Last updated April 2024
In the midst of a busy work schedule, we found ourselves with 10 days available to do what we love: explore more of our beautiful home country, Norway. As 10 days is too short to see the whole country, we decided to focus on the southern part. After hours of planning and an intense treasure hunt on the internet, we had our treasure map (read: itinerary) ready. On the trip, we wanted to see spectacular nature and wildlife, eat good food, stay in comfortable hotels, and try out new activities. These were high expectations, but the trip certainly did not disappoint.
Our budget was mid-range by Norwegian standards. For many foreign visitors, Norway will an expensive country to visit. Expect to pay approximately 110-180 USD per night for a hotel room. Camping can be a great cost-saving alternative. Eating out is pricey, so another piece of budget advice is to get your lunch and/or dinner from a grocery store.
Activities and excursions vary greatly in price. The activities we did on this trip were either free or moderately priced. For car rental, you should budget for somewhere between 65-130 USD per day. Consider renting a moderately sized car to limit fuel consumption, as fuel prices are also high.
Below is our complete itinerary broken down by day. We started and ended the road trip in our hometown of Oslo. Some days had a slow pace, while others were more activity-packed.
It is possible to make the itinerary shorter or longer. For a shorter road trip, we recommend that you drive back to Oslo after visiting Dalen. For a longer journey, we suggest that you follow our route and simply spend more time at each destination. Having the freedom to travel slowly and improvise is one of the great advantages of a road trip. We promise you that Norway has a lot to offer.
Our 10-day road trip itinerary is suitable for almost everyone, including families with children. A couple of the hikes require a moderate degree of physical fitness, but they are feasible for most people.
Happy travels — we hope you enjoy Norway as much as we do!
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Alternative day plan: Visit Flor & Fjære
Day 5
Alternative activity: Visit the potholes at Brufjellet
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 1
Link to driving directions on Google Maps
The first stop on our trip was at the charming and rustic Portør Pensjonat, where we had lunch on our way to Kristiansand.
The salad with beets and goat cheese was fresh and very tasty. The waitress told us that the vegetables were locally grown just a few kilometers away from the restaurant. Thumbs up!
We spent the rest of the day visiting our relatives that live near Kristiansand. If we had had more time, we would have wandered around in Kristiansand’s cozy streets and visited one of the many scenic areas that are close to the city. Odderøya and Baneheia are particularly beautiful ones.
We stayed at the Comfort Hotel Kristiansand for the night. The hotel was good in all respects and conveniently located in the center of Kristiansand. The parking facilities were also good, with a garage right next to the hotel.
Link to Comfort Hotel Kristiansand
Day 2
Link to driving directions on Google Maps
On day two we headed further south towards Lindesnes Fyr (Lindesnes Lighthouse). The lighthouse is located on the southernmost point of mainland Norway and is a spectacular sight. We highly recommend visiting the area both during the day and at sunset. The advantage of visiting Lindesnes Fyr during the opening hours is that you can visit the museum and also go inside the lighthouse. It is, however, at dusk that a visit here becomes truly unforgettable. We therefore visited Lindesnes Fyr twice on the same day and were very happy that we did.
Our lunch spot for the day was Jentan på Båly (The Girls at Båly), located on the dock in Båly harbor. We took the food to go and ate it on the benches outside.
Jentan på Båly is a stone’s throw away from Lindesnes Havhotell, which was our hotel for the night. The hotel had plenty of sports equipment available such as bicycles, fishing rods and kayaks. We decided to test our balance and rented stand-up paddle boards. We initially had some problems finding a place to try them out. Luckily, after some exploration, we came across a perfect little sandy beach (see the Google Maps driving directions link for the exact location of the beach – the address is Bålymoen 21). From here on, everything went smoothly, and we enjoyed paddling on Spangereidkanalen (Spagereid Canal).
After visiting Lindesnes Fyr for the second time, it was time to go to bed. Lindesnes Havhotell was another fine place to spend the night. The hotel had great staff and nice rooms, although the wellness area with whirlpools and saunas could use an upgrade. A nice perk is that hotel guests receive free tickets to Lindesnes Fyr.
Tip: We bought the best cherries we had all summer at Spangereid Bensin & Handel (Spangereid Gas Station)!
Link to Spangereid Bensin & Handel
Day 3
Link to driving directions on Google Maps
After the amazing experience at Kvåsfossen, Sogndalsstrand was our next destination. Here we had a late lunch at Folvik Kafe in Sogndalstrand Kulturhotell. The cafe served delicious food in a historic setting, and we highly recommend eating here.
With our bellies full, we were eager to see more of Sogndalsstrand, an old harbor village dating back to the 17th century. The village reached its peak in the late 19th century based on the then-thriving shipping and fishing industries. During the 20th century, Sogndalstrand lost its role as a trading town, and gradually declined in population size. In 1994 the last shop closed its doors in the small town. However, since early this century, the area has been rejuvenated and many of the old buildings have undergone restoration.
Today, Sogndalstrand is a popular tourist attraction with an increasing number of visitors. The town now boasts hotels, restaurants, galleries and museums. We had a pleasant time strolling around among charming wooden houses and gorgeous gardens.
We had quite a long itinerary this day and no time to waste. We therefore got back in the car and headed for the 41-kilometer-long National Tourist Route between Ogna and Bore. The National Tourist Route turned out to be amazingly picturesque, and we would have loved to have a lot more time to enjoy the scenic drive. The surroundings were beautiful, with the sea and rolling farmlands right next to the road. The old cultural landscape also has plenty of beaches, with both pebbles and sand. Along the route, we also stopped briefly at Kvassheim Fyr (Kvassheim Lighthouse). The cafe and museum were closed for the day, but it was still nice to have a look at the lighthouse from the outside.
A half-hour drive further took us to Friluftshuset Orre (The Recreation Centre at Orre), where we parked our car. From there we walked for approximately five minutes to Orrestranda (Orre beach). Many hold this beach to be the most beautiful beach on the whole of Jærens coastline. Orre beach is five kilometers long and is the longest sandy beach in Norway. We could have easily spent hours just lounging there.
The visit to Orre beach made us crave more sand between our toes, and after checking in at Clarion Hotel Air, we went off to watch the sunset on Solastranden (Sola beach). Sola beach is located right next to Sola Airport, and the beach is very popular with both locals and tourists. We had a beautiful, although somewhat chilly, evening on Solastranden.
*If you have time, we really recommend staying one night in Sogndalsstrand Kulturhotell, as we would have loved to have more time to spend at each place we visited this day. If you don’t have one more night to spare, make sure to be at Kvåsfossen – Sørnorsk Laksesenter at opening time to make the most of the day!
Link to Kvåsfossen – Sørnorsk Laksesenter
Link to Folvik Kafe at Sogndalsstrand Kulturhotell
Link to Norwegian Scenic Routes
Link to Visit Norway – Sola beach
Day 4
Link to driving directions on Google Maps
On day four of our road trip, we woke up to rain and gray weather over Sola and Stavanger city. We therefore discarded our original plan to visit the island of Flor & Fjære. This was a pity because the pictures we had seen of it were incredibly beautiful. Flor & Fjære markets itself as a cross between a park and a restaurant, a unique concept that we look forward to seeing one day in the future.
Instead, we spent the day wandering around Stavanger city center. One of our favorite streets here was Øvre Holmegate, which despite the bad weather brightened our day with its lively colors. We were especially charmed by the Hanekam retro cafe and their delicious carrot cupcakes. The cafe even had a full-sized drum kit(!) in the restroom.
Another part of Stavanger that we also liked was the old town, with its narrow cobbled streets and white wooden houses. We took the well-kept gardens as a sign of residents taking pride in making their surroundings as pretty as possible.
With a packed schedule the day before, it was lovely to spend the evening at the very comfortable Clarion Hotel Air. The hotel was the perfect place to recharge our mental batteries before continuing our journey.
Day 5
Link to driving directions on Google Maps
The next day, it was still raining, so once again we had to make some changes to our plans.
Our initial plan was to visit the potholes at Brufjellet. This was unfortunately not possible as the climb in the last part of the trek is dangerous during rainy weather. Instead, we went with plan B and headed to Flekkefjord, and more specifically Flekkefjordbanen (the Flekkefjord railway). There, we rented rail bikes and biked along the old railway line.
The distance between Flekkefjord and Sira (the end point) is 17 km. If you go all the way to Sira and back, it will take about three hours. We turned around halfway as we were quite cold due to the rainy and brisk weather. The many tunnels along the route were extra chilly, so we recommend putting on warm clothes before you head out. Additionally, you may want to bring your own headlamp as the lanterns we borrowed were not strong enough to brighten the track properly inside the tunnels.
After the rail biking, we searched for a place to warm up and have a cup of coffee. Luckily, we found Tollboden Bakeri at the port in Flekkefjord, and treated ourselves to some enjoyable pastries. The stone-baked pizza also looked very tempting, but as we had other dinner plans we had to pass on that.
We had booked a room at The Bølgen og Moi Hotel Utsikten (now called Utsikten Hotel Kvinesdal) for the night. The hotel has a good location in Kvinesdal and magnificent views. The rooms were perfectly fine, although the food we had in the restaurant was unfortunately rather disappointing. We therefore recommend that you have the pizza at Tollboden Bakeri instead.
Link to Flekkefjordbanen – Rail bike rental
Link to Utsikten Hotel Kvinesdal
Link to Visit Norway – The potholes at Brufjellet
Day 6
Link to driving directions on Google Maps
Kaldåsknipa is the highest point in Lyngdal at 504 meters above sea level. We still had some energy to burn off, despite the rail biking we did the day before, and therefore decided to go hiking. From the parking lot at Kaldåsknipa, the hike to the top is about two kilometers, and the difference in altitude is about 200 meters. The trail is a gravel road that is easy to follow. This was helpful as the weather was gray and foggy, and visibility was poor at times. Because of the weather, we did not get the best views at the top, but when the fog lifted, we got a glimpse of the impressive panorama.
The next activity was something we had been looking forward to for a long time, and we were therefore very excited when we arrived at Elgtun in Bygland after two hours of driving. Elgtun really managed to exceed all our expectations! (Update from April 2024: Elgtun has closed, but you can visit the elks at Viltgården in Iveland. See Viltgården’s webpage for further information.)
The visit at Elgtun had worked up our appetite, and we were really hungry when we sat down at the table at Sølvgarden Hotell Feriesenter. Sølvgarden is conveniently located along the road, but far from an average truck stop. We were pleasantly surprised by the stylish interior and the tempting menu with its focus on Norwegian food. The lamb with onion sauce and root vegetables tasted delicious, and we could not have been more pleased with our meal.
After arriving at Dalen in the evening, we headed out on a new adventure – a beaver safari. Dalen has a rich beaver population, and we were excited to see if we would meet the cute builders. The chance of seeing the beavers is best at dusk, and we therefore set out when the sky began to darken.
Bufjordstigen is a marked hiking trail in Dalen, with good chances of spotting beavers. After following this trail for less than five minutes, we got lucky. One beaver crossed the trail in front of us, while another was bathing and swimming. We observed the swimmer for quite a while before he dived down and disappeared. This was the perfect way to end an already wonderful day!
For the night we headed to Telemark Camping Inn in Hauggrend. It would have been more convenient to stay in Dalen, but unfortunately, there were no rooms available there when we booked our vacation. Telemark Camping Inn was, nonetheless, a cozy place with very kind owners.
Link to Sølvgården Hotell & Feriesenter
Link to Visit Telemark – Bufjordstigen
Link to Telemark Camping & Inn
Day 7
Link to driving directions on Google Maps
We started day seven of our road trip with a memorable visit to the historic Rui farm.
The steep climb to get to the farm made us thirsty, and it was perfect to have Afternoon Tea at Dalen Hotel after the hike. Dalen Hotel is well-known in Norway with a history dating back to 1894. It was very interesting to wander around inside and soak up the special ambience.
Dalen Hotel was originally built as a luxury hotel to accommodate prominent guests. Back in the days, many of the guests went on an excursion to Ravnejuv, a gorge with a steep drop of 350 meters. As it is only 20 minutes by car from Dalen, we included it in our plan for the day. It was a five-minute walk to get to the gorge from the parking lot. What is special about the gorge is that is has an airflow going upwards. Of course, we had to test the natural forces and threw a piece of paper off the edge. Despite many attempts to throw the paper downwards, we never got rid of it: the paper came floating back up every single time!
As we headed further on our way to Haukelifjell Gjestehus (Haukelifjell Guesthouse), we came across a particularly idyllic place along the road. This turned out to be the Mjonøy campsite with food service, accommodation, and an absolutely fantastic bakery. We enjoyed the delicious pastries on the benches by the river. Don’t miss out on the bakery at Mjonøy!
For dinner, we drove to Haukeliseter Fjellstue (Haukeliseter Mountain Lodge), located a 15-minute drive from Haukelifjell Gjestehus. The food at the mountain lodge was really tasty and the surroundings were incredibly scenic.
Haukelifjell Gjestehus, our home for the night, very pleasantly surprised us. Our room had a comfortable bed, TV, Wi-Fi, and a private bathroom. The included breakfast was also very appetizing and a great start to the next day. We would love to go back to Haukelifjell Gjestehus and see more of the fantastic surroundings at Haukelifjell!
Update from April 2024: Haukelifjell Gjestehus is no longer open. The link to driving directions on day 7 therefore finishes at Haukeliseter Fjellstue. Driving directions for day 8 (below) consequently starts at Haukeliseter Fjellstue.
Link to Visit Norway – Ravnejuv
Link to Haukeliseter Fjellstue
Day 8
Link to driving directions on Google Maps
On day eight we set course for Bergen with a couple of stops planned along the way, the first one being Steinstø Fruktgård (Steinstø Fruit Farm and Cafe). To get there, we took a ferry from Utne to Kvanndal and drove for about another half an hour. Steinstø Frukt- og Kakebu is beautifully situated overlooking the Hardanger Fjord. We sat down by the windows facing the fjord and apple garden and enjoyed the great views along with our lunch. The locally made apple juice was a perfect accompaniment to the tasty meal, and we enjoyed it so much that we bought several bottles to take with us. The cafe also sold fruit grown on the farm, as well as traditional Norwegian food.
On our journey to Bergen, the next stop was at Steindalsfossen (Steindalsfossen Waterfall), which has a fall of 50 meters. What makes Steindalsfossen special is the walkway behind the waterfall. We made a brief stop here, and it was cool to see the waterfall up close from this angle.
The highlight of the day was sailing with Hurtigruten from Bergen. Hurtigruten is a Norwegian company established in 1893 to improve communications along the long Norwegian coast. Today Hurtigruten offers a variety of cruises in Norway, as well as other places around the world. It should be noted that the ships are quite different from normal cruise ships, as they are smaller and still being used to ship mail and other cargo.
We traveled with Hurtigruten from Bergen to Ålesund, and the majestic Geirangerfjord was the main attraction on our cruise. Check-in on the ship was a breeze, and both we and the car got on board safely. The ship we traveled on was named MS Polarlys, and we had a wonderful outward facing cabin. We left Bergen in glorious sunshine and enjoyed the picturesque views of Bergen as we left the city.
Our dinner at Hurtigruten was a buffet based on local produce. The food was very tasty, and included traditional Norwegian dishes — adventurous diners can sample the famous “Smalahove,” a dish made from a sheep’s head.
Onboard the ship were various cafes and restaurants, a bar, a fitness room and outdoor jacuzzis. We loved the jacuzzi and had a wonderful evening out on the deck.
Link to Utne-Kvanndal ferry schedule
Link to Steinstø Frukt- og Kakebu (Steinstø Frukt- og Kakebu is closed for the 2024 season)
Link to Visit Norway – Steindalsfossen
Day 9
Link to driving directions on Google Maps
Geirangerfjorden is arguably one of the most beautiful fjords on the planet. We enjoyed the breathtaking scenery from the deck on Hurtigruten, and had a superb day sailing. If you have the time, we strongly recommend doing a longer cruise.
After twenty-something hours on Hurtigruten, we were sad to say goodbye to MS Polarlys in Ålesund. We had a great cruise and are already planning a longer journey with Hurtigruten in the future.
We spent the rest of the evening and night in Valldal, at gorgeous Valldal Fjordhotell.
Day 10
Link to driving directions on Google Maps
Day ten was sadly the last day of our road trip. With the car full of locally grown strawberries from Valldal, we drove to Gudbrandsjuvet gorge. The facilities at Gudbrandsjuvet are well suited for everyone to observe the roaring masses of water in the ravine of the Valldøla river. Among the facilities are parking spaces, walkways and viewpoints, restrooms, and a restaurant. The latter was unfortunately not open when we visited in 2017, but it will be opening again in 2018. Gudbrandsjuvet gorge is a dramatic spectacle not to be missed.
The road from Valldal to Isterdalen in Romsdalen is also impressive. The highest point on the mountain road is 852 meters above sea level, and the road boasts views of tall, snow-capped mountains and rivers with turquoise water. Furthermore, you get to drive down the famous Trollstigen (The Trolls Road) with its eleven hairpin turns. Before starting the descent, you should stop at the lookout on the top of Trollstigen. You will most definitely want to take some pictures here.
Our last stop on the way back home to Oslo was at the cozy Avdemsbue at Lesja. The small shop at Avdemsbue sells cheese from its own cheese factory, as well as other traditional foods. We were so tempted by the goods that we left with a bag full of delicious treats.
After ten days on the move, our adventure was over. Despite the fact that we have traveled around Norway extensively, our homeland never ceases to amaze us. We are very proud of what Norway has to offer and are looking forward to exploring even more!
*The drive from Valldal to Oslo is quite long. If you have time, consider staying one night in Lillehammer to avoid a long day of driving back to Oslo.
Link to National Tourist Route – Gudbrandsjuvet
Tips:
Best time to go on a road trip in Southern Norway:
In the wintertime, Norway often gets snowy weather and icy roads. Our advice is therefore that you plan for a road trip during spring, summer or autumn. Traveling between May and October will usually be a good choice. June, July and August will normally have the warmest weather, but they are also peak tourist season. If you decide to visit during these months, it is recommended that you book your accommodation well in advance.
Weather in Norway can be quite unpredictable. This means that you should be prepared for both warm and cold days no matter when you go. The climate in Norway also differs between regions and between the eastern and western parts of the country.
*Trollstigen Road is closed during wintertime. The road opens in May or June and closes in October or November, depending on the weather. If Trollstigen is not open during your visit, there are alternative ways to get from Valldal to Oslo.
*Some activities may not be available outside peak tourist season. Follow the respective links above for more information on opening times.
Link to Holiday Weather – Weather averages for Stavanger
What to pack for a road trip in Norway:
Clothes:
As previously mentioned, the weather in Norway can be unpredictable. When packing for a visit, you should gear up for all types of weather conditions. The weather can change quickly, and dressing in layers is always a good idea. For chilly days, bring thin wool base layer and a rain- and windproof outer layer. On warmer summer days, shorts and t-shirts will be sufficient.
No matter when you visit, you will most likely need a rainproof jacket and an umbrella. You may also want to pack thin gloves and a light hat. Sensible footwear means either trainers for light walks, or proper hiking boots for longer walks. Trainers are sufficient if you follow our itinerary. Do bring swimwear and a towel if you visit during the summer.
Gear:
- A GPS Navigator or a navigation app on your phone (download offline maps as phone coverage may vary!)
- A small or medium-sized daypack with rain cover
- A drysack for phone and other electronics
- A headlamp
- We also like to bring a small cooler and beach chairs when going on a road trip
Driving in Norway:
Driving is done on the right-hand side of the road. Road conditions are normally quite good, although some roads are narrow and winding. There are many gas stations and resting areas along the road. People are generally helpful should you run into any kind of problems or need help finding directions.
Link to Visit Norway – More information about driving in Norway
There are a number of reputable car renting companies in Norway. You should always make sure to get appropriate insurance. Many rental cars have a manual transmission, but cars with automatic transmission can also be found. These are often more expensive, but they can be well worth the money if you are not used to the clutch pedal.
Useful webpages for planning a road trip in Norway:
Link to Norwegian Scenic Routes
Do you have any questions or comments?
Feel free to email us at [email protected]!