Rent a car for a trip along the Norwegian fjords

To experience all the beauty of Norway , you’d have to spend a lifetime traveling around the country, so to speak. The overwhelming, rugged nature takes your breath away, and its vastness is almost impossible to comprehend. It’s no wonder that the fjord coast is high on many travelers’ bucket lists. Most people can’t spend their whole lives traveling and only have a few weeks to take a vacation. In that limited time, you naturally want to see as much as possible. So rent a car for an unforgettable road trip along the incredibly beautiful Norwegian coast: azure-blue, deep fjords nestled between steep mountains, with waterfalls cascading down their sides and peaks covered in eternal snow.

Renting a Car in Stavanger or Bergen

For many tourists, Bergen is the natural starting point, but we’re beginning our trip with a rental car a little further south, in Stavanger, because you can already experience some of Norway’s most impressive natural scenery in the area around that city. But of course we’ll be stopping in Bergen as well, so you can start there too. Stavanger has an international airport, and you can pick up a rental car right there set off . But you’ll probably want to spend a day in the city itself first, strolling through the charming streets of Gamle Stavanger with its typical white-painted wooden houses. In that case, renting a car from a city office is the more obvious choice.

Driving through the Ryfylke Tunnel under the Horgefjord, it takes about 45 minutes by rental car to reach the parking lot for Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), a rocky outcrop jutting out more than 600 meters above the waters of the Lysefjord. The hike there takes about 2.5 hours; the return trip is slightly faster. You’ll need to be in even better shape to climb the world’s longest wooden staircase, in Flørli. After 4,444 steps, you’ll be rewarded with yet another stunning panoramic view. Flørli can only be reached by ferry.

From Stavanger, it’s a journey of over 80 kilometers to Haugesund takes about two hours, since you’ll cross the wide Boknafjord by ferry. Haugesund is Norway’s herring capital, so if you like this little fish, you should definitely stop by. On the way to Bergen , you’ll want to stop almost every 5 minutes to take a photo—that’s how beautiful this route is. You’ll drive your rental car right past the Langfossen and Låtefossen waterfalls. Near Tyssedal, you can hike to the Lilletopp viewpoint in about 30 minutes. Very experienced hikers can tackle the challenging trek to the famous Trolltunga, high above Lake Ringedalsvatnet.

A little further on, you’ll drive across a spectacular suspension bridge over the Hardangerfjord. Immediately after this, the Vallavik Tunnel—over 7.5 kilometers long—begins. Turn left right after this tunnel, and you’ll follow the road right along the fjord. Beautiful views are guaranteed, and along the way, you can park your rental car at the Steinsdalsfossen waterfall. It’s by no means the tallest in Norway, but it’s still a fun spot because you can walk behind it without getting wet. The waterfall is at its most spectacular in May and June, when the snow melts.

Bergen is Norway’s second-largest city and has the second-busiest airport in the country, where you can, of course, rent a car. But you should definitely spend a few days exploring this incredibly charming city on your own. Bergen was an important Hanseatic city, and the trading offices along the waterfront in the historic Bryggen district still bear witness to that. It’s wonderful to wander through the narrow streets behind them, lined with simpler wooden houses. For a beautiful view of the city and the harbor, take the funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen. Higher up, but less crowded, is the summit of Mount Ulriken, which is accessible by cable car. Bergen is a lively college town with cozy pubs and restaurants, and there are also many concerts and festivals throughout the year.

From Bergen, drive your rental car to Voss, where there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy outdoor sports. In winter, try skiing and snowboarding; in summer, activities include rafting, paragliding, kayaking, rowing, and rappelling. In a completely different vein is the Viking village Njardarheimr in Gudvangen, which is a huge hit with kids. You’ll learn how the Vikings lived and can try their sports, such as axe throwing and archery. Gudvangen is situated on the impressive Nærøyfjord, a branch of the Sognefjord. Just before Gudvangen, at the Stalheim Hotel, you’ll find a stunning view of the Nærøyallei. Unfortunately, the road you see running through the valley is closed to motor vehicles.

Drive through the Gudvanga Tunnel and the Flenja Tunnel to the village of Flåm. Park your rental car at the train station to embark on one of Europe’s steepest and most beautiful train rides through a valley that’s sometimes so narrow it looks like a gorge. During the climb from 0 to 866 meters, you’ll enjoy views of towering mountains, wild, rushing rivers, and thundering waterfalls. At the terminus in Myrdal, you can rent a bike to pedal back to the starting point and hop back into your rental car there.

Just north of Flåm begins the Aurlandsfjellet, also known as the “snow road,” one of the iconic old Norwegian routes. After the first hairpin turns, you can already enjoy the view from the Stegastein viewpoint, where you seem to float above the waters of the Nærøyfjord. At the end of this magnificent road, you’ll cross the Sognefjord by ferry. The town of Sogndal is a perfect base for excursions to the national park Jostedalsbreen. There you’ll find the largest ice cap on the European mainland, featuring several glaciers. With special equipment, you can hike across the blue ice; for children, there are easier trails.

Did you know that free access to nature is enshrined in Norwegian law? That’s why all national parks are freely accessible. Of course, you’re expected to treat nature with respect—just as the Norwegians themselves do. It comes naturally to them!

From Sogne, you’ll naturally want to drive at least a short stretch along the famous Sognefjord. Head west in your rental car toward Hella, and take the ferry from there to Dragsvik. If you then drive north—again right along the water—you’ll arrive at the next beautiful Norwegian route, which leads, among other places, to the summit of Gaularfjellet.

This beautiful road ends at the junction with the E39. If you then drive your rental car toward Førde , you’ll pass the Huldefossen waterfall and the open-air museum Sunnfjord, where the 19th century comes to life. The museum has great spots for a picnic. To get from Førde to Florø , take a detour and turn left after the bridge at Naustdal. This narrow road runs mostly right along the Førdefjord, and at Ausevika you can admire rock carvings that are over 3,000 years old.

Florø is a charming little town to spend the night, but if you’ve rented a car, it’s even more fun to continue on Route 614 and then Route 616 to the idyllic coastal village of Måløy. Along the way, you’ll pass the Brudesløret waterfall and drive through beautiful mountainous terrain. At Oldeide, take the ferry to Måløy, which is known for its enormous murals. Need a moment to relax? Then visit the silvery-white Refviksanden beach. Not far from there, you’ll find beautiful viewpoints as you drive your rental car along Kvalheimsvegen toward Kråkenes.

If you’re a birdwatcher, be sure to take a detour to the island of Runde on your way to the end of this road trip. And honestly, even if you’re not a birdwatcher, the drive there is fantastic. Be glad you rented a car, because you’ll be driving across several small islands, all connected by bridges. Roughly half a million (!) birds nest on Runde, including puffins and gannets.

Bet on Hareid board one of the two ferries with your rental car: to Sulesund or directly to our final destination Ålesund. In 1904, the town burned to the ground, and you might think that makes it uninteresting. Nothing could be further from the truth, as it has been beautifully rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style, also known as Jugendstil. The town is famous for its elaborately decorated, pastel-colored facades. From the 180-meter-high Aksla Hill, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area. There’s a staircase leading to the top, but thanks to your rental car, you can drive right up to the summit.

For an incredible experience, leave your rental car in Ålesund and take a cruise to Geiranger through the fjord of the same name. It’s one of Norway’s most beautiful fjords, featuring stunning waterfalls, including De Sju Systrer (The Seven Sisters). Or you can drive your rental car to Hellesylt and board the ferry to Geiranger from there.

Renting an Electric Car in Norway

The Norwegians have taken electric driving to their hearts: 9 out of 10 new cars sold in Norway are electric. The government strongly encourages this. For example, with an electric rental car, you pay no more than 50% of the normal rate for parking, ferry services, and toll roads. Some toll roads are even completely free for electric cars! So it’s very appealing to choose an electric rental car in Norway. The country has an extensive network of charging stations at stores, tourist attractions, and gas stations. In the cities, you’ll find dedicated parking lots full of charging stations.

The route described above is just one of many possible road trips you can take with a rental car in Norway. Want to get even more inspiration for your next vacation? Then visit the (equally beautiful) official website Visit Norway. We bet you’ll immediately feel like renting a car again for a trip through Norway!