Final week I shared three itineraries that basically aimed to point out you as a lot of Southern Norway as doable inside one week. However after I completed congratulating myself on managing to suit so many alternative elements of Norway (fjords! cities! mountains! villages!) into seven days, it dawned on me that truly, some individuals would actually hate to journey like this. I’ve shared all my 30 Norway itineraries right here.
Whereas often I need to see as a lot of a rustic as I probably can, generally the considered spending hours every day touring someplace new and having to take a look at of a resort each morning feels downright overwhelming. And actually, a few of my favourite journeys have been after I’ve chosen to get to know one place very well as an alternative of touring the nation.
Norway is a gigantic nation with so many great locations price visiting, however you don’t essentially must cram your itinerary filled with locations right here to fall in love with Norway. You may have an incredible journey to Norway and get to know this nation extremely properly even in case you solely handle to go to one place – so long as you select that place properly.
Most individuals will select both Oslo or Bergen. They’re nice decisions.
In Oslo you get to expertise the capital with all of its many museums and outlets, when you even have entry to great parks and even some countryside on the outskirts of town.
And in Bergen you get a stupendous metropolis filled with historical past, after which as a day journey you can even observe the favored Norway in a Nutshell route to see some fjords.
Like I mentioned, they’re nice choices. However they’re not the most effective.
I’ve visited each county in Norway, and possibly most municipalities at this level, and if I needed to suggest one single place so that you can go to in Norway it could be Lofoten or Møre og Romsdal.
The Lofoten Islands
I’ve heard lots of Norwegians say the Lofoten Islands are the true Norway in a nutshell, and I completely agree. Lofoten has just about every little thing individuals visiting Norway are searching for.
Right here you’ll see rugged mountains rising out of the ocean, small fishing villages, Norway’s well-known purple picket homes, and the northern lights.
I believe the final one is particularly important as you’ll be able to’t truly see the northern lights in Bergen, Oslo, or different elements of Southern Norway (or at the least, it’s very uncommon to see them – I’ve solely seen them a few occasions this far south).
Although in case your foremost aim in visiting Norway is to see the northern lights, I strongly suggest visiting Tromsø as an alternative for the most effective probabilities of seeing them. I used to reside in Tromsø, and I’ve shared my Tromsø northern lights information right here.
Lofoten can also be touristy sufficient that you just’ll have a very easy time planning your journey and actions. They’re used to vacationers up there. However on the identical time, in case you lease a automotive and drive away from the primary spots you’ll end up on their lonesome with Lofoten’s gorgeous panorama. There’s actually nothing prefer it.
You may examine automotive rental costs right here. And I’ve shared a information to driving in Norway right here.
And on a private observe, Lofoten is the one place in Norway that has most impressed me. There’s a motive I hold returning to Lofoten again and again! I’ve visited Lofoten round a dozen occasions now, and I’m positive I’ll be again once more quickly.
You may learn all about planning a visit to Lofoten in my Lofoten information right here, in addition to right here. I’ve additionally shared a information to Reine, Lofoten’s most picturesque village, right here.
Møre og Romsdal
Okay, I’m dishonest right here a bit of bit by naming a whole county, however you solely must base your self in a single place inside Møre og Romsdal – I simply needed to counsel just a few completely different choices.
Whereas I really like residing in Bergen, Møre og Romsdal might be truly my favourite space in Southern Norway, and once more a superb place to see Norway in a nutshell. You gained’t have an amazing probability of recognizing the northern lights right here, however you’ll find fishing villages, mountain views, colourful picket homes, and one thing Lofoten doesn’t have: fjords!
Møre og Romsdal is dwelling to 4 of Norway’s most spectacular sights: Trollstigen, Geirangerfjord, Hjørundfjord and Ålesund. They’re in order that Norwegian. You may see my favourite Møre and Romsdal itinerary right here.
Trollstigen
Trollstigen is a street with eleven hairpin bends up a steep mountain to a few of the most lovely views I do know.
Åndalsnes would make an amazing base in Møre og Romsdal, as not solely is it proper by Trollstigen and a stupendous city in its personal proper, however it’s on the prepare line so you can get the prepare right here from Oslo! Then you can both lease a automotive in Åndalsnes to discover the encompassing space, or you can simply arrange camp right here and chill out amongst the gorgeous views.
In Åndalsnes I like to recommend staying on the Grand Resort.
Geirangerfjord
And Geirangerfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site generally thought of Norway’s most lovely fjord. And guys, it truly is price all of the hype.
What’s not definitely worth the hype, nevertheless, is the city of Geiranger, which many guests to Norway falsely assume should be the most effective place to remain alongside the fjord. Nonetheless Geiranger itself is usually only a vacationer hub today, swarmed with cruise vacationers every day.
If you happen to keep in Geiranger, I extremely suggest staying uphill from the village itself, both on the Resort Union Geiranger (my private favourite) or Resort Utsikten. Or you’ll be able to keep someplace alongside the fjord, outdoors of Geiranger. I’ve put collectively an inventory of my prime lodging decisions alongside Geirangerfjord right here.
Hjørundfjord
However truly my favourite fjord in Norway is Hjørundfjord! This fjord is attractive, and close by Ålesund, which additionally occurs to be Norway’s most lovely metropolis! At the very least it’s in response to me and everybody I do know who lives there. I additionally love that Hjørundfjord stays a bit beneath the radar amongst vacationers and even Norwegians.
Alongside Hjørundfjord I like to recommend staying within the lovely city of Sæbø, after which you’ll be able to fly out and in of Ålesund. I wrote about my keep in Sæbø right here.
Ålesund
Ålesund sits on a row of islands extending out into the Atlantic, and after a hearth destroyed a lot of the metropolis in 1904 Ålesund was inbuilt vibrant Artwork Nouveau, making for a singular and delightful metropolis heart.
You may both fly into Ålesund or get the prepare to Åndalsnes after which take the bus right here. Although in case you’re going to make Ålesund your base for the week I’d nonetheless strongly suggest taking some day journeys to Geirangerfjord, Trollstigen and/or Hjørundfjord. Personally I’d lease a automotive for just a few days to offer myself probably the most freedom, although you can even get to the fjords and Trollstigen with public transport.
You may learn my full information to Ålesund right here.
