Welcome to this new blog post! Have you ever thought about traveling to Norway? If not, this blog post might give you the inspiration you need. If so, here are some recommended sights.
An unforgettable road trip
At the end of summer 2023, I spent 10 wonderful (most of them unfortunately rainy) days in Norway. I immediately fell in love with this country. The friendly people, unique culture, beautiful cities and untouched natural landscapes fascinated me. 10 days are certainly not enough to explore the whole country, but I still have covered a relatively large area in the lower west.
A trip to Norway
Norway has a lot to offer. not only great cities, but also breathtaking landscapes. This is one of the reasons why the country is a popular tourist destination. Despite its nothern location, the south of the country is relatively warm in summer. However, don’t let the temperatures (or prices) put you off, it is still worth traveling to Norway.
Lom stavkyrkje
This beautiful 12th century church is located in Fossbergom, about 60 kilometers west of Otta. There is a car park a few metres from the church. The church is made of wood and is an absolute eye-catcher – like the most churches in Norway. It feels a bit like you are in a Viking film.
The Lom stavkyrkje is one of the largest stave churches. There is a graveyard around the church and you also have a great view of the mountains all around. On the way from Oslo to Olden you pass here and a stopover is definitely worth it.
Olden
Olden is a village in the norwegian province of Vestland. It is located on the Faleidfjord. This area is a real paradise of hiking trails and sights. But also in Olden itself are some things to discover, such as this beautiful church. It is called Olden kyrkje and is located south of the village. There is a pier for cruise ships at the small harbor as well, which is why there are many tourists in this area at certain times.
Laukifossen waterfall
A little further south is the Laukifossen waterfall. A small bridge was built over the river. You can find a small parking lot next to the road. If you cross the bridge, there is a small hut on the right. Slightly hidden in the bushes is also a long footbridge where you can walk over part of the river.
Briksdalsbre
In the very south of Oldedalen is Briksdalsbre. From here, numerous hiking trails lead in a variety of directions. You can also find there a souvenir shop, a restaurant and parking spaces. I can recommend visiting Briksdalsbre in the early morning or late afternoon, because at this times there are normaly not so many tourists. During the day many people come to visit Briksdalsbre and it is not easy to find a parking space.
I recommend the hiking trail to the Briksdalsbreen Sightseeing Spot. The hiking trail is not difficult and it leads you to a glacier lake. During the hike you can spot many waterfalls in every direction.
Rakssetra
One of my highlits in Norway was Rakssetra. At the top of the mountain there are a few small cottages with a view of Olden. If you drive towards Opheim and then follow the road further, you will come to a parking lot. A parking ticket is required, which you can buy right there. From the parking lot you have to follow the Rakssetra Trail. But you have to walk along unpaved and sometimes relatively steep forest paths, which is why I recommend not doing the hike in rainy weather. Once you get to the top, however, you can enjoy a wide view over the fjord.
Geiranger
Geiranger is a real tourist attraction. Cruise ships dock regularly and countless tourists stream through the town. There are a few small shops and restaurants, but these are usually overcrowded with tourists. I personally recommend visiting the nearby viewpoint (Ørnesvingen) rather than Geiranger itself. You have to drive up a fairly winding road (Møllsbygda) to get there, but you have a nice view. However, sometimes a many tourists are there too. At the Flydalsjuvet View Point, there are usually fewer tourists.
South of Geiranger, on the way ythere, you can find a unique rocky landscape. Especially in the fog, it looks like it came out of a fantasy film. It reminded me a lot of Mordor from Lord of the Rings, so to all LOTR fans: you should not miss it! At Djupevatn, for example, there are some parking spaces, but also several along the road.
Lovatnet
Lake Lovatnet should also be on the list when visiting Norway. The turquoise water reflects the mountains perfectly. A beautiful viewpoint is at Bryggen i Bødal. A hiking trail leads from the Lodalen Viewpoint to the Viewpoint Meditation Path. From there you have a 360° view of the lake and the mountains.
Ålesund
Ålesund is located on the west coast. There are many islands and peninsulas in this area. Ålesund has many colorful houses and a beautiful harbor. From the Storhaugen viewpoint you can admire the city from above in all directions. There is also a sign where you can see how far some famous places in the world are from this viewpoint. You can easily spend a few hours walking around this beautiful city and looking at the great sights it has to offer. You should visit also the harbor. This was my favourite part of the city. The colorful houses had such an unique flair.
The island of Giske
On the small island of Giske, not far from Ålesund, there is a parking lot („Naturreservat“) to the northwest. From there a longer dirt road leads to the beach. Storvika beach has white sand and you can take some great photos there. This place is also perfect for a picnic, there is also a table on the shore for this. Here you can enjoy your time without large crowds.
Trollstigen
Trollstigen is very well known. It is a very winding road that is easy to photograph from the viewpoint. There is a large parking lot at the information center and from there a path leads to the viewpoint. You also walk over a waterfall there. It is a unique experience and a breathtaking view that you should definitely check out.
When I was at Trollstigen, the fog completely covered the road. But for 5 minutes the fog cleared and revealed breathtaking surroundings. After a few minutes the fog was back. Nevertheless, it was something very special.
The Kråkenes Fyr lighthouse
Kråkenes Fyr is located on one of the most weather-exposed places on the west coast between Ålesund and Bergen. The lighthouse was built in 1906. There is a parking lot nearby, just a few minutes walk from the lighthouse. You can do a lot of hiking in this area and it is a hidden spot without many tourists.
Refviksanden
Not far from the lighthouse is the small town of Revik. Here is the beach Strand Refviksanden. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Norway. Normally the water is too cold for swimming, but you can still have a pleasant time on the beach. You can spend an undisturbed and quiet time there, especially after the season.
Kannesteinen
Have you seen anything like this before? This rock is something very special: it looks like a whale fin. It is located right next to Oppedalsvegen street, not far from Måløy on the island Vågsøy. There is a small parking lot and you only have to walk a few meters to the water and the rock. From time to time you can also see otters swimming in the water.
Sulkja Waterfall
Briefly back to Oldedalen. This completes the road trip: a hike to the Sulkja waterfall. There is a parking space at “Parkering Flatsteinbu / Kvamssetra”. From there a hiking trail leads up to the left of the waterfall, at the top there is a bridge over the river and on the right side of the waterfall it goes back down.
You can enjoy a beautiful view. The way down is easy, but up is difficult. To be precise, it is quite challenging: the path is very steep, slippery, and in some parts also very narrow, so you have to put one foot in front of the other. There is also a small wooden hut at the top. But the hike was worth the effort!
Some tips
- In Norway you have to pay by card. Cash is rarely accepted.
- The distances are very long because the fjords often have to be circumnavigated. In some cases you can allso take the ferry. By the way, these are fully electric.
- Speaking of electric: most cars in Norway are also electric. If you rent a car, it should ideally be an electric car. These are a lot cheaper and there are also more charging stations than gas stations. Driving electric cars is as pleasant in no other country as in Norway.
- I recommend booking an Airbnb, especially if you’re staying for a long time. It is sometimes cheaper than hotels and also much more pleasant.
- And last but not least: the prices. This is the point that scares many people away from traveling to Norway. But there is no reason for that. If you adapt to the lives of the locals, you can save a lot of money. Instead of going to restaurants, it’s better to cook for yourself and instead of going to tourist shops like souvenir shops, it’s better to go shopping in normal stores.
- For groceries, I recommend the “Kiwi” store. You can find a lot of selection there at normal prices. Living in Norway doesn’t have to be expensive, you just have to pay attention to a few things.
- Norwegians speak perfect english. Plus, norwegian isn’t that difficult to understand. Many words are similar to english, or are like a mixture of german and english.
Map
As a little additional overview, I have made a map with some sights that I can highly recommend if you only have a limited time in Berlin. Feel free to take a look:
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Thank you for reading this blog post! I wish you a nice day and see you soon!
Zsofia
Alpinia Travel 
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