Oh my goodness, I can’t believe we are really and FINALLY are going to do this: we’re gonna go on a road trip through Norway this summer. We have lived here in this gorgeous country for 3 years now (2+1, with an exotic break in between when we lived in Vietnam), but we have only stayed quite close to our home in Aksdal in the Rogaland province these past years. Our only big trip outside of our beloved province was our ski trip to Voss, which was absolutely fabulous. And even though we are crazy in love with ‘our own’ area, we can’t wait to travel and explore everything the country we live in has to offer. Well, and there comes the ‘problem’: Norway has so much to offer when it comes to stunning and fun places to visit. It is going to be incredibly hard to choose even in which direction we shall start driving: To the majestic North, the exciting East or the beaches of the South? We can’t drive more West, because it’s only 20 minutes until we reach the Western coastline here. In order to make up our minds, I’ll just share all interesting spot I’ve found which we think are worth visiting. Impossible to visit them all in one trip (unless you have limitless time and money), but it will be good to have a good overview and it will us to make up our minds in which direction we’ll drive this summer.
The Norwegian Southwest coast: Bergen & Stavanger
Even though this won’t be part of our summer trip (this is the area we live), you might like to see ‘what’s on offer’ here if you decide to travel to Norway and land on Bergen or Stavanger airport. Both cities are truly worth visiting, although you might have to think about your expectation of what a city means to you, since both ‘cities’ look and feel more than big towns. Very cute big towns though! We have been to Stavanger many times and we love strolling around, trying to discover cute bakeries and shops. These pictures will give you a bit of the Stavanger vibe:
The biggest town in between Bergen and Stavanger is Haugesund. There are lots of lovely spots in and around this town, but if you’re a bit short on time, I wouldn’t put Haugesund on your bucket list. There’s a nice shopping street where our favorite book store (den lille Bokbutikken) is located and a stroll along the boulevard is lovely, so you can surely have a good time here. Be aware that the shops are closed on Sunday, even the supermarkets. There are also many holidays on which shops are closed, so make sure you get all the groceries you need beforehand when this is the case. For example: Easter has 4 holidays here on which everything shuts down: Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday. And on Wednesday and Saturday the shops close early.
In this post you can see our favorite spots in nature here in the Tysvær, Haugesund, Karmøy and Etne/Sauda area:
Oh, the places we would like to go… How about driving up North?
My ultimate dream place to visit is Lofoten. Yes, I’m 100% influenced by Rachel Pohl and Helene Myhre. Following these awesome girls on Instagram is at your own risk, because chances are high you’ll want to pack your bags and travel to Lofoten asap. After doing some research, it didn’t take me long to realize we’ll have to postpone making this dream happen. Google Maps told me its a 22 hours drive to Bodø and from there, you’ll take a ferry to the most soutern point of Lofoten (Moskenes). This is another 3,5 hour trip. Even though our kids are seasoned travelers, I think I’m just gonna keep dreaming about Lofoten for now.
Maybe Telemark, Geiranger, Olden and/or Helgelandskysten?
On Instagram I requested recommendations and I have gathered + organized everything that was shared under the post and in my inbox. Thanks so much for helping us and many others who are also thinking about traveling to/through Norway to plan for a Norwegian Road Trip. Here’s a list with 18 places that were recommended by locals and people who have traveled here. If we decide to travel up north, we’ll pick a few favorites and see how far they are located from each other in order to make a proper travel plan. We want to limit the time we spend in the car to make sure we can also truly ‘slapp av’. This means letting go, or completely relaxing in Norwegian.
Ready for the list of northern Norway recommendations? Here we go!
(Information about the destinations come from our dear Instagram friends who shared their recommendations and from visitnorway.com and fjordnorway.com)
(The order of locations I’m mentioning here isn’t in travel order. Will sort out the route when we know which places we 10000% want to go.)
1. The Telemark Region
“Mountains, forests, rivers and waterparks — Telemark is where nature and fun come together.”
➤ This inland region is full of variety: you can swim, hike, paddle or just relax in the forest. It’s also home to Bø Sommarland, one of Scandinavia’s biggest waterparks — an absolute hit with kids.
➤ Stay in Gvarv for fruit farms and peaceful countryside, or head up to Lifjell for mountain cabins and hiking trails with sweeping views.
➤ For a slower pace, visit the Telemark Canal, where you can take a historic boat trip through locks and lakes — a gentle but beautiful way to see the landscape.
We saw the Top 10 Telemark Bucketlist on Visit Telemark’s website and we want to go to all these places…! Our children can’t stop talking about going to Bø Sommarland (we have to say that Thaddeus and I are big kids too and would LOVE to go to this waterpark! Last time we went to a waterpark was Christmas 2018 in Brazil, so it’s been a while…). We would also really love to experience the Sofia Moria sauna, as well as the gorgeous and famous Dalen hotel.
2. Skei i Jølster
“A peaceful village by the lake Jølstravatnet, surrounded by green mountains and known for its art, fishing, and glacier hikes.”
➤ Great spot for nature camping or renting a cozy cabin with a lake view. We fell in love with Jølstraholmen Camping & Hytter and would love to stay here!
3. Loen, Lovatnet, Briksdalbreen & Olden
“Fjord villages surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, and glacier-fed lakes — this area feels like a dream.”
➤ Ride the famous Loen Skylift to epic views, paddle on the turquoise waters of Lake Lovatnet.
➤ Just outside the village Olden, you can hike or take a “troll car” to the foot of the stunning Briksdal Glacier: an easy and unforgettable glacier experience for kids and grownups alike.
We received a great recommendation about where to stay in Olden: Gryta Camping. Looking at all these pictures wants me to stay there for the full 4 weeks… Doesn’t this look so amazing??
4. Stryn
“A gateway to adventure: national parks, snow even in summer (on Stryn Summer Ski), and lots of mountain lakes.”
➤ A good base for active families looking for waterfalls, kayaking or scenic drives.
5. Geiranger
“UNESCO-protected fjord with jaw-dropping views, winding roads and gorgeous waterfalls.”
➤ Take a fjord cruise or stay in a cabin with panoramic views. This place feels like a fairytale.
You can read this blog on Norway’s Best to get inspired on what to do in Geirangerfjord.
6. Havlandet – Runde Island (Fugleøya – Bird Island) – 60km south of Ålesund
“A dramatic coastal island known for its puffins, steep cliffs, and incredible seabird colonies.”
➤ Runde is a dream for nature-loving families. Between April and August, you can watch thousands of puffins, eagles and other birds nest on the island’s cliffs. There are easy trails, a cozy visitor center, and boat tours around the island. It’s a peaceful but wild place that feels like a real-life nature documentary.
➤ Perfect as a stopover between Geiranger/Loen and Ålesund — and ideal for one or two nights of slow nature travel.
7. Valldal
“Known for its juicy strawberries and peaceful valley vibe. Close to Trollstigen and Geiranger.”
➤ Great for an adventurous family vacation with awesome canyoning and rafting adventures, fruit farms, and staying in a quiet fjord-side campground.
8. Åndalsnes
“The adventure capital of Romsdal, surrounded by some of the most dramatic peaks in Norway.”
➤ Offers gondola rides, child-friendly hikes, and stunning photo opportunities along the Romsdalseggen ridge.
9. Rondane National Park (via Dombås or Høvringen)
“A wild and open mountain landscape with rivers, reindeer, and perfect family hiking trails.”
➤ You can stay in a mountain lodge, or try wild camping near a stream.
10. Helgeland Coast (Helgelandskysten)
“One of Norway’s most underrated coastal areas: white beaches, turquoise waters, and hundreds of islands.”
➤ Take the Kystriksveien route (Scenic Route Fv17) — perfect for island-hopping with kids and breathtaking scenery around every corner.
I think this video will be particularly liked by my husband, Thaddeus. He is going to run the Hardangervidda marathon in August, so this could be a good training opportunity:
11. Trondheim
“A lively historic city with colourful houses, a beautiful riverfront, and a relaxed vibe.”
➤ Ideal for a stopover with cultural sights, cosy cafes, and a nice science museum for kids (Vitensenteret).
12. Røros
“A UNESCO World Heritage town with wooden houses, mining history, and a magical wintery look (even in summer).”
➤ Great mix of history, charm, and family-friendly activities like horse carriage rides or exploring small local shops.
13. Mosjøen
“Home to one of the longest zip-lines in Northern Europe and a charming old town called Sjøgata.”
➤ Ride the gondola up the mountain and enjoy views of the valley. Then choose to take the gondola back down or go wild and choose the zipline!
14. Bodø
“A dynamic coastal town with Arctic vibes, street art, and ferry access to the Lofoten islands.”
➤ Stay by the sea, visit the aviation museum, or watch the world’s strongest tidal current at Saltstraumen.
15. Solund Archipelago (2 hours above Bergen)
“Norway’s westernmost island group — a quiet paradise of cliffs, fishing villages, and crystal-clear waters.”
➤ Take a family-friendly boat tour through the thousands of islands and islets, go kayaking, or visit the charming village of Hardbakke. The landscape feels wild and remote, yet calm and safe — perfect for slow travel, beach picnics and spotting seals.
➤ Boat trips to the legendary Utvær Lighthouse (the westernmost point in Norway) are unforgettable and suitable for kids.
So much to choose from and it kind of feels like a mission impossible. Everything looks amazing! Like many of you already wrote under our Instagram post about (y)our Norwegian Road Trip: you just can’t go wrong in Norway. It’s alllll just so pretty and breathtaking.
While working on this blog, doing all the research and reading all your recommendations, I feel like driving up north will be it for us this summer. Yes, there’s a lot of amazing places in the east and south as well, but we got to pick a specific direction for now. Gotta narrow down allll the options to just a few! We’ve got some favorite destinations and accommodations we would love to go to and stay and we might even choose to pick a certain area and stay here a bit longer (yes, Telemark, it’s you we’re thinking and talking about). In our next blog, we’ll share our more detailed travel plan and you can feel free to copy paste it!
Sending you lots of love and travel fun,
Annette & family
The Flying Dutch Family 
[…] South… There are way too many stunning hotspots to squeeze into one or two or three trips. Check out our wishlist here: we don’t know how on earth we’ll ever have time to visit all these amazing […]
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