, if you want to reach this epic view, you can read my detailed guide below:

READ :  Ultimate Hiking Guide to Norway’s Stunning Trolltunga (Troll’s Tongue)

Now, of course, you can hike the trail by yourself but if you’re not a seasoned hiker like me, or if you simply want the best guidance that you can have to make the most of your hike, I would recommend that you book with Trolltunga Active . I did their Classic Trolltunga route and it was absolutely memorable. (If you’re more into extreme activities, they have other types of tours too such as ziplining or mountain climbing.)

Alternatively, if you want to know what to pack, wear, bring, etc.? Again, just head to my Trolltunga guide and you’ll find all the information you need.

After I finished this hike, I didn’t have any energy left to do anything else (and I bet you will feel the same) so I’m not gonna suggest any activity for the night other than to grab some dinner and have a good sleep.

◘◘ Drive to Stavanger via Rv 13, National Tourist Route Ryfylke, and make stops along the way

On your way from Odda to Stavanger, you will have to go through yet another National Tourist Route called as Ryfylke .

It will take about 5 hours and by now, it will come as second nature to you to make multiple stops along the way given the spectacular terrain that you’ve been seeing so far in Norway — so, take your time in enjoying the sights you pass by!

Don’t forget to witness Låtefosse Waterfall though if you haven’t managed to check it out on Day 7 before.

Other things to take note of are the grand fjords to your right in Hardangerfjord area as well as the might of Svandalfossen waterfall just before you reach Saudasjøen in Ryfylke.

◘◘ Tour around the city of Stavanger

Stavanger is the 4th largest city in Norway and you can do several historic and urban tours here. Rest assured, the center is quite compact so almost every notable sight can be reached on foot.

With that in mind, don’t forget to stop by Old Stavanger to witness Europe’s best preserved wooden house settlement, NuArt Street to get some Instagram-worthy shots, Swords in Rock to learn more about the historic Battle of Hafrsfjord, and the Norwegian Petroleum museum (Norsk Oljemuseum) if you’re interested in seeing how oil and gas are created, discovered and produced in the North Sea.

◘◘ Check-in for the night

For a comfortable stay, check in to Myhregaarden Hotel  which has a prime spot in the city.

◘◘ Hike up to Preikestolen

From Stavanger, head over to Tau by car ferry. The crossing takes about 40 minutes and also departs every 40 minutes where you can pay for your tickets on board (for more info, see here .) Once in Tau, park the car at Preikestolen Mountain Lodge which is a 20-minute drive away.

From here, it’s time to conquer yet another natural wonder that’s popular in Norway:  Preikestolen or Pulpit Rock!

I’m pretty sure you have already seen this spot in photos online, and as it towers at an impressive height of 604 meters over Lysefjord, you will surely be in awe of its grandeur. It helps to note that CNN and Lonely Planet have even named this as one of the world’s most spectacular viewing points.

Now, if you’re wondering how its unique shape (like a protruding tooth) was formed, it is said that it was most likely shaped by the expansion of ice some thousands of years ago.

IMPORTANT:  Hiking here takes about 4 hours (2 hours each way) but it has been seen that the route can get shorter so there are actually plans underway to improve this path. Please wear proper hiking clothes and shoes according to the forecasted weather. Bring enough food and water for 4 hours, as well as some extra change of clothes in case the weather turns sour.

◘◘ Take a scenic ferry ride from Forsand to Lysebotn

Time for yet another ferry ride! But this time around, it will span a bit longer (about 2.5 hours). Plus, it will actually be a sightseeing tour where you can glance at Pulpit Rock and Kjerag mountain from another angle.

There will also be a voiceover in English that will explain the surroundings’ wild geology and glacial landscape.

Cost starts at NOK 315 per person. Bookings can be done here.

◘◘ Overnight at Lysefjorden Turisthytte at Lysebotn

To book, go here .

◘◘ Hike to Kjeragbolten

Time to do one more hike before this Norwegian adventure ends! After you check out of Lysefjorden Turisthytte, make sure that you pack your own lunch pack before driving to Øygardstøl (which is about 10 minutes by car) . Park your car here for 100 NOK and you will find the start of the Kjeragbolten hiking trail nearby.

What’s Kjeragbolten? As you will see in the photo above, this is a boulder that is wedged in the (Kjerag) mountain’s crevasse.

…Tell me, does it make your stomach churn? Because it does to me!

If I have to say so myself, stepping on this rock is a lot scarier than Trolltunga. Sure, the space on top of the rock is wide — but not wide enough. To the best of my knowledge, no one has fallen from this, so if you just take extra care, you’ll be fine.

You might be wondering though: why would people even want to risk it and go on top of this scary boulder? Well, it’s seemingly the allure of it because it’s a very famous destination in Norway. After all, it’s very accessible even without any climbing equipment (it can be just a 5-hour hike, with 2.5 hours each way at a decent pace). I f you’re into base jumping, this is also one of the best spots to do it!

IMPORTANT : As usual, please wear proper hiking clothes and shoes according to the forecasted weather. Bring enough food and water for at least 5 hours, as well as some extra change of clothes in case the weather turns sour.

◘◘ Make your way to Sandnes, do some stops and explore the area

Car back to Sandnes ­ takes approximately 3 hours. Some highlights along the way that you can check out are:

• Sirdal Skisenter at Thjørhomfjellet : This is a great ski resort if you’re here in winter and a great hiking area during the summer.
• Gloppedalsura Scree: a place that has avalanche boulders that are piled on top of one another. Great for photo ops!
• Dalsnuten : This is just a 30-minute hike from Gramstad which has a nice lookout point over the Jæren area, Sandnes and Stavanger.

◘◘ Have your last night at Kronen Gaard Hotel

About an hour’s ride away from the city center, I booked into a room in Kronen Gaard Hotel  and it was such a pleasant stay. The interior decorations were really swell.

On the last day of my Norway road trip itinerary, I delivered my rental car to Avis at Stavanger Airport, Sola. I flew to Oslo via SAS and from there, took another flight back home!

Booking Essentials

TIP: It’s a good idea to crosscheck the prices with other popular travel insurance providers like World Nomads and HeyMondo (as my reader, you get 5% off)! . However, take note that a travel insurance’s affordability typically means lesser coverage; so please always ensure that you read the fine print in order to decipher which travel insurance company is the right fit for you and your trip!

The Best Tours in Norway?

Come and check out this list of the top things to do in Norway which features the best activities and tours to do in Oslo, Tromso, Bergen, and more!

Norway is a treasure trove of adventure and natural beauty, so it’s absolutely a must to include this on your Eurotrip!

Besides, visiting this country will remain to be ideal NO matter the season. For sure, if I were to come back here again, I aim to go to the north for yet another Norway road trip itinerary! I also plan to visit sometime during winter so that I could see the Northern Lights.

Aaah… I can’t wait!

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Comentar *Loved your blog, this is really important information! Thank you so much for sharing this article!

What an incredible place! We were planing to visit Norway later this year, but unfortunately bcoz of pandmic we have to cancel all our plan, but it’s definitely on my Norway bucket list – as is puffin watching! So great that you got to see them! :)

Hi Aileen! I am also planing to visit Norway this summer in a 4 days trip. I am going little crazy (in a good way) reading all of the blog posts/stories that I can’t wait to visit this beautiful country! I am also planing to visit Geirangerfjord :)

Norway is an amazing country to travel in. Thanks for your good guide and the photos were so beautiful.

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A Lofoten Road Trip Itinerary — Exploring Norway's Scenic North

Lofoten has always been a dream destination of mine. This archipelago on the northern end of Norway has everything I love: dramatic mountain ridges with unlimited hiking opportunities, scenic coastal views, and small towns that still feel undiscovered, which all make for the perfect road trip opportunity! We spent five days driving back and forth across the islands, and we could have spent so much longer soaking in the beauty of Norway’s north.

Headed to Bergen? Click here for our itinerary exploring Norway’s fjords on the Western Coast!

I’ve broken down some of our favorite points of interest by general region and city. However you really can’t go wrong taking a random road or side path, and I actually encourage that over following a strict itinerary, as I can guarantee you’ll find gems of your own not covered in this post. Isn’t that the beauty of traveling… exploration and adventure?

Affiliate disclaimer: please note that this article includes some affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission on any purchase made - at no additional cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the work I do to keep creating meaningful content like this for you!

Table of contents

How to get there, where to stay, useful tips, what to do in lofoten.

You can get to Lofoten by car, plane, or ferry. After researching and comparing prices of all of the options, we opted to fly into Evenes, Norway and rent a car at that airport.

We knew we wanted the convenience of having a car to explore the islands at our own pace. We toyed around with the idea of taking the ferry from Bodø, where you can pay little extra to take your car on the ferry to the islands, but we were arriving from the U.S. in Oslo and wanted to get to Lofoten as quickly as possible to maximize our time there.

The Evenes airport had the best options and prices for car rentals in all of Lofoten (versus renting in Svolvær or at any of the other ferry ports), so we opted to take a $115 direct flight via Norwegian Airlines and return the car back in Evenes (the one way drop off fees can get pretty steep, so double check!).

Evenes worked for us since we love road trips and do not mind driving back and forth through Lofoten, especially when the roads are so scenic the entire way. On the map Lofoten looks like it would take a while to drive across, but driving from Evenes airport all the way to the town of Å, the western tip of Lofoten, takes only four and a half hours (if you don’t stop, which I can guarantee you will want to!).

Enjoying the view from our Booking.com manor hotel in Sakirsoy

Picking where to stay was one of the harder parts about planning our Lofoten trip. There are lots of small towns all over the islands to pick from, but we wanted something that was close to our main points of interest, but also something somewhat economical (traveling in Norway can get expensive!).

Be sure to check several hotel booking sites. We used Booking.com , a site that we liked because of its great prices, free rewards program and great cancellation policies.

We also liked using Airbnb to find more unique and boutique stays ( use this referral link for $65 off your first booking ).

If booking online like Booking.com, I highly recommend Rakuten for cash back on your bookings.

Click here for my blog post on saving money and how to I use Rakuten to save on my online purchases!

Since we were flying in and out of Harstad/Narvik Evenes airport, which is on the eastern side of the Lofoten archipelago, we decided to spend three nights in the main Reine area and then spend our final night in Sennesvik to make our final drive back to Evenes just a little bit shorter.

On top of Festvågtind in Henningsvær

As always, don’t forget to download offline Google Maps on your phone for anywhere you think you might be traveling to.

If you are driving, be aware the highways and roads may be narrower and have slower speed limits than you’re used to. Be sure not to speed, as there are speed cameras, and speeding tickets are not cheap.

If traveling during high season, try to book accommodations as early as possible. We booked 5-6 months in advance and noticed prices for hotels and airbnbs increase as each month passed.

If going in the summer, be sure to bring an eye mask to help you sleep! Being so far north, it never gets full dark out since the sun might not ever set. Such a cool experience witnessing midnight sun, but also my sleep would have suffered without an eye mask.

Stop by a local grocery store for snacks and food to cook. Norwegians seem to cook at home a lot, and any eating out we did was quite pricey. Many of our Airbnbs came with kitchens to cook, and we ended up eating a lot of tubed fish, sandwiches, and pasta.

In my opinion, the best way to explore the islands is to get in a car and just start driving! Every inch of the islands is incredibly scenic, and a lot of it still feels unexplored and untouched. I’ll go ahead and list a some of our favorite spots from our time on the road, starting in the east and working west, but feel free to click into the map to see even more potential stops that we would have done if we had more time.

Henningsvær area

Top left to right: Austnesfjorden picnic area and viewpoint, Rørvikstranda beach, view rom the top of Festvågtind. Bottom left to right: on the hike up Festvågtind with Henningsvær in the background, looking down at the road that leads to Henningsvær, view from the top of Festvågtind.

Austnesfjorden picnic area - the perfect spot for a snack or to get out of the car and stretch your legs while making your way across the islands

Trevarefabrikken cafe - we loved the mood of this cafe, which also happens to be a bar and a hostel. They even offer a gorgeous sauna that has a glass wall looking straight out over the ocean

Rørvikstranda beach - we experienced many northern Norway beaches, and this one was particularly turquoise and teal in color. It might not be warm enough to jump in like we’re used to in California, but I can see this beach being a great picnic spot on nice day!

Festvågtind hike - A 3.8 mile roundtrip hike up the side of a steep mountain up to the top of the mountain ridge. From up here it’s almost hard to believe you’re not on a tropical island - you can see so many islands and turquoise blue water.

Nusfjord Area

Top left to right: The colorful village of Nusfjord, eating at the waterfront Karoline Restaurant, Storvatnet Lake. Bottom left to right : walking around the cute Nusfjord town, emerging from one of the historic rorbu fishing huts in Nusfjord, the incredibly scenic road on the way to Nusfjord.

Nusfjord fishing village - the cutest village on the water! You can pay a small entrance fee to walk around and explore some of the history behind this century old fishing village. We stopped for a delicious lunch at the beautifully decorated Karoline Restaurant and picked up some fresh pastries from Hansines bakery before leaving.

Scenic roads - we would frequently have to pull over to stop and take a photo of the incredible scenery. We turned the corner at this one spot in the road and found ourselves heading towards a massive and towering rock wall. This was one of my favorite scenic roads in Lofoten.

Storvatnet lake - the largest lake on this particular island. We passed so many random lakes that it's easy to overlook how stunning each one is. This one has several pullouts that would also make a great picnic spot!

Fredvang area

Top left to right: scenic Lofoten roads, stockfish drying in the cold, arctic air. Middle left to right: one of the many dramatic bridges in Lofoten, halfway up the Ryten hike. Bottom left to right: on our way back down from Ryten, overlook of Kvalvika beach from the Ryten trail

Ryten hike - a 5.5 mile round trip hike to the top of Ryten peak, which stands at 1782 feet. The views are incredibly scenic the entire hike, and my favorite spot was the view overlooking Kvalvika beach. There are multiple parking lots, like this one and this one , and you might want to bring small bills in cash if you end up parking in one of the local’s lots.

Our favorite Norwegian we met from the entire trip was the host of one of these parking lots. The elderly man didn’t speak English, but when he saw I didn’t have gloves for the hike, he went inside and insisted on lending me a pair of knit gloves that he had! How cute is he? He definitely knew best, as later on in the hike when I found myself on the edge of a cliff over a blustery ocean, I was so thankful for those hand knit gloves.

Hamnøy & Sakrisøya

Left to right: Hamnøy village viewed from the bridge, the iconic yellow houses of Sakrisøya, looking at Sakrisøya from across the turquoise bay

Hamnøy - this small fishing village is just a few minutes east of the main Reine area, and in my opinion, Hamnøy is one of the most picturesque spots on the islands. Eliassen Rorbuer is located here, which is one of the top places to stay in Lofoten (be sure to book early!). The best view of this picturesque town is from the bridge, which you can probably spot by finding the one with the most tourists and photographers.

Sakrisøya - instead of staying in the main Reine area, we opted for Sakrisøy, which offers bright yellow fishing huts instead of the classic red found throughout Norway. We stayed at Sakrisøy Gjestegård , a cozy guesthouse perched on top of the hill in the middle of the island.

Anita’s Seafood - we ate here multiple times for lunch and dinner since it was walking distance from our Airbnb. The seafood (particularly the salmon) was SO fresh and tasty, I’m craving some right now! I absolutely love the Norwegian interior decor style of neutral tones, cozy textures, and small nature accents.

Top left to right: Bringen cafe, Reine’s colorful buildings, on the rocky shoreline of the E10. Bottom left to right: a Norwegian flag flying above Reine, a local wooden bridge, Djupfjorden on a rainy day

Reine - arguably the most famous and iconic spot in all of Lofoten. When we finally reached Reine on the western tip of the archipelago, we realized what the hype was about… the town is postcard perfect. The colorful houses are clustered together at the mouth of the bay and sport stunning backdrop of sheer cliffs and mountain ranges for as far as you can see into the distance.

Reinebringen hike - we were looking forward to this one particular hike for its dramatic views overlooking all of Reine and the surrounding peaks, but the trail happened to be closed for construction the entire the two weeks we were there! Even though we didn’t get to do it, I’d still recommend this popular hike to anyone visiting.

Djupfjorden viewpoint - this smaller fjord sometimes has waterfalls cascading down cliffs, especially after a rain!

Å - If you’re already in Reine, you might as well head all the way to the end of the road. Å is the most southern town on the main archipelago, and you can really feel like you’re at the end of the world here

We were in a constant state of awe over the entire five days we spent in Lofoten. Northern Norway is truly such a unique place with its colorful houses, winding oceanic roads, and dramatic mountain peaks. Even though we didn’t have the best weather and conditions for the hikes we wanted to do, the clouds and rain only added to the moodiness of the scenery and emphasized the turquoise water and blue skies when the sun did come out. I would love to see Lofoten in the winter in the snow!

Favorite gear for this adventure:

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Life in Norway: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly (VIDEO)

January 28, 2018 by Silvia 3 Comments

I just returned from Finnish Lapland yesterday, and while I was super sad to live Finland, it was lovely being greeted by a winter wonderland here in Rauland! Apparently it pretty much snowed nonstop over the two weeks I was gone. And now it looks so beautiful!

I have so much to share from my travels through Finland, but first I have something else to share – a new video about life in Norway.

I was in Finland with a bunch of other travel bloggers, including one of my favorite Norway-based bloggers Vanessa from Snow in Tromso . She’s originally from Germany but has been living in Norway for over three years now, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to sit down with her and talk a little bit about life and travel in Norway.

We ended up making two videos, one about all aspects of life in Norway (the good, the bad, and the ugly!), which you can find on my YouTube channel , and another video with all of our insider tips for travel in Norway, which you can find over on Vanessa’s YouTube channel .

This was my first time filming chatty sit down videos, so let me know if you’d like to see more videos like this from me, or if you think I should just stick to videos of my travels instead. And if you do enjoy them, don’t forget to subscribe to my channel , as I’m often too shy to share my videos on my blog.

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January 29, 2018 at 11:28 pm

I never leave comments on YouTube, but I really liked this video! I could never have predicted your use of socks…

So, I love Norwegian TV, at least as brought toe by NRK web TV! It may be because I live in a very flat and densely populated country, virtually devoid of the beautiful language that is Norwegian, but there it is. My favourites: Der ingen skulle tru at nokon kunne bu (about wonderful remote places and the people who live there) Anything with Lars Monsen, the intrepid outdoorsman Datoen (1 birth date, 3 people’s life stories – 1 well-known person and 2 others. Really good stories!)

Also good: Eventyrjenter (because the name Villmarksjentene was already taken) Arkitektenes hjem Solgt! (if you’re into architecture, interior design or upbeat game shows) Muitte mu – husk meg (about joik)

And there’s lots more!

January 31, 2018 at 4:49 pm

I knew I had forgotten one of my favourites… Nomino, a series about Norwegian names. One season about personal names, and one about place names, including lots of little interviews, trivia and quizzes :).

Caroline says

January 31, 2018 at 5:53 pm

We get quite a few Scandinavian shows in the UK. From Norway I really enjoyed these:

Frikjent – the first couple of episodes are a bit slow but it’s worth sticking with. The scenery is to die for and the ending killed me dead. Valkyrien – crazy but brilliant! (and Pål Sverre Hagen is my new celebrity crush) Unge Lovende – I thought it might not be my cup of tea at first, but ended up binge-watching both seasons and can’t wait for the third.

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Once a full-time nomad, I'm now trying to find a balance between continuing to explore off the beaten path places around the world while also building a home in Norway. Want to know more? Head to my About page !

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Oslo travel blog — the fullest oslo travel guide for a beautiful budget trip for first-timers.

There are not many cities in the world where you can swim in the summer and ski in the winter like Oslo – The Norway’s largest city and also its capital. Oslo is a charming Scandinavian city in Northern Europe (Nordic countries), but it has many interesting hybrid cultures associated with the Southern Europe. Oslo is not only the capital of Norway but also considered the home of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. Oslo is also known as the “city of museums” because it has nearly 100 all kinds of different large and small museums. So, traveling to Oslo, Norway: Should you go or not and if so, what to do and how to plan a budget perfect trip to Oslo for the first-time? Let’s check out our Oslo travel blog (Oslo blog) with the fullest Oslo travel guide (Oslo guide, Oslo Norway travel guide, Oslo tourist guide) from how to get, best time to come, where to stay, best places to visit and top things to do to find out the answer!

• Flam Norway travel blog — The fullest Flam guide for first-timers
• Lofoten travel blog — The fullest Lofoten travel guide & what to do in Lofoten for first-timers
• Scandinavia itinerary — How to make a best itinerary for Scandinavia for 8 days?
• Trolltunga blog — The fullest Trolltunga guided hike & How to get to Troll’s Tongue Norway?
• Bergen travel blog — The fullest Bergen travel guide & suggested how to spend 3 days in Bergen perfectly?

Oslo travel blog: Overview of Oslo

Oslo city was established in the early 11th century, but it was not until two centuries later that it officially became the capital of Norway. Since then, this city has made great progress and became a luxury city that everyone wants to once set foot in.

Oslo is also the most populous city of the country with an area of ​​454 km² and a population of more than 1 million people. It was founded by King Harald III in 1048. However by 1624 it was severely destroyed by a fire.

Oslo travel blog: Should I travel to Oslo and how long is enough?

As I posed the question at the beginning of this article, there are many people will indeed wonder whether to travel to Oslo or not? – A Nordic country has always been praised as one of the most livable places in the world. For me, the answer is probably both yes and no. If you only have 2-3 weeks to explore Europe while there are so many other fascinating destinations, the answer based on my European travel experience will be perfectly appropriate for.

YES, if you intend to go to fjords in Bergen or other majestic natural landscapes, and NO, if you are only traveling to Oslo! Referring to Norway, perhaps the most outstanding thing is its enchanting, breathtaking natural landscapes with majestic mountains or spectacular, stunning fjords and beautiful lakes. For example, the Sognefjorden is considered one of the most beautiful fjords and one of the most beautiful places on earth. Nature lovers absolutely should not miss this land if you intend to come to Norway. However, if you have already been to Norway, of course you should visit Oslo. Because from here you will easily traveling to Bergen or other surrounding areas.

My personal feeling when I first arrived here is that this place is quite open to foreigners. Like the little America of Europe. It must be said that it is complete opposite of Denmark. Here I see a lot of the expat community.

Besides the popular groups of Chinese or Japanese tourists, the settlers from Asia, Turkey, Somalia … are not less at all. In the heart of Oslo, there is a separate street of Asian or Turkish grocery stores (There are several Vietnamese stores). Said that but if you travel alone here is also very safe compared to other countries.

Norway is like other Nordic countries, the architecture is often quite simple, so you will not see epic architectures like the Parliament of Budapest or magnificent beautiful works like Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Even the Norwegian Royal Palace is designed in a very simple style.

So in my opinion, you should spend 1-2 days here is enough, you should still focus on discovering other beautiful places in Norway. A perfect Norway travel itinerary will including 1 day for Oslo capital, 1 day for Trolltunga (Devil’s Tongue) and 2 days to exploring Bergen city. When I haven’t traveled to Oslo, I think Helsinki is boring, there’s nothing to play or see there. But when I went to Norway and saw it, well, there was also Oslo city, too :)). But in short, when you have come here, you also need to know how to travel, where to go and what to do… Right?!! Let’s get started!

Oslo blog: When to visit?

The weather and climate in Oslo are like many other cities in Northern Europe with very cold winters and cool, pleasant summers. The best time to come here is from June to September during summer season with pleasant weather, the average temperature is about 20 degrees Celsius. The sunshine time is long and the sunset time last until 10 pm. So, it is very suitable for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

Late October to early November, snow starts to fall. During the period from November to January, sunny hours are very short, it usually starts at 10am and get dark at 3pm or 4pm and most of times are rainy and snowy days. This time is more suitable for visiting museums.

In March, the sunshine duration lasting longer which is suitable for some ice sports such as skiing, snowboarding, etc. Late March and early April, the snow will begin to melt and spring begins in May.

If you want to participate in winter outdoor activities like skiing or ice skating, you can also visit Oslo in winter which starts from December to March every year.

Oslo travel guide: How to get to Oslo?

From Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries, there are many international flights such as Aeroflot, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Airways… can take you to Norway with a quite convenient route, you only have to transit once.

Getting from the airport to the city center of Oslo

Oslo Airport is located in Gardermoen, 35 km (22 miles) to the northeast of Oslo. The cheapest way is to take NSB train. From Oslo Airport (OSL), you should take a normal train to Oslo S (Oslo Central Station). Ticket price is 101 kroner / adult, valid within 2.5 hours. You can take the trains with R10 symbol for Drammen direction, R11 for Skien direction and L12 for Kongsberg direction. Details of train departure times can be found HERE .

Children and the elderly (4-15 years old or over 67 years old) off 50%, students off 25%. If you stay far from the center you can use this ticket to continue moving to the hotel if still within the valid time of the ticket. Please do not take the Flytoget train (the Airport Express Train), the fare is much more expensive with €20 /one-way.

Norway in particular and other European countries in general have a convenient public transport system and well connected. In addition getting here by air, from neighboring countries you can reach Norway by boat. Due to being part of Scandinavian peninsula, Norway has a fairly long coastline with many large ports with ferries and cruise ships connecting countries in the same region which is convenient for tourists to getting here by boat. You can refer to some direct ferries from Copenhaghen, UK, and other Nordic countries to Oslo here .

Oslo travel blog: Getting around Oslo

Getting around in Oslo city center. Below are types of tickets you should consider to buy to traveling around Oslo as well as Norway.

Oslo Hop On – Hop Off Sightseeing Bus 24h

Ticket price: €36 / 24h

There is only one ticket type for this time frame. With this ticket you can reach up to 18 points in the city and 1 trip every 30 minutes.

• Oslo City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Pass

With this ticket, you can travel within Zone 1 and Zone 2 of Oslo and get free admission at most attractions. Note: Not applicable for airport-city center route.

Ticket price:

• €45 / 24h (starting from 2019 this price takes effect).
• €66 / 48h for adult.

Child tickets (6-15 years old) are half the price above and seniors over 67 are equivalent to €36 and €52. (Remember to bring personal proof papers if you are eligible for a discount). I find this pass is quite cheap compared to the neighboring Denmark.

Buy Oslo Pass in advance here.

Public transport when traveling in Norway

If you buy single tickets or daily tickets to travel by public transport (tram, train, bus…), you should download the RuterBillett app ( iOS , Android ) to buy tickets. You refer to the price list below and note that the price does not apply to ferry to get to Bygdøy Island.

Single ticket pre-bought (free transfer / return within 1 hour) Adult NOK 35 = €3.5 (you use rate: NOK 10 = €1 for easy calculation) Child / senior: NOK 18

Single ticket, bought from driver (free transfer / return within 1 hour) Adult: NOK 55 Child / senior: NOK 28

24-hour ticket (flexible start time, non-personal ticket) Adult: NOK 105 Child / senior: NOK 53

7-day ticket (flexible start date, non-personal ticket) Adult: NOK 249 Child / youth / senior: NOK 125

In short, traveling in Oslo is quite expensive. Particularly, the cost for the airport-hotel route is about 20 Euros, adding a daily ticket if you choose a day ticket is about 10 Euros and for Oslo pass it is 41 Euros.

In addition, you can get around Oslo by ferry. All information about timetables, routes, tickets… can be found here .

Oslo travel blog: What to do and where to go?

Vigeland sculpture park.

Vigeland Sculpture Park (Vigeland Nudist Park) (Norwegian: Vigelandsparken) is one of the places that attracts the most tourists in Oslo with more than 1 million visitors annually. This is a famous sculpture park was established in 1939-1949 with 212 sculptures in bronze, granite and cast iron created by Gustav Vigeland and are placed along the 850 meter long avenue of Frogner Park.

One of the most famous sculptures in Vigelandsparken is the Monolith work. This is a “Human Tower” over 14 meters high and was carved from just one single granite block. The tower consists of 121 human figures arranged from foot to top.

In addition, there is an Angry Boy statue with one-legged standing. Any visitor who comes here will rub and hold his hand as if to comfort him … to lessen his anger :), so that his left hand is much more shiny.

The fountain is also one of the park’s notable stops which surrounded by 20 statues that representing different stages in human life from childhood to death.

You can also visit the Vigeland Museum, the designer studio with plaster mold castings, a 5-minute walk from the park. I am quite impressed with this park, perhaps this is one of the places I like the most when traveling to Oslo.

Located in: Frogner Park Address: Nobels gate 32, 0268 Oslo, Norway Opened: 1907 Hours: Open 24 hours Admission: Free

Akershus Castle

The castle (also a fortress) was built in 1299, used to the residence of the Norwegian royal family, then the castle became a fortress in 1592, and was rebuilt as a Renaissance castle in 1637-1648.

Akershus consists of several large halls, the Akershus church and the Royal Mausoleum, the government’s reception rooms and the halls where the banquets are held. The small historic church at Akershus castle is now the royal grave of Norway.

Address: 0150 Oslo, Norway Opened: 1300 Hours: 6AM–9PM Architectural style: Medieval architecture

The Norwegian Opera and Ballet

The Oslo Opera House is the largest cultural center built in Norway since the beginning of the 14th century. The theater has three stages and more than 1,000 rooms.

The building’s standout design feature is the roof that slopes up from the water of the Oslo Fjord. The roof is also a walkable public plaza. In summer, there are many people sunbathing and picnic on its rooftop.

This theater is located right next to the coast, so the view is also very beautiful, but it is located close to the Oslo central station, so it is also very convenient to travel. Ticket prices vary depending on the types of shows, but if you want to buy a short time tour with the guide, the price is the same as I mentioned below.

Address: Kirsten Flagstads Pl. 1, Oslo 0150, Norway Opened: April 12, 2008 Capacity: 1,400 Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Admission fee: €10 / adult; €6 / child or student.

Det kongelige Slott (The Royal Palace)

The Norwegian Royal Palace is where the King and Queen live and was built in the early 19th century.

You can witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony when the palace guards finish their duty and the new guards take over their positions at 1:30pm everyday and last for about 40 minutes.

During summer, the palace is open to guided tours at the same fare mentioned below. If not, you just looking and walking around the royal park right there is enough. The park is extremely large and is considered as the largest public park in the city of Oslo. The Norwegian Royal Palace and its park are also considered one of the must-visit places in Oslo.

Address: Slottsplassen 1, 0010 Oslo, Norway Opened: July 26, 1849 Construction started: 1825 Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture Architect: Hans Linstow Admission fee: €10 / adult; €9 / Children

Karl Johans gate (Karl Johan Street)

This is the main shopping street in the capital of Oslo with a length of 1.02km, mainly focused on branded shops, souvenir shops, cafes etc … You just need to strolling along the street to know more about the city. If you are a shopping lover with abundant budget can drop by branded shops to freely shopping.

Viking Ship Museum

Viking pirates used to lay down the law in Europe in Middle Ages are terrifying for many people. Coming to this museum you will see the Viking ancient ships which were built more than 1000 years ago, these are long and narrow ships with a length of more than 20 meters, used to for long journeys with masts about 20 meters high. There is a total of 5 Viking ships intact and some are under restored. In addition to boats, the museum also displays items such as clothing, weapons, hats and jewelry, and other household items.

• Oslo City and Viking Ship Museum Private Walking Tour

The museum is a large hall, specifically designed to display three ships from 9th century: the Gokstad, the Tune and the Oseberg. These three ships were found in the 12th century in southern Norway.

Address: Huk Aveny 35, 0287 Oslo, Norway Opened: 1926 Architect: Arnstein Arneberg

The Fram Polarship Museum

The Fram Museum is home to recreate one of the most dangerous expeditions in the history of steam or sail ships. In the museum, the Fram is the central and strongest wooden ship ever made by the Nowaygeian to bring explorer Roald Amundsen to the Antarctica and where he discovered the South Pole.

From 1893 to 1912, the ship Fram took part in three major expeditions to both polar regions. Currently, around the three floors of the ship are artifacts from those expeditions.

The museum is located on the Bygdøy Peninsula and you can easily reach by bus from the center of Oslo (The bus number 30 minutes and takes 20 minutes, every 10 minutes with a trip) or in summer by boat from the port in front of the city hall (1 trip every 20 minutes and travel time is about 10 minutes).

Oslo Fram Museum and Kon-Tiki Museum Private Tour

Address: Bygdøynesveien 39, 0286 Oslo, Norway Established: May 20, 1936 Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Admission fee: €13

There are also many other museums around such as the Kon-Tiki Museum , the Norwegian Maritime Museum , The Viking Ship Museum , Norwegian Folk Museum is about 15-minute walk away from there. If you have a Oslo Pass, you can freely visit without worrying about the fares. For me personally, this is the most beautiful museum among the museums I have visited while traveling to Oslo, Norway.

Nobel Peace Center

Everyone knows that the annual Nobel Prize is awarded in the capital of Stockholm, Sweden. But did you know that only the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo? This center displays artifacts related to the settlement of war, peace and conflicts in Norway as well as abroad.

Admission is 120 kroner (it’s free if you have Oslo Pass), but if you’re just walking outside it’s free, of course. In front of the building is a fairly spacious plaza overlooking the Oslo harbour and ferry terminal, perfect for… check-in photo taking!

Address: Brynjulf Bulls plass 1, 0250 Oslo, Norway Hours: Saturday; Sunday: 10AM–5PM

Rådhuset (Oslo City Hall)

Oslo City Hall is similar in architecture to Stockholm city hall and is another free place to visit in the city!

Inside, the walls are decorated with paintings in the style of the first half of the twentieth century with the content about the culture and life of the Norwegian people. Alternatively, you can also visit the other rooms inside Rådhuset.

Address: Rådhusplassen 1, 0037 Oslo, Norway Hours: 9AM–4PM Construction started: 1931

Oslo Domkirke (Oslo Cathedral)

Norwegian people in particular and Northern Europe in general are mostly atheists, or if they do follow the Lutheran lineage, so the church here is not as majestic as in the south (France, Italy, Spain …). The Oslo Domkirke is the cathedral in Oslo, but on the outside it is very modest, no one knows it is the cathedral!

In the summer of 2011, after the terrible massacre on the island of Utøya performed by Breivik (Norwegian), the entire church seemed to be covered with roses to commemorating the dead.

Behind the church is Basarhallene (The bazaar halls) with very beautiful arched architecture. The houses here are now cafes, shops for antiques and handicrafts.

Address: Karl Johans gate 11, 0154 Oslo, Norway Architectural style: Baroque architecture

Damstredet & Telthusbakken

These are 2 streets located close to each other in the Gamle Aker area. The special feature in these two streets is the wooden houses and brick houses dating from the 18th century bearing the Nordic traditional house style. Telthusbakken street is a bit steep (bakken means steep hill) but the street is longer and more houses.

Also, from Telthusbakken you can look up Google Maps to get to Kjærlighetsstien – The Love Trail. This is a short walk street, I saw the pictures on the internet and found it quite beautiful and also romantic. Maybe that’s why it got a name like this ?!

Address: Damstredet 4A, 0177 Oslo, Norway Hours: Open 24 hours

Holmenkollen

Holmenkollen Ski Jump can be seen from every corner of Oslo. You can walk to visit the Ski Jump Museum (the oldest ski museum in the world) if you want to learn more about this seemingly crazy sport. Ski Jump Holmenkollen is 60 meters high and has room for around 70,000 spectators (Norwegians love winter sports!).

From here, you can also walk to Nordmarka for hiking. It’s a forested area in the north of Oslo, with hiking and cycling trails.

Oslo blog: Shopping in Oslo

Aker brygge.

Previously, Aker Brygge was a very large shipyard in Norway. From 1982 until today, it has “turned” into a bustling entertainment and shopping area. This place attracts about 12 million visitors each year. They come here to shop for fashion items, jewelry, hair salon, photography, dining …

At various times of the year, the Aker Brygge area hosts large-scale public events such as the Midsummer celebration or the Oslo Wine Festival. You can follow, update information and planning your trip during such festivals.

You can buy lovely products as souvenirs such as: key chains, t-shirts, ..

Oslo travel blog: How much you will spend for a Oslo trip?

The mid-range cost when solo traveling to Oslo, you can refer to as follows:

• Traveling cost from the airport to Oslo city center: €20
• Traveling cost in the city of Oslo: €20 / 2 days
• Hotel in Oslo: €80 / 2 nights
• Meals: €70 / 2 days
• Total: €190 / 2 days excluding the entrance tickets of the attractions.

• Norwegian people are friendly, speak English well.
• Like other Nordic countries, Norwegian architecture is simple, not too massive and majestic.
• The cost of traveling and eating when traveling to Norway is quite expensive.

Oslo blog: What to eat?

Tip to eat cheap.

To save money, it is best to rent an apartment with a convenient kitchen and then go to the supermarket to buy food and prepare breakfast for yourself. The supermarket in Norway is quite similar to Denmark and slightly different from the rest of Europe because there is no Lidl chain. Here the cheapest supermarket is Rema 1000 then Kiwi. If you stay in Airbnb or other accommodation types with kitchen, remember the order of supermarkets in Norway from cheap to expensive as follows: Rema 1000 – Kiwi – Coop – Spar – Meny. In addition, the Rema 1000 has a very delicious salad bar, priced at only 15 kroner / 100g.

I see that the food prices here are the same as those of Denmark, Sweden. So in general, if you know how to shop economically, you can still get it, for example fruit: €2-4 /1 kg, sweet bread €0.5-2, pizza about €3-5, a box of grilled chicken or other Bacon costs €2-5. I often buy them for breakfast and side meals.

At noon, I have a habit of visiting a restaurant near the place I am visiting, so I rarely note what the restaurant name. Generally, cheapest foods maybe are pizza, kebab, normally the minimum price for a meal is €12.

Rakfisk (Norwegian fermented fish)

This dish is made from trout or char, salted and fermented in water for two to 3 months, or even up to a year. To prepare this dish, fish will filter out all the bones, leaving only the fish meat, then salted for a few days and then dried. Until the fish is dried and smell, it is soaked in alkaline solution to create a specific viscosity and flavor.

Rakfisk is often eaten without cooking and has a mild and slightly salty flavor and strong smell or it also served with cooked butter, potatoes or dried peas and sliced ​​bread will make you remember forever. I ate this dish once and it really tastes bad, so terrible. I don’t know how to describe it. But true to the name of fermented fish. But this dish is very proud of Norwegian cuisine.

It is a traditional dish of the Oslo people in particular and the Norwegians in general. At first, visitors will find it difficult to eat, but full of excitement and curiosity. The sincere advice for you is to boldly taste this dish once. Make sure its taste will quickly defeat the initial fear as its name.

Some other dishes you should try in Oslo: Smoked Salmon or Røkt Laks ; Tørrfisk ; Kjøttboller (meatballs); Fårikål (mutton stew); Krumkake (paper-thin rolls of a waffle, filled with whipped cream or any other desired filling); Pinnekjøtt (lamb-based dish); Smalahove (sheep’s head); Akevitt (Norway’s national drink).

Where to stay?

During my trip, I chose to stay at Central City Apartments for €78 / 1 night. I feel quite ok, about 15 minutes walk from the center of Oslo, clean room with full kitchen and cooking utensils. Generally speaking, traveling in one of Europe’s most expensive cities and finding a room like this is too good. (You can check rates, reviews and book on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Below we recommend more best cheap, budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $152/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).
• Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz Oslo , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $188/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).
• Thon Hotel Opera , a top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $188/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).
• Hotel Bristol , a top rated 5-star hotel with room rates from $200/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).
• Saga Hotel Oslo , a top rated 3-star hotel with room rates from $137/night (Check rates on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

The hotel here is definitely not cheap at all. You can check carefully at  Booking.com or Agoda.com before booking. I still prefer a place with a kitchen when going to expensive countries like Norway.

Oslo travel blog: Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Oslo you can refer to

• The Viking Planet Digital Museum Ticket in Oslo
• Oslo City Highlights Walking Tour
• Oslo Must-Sees Walking Tour
• Oslo Fjord 2-Hour Sightseeing Cruise
• Oslo Off the Beaten Path Bike Tour

Are you looking for more top things to do in Oslo: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here.

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9 things to know before going to Norway in 2024

Mar 18, 2024 • 6 min read

These insider tips will help you plan the Norway trip of a lifetime © Alexander Spatari / Getty Images

Norway is a wonderful country to experience as a first-time visitor – an efficient and extensive transport network, incredible attractions, breathtaking scenery and relaxed locals all add up to the trip of a lifetime.

But there are still some things that are good to know in advance. For example, Norway is one of the most expensive countries on the planet, so money-saving tips will make all the difference to your travel budget.

Another major influence on your trip will be  the flow of the seasons ; the differences can be extreme and will have a major impact on what you plan to do while you're there, both in terms of climate and strange Arctic phenomena such as the midnight sun and the northern lights .

Here are nine things you need to know to ensure a wonderful trip to Norway.

1. Outdoor activities are seasonal so plan carefully

Seasons are everything in Norway. Each long summer day might feel like it lasts forever, but the window for many activities rarely lasts longer than the June-to-August (sometimes just July-to-August) periods. This especially  applies to hiking – Norway’s intensely beautiful Besseggen Ridge Trail, in Jotunheimen National Park , can draw 30,000 hikers in just two months.

Some trails remain open beyond summer, but you run a serious risk of extreme weather rolling in with very little warning while you’re out there. Cycling just about anywhere, and white-water rafting on the Sjøa River, are also strictly summer-only.

Winter sports like skiing, snowmobiling and dog sledding have a similarly narrow opening, although dog sledders can sometimes take a summer ride on a sled with wheels. It all means that planning is essential, and local tourist offices are an excellent resource for knowing what’s possible and when.

2. Eat well on a budget

Prices for a meal in Norway can be eye-wateringly high: in a decent restaurant, a main course for Nkr500 is somewhere close to the norm. Thankfully, the best Norwegian cooking is almost always worth it, but keep these sorts of prices for a special occasion, or even just dinner. 

Most Norwegian hotel buffet breakfasts are extraordinarily good, overflowing in generous proportions, and – best of all – usually included in your room rate. Take full advantage and you may well not need to eat again until the evening. If, on the other hand, you’re hungry again by lunchtime, many cafes have cheaper lunch specials and lighter meals, or you could plan for a picnic with food sourced from a supermarket and its delicatessen.

Snacking at fish markets, or with one of the hot dogs sold at every Norwegian petrol or gas station, could also fill you up without sending a torpedo through your daily budget. Saving money on other meals will make that dinner bill a little less painful.

3. Buy train and bus tickets online

Norway's transport network is efficient and extensive. If you’re traveling by rail, you’re in for a treat with some of northern Europe’s most scenic rail journeys . But whatever you do, don’t pay full fare: Norwegians rarely do. On almost every route, Norwegian state railways  set aside a limited number of discounted (minipris)  tickets. How much you pay has everything to do with how early you book, so start planning as soon as you have firm dates for your trip, even if it’s months in advance. Of all the bus services on offer across the country, Lavprisekspressen is known for its rock-bottom fares along major routes – book online and book early.

4. Join a hotel loyalty scheme

The overwhelming majority of Norwegian hotels belong to a hotel chain, or at least to some more loosely affiliated groupings. Joining one of their loyalty programs is always free, so choose as many as you like. Better still, join one and then find hotels along your route that belong to your program. The best such programs have a simple offer: the more nights you stay – just how many varies from one chain or program to the next – the more free nights you get as a reward for your loyalty.

Another option that is becoming increasingly common, especially in cities, is budget hotels. Before it was just the hostels (vandrerhjem) that promised reasonable prices, but increasingly, slick hotel-hostel hybrids like Citybox  and  Smarthotels  provide respite from the sky-high room rates.

5. Bring a sleeping mask in summer

Let’s face it, Norway’s midnight sun (which can mean 24 hours of daylight for months on end) and polar night (the same, but with endless darkness) can be confusing or frustrating. At first, it can be exciting to walk alongside a beautiful fjord in brilliant 3am sunshine and there is considerable novelty to eating lunch under a night-dark sky. But how do you sleep in summer? Many hotels, particularly in Norway’s north, have heavy-duty, light-blocking curtains, but bring a sleeping mask in summer to ensure you get some shut-eye.

6. Norwegians are tolerant, but always be considerate

Norwegians are pretty relaxed about most things, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a more tolerant nation of people. In cities in particular, the guiding principle seems to be to have a good time as long as you’re not hurting anyone. In rural areas, it’s slightly more complicated, but only slightly. There are always exceptions, but Norwegians in small towns and remote areas tend to be more socially conservative. Loud and loutish behavior is rarely welcome in such places, and if you have an all-night party in a small village, you’ll have misread your surroundings and taken Norwegians’ famous tolerance too far.

7. Driving will take longer than you expect

Many of Norway’s roads are engineering marvels, taking you places no road should go. Norway has the longest tunnels in the world and curvaceous bridges that render water obsolete as an obstacle, and car ferries take care of the rest. So rare are potholes, that people take photos of them. Just don’t expect to go very fast.

Part of that has to do with the terrain. It’s also because, apart from a short distance on either side of major cities, freeways are as rare as potholes. Throughout much of the country, especially in summer, you’ll share the road with trucks and campers with only semi-regular overtaking lanes to ease the frustration. Count on slowing down, enjoying the view, and averaging no more than 60km/h (37mph) on most journeys, longer if you stop along the way.

8. Take basic safety precautions

Norway is an extremely safe place in which to travel, possibly even one of the safest in Europe. Like any large modern city, pickpockets are always a possibility in popular tourist areas, especially Oslo and around the Torget area of Bergen . Here and elsewhere, keep your valuables hidden, and never leave them visible in an unattended car. As long as you’re sensible in ways such as these, you and your personal belongings may well be safer in Norway than they are back home.

9. Watch the weather

Watching the nightly weather bulletin with rapt attention isn’t some quirky little pastime in Norway: it could just save your life. Even in summer, wild weather can roll in without warning, which is fine if you’re curled up next to a roaring fire, less so if you’re hiking in Hardangervidda or Jotunheimen, or snowmobiling in Svalbard .

Whenever you’re heading out into any Norwegian wilderness, wise precautions include always carrying warm wet-weather gear, as well as emergency water and food. And always let someone (either your hotel or the local tourist office) know where you’re going and when you expect to be back.

This article was first published Jul 25, 2023 and updated Mar 18, 2024.

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• 1 Understand
• 2.1 By train
• 3 Get around

Balashikha is the largest city in Moscow Oblast , Russia .

Understand [ edit ]

Balashikha was founded in 1830, and became the center of the textile industry, but that is now closed

Get in [ edit ]

By train [ edit ].

From the Kursk railway station (Kurskaya and Chkalovskaya stations) in Moscow, trains leave for the Balashikha station (41 minutes).

By car [ edit ]

The center of Balashikha is 6 km from the Moscow ring road. Gorkovskoe highway M7, Shchelkovskoe highway A103 and Nosovikhinskoe highway pass through the city.

Get around [ edit ]

There are 16 city bus routes and fixed-route taxis in Balashikha. Suburban routes connect Balashikha with the nearest metro stations and with the cities of Zheleznodorozhny and Reutov. Transit suburban routes follow from Moscow to settlements in neighboring districts of the Moscow region.

Do [ edit ]

• Sports and ski complex "Lisya Gora" , Razinskoe highway, 69 , ☏ +7 495 521-81-18 , + 7-985-210-09-06 . W-Su 10:00 - 17:00 . ( updated Oct 2021 )

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Mystical Castle

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Mystical Castle - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)