Norway is an amazing country that is best seen by car! We only had one week in Norway and wanted to spend our time exploring the beautiful fjords. Traveling in and out of Oslo, there were countless options for where to go with our 7 day Norway itinerary. Eventually, we decided to drive several of the famous scenic routes, go for a bike ride, and even hop on a boat tour! Below we share everything about our one week Norway road trip to help you plan your own visit.
How to Get to Norway
Flight: Oslo International Airport offers daily direct flights from all over Europe and around the world. The airport is a 30 minute drive from the city center or 20 minutes by train.
Ferry: Another way to consider getting to Norway is by boat from Copenhagen Denmark to Oslo. This overnight 19 hour trip feels more like a mini-cruise than an actual ferry. This is how we arrived in Oslo and absolutely loved traveling this way.
→ Copenhagen to Oslo Ferry: Why DFDS is Better Than Flying!
Renting a Car in Norway
Obviously, when starting off on a one week Norway road trip you’ll need a car. Yet, there are two things to look into first. We booked our vehicle round trip from the Oslo Airport and paid for one night of parking in a garage near our hotel. A space in the parking lot was roughly $40 USD per night.
Depending on how long you plan to be in Oslo, you may want to pick your car up at Oslo central train station on the first day of your road trip. This will save you the time of taking the train to and from the airport to the city center.
The train tickets were $14 USD and takes 20 minutes. You can also hop on the Sky Express Airport Train which is $25 but only 2 minutes faster.
→ 9 Important Things to Know Before Renting a Car in Norway
Quick Norway Road Trip Tips
– Norway is full of tunnels! Some even stretch many miles under the mountains. You may want to reconsider your Norway road trip itinerary if you’re in any way claustrophobic.
– Pack snacks and plenty of water. If you’re planning to see as much as we did in one week in Norway then you’ll be spending a ton of time in the car. Make sure to have food and stop at the local bakeries when possible.
– Rent an electric or hybrid car. Norway is known for being at the forefront of EV technology and you’ll see more electric cars than regular vehicles on the road. With gas prices at over $10 a gallon during our visit, we were happy to take a hybrid car for the long drive!
– Dress warmly. Even in the summertime, it can be chilly around the breathtaking fjords and mountains of Norway. Be sure to have layers and plenty of athletic clothing packed for your trip.
→ 12 Best Tips To Know Before Exploring the Norway Fjords
7 Day Norway Itinerary Map
Day One Norway Itinerary
Exploring Oslo
Starting our trip off in the capital and largest city in Norway was the perfect introduction to the country. We read about some travelers who flew in and made the 5+ hour drive to the start of the Fjords on the same day.
If you are coming from Europe or have an easy flight that’s totally possible. However, from the USA the long flight and jet lag didn’t allow for it. Also, we didn’t want to miss out on all the fun in Oslo!
Oslo is a great city and the more we saw we loved. There are delicious restaurants, countless museums, and we even did some last-minute shopping for warmer layers downtown.
We used the Oslo pass while exploring the city which gave us entry to many of the city’s best attractions. Taking the ferry to Museum island and seeing the Farm & Kon-Tiki were definitely a highlight.
For some of the most incredible food head to the Mathallen Oslo Food Market. The duck confit sandwich was delicious and there were dozens of other local and international specialists to choose from.
We ate at I Baren Gastropub for dinner which was right on the water. The mussels and salmon burger are highly recommended here!
→ 13 Fun Things to do in Oslo Norway On Your First Visit
Where to Stay in Oslo Norway
For the first stop on our 7 day Norway Itinerary we booked Clarion Hotel Oslo in the city centre. The harbor location was perfect near the Munch Museum and it was just a quick walk from the Oslo Opera House.
The rooms were modern and the beds super comfy to rest up before starting our one week in Norway road trip. The best part was the MASSIVE buffet breakfast. There were more options than we could’ve ever imagined with brown goat cheese, salmon, and more!
Day Two Norway Itinerary
Oslo to Voss
On the second day we had an early breakfast and took a walk along the harbor before hitting the road. We knew that it was going to be a long day in the car so it was nice to have a short walk before taking off.
This was a great starting point with beautiful scenery along the rivers and lakes. About halfway through our drive we started to get hungry and ended up stopping at Cafe Presttun Ustaoset. This is a small cafe that you would easily pass if you didn’t know to look for it.
We tried Norwegian sour cream porridge with an open-faced sandwich and salad. If the weather is nice you can sit out on the outdoor deck for the best views. There is another popular cafe further down the road called Gretteberg Kafé as well.
Drive to Voss
The major highlight en route to Voss was the section from Haugastøl and Eidfjord. This stretch is called Hardangervidda and is the first of many famous scenic routes of Norway.
The views were stunning even in the rainy and windy weather. One thing we didn’t initially recognize was the tall wooden posts that follow the road for the snow plows. In the winter these help the trucks see where they’re going. So you can imagine how much snowfall this part of Norway gets!
Along the drive there are endless viewpoints and lookouts. One place to make sure to stop is at the Vøringsfossen Viewing Platform which looks out over a 270 foot (182 meter) waterfall.
It was late in the day by the time we arrived in Voss. If it had been earlier we would have taken the gondola up to the top of the mountain. Instead, we grabbed dinner at a cute cafe and brewery called Tre Broer Cafe before calling it a night.
Where to Stay in Voss Norway
We spent the night at Scandic Voss which is in the center of town and directly across from the lake. The hotel is very stylish and modern with a fun design throughout the property.
There is a large sauna to check out on the top floor of the hotel. Also, the breakfast was a huge buffet and had many great local and international treats. This was the ideal spot to start off our Norway trip itinerary!
Day Three Norway Itinerary
Voss to Undredal
The third day of our one week in Norway was definitely a favorite. Checking out of the hotel after breakfast, we made the short drive to Tvindefossen Waterfall.
This is on the route to Flam and takes just a few minutes to walk to the base of the falls. After that we stopped at Gudvangen, took some photos, and enjoyed the view. From here you can visit the Viking Valley Village or pre-book a kayaking trip with Nordic Ventures AS.
Once we made it to Flam it was time for one of the most exciting activities of our trip! First, we stopped at the Flam Bakery and grabbed some sandwiches and coffee. We originally planned to take them with us on our adventure but it was raining and we had some time to kill.
Lining up early, we hopped on the Flam Railway to make the ride up to the village of Myrdal. This train is known for being one of the most scenic in the world. However, to us, nothing compared to the bike ride back down through the green valleys and waterfalls. Only a small fraction of travelers do this and it was so worth it.
→ Flam Norway Railway: Why You Should Take the Train & Bike Back
Where to Stay in Undredal Norway
Once we finished our bike ride we made the quick drive to Undredal Norway. We actually planned to stay in Flam but everything was sold out! Lucky for us, staying in Undredal ended up working out better than we thought.
This small town is famous for having just 100 people but well over 500 sheep. We booked the Superior Two-Bedroom Apartment at Visit Undredal which is run by the only restaurant in town. The view from our deck was incredible and honestly the kind of thing that people travel to Norway for. We even had our own sauna inside the house!
For dinner, we ate at Kafe Ost where we tried traditional goat stew and meatballs. There is also a small grocery store if you want to prepare something yourself.
→ Undredal Norway: One Night in the Fairy Tail Fjord Village
Day Four Norway Itinerary
Undredal to Sogndal
Our morning in the tiny town of Undredal was pure Scandinavian magic. It ended up being one of our favorite places we stayed during our one week in Norway so we took our time leaving the next day.
The first stop on this day was at Aurlandsvangen for breakfast at Marianne Bakery & Cafe. The bread here was amazing and we loved the small patio overlooking the water. This would become a theme of our 7 day Norway itinerary. The bakeries are often the best deals for breakfast and the perfect for grab-and-go on a road trip.
After breakfast, it was time to drive the famous Aurlandsfjellet Scenic Route! One warning is that the road is very narrow with tight corners and lots of traffic. Many cars, campers, and tour buses make the trip up to Stegastein viewpoint above the town.
Scenic Route or Lærdal Tunnel?
Want to skip the Aurlandsvangen to the Lærdalsøyri section of the scenic route? Well, there is another option for you on this Norway itinerary! It’s actually connected by the longest car tunnel in the world that stretches over 24 kilometers.
While that is pretty cool, we recommend skipping the Lærdal tunnel for the most beautiful views. The entire landscape is completely unique.
Even in early August, we came across snow left over from the winter. This is also another friendly warning to bring layers no matter what time of year you are visiting.
Spending the Night in Sogndal Norway
The rest of the drive to Sogndal was easy and smooth. We stopped and grabbed lunch before hopping on the car ferry and making the trip across the fjord. The ferries are positioned all around Norway so don’t be surprised if you come across a few of these along your route.
We enjoyed Sogndal but really you could stay anywhere between Sogndal and Geiranger depending on how much you want to drive. We did a beautiful walk along the fjord before grabbing dinner at Dampskipskaien Cafe right downtown. The fish soup was delicious and it was the best view in Sogndal.
Day Five Norway Itinerary
Sogndal to Geiranger
Waking up for an early start, we began the rainy drive along the fjords. We decided to drive the most direct route which was a little under 4 hours. Leaving around 9am, we still didn’t arrive in Geiranger till past 2pm because of the different stops and viewpoints we visited.
We loved this route and highly recommend it… Especially if you enjoy riding along the magical fjords! However, there is another option which is slightly longer called the Sognefjellet Scenic Route. You can do this as an add-on to your day if you have time, or skip it and continue on as we did.
The rainy weather made for some epic scenery and the waterfalls were streaming in full force all around us. We stopped at the Boyabreen Glacier Viewpoint which also has a cool cafe called Brævasshytta to grab coffee or lunch.
When you get closer to Geiranger, stop by the Ovstefossen Waterfall. From there you can take the path down from the parking area that goes right up to the falls.
Where to Stay in Geiranger Norway
As we pulled into Geiranger we were tired from several long days of adventure. We took the afternoon to relax which was nice because we were staying at one of the best hotels in fjord country. Grande Fjord Hotel is a popular place to stay in Geiranger that has modern rooms overlooking the fjord.
We had a magnificent view from the 5th floor and it really made our night. The hot tub that looked out over the Geiranger Fjord was a nice touch, too! Dinner was held on the 6th floor right above our room.
The food here is served buffet style with seafood, lamb, salmon, and countless desserts available. Even if you’re staying somewhere else in town definitely check out this awesome restaurant. It was easily one of the most enjoyable dinners we had on our 7 Day Norway itinerary.
Day Six Norway Itinerary
Geiranger to Lillehammer
After a relaxing morning, we checked out and headed down to the center of Geiranger. The large fjord cruise boats from the night before were gone so the area we relatively quiet in comparison.
We booked the 11am sightseeing cruise from Geiranger that goes to the Seven Sisters Waterfall. Something to be aware of is that some tours stop at Skagefla. This is where you cantake an hour hike before getting on the next boat back to town.
If you don’t plan on doing this hike then opt for another boat as they will be extra crowded with travelers. The waterfall boat ride was gorgeous and so nice to see a different side of the fjord from where we had been driving.
→ Geiranger Fjord Guide: 10 Helpful Things to Know Before Your Visit
Geiranger Skywalk
On our way out of town we drove up to the Geiranger Skywalk. Believe it or not, this is the highest Fjord viewpoint in all of Europe! It cost 270 Krone which is about 27 USD per car. The road is well maintained and the view from the top is unreal as it looks out over the entire valley.
→ Geiranger Skywalk: How to See Europe’s Highest Fjord Viewpoint
Where to Stay in Lillehammer Norway
We didn’t hit the road until almost 1pm after a full morning of exploring Geiranger. From there we had another 4 hour drive to the city of Lillehammer Norway.
As we drove away from the fjords, the scenery instantly transformed into a rural country landscape. We mostly went to Lillehammer so we wouldn’t have too long of a drive before catching our international flight the next day.
If we had another night (or didn’t mind this drive before our flight) we would have taken on the Geiranger to Trollstigen Scenic Route. I guess we will have to save that for another one of our Norway itineraries!
Day Seven Norway Itinerary
Lillehammer to Oslo
Lillehammer is a picturesque city set on the Northern tip of Norway’s largest lake. On the morning of our flight, we took a walk around town as all the shops were coming alive for the day.
The city become internationally known when it hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics. Visiting in the winter months would be the best time to go to Lillehammer so you can see them actually hit the ski jump!
As we said, our last day in Norway was planned around the fact that we had international flights out of Oslo in the afternoon. Although we missed out on another part of fjord country, we ended up having a super fun day in Lillehammer.
We visited the famous ski jump and Olympic Park, then went for a nice drive along the lake. Hamar is another one of those fun small towns in Norway with a lot of history. If you need somewhere to spend a couple of hours afterward, this could be a great stop.
More Norway Itineraries
When planning your trip know that there are unlimited Norway itineraries and different locations to look into. Honestly, one week is nowhere near enough time to see all of the country. We missed out on things such as the Northern Lights, Lofoten Islands, and numerous national parks.
Regardless, we hope our own 7 day Norway itinerary gave you some ideas to start your research. We’re already so excited about the next time we visit Norway!
→ Planning a Trip to Norway: 10 Step Easy to Follow Travel Guide
What We Would Consider Changing
- Booking a one-way car rental so we wouldn’t have to backtrack to Oslo. This can depend heavily on the one-way fee and flight options.
- Making a route that included a longer car ferry crossing like on the road from Geiranger to Hellesylt/Sylte.
- Look into renting a campervan! There are some awesome campsites and this is one of the most popular ways to see the country.
- Book farther in advance. We reserved our rental car & hotels a month and a half before the trip. Norway has a very busy summer season so many of the best accommodations were already full.
- Take a full day hike. While we did some smaller scenic hikes and walks we would have liked to add a longer one to our 7 day Norway Itinerary.
- Picking one of the fjord towns to spend two nights in. This would’ve given us more time for outdoor activities like kayaking and hiking.
Packing Lists: Here’s all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists! Including electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
Have any questions about our 7 Day Norway itinerary or want to share your own tips for first-time travelers to the country? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar!
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Norway Travel Planning
Flights: We always find deals using Skyscanner and Kayak. That’s how we got flights from Italy to Prague for under $40 USD!
Rental Car: We use Discover Cars when abroad. It is especially popular to rent a car and spend one week cruising between the Fjords.
Accommodation: Compare competitive sites for hotels such as Booking.com and Agoda. Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget.
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for activities all over Norway. You can book everything from an Oslo pass for museums and transportation to a Bergen Fjord tour and even take a famous Tromsø Aurora Borealis Tour!
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without being covered. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
What an interesting and extensive blog post. This will be very useful for if and when I travel to Norway! Thanks for sharing.
Author
Anytime! Thanks for reading (-:
Very nice report!
Do you know how many miles you drove?
Author
Hi Jo!
Yes, the loop was around 800 miles in total. It was definitely a lot of driving but hands down one of the best road trips we have ever done. 🙂
Love your driving tour outline for Norway. Thanks so much for posting it as you’ve made my life a lot easier. We actually have one additional night and day to allow and wondered if you had a suggestion for where to spend that extra time?
Best regards,
Dain
Author
Hi Dain! That’s so exciting that you are going to Norway! It was truly one of our favorite road trips. If we had another night we would have booked the car ferry from Geiranger to Sylte (instead of taking the passenger cruise)! This is one of the best car ferry routes and we would have been able to see much more of the Fjord. From Sylte it’s only an hour-ish drive to Åndalsnes. We have never been, but it looks beautiful and like good hiking in the area. Also, our route was very fast so if there is one place that looks like you would enjoy for longer you can always add an additional night there! Have fun.