norway: 15-Day Self-Drive Itinerary
Norway features spectacular natural scenery. This 15-day self-drive itinerary in southern Norway will take you through majestic fjords, picturesque towns, cultural sites, vibrant cities and some of the famous Norwegian Scenic Routes. View highlights from our road trip here.
Day 1: Oslo
After arriving at Oslo airport, take the Flytoget airport express train to the city center and check-in to your hotel. The lively, laid-back capital, is compact and easy to explore by foot or public transportation so there’s no need to rent a car here.
Overnight in Oslo
Day 2: Oslo
Wake up early and walk the architecturally stunning Oslo Opera House before the crowds arrive. Continue to explore the city on a self-guided walking tour to the Royal Palace, Oslo City Hall, Akershus Fortress, Aker Brygge, MUNCH museum, and Bjørvika.
Overnight in Oslo
Day 3: Oslo
Take a short tram ride to Vigeland Sculpture Park located inside Frogner Park. Afterwards, hop on a ferry near Aker Brygge wharf and visit one of the many islands in the Oslo Fjord. Hot tip: If you plan to do both, buy a Ruter 24-hour transit pass (which includes ferries) from one of the convenience stores like Narvesen or 7-11. If you’re short on time, skip this day.
Overnight in Oslo
Day 4: Oslo to Rjukan
After breakfast, it’s time to pick up your rental car. Norway is famous for well-preserved stave churches and visiting at least a few during your travels is a must. Just 1.5 hours from Oslo, you will find Norway’s largest stave church Heddal Stave Church. After touring this beautiful church, continue your drive to Rjukan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and head to the summit of Mount Gaustatoppen. From the top, one-sixth of Norway can be seen on a clear day. If you’re a hiking enthusiast, the trail is challenging but rewarding. You can also ride to the top on a cable car hidden inside the mountain. If you’re a World War II history buff, spend an extra day exploring the town’s historical sights and discover its important role during the war.
Overnight in Rjukan
Day 5: Rjukan to Odda
Odda, a charming town nestled on the shores of a majestic fjord, is the jumping off point for the famous Trolltunga Hike. On your way to Odda, you can also take a short detour to visit Røldal Stave Church, which was built around 1200. Afterwards, continue your drive and be sure to have your cameras ready as you pass the surging twin waterfall, Låtefossen, just outside of Odda.
Overnight in Odda
Day 6: Odda
If you plan to hike Trolltunga, you’ll need an early start as it takes approximately 10-12 hours to complete the 20+kilometre hike. If you prefer a shorter trail, there are other great options in the area. Alternatively, you can drive Scenic Route Hardangervidda to explore picturesque Eidfjord and make sure to stop at one of most spectacular waterfalls in Norway, Vøringsfossen.
Overnight in Odda
Day 7: Odda to Stavanger
If you truly want to get off the beaten path and see some spectacular scenery, follow Scenic Route Ryfylke which includes interesting stops like the staircase at Svandalsfossen. As you approach Stavanger, you’ll drive through Ryfylke Tunnel, the world’s longest and deepest subsea tunnel. It’s pretty cool.
Overnight in Stavanger
Day 8: Stavanger
Many people skip Stavanger, but we loved it, much more than its coastal neighbour, Bergen. Stavanger, like other Norwegian cities, is compact, filled with charming streets, and walkable. Spend your day exploring on foot with one of these walking tours. Meander through Old Stavanger and visit the very informative Norwegian Petroleum Museum. If you’re a foodie, Stavanger and its many Michelin restaurants, are a dream. K2 Stavanger is a unique experience especially with its highly creative, non-alcoholic, beverage pairing. If you have extra time, you can spend an additional night here to explore Scenic Route Jaeren.
Overnight in Stavanger
Day 9: Stavanger to Bergen
After breakfast, begin your drive to Bergen. As mentioned previously, we were less impressed with Bergen probably because we had high expectations and it was crowded with cruise tourists. If crowds are not your thing, one full day here is probably enough.
Overnight in Bergen
Day 10: Bergen
Compact and walkable, no visit to Bergen would be complete without exploring the colourful houses of UNESCO-listed Bryggen and the charming streets that surround this historic area. For panoramic views of the city, walk-up Mount Fløyen or take the funicular. If you’re looking for something more challenging, there are other scenic hikes in the area. At the risk of sounding odd, one of the highlights was the hotdogs at Trekroneren. The hot dogs are mouth-watering but just be aware of the birds who will dive bomb your dog…even when it’s in your mouth!
Overnight in Bergen
Day 11: Bergen to Laerdal Area
Time to get your fjord on! Today you’ll leave the coast and journey inwards through the spectacular fjords. If you’re a train aficionado, you’ll want to stop in Flåm and take a short trip on the Flåm Railway. If you’re not into trains, Flåm seems like a manufactured town for tourists so you can skip and continue to the next stop, Stegastein Viewpoint for stunning views of Aurlandsfjord. Next, drive through the longest tunnel in the world, Lærdalstunnelen and follow Scenic Route Aurlandsfjellet towards Laerdal. If you haven’t had your fill of stave churches, take a small detour to visit one of the most distinct in Norway, Borgund Stave Church.
Overnight in Laerdal Area
Day 12: Laerdal Area to Hjelle
This is a longer day combining two Norwegian Scenic Routes. We really loved the stave churches and highly recommend taking a little ferry to visit Urnes Stave Church. The oldest stave church in Norway is set in a picturesque setting and was one of our favourites. After, continue on the wild and untamed Scenic Route Sognefjellet and journey through the highest mountain pass in northern Europe. Next you’ll link up with Scenic Route Gamle Strynefjellsvegen to breathtaking and peaceful, Hjelle.
Overnight in Hjelle
Day 13: Hjelle
Don’t let Hjelle’s tiny size fool you. The scenery is spectacular. If you like to hike, there are some fantastic views throughout this area and if you’re up for a challenge, views throughout the Glomnesnakken Hike are breathtaking. If you are not a strong hiker, we don’t recommend this hike as it’s a challenging route with very steep sections. If you’re short on time, you can skip this day.
Overnight in Hjelle
Day 14: Hjelle to Andalsnes
Today will take you through the famous hairpin bends of Trollstigen on Scenic Route Geiranger – Trollstigen. We also added a 50-minute ferry ride from Hellesylt through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Geirangerfjord at the start of our day, but the experience was underwhelming and ends in the tiny cruise port town of Geiranger, which was riddled with traffic jams and thousands of tourists.
Overnight in Andalsnes
Day 15: Andalsnes to Oslo
The town of Andalsnes was oddly quiet but the surrounding area was beautiful. If you are an avid hiker, this is a great place to explore vertically. If you’re short on time, you can skip today and start your 8-hour drive back to Oslo. If you have a few extra days, we highly recommend returning to the coast and spending one or two relaxing nights along Scenic Route Atlanterhavsvegen (Atlantic Ocean Road) before making your way back to Oslo.
Hot Tips
To make your Norway road trip as smooth as possible, make sure your rental car comes with an AutoPASS. There are A LOT of tolls and ferries in Norway and the AutoPASS will automatically pay for tolls and ferries saving you time and a lot of hassle. Tolls and ferries can also add up so plan on spending an additional 10-15% on top of your rental costs. Fuel and hybrid rentals may be more expensive than electric vehicles but may save you the stress of having to look for charging stations, especially in more remote areas. One-way car rentals are extremely expensive in Norway so to save money, try to plan a round-trip route where possible. Lastly, outside of the cities, some roads can be quite narrow so renting a large vehicle may not be ideal.