The Oslo to Bergen Loop: A road-trippers guide to navigating Fjords, Mountains, and a ton of Norwegian charm
Background to our trip
This itinerary is the exact route we took on a week-long trip to Norway during March/April 2024. We were blessed with the weather - we’d heard of, and being warned on arrival in Oslo that we could experience road or tunnel closures, delays and all manner of other potential problems on the journey we were about to embark. While there was certainly no shortage of snow, the trip was entirely problem-free, and we encountered no traffic or road issues!
The total distance covered for this trip was around 1200km over 6 driving days.
Getting to Norway: Easy and Affordable from the UK 🇳🇴✈️
Norway, and in particular Oslo, is very well serviced from the UK and the rest of Northern Europe by both budget airlines and major international airlines like SAS and KLM. We would recommend arriving at the main international airport - OSL (Oslo Gardemoen airport), as this is the best for connection on to the city centre. It’s not uncommon to see a flight deal to TRF (Oslo Sandefjord Airport), but be mindful that the onward journey to the city takes half or a third of the time (depending on mode) from OSL.
When to visit
We’d recommend visiting Norway whenever you get the opportunity; it’s one of the happiest places to live and consistently ranks within the top handful of countries globally. Of course, the weather plays a big part - and the climate is highly seasonal - but no matter when you visit, Norway offers something special. Be it the never-ending daylight of summer or the mystical northern lights of winter, every season brings its uniqueness.
But isn’t Norway super expensive? 🤑
Norway and Scandinavia, in general, seem to have the reputation of being super expensive - in some cases, we’ve experienced people dismiss the idea of a trip to Norway because of the perceived high costs of living. In our experience, the difference between a trip to Oslo and going to any major UK city in 2025 is negligible. The cost of a coffee is similar; a meal at a mid-level restaurant again, is similar, hotel rates in Oslo are, in our experience far cheaper than in London for instance. There are regional variations in groceries, and certain products can be more expensive; fuel is typically a little more per litre, too. Attractions and activities can be mainly free - Norway has a very outdoors-based culture, and hiking, trail walking or running, cycling, and other such activities can be done free or with little cost. Do not let
The practicalities of visiting Norway
💰 Currency & Payments: Norway uses the krone (NOK) - the exchange rate is typically 11-13.5NOK: £1 - so pricing can be tricky to convert on the fly when you first arrive! Card payments are widely accepted, with Norway having a near-cashless society. We were recommended to keep some NOK for small purchases, but did not following this advice and never needed any cash.
🚗 Driving & Car Hire: Roads are very good, but expect winding routes and some narrow lanes, especially in mountains. Speed limits are strictly enforced. Headlights are always on. Winter tires are mandatory in some areas. Tolls are automated; but check with your rental car company. Parking in cities can be pricey - note: we paid around £40 for overnight parking near our hotel in Oslo city centre!
🏨 Accommodation: Options are plentiful and varied in Norway - there is a big cabin culture with many people owning cabins in the mountains and offering them on Airbnb. It’s best to book ahead, especially in peak season, and to check all the booking sites to ensure you’ve made the best choice for the area you’re staying.
🍽️ Food & Drink: Norwegian cuisine features seafood and local produce. Restaurants are generally expensive. Tipping (5-10%) is appreciated but not expected. Tap water is excellent.
🍺 Alcohol: Buying alcohol in Norway may seem like a weird concept/process to travellers from the UK. Beer (up to 4.7%) is sold in supermarkets before 8 PM (weekdays) and 6 PM (Saturdays). Wine and spirits are only at Vinmonopolet stores (check their limited hours). Age limits: 18 (beer/wine), 20 (spirits).
🤟Language: Norwegian is the official language, but we found no one who wasn’t fluent in English.
🤔 Other Tips: Pack layers for unpredictable weather. If you’re planning a hike, check forecasts closely and tell someone your plans.
Our Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive and explore Oslo: 40 mins | 50km
We arrived in the mid-afternoon, collected our rental car in terminal from Oslo Gardemoen Airport before setting off on the 40 minute journey to Oslo city centre. The Norwegian capital is modern yet historically packed and is home to around 800,000 people, or nearly 30% of the population! The city has several distinct districts and is probably among the most walkable of the major cities we’ve visited. It’s a real city of contrasts, blending modern architecture with historic charm. Whether you’re in the mood for high-end shopping, riverside cafés, or futuristic architecture, Oslo offers the perfect mix of old and new.
We stayed in the citybox hotel, which offers contactless check-in and well-equipped rooms and amenities at an affordable price - right in the heart of the city centre. After check-in, we immediately ventured out to explore, and among the highlights from our short evening adventure were;
Strolling the waterfront and being fascinated when seeing people taking a sauna and jumping in the icy water!
Climbing the Opera house and taking in the views from the top!
Checking out the upmarket Aker Brygge & Tjuvholmen districts
Visit Oslo Street Food, enjoying the eclectic vibe and great food and drinks
Day 2 - Oslo - Fagernes : 3hrs 30min | 212km
Breakfast & Vigeland Sculpture Park
Start as any good day should - by grabbing breakfast from one of the many great breakfast spots in Oslo - we could have certainly gone much more boujee, but when travelling in Scandinavia, we love a visit to Espresso House! You’re seemingly never too far away, and they’re a great value option! Next up, we took a short drive out of the city, and the first stop was the Vigeland sculpture park. We were somewhat hesitant about visiting - as we were travelling with our two young boys - and many of the sculptures are nude! Despite this, we had a very pleasant wander around. The park is large and open and you could easily spend half a day in good weather.
Kistefos Sculpture Park
Having left Oslo - an hour or so down the road and to the north, near Jevnaker - the Kistefos museum is another sculpture park - at this point, the kids thought we’d brought them on a trip comprising solely of sculpture parks - needless to say, this one is slightly more varied than Vigeland and offers a little more to keep the young ones engaged. We visited in the off-season, so the indoor parts were closed, but it’s still a lovely walk and great to break up the driving north.
Bautahaugen
An hour further up the road - and only around 45 minutes from the overnight stop at Valdres - you have Bautahaugen Samlinger. This is a small folk museum, and is a subsidiary of the Valdres Folkmuseum. Bautahagen features 15 buildings and around 2500 different artefacts - all set in the forest amid a dramatic backdrop of mountains. This again, is a great little stop off to break up the journey.
Arrival in Fagernes
Our overnight stay was at the Scandic Valdres in Fagernes. The hotel has an authentically nordic feel, offers a comfortable and modern stay in the heart of town. It’s set among stunning scenery, and is a perfect base for exploring and partaking in the many local activities. The hotel boasts a great breakfast as well as pool and fitness centre.
Day 3 - Fagernes - Vaksdal (via Flam) : 4hr 30min | 280km
Our journey on day 3 began in Fagernes, a cozy town nestled in the heart of the Valdres region. Known for its stunning lake views and traditional Norwegian culture, Fagernes was the perfect starting point. We stocked up on snacks and grabbed a free coffee from the hotel lobby before setting off on our days’ adventure!
First Stop: Flåm
One of the most epic stretches of driving - through winding mountain roads, we made our way to Flåm, one of Norway’s most famous fjord-side villages. The drive itself was genuinely mesmerising, with imposing cliffs, and frozen waters accompanying us along the way - every second presented its own photo opportunity! Once in Flåm, we took a break to explore the charming village, wandered around (what we considered) the reasonably priced retail stores - picked up a new hat, watched the famous Flåm Railway in action, and enjoyed a delicious fish chowder while admiring in the stunning fjord views.
Driving Through the Lærdal Tunnel (the world’s longest road tunnel!)
En route to Flåm, we had the unique and unexpected experience of driving through the Lærdal Tunnel - the longest road tunnel in the world at 24.5 km (15.2 miles). This feat of epic engineering connects Lærdal and Aurland, providing a smooth journey through the mountains while avoiding potentially treacherous weather conditions. The journey probably takes 15-20 minutes, and the tunnel features special lighting zones to break up the long drive, creating an almost otherworldly experience. It was a real highlight of the trip!
Stegastein Viewpoint
A slight detour took us to Stegastein Viewpoint, one of the most iconic viewpoints in Norway. Perched high above the Aurlandsfjord, the platform extends outwards, offering an unobstructed view of the dramatic fjord below. There are excursions available from Flåm, as we’d read the drive to reach the viewpoint was not for the faint of heart. Parking at the top is somewhat limited, and I can imagine in peak season access could become limited, but we had absolutely no issues. The platform extends 30m from the mountain side and is 650m above sea level - crisp mountain air and sheer scale of the scenery left us speechless—this was the highlight of our day 3!
A Hidden Waterfall
As we continued our drive, we stumbled upon a beautiful waterfall cascading down the mountainside - which turned out to be Stalheimsfossen. Though not as famous as some of Norway’s well-known waterfalls, this hidden gem was impressive. We went off-piste and drove up to the famous Stalheim hotel and took a moment to stretch our legs, snap some photos, and enjoy the serene sound of rushing water before continuing on our way.
Exploring Vossvangen
Our next stop was Vossvangen, often simply called Voss. The town is known for its adventure sports, stunning lake, rich Viking history - but NOT the famous water of the same name! We strolled along the lake, visited the historic Voss Church with its iconic wooden spire, and grabbed a quick bite at a local café.
Final Stretch to Vaksdal
The last leg of our trip took us through more winding roads, tunnels, and scenic fjord views as we made our way to Vaksdal. This small town, nestled between mountains and fjords, was the perfect end to our scenic day on the road.
Day 4 - Vaksdal - Bergen : 1hr | 50km
Our drive from the peaceful surrounds of Vaksdal commune to Bergen was short, but it felt like a journey between two worlds. Leaving the fjord-side, tranquil beauty of Vaksdal, we quickly found ourselves approaching the vibrant city of Bergen. The contrast particularly struck us – the serene landscapes giving way to the charming, colourful buildings clustered around the harbour. As we drove along the E16 - as we had done for the last few days - the anticipation grew, and there was a shared sense of achievement of how far we’d come when we arrived in Bergen. The sight of the iconic Bryggen wharf marked that moment of - “we’ve made it..”. It was a perfect introduction to Bergen, and we knew we were in for an exciting time.
We have this article on Bergen specifically already on this site - check it out for tips on making the most of your trip to this amazing city!
⏰ If, like us, you’re tight on time in Bergen, we’d recommend checking out this 2-hour walking tour; it’s run frequently and in small groups and gives a great overview and history of the city. 🥾
Day 5 - Bergen - Røldal : 3hr 30min | 180km
Departing Bergen and the Jondal ferry
Having spent only 24 hours in Bergen, we were sad to leave. We’d packed in as much as we could in the time we had and left feeling like it wasn’t going to be our last time in Bergen. The Jondal ferry was the first milestone of the day. Taking the ferry across the Hardangerfjord was a nice break in the drive and a novel experience for us all. The views from the ferry were great – you get a real sense of the scale of the fjord and the surrounding mountains. On a practical level, you may be wondering about the process of taking the ferry boats to cross the fjords in Norway. The staff onboard will scan your license plate and send the bill electronically, so if you have a rental, you’ll just receive an invoice at the end of your trip. This makes everything straightforward.
Odda
After the ferry, we drove towards Odda. The road follows the fjord, and there are some lovely little villages along the way. Odda itself is a pretty town at the end of the Sørfjorden. We stopped there for a bit to stretch our legs and grab some lunch before continuing on.
Exploring the Glacial area of Buerbreen
Close to Odda is Buerbreen (Buer Glacier), which is a really cool place to visit, especially if you're into hiking and stunning natural scenery. It's an arm of the Folgefonna glacier, one of mainland Norway's largest glaciers. The road approaching the parking spot (what3words: ///darts.sunset.marriage) is narrow and can be awkward, and we were not particularly equipped for hiking in knee-deep snow, but we had a short walk down the trail and enjoyed playing in the snow and of course the glorious surroundings.
Getting soaked by a waterfall
One of the most impressive stops on this route is Latefossen waterfall. It's a powerful twin waterfall, and the spray actually reaches the road! We pulled over and just stood there for a while, taking it all in. We quickly scaled the waterfall as the kids thought they were professional rock climbers (and still do!); thankfully, we were not the only ones. Latefossen is a must stop on this route and is quite the sight to behold.
Onward to Roldal
From Latefossen, the landscape starts to change as you head towards Røldal. It becomes more mountainous, and the roads wind through the valleys. The drive itself is pretty scenic, and while we had some respite from the snow in the Vaksdal and Bergen areas, it was most certainly back as we ventured closed to Røldal. We eventually arrived and checked into our apartment for the night. Aptly named, ‘The View’ - it certainly did not disappoint.
Day 6 - Roldal - Nottonden : 3hr 10min | 195km
Rescuing a fellow Brit
Leaving Røldal, the landscape remained mountainous and dramatic. The drive itself was enjoyable, with winding roads offering glimpses of valleys and peaks. It's the kind of drive where you want to pull over at every viewpoint, though of course, you can't stop at them all! Remarkably, we’d made it to day 6 without having any navigation issues - relying solely on Google Maps, but this came to end when we were deep in the Norwegian wilderness - perhaps its a British thing, but we came across a British father and son duo stuck as a result of following the same directions! We spent around half an hour rescuing their car from deep snow, and both turned back on advice from a local couple walking their dog!
A spontaneous lunch spot
Along the way, we made a very spontaneous stop at the Nutheim Gjestgiveri on the E134. We were skeptical at first as it was in the middle of nowhere and there was no one else dining, however, it turned our to be the best meal of our trip! The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was quaint and cozy. The restaurant sits in a stunning elevated position overlooking the Flatdal valley with mountains all around. It was a perfect spot to refuel and relax before continuing our journey.
Onward to Notodden and time for a Hike
We eventually arrived in Notodden, a student town with a fascinating industrial history. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its role in early industrialisation in Norway. Before grabbing a bite to eat in Notodden itself, we decided to stretch our legs with a hike: check out Fjellstulvarden on AllTrails.
The Fjellstulvarden hike was a great way to experience the area around Notodden. It wasn't overly strenuous - kid friendly but with some elevation over a relatively short distance. It offered some amazing views of the surrounding landscape. It was a great way to get a different perspective on the area and appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds Notodden.
Day 7 - Nottonden - Oslo : 1hr 40min | 120km
Our final day in Norway involved a drive from Notodden back to Oslo. We had initially considered exploring some other towns and attractions along the way. There were some tempting options on the map. However, after some discussion, we decided to prioritise spending more time in Oslo. Our first evening in the city had given us a taste of what it had to offer, but we felt like we'd barely scratched the surface.
Would we do it all again?
In a heartbeat.
❤️🇳🇴