Norway is by far one of my favourite countries to visit, especially on a slow-paced road trip like this! There are so many places to explore that if you’re anything like me, after 10 days you will be dying to come back. Living in Gothenburg, on the West Coast of Sweden, we are so lucky to be able to visit Norway quite easily. So, after taking a shorter 4-day road trip in the South at the start of the summer, we decided to come back in July and explore the West Coast.
If this is your first-time visiting Norway, it can be tempting to try and fit in as much as possible in the time you have. Visit all the most well-known spots like Trolltunga, Flåm and Bergen, Oslo, and the Lofoten islands all in one go. However, after several trips to this beautiful place, I would recommend trying to take a slower approach and really giving the places you visit the time they deserve. This way, you will find you have enough time to do the hikes, see the views, and enjoy every moment, rather than rushing from place to place because you don’t quite have enough time to fit it all in!
So, with that, I hope this guide helps you plan the best 10-day road trip along Norway’s West Coast!
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This is a road trip itinerary for Western Norway, including ‘Norway’s Most Beautiful Valley’ Innerdalen, one of the famous lakes Lovatnet, the iconic Atlantic Ocean Road, a Stave Church, as well as loads more hidden gems and lesser-known places along the way. We drove up from Sweden so took our own van which we slept in along the road, but you can just as well hire a car or van in Oslo or Trondheim and take the same trip!
If you have more time to explore, here you can find all my Norway guides! Alternatively, this itinerary could be a perfect addition to a longer Scandinavia trip, spending time in Sweden and Denmark before or after!
This is our exact itinerary, including everywhere we stayed (or alternatives if you don’t fancy camping), our route, where we stopped, ate, and anywhere I wish we had visited along the way if the weather had been good enough!
Outline: 10 Day West Norway Itinerary
- Day 1: Oslo
- Day 2: Oslo
- Day 3: Rondane National Park
- Day 4: Innerdalen and Sunndalsøra
- Day 5: The Atlantic Ocean Road
- Day 6: Molde and Sæbo
- Day 7: Stryn and Olden
- Day 8: Lovatnet
- Day 9: Oppstrynsvatnet
- Day 10: Lom and Lillehammer
Note: The weather in Norway, especially in the mountains and along the coast, can be quite unpredictable. So, while you way have an exact itinerary of hikes and destinations you want to visit, it can be good to try and remain a little bit flexible in case of rain or a thunderstorm. Sometimes the weather is not perfect, but if you have the right clothes and an open mind there’s always something fun to do instead. We were not so lucky with the weather on this trip and it rained at some point every day. We couldn’t do all the hikes we wanted but ended up doing some other pretty cool things instead that we didn’t originally have planned!
10 Day West Norway Itinerary
In this 10 Day West Norway Itinerary you will find our exact road trip route from Oslo. I have included everywhere we stayed, places we stopped, and those we wish we had had time/ the right weather to visit. One thing to note is that as we were camping and on a bit of a budget, we chose to cook food in our van most days. Apart from occasional visits to special cafes or bakeries, which I have outlined in the post, we bought all our food from grocery stores along the way.
Day 1 and 2: Oslo
This road trip starts in the capital of Norway, Oslo. This is the main arrival point for most people travelling internationally and thus makes for the perfect starting destination. Depending on when and how you arrive in Norway, you can decide whether you want to visit Oslo before or after the road trip, or a little bit either side.
The city of Oslo is beautiful, with modern architecture lining the fjord, Akershus Fortress on the hill, the archipelago, and of course all the saunas! There is so much to do here for everyone, no matter whether you are interested in nature, museums, or just enjoying summer in the city.
Where to Stay in Oslo
A favourite hotel of mine, which we first stayed at while visiting Oslo in winter last year, is Att I Kvadraturen. The hotel is very well located in terms of the railway station and all the sights, only a few minutes-walk to Oslo Opera house and Akershus Fortress. Not only is it a great hotel but the facilities there, with the rooftop bar and cinema, bistro, and Michelin star restaurant, mean you don’t have to go far to find somewhere great to sit down after a long day exploring. The rooms are all nice and big, very clean, and homely in a way.
If you want something a little cheaper, K7 Hotel and Citybox are in the same sort of area.
Find all your Oslo accommodation options here!
Things To Do in Oslo
This is just a rough outline of things to do in Oslo. For a more detailed guide make sure to read my 2 Day Oslo Itinerary where you will find loads of tips!
With 2 days in Oslo you should make sure to visit some of the museums. I can recommend the Munch Museum where you will find the work of Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, including a few different copies of The Scream! The museum has a bistro and bar, Bistro Tolvte, on the top floor that has great views out over the Oslo Fjord. I also recommend a visit to Akershus Fortress and the Norwegian Defence Museum – both were very interesting and give a lot of insight into the history of Oslo, and Norway as a whole. If you have time, the Norwegian Folk Museum is also great, but, I will say that it houses a lot of things you will see later in this 10 day trip (Stave Church, traditional houses etc.) so it shouldn’t be top priority!
If you’re lucky with the weather, then head out into the fjord on a fjord sightseeing cruise. Although it might not seem like it, Oslo is quite far inland, with the Oslo Fjord being around 100km long. Another way to experience the fjord is by hiring a sauna. There are saunas dotted all over Oslo, some private and some shared. Sauna Freya is in the city centre and allow you to use their kayak and SUP boards while you’re there, while KOK is a private sauna with beautiful views of the Opera House. Alternatively, you can head to SALT, a bigger sauna complex with food trucks and events, that often hold concerts in their 120-person sauna hall.
If you want to get out in nature then you can take a guided tour of Lysaker Waterfall, a beautiful nature area just outside of Oslo. We did this walk during the winter, and it was very pretty, but I think the best part of the tour was getting to know some other travellers, chatting with a local, and seeing how close Oslo is to the natural landscape. Alternatively, you can hire kayaks and explore the city from the water – one of my personal favourite things to do no matter where I visit!
See more: Find my detailed itinerary for 2 Days in Oslo here, with everything you should see and do while in the city!
Tours and Activities
Day 3: Rondane National Park
On Day 3, or Day 1 depending how you decide to fit Oslo into your itinerary, the West Norway Road Trip begins! The first stop is Rondane National Park, just over 4 hours North of Oslo. Of all the days on this road trip, this is the one with the most driving. It’s up to you whether you want to spend the morning in Oslo and leave in the afternoon, take it slow and make a lot of stops on the way, or head up in the morning and spend as much time in the National Park as you can. We left Oslo in the early morning, so we had time to do some hiking in the afternoon.
Rondane is Norway’s first National Park, a mountainous landscape reminiscent of the highlands, with sheep and reindeers roaming the area. It is so beautiful here, and there are a lot of hiking opportunities no matter your fitness level. If you can extend your trip, I recommend staying for one or two nights and enjoying some time hiking in the area. If not, there are still quite a few shorter hikes you can fit into this 10-day time frame! Below you will find a few of the most recommended hikes!
Scenic Route: Rondane
To get to Rondane, you will start by driving the Norwegian Scenic Route Rondane. This is one of 18 scenic tourist roads in Norway. While the road is quite windy, and you may find a sheep or two in the middle of the road at times, it is so unbelievably beautiful. We were so lucky, passing through in the evening sun, the shades of green lining the mountains were lit up making the landscape almost look magical.
Along the road, make sure to stop off at both Sohlbergplassen (map) and Snøhetta (map) viewpoints. We passed by at sunset and both were incredibly beautiful. From Sohlbergplassen there is a short board walk to the viewpoint hidden in the forest. The view over the lake and the mountains is beautiful and actually inspired the famous Norwegian painting “Winter’s Night in Rondane” by Harald Sohlberg.
Hikes in Rondane National Park:
Where to stay in Rondane National Park
There are loads of free camping spots along the Norwegian Scenic Route Rondane that are perfect for spending the night. We stopped at an area just south of Folldal, but you can pretty much find a place anywhere along the road.
If you are not travelling by camper van, there are a lot of hotels, camping huts and guesthouses along the route that are perfect for the night! A few we passed along the way which looked both very well located and quite cosy are Rondane River Lodge, a small and simple cabin with views over the National Park. If you want something with a bit more, Frich`s Kongsvold is further down the road, has beautiful rooms, and a bar and restaurant meaning you won’t need to worry about finding food on the route. For bigger groups, this house in Dalholen is perfect! With four bedrooms and a sauna it’s a beautiful place to spend a few nights hiking the landscape.
Day 4: Innerdalen and Sunndalsøra
This was one of my favourite days on the road trip – visiting “Norway’s Most Beautiful Valley” Innerdalen and climbing up the beautiful Vinnufossen waterfall. I can recommend starting the day early so you have time to make stops on the way to Innerdalen and still arrive before the café at the end closes. From memory, we left Rondane National Park around 8.30.
See more: Guide to Innerdalen Valley
Magalaupet Canyon
The first stop on day 4 is Magalaupet Canyon, an incredible natural canyon formed by the rushing water of the river Driva. Having not heard much about this place and only seeing a few pictures on Google, we went in with quite low expectations. However, we were so happily surprised when we arrived at the canyon to see the true force of the water. It was so beautiful to see the bright blue water flowing through the giant’s kettles, created through thousands of years of erosion.
The parking here is paid (30kr at the time) only by Vipps or cash and there is a short hike to the canyon. It’s about 100m from the carpark to the start of the canyon and after that you can follow the river as it flows down. This part of the walk is quite treacherous and can be dangerous if it is wet and the rocks are slippery so, please be careful!
Vinnufossen
Driving towards Innerdalen, the next stop is Vinnufossen, or Vinnu Waterfall. This is one of the highest waterfalls in the Europe and the 8th highest in the world, with a total drop of 845m. The hike up is steep, following a stone staircase up the mountain to the right of the waterfall. Still under construction, the staircase had 676 steps and was split up into 2 levels. While the hike is quite steep and tiring, it’s worth walking all the way to the top for the view of both the waterfall and the surrounding mountains. The hike takes around 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending how slow you walk and how much time you spend at the waterfall.
There is parking for Vinnufossen just down the road from the start of the hike (map). T get from the parking to the hike just follow the road to the right of the parking around 200m. The parking is free, and just behind it you will find toilets and a food and coffee truck!
Sunndalsøra Småbåthavn
While we didn’t spend much time in Sunndalsøra, we made a quick stop at the picturesque Småbåthavn, the small boat harbour. This is a beautiful little harbour with lines of red wooden boat houses backing onto the mountains, almost reminiscent of Reine in Lofoten.
Innerdalen
Next, we drove to Innerdalen. This is known as “Norway’s Most Beautiful Mountain Valley” and after visiting, I can tell why. Sitting outside the café at Renndølsetra, eating waffles by the water, surrounded by goats and rugged mountains, was one of my favourite moments of this whole trip. To get to Innerdalen valley, you will need to park at Innerdalen Parking, Nerdal (map). Parking cost us 75kr for the day, but if you choose to stay at either the mountain hut or camp in the valley, you can pay 175kr for whole the weekend.
Something I never came across in my research was how steep the walk to Innerdalen is. It is not a tough climb, with a relatively well-kept gravel road taking you all the way to Renndølsetra, however, it is worth noting that the incline is quite considerable. The hike is 3.5km in total and takes around an hour.
See more: Guide to Innerdalen Mountain Valley
Rennsølsetra
Rennsølsetra is the first mountain hut you will come across – a cluster of traditional farmhouses set with the backdrop of Innerdalstårnet. You can either stay the night here in one of their cosy rooms, or just visit for a coffee and waffle with homemade jam and sour cream. The café is open from the end of June to the middle of August from 12 – 16.30. if you choose to stay at in the hut, you book on the basis of “full board” which includes breakfast and dinner. You can see all the details and book here.
DNT Innerdalshytta (Innerdal Mountain Lodge)
If you haven’t already heard of it, DNT is the Norwegian Tourist Organisation and owner of loads of cabins and mountain huts around Norway. If you are a member of DNT you get a discounted rate staying at the cabins which can be worth it if you are staying in several over the course of your trip. The DNT cabin in Innerdalen has a total of 81 beds and is open between June and September. You can book this in advance by emailing innerdalshytta@knt.no
Camping in Innerdalen
While it is forbidden to camp freely in Innerdalen due to the nature being a protected area, both Rennsølsetra and DNT Innerdalshytta have special areas set aside for camping. Rennsølsetra costs 90kr per person – you can find more information on this page. At the DNT cabin it is a bit more unclear of how camping works but as far as I could tell it is free to pitch a tent but you must pay an additional fee if you want to use the facilities. As usual, you get a discount if you are a DNT member. You can find more details here (unfortunately in Norwegian as that’s the only page I could find with all the information).
Where to stay near Innerdalen
While we had planned on tenting in Innerdalen valley, unfortunately we were unlucky with the weather as it was supposed to storm the following morning. So, we instead started our drive towards the Atlantic Ocean Road and stopped by a very nice free rest stop along the side of the road called Resaplass Eidsvågen (map). This was one of my favourite stops – it was set up with room for 6 camper vans, all with their own little picnic bench and stone patio area, and two toilets! If you are in a smaller van like we were, you can drive down the road a little bit and park with a view over the sea. From here, there’s a short path down through the forest to the water where you will find a fire pit and picnic area (map).
If you want something a little more unique, Camp Dronningkrona, is a beautiful campsite with modern cabins just down the road. The accommodation is really fresh, well-priced and in the perfect location to base yourself for the night.
See more: Find all your accommodation options here!
Day 5: The Atlantic Ocean Road
Driving from Eidsvåg to the Atlantic Ocean Road you pass by the town of Molde. This is quite a big place compared to its surrounding towns, and as it was raining in the morning we decided to stop here for lunch! If you happen to find yourself in the same situation I can recommend it – we had a cosy stroll through town looking in some shops. If you want to stay for longer, there is a lot of hiking around this area – The trail to Varden Molde Panorama (map) for example.
Trollkyrkja
We unfortunately missed out on this because of the bad weather but if you are lucky and feeling adventurous, don’t miss the hike to Trollkurkja (The Troll Church) along the route. This is a big cave system with a waterfall at the end, lit by the light of the tunnel above. The walk itself is apparently quite steep, and the cave itself can be very dark and wet so make sure you are prepared with the right equipment if you do choose to go! I can’t give any more tips that that, but we read this really great guide before choosing not to do it which I can definitely recommend!
The Atlantic Ocean Road
The Atlantic Ocean Road (Atlanterhavsveien) is another Norwegian Scenic Route. It is a beautiful drive across eight bridges, connecting the islands along the coast between Bud and Kristiansund. The road is just over 8km and while it is beautiful just to drive it, I recommend getting out wherever you can and exploring a little bit. The landscape here is rough, reminiscent of the Bohuslän Coast of Sweden, with small islands covered in purple sea thrift.
One stope worth mentioning is at Eldhusøya (map). Here there’s a small café, toilets, and a short coastal walk that takes you around the back of the island. The walk didn’t take us more than 15 minutes and gave beautiful views of the iconic Storseisundet Bridge(torseisundbrua) that the Atlantic Coast Road is known for.
For a longer adventure, you can catch the boat to Håholmen. The trip takes around 7 minutes and the boat leaves almost once an hour in the summer. Håholmen is a protected island with a very nice hotel, restaurant, and lots of opportunities for experiences such as fishing, snorkeling, bathing, and trying some authentic Norwegian cuisine. You can find more information on this page!
Farstadsanden
Farstadsanden is a “tropical beach” on the West Coast of Norway. Here you will find soft white sand, a beach surrounded by mountains and crystal blue waters. Farstadsanden is known as being “the world’s northernmost sandy beach area of the southern type”. Still after researching, I can’t tell you exactly what this means (if you can please let us know in the comment section!) but it is a protected area due to its sand dunes along the shore.
From the beach, there’s a short walk you can do around the headland with both interesting nature and beautiful views back over Farstadsanden. The walk took us around 1.5 hours and While we were here, we actually saw a wild mink running around the cliffs!
Tours and Activities
Where To Stay Near The Atlantic Coast Road
This evening we stayed in another free campsite – another favourite from the trip. This stop is just south of the Atlantic Ocean Road (about a 5-minute drive), just outside of Gaustad off road 64. The rest stop is made up of three terraces and equipped with picnic benches and fire pits. It is right next to the road, but we didn’t notice any noise from traffic during the night. Just down from the parking is a wind shelter and bird watching area with amazing views over Gaustadvatnet and Gaustadvågen Nature Reserve. One thing to note is that as it is so close to the lake, there can be a lot of mosquitoes and gnats in the evening. For us, it wasn’t that much of a problem, but I can see how it could definitely bother others!
If you’re not sleeping in your van but still want to be surrounded by nature, the Atlantic Dome is a great choice. Located right by the water, the views are amazing! For something a bit bigger, Sveggvika Guest House is a beautiful accommodation option located by the water with an amazing outdoor terrace and breakfast included! We very almost booked a night here on our way past but ended up not having time.
See more: Find all your accommodation options here!
Day 6: Sæbo
On day 6 of our 10 day Norway trip we had a lot of rain so decided to change our plans a bit. Due to that, in this section you will find a few different options based on what we intended on doing and what we ended up doing! The main goal of this day was to get as close to Stryn as we could as do as much as we could along the way. For us, that meant stopping in Sæbo where we hired a sauna for a few hours, however, if you want to do some hiking there are a few amazing routes along this stretch – or alternatively you could head into Ålesund and explore or hike there!
Ferry from Molde to Vestnes
Whichever route you choose to take, you will need to start by taking the ferry from Molde to Vestnes. Like a lot of ferries in Norway, this is one you don’t need to book ahead – you just drive on and pay on board. The ticket price changes depending on how you are travelling, but for two people and a van it cost us around 110kr and took around 45 minutes to get to Vestnes. We were lucky and it left just after we arrived at the terminal, but if you want to plan you can find the ferry schedule on this page.
Sæbo
Instead of letting the rain ruin our day, we decided to make the most of it and book the cosiest thing we knew – a sauna! There are a few saunas in this area of Norway available to rent – but we chose to take one in the sleepy town of Sæbo. The company that owns this sauna own a few more around the coastline. Find out more about the sauna on this page. It was actually a super cosy place and a good price for the time and experience you get.
Ålesund
Our initial plan for this day was to start early and drive into Ålesund for the morning. Ålesund looks like a beautiful city, with lots of colourful buildings on a thin island surrounded by water. I had a friend who lived here a few years ago and after seeing pictures I had always wanted to do the hike to Fjellstua Viewpoint on Mount Aksla. This is a relative short hike of 418 steps up, but you can also drive there if you want to save time! The view from here looks amazing – with views over the whole city and coastline. Here’s a short guide I found to inspire you.
Following the hike, we had planned to spend a bit of time in the city before hopping on a boat tour in the afternoon. This tour looks amazing and is quite a good price for three hours out on the water. From Ålesund to where we stayed the night is a 2-and-a-half-hour drive, so if you wanted you could probably combine this with the sauna hire in Sæbo.
Tours and Activities
Find all the tours and activities available in Ålesund on this page!
Where To Stay Near Stryn
We found it quite hard to find a nice rest stop near Sæbo so ended up driving quite a while after the sauna to find somewhere. We ended up in a little patch of forest just by the side of the road only 15 minutes from Stryn. It was close to the road and there was quite a bit of noise in the night so I don’t know if I would recommend it – but here’s the location just incase.
If you don’t want to drive so far, there are a lot of paid camping grounds along the route! Right next to the spot we stayed was nice looking cabin – Naustloftet. This is a beautiful house right next to the water with space for 4 guests. Alternatively, you can drive an extra 15 minutes to Stryn where there are lots of different hotels. There are sooo many that look super cosy but after doing some research, these are my favourites; Bodvarstova is a sweet little cabin by the water with its own private beach, this apartment has amazing views over the fjord, and Stryn Fjord Lodge looks beautiful for bigger groups, with a big outdoor terrace right on the water.
See more: Find all your accommodation options here!
Day 7 to 9: Stryn, Olden, Loen and Oppstryn
For the final three days of our 10-day trip to Norway, we head to Stryn to enjoy the beautiful glacial lakes of Lovatnet, Oldevatnet, and Oppstrynsvatnet. Rather than split this up into exact itineraries, below you will find a list of all the best things to do in this area. I can recommend spending a whole day exploring each lake.
Things To Do In Olden:
- Hike to Briksdalsbreen Glacier: The relatively easy 3km hike to Briksdalsbreen is one of the best things to do in Olden. If you don’t want to walk, you can always take the “troll car” to the glacier instead. This takes the same route, so you don’t miss the impressive waterfalls or flowing streams on the way up.
- Hike to Kattanakken: A 4-hour hike above Briksdals Glacier with amazing views over the valley. Find out more on this page.
- Paddle on Oldevatnet: The best way to explore Oldevatnet is by boat. You can either borrow one for free from your camping or hire them from Yri Outdoor. If you haven’t kayaked before and would rather go out in a group, you can take this 2 hour kayaking tour around the lake.
- Hike to Gytrifossen: A shorter hike up to Gryti Waterfall. The hike begins by Gryta Camping, is 2km long, and takes around 1 hour to complete.
- Visit Lake Oldevatnet Viewpoint: At this viewpoint you get an amazing view out over Oldevatnet (map). Be aware that this spot is popular with tour buses from the cruise ships that stop in Olden so you might find it quite busy when you arrive. Give it 5 – 10 minutes and it will definitely quieten down!
- Hike to Klovane: A beautiful hike with views out over the lake and mountains. The hike is considered moderate in difficulty and takes around 4 hours to complete. It starts next to Oldevatn Camping. Find out more here.
- Laukifossen: Don’t miss a stop here on your way from Olden to Oldevatnet. It is a wide, gushing waterfall with a walking bridge that crosses to the other side. There is a very small parking spot here (big enough for around 2 cars).
Things to do around Lovatnet:
- Visit Kjenndalstova: Kjenndalstova is a very cosy café located at the end of Lovatnet. It’s open daily throughout the summer season and has amazing views out over the lake.
- Breng Seter: Breng Seter is an old farm that fell into disrepair in the 1970s. Today, it is a collection of traditional farm houses clustered by the side of Lovatnet – a popular photo and picnic spot.
- Hike to DNT Skåla: A 4-5 hour hike from Loen you will find the Norwegian Tourist cabin Skålabu, and the older tower Skålatårnet. This can be a fun place to spend the night, or just take an extended break to enjoy the views. You can find more information on this page (scroll down for English).
- Swim from Bryggen i Bødal: If you are not staying at one of the camping grounds along Lovatnet, this is one of the best places to take a swim (map)! It is a little bit of a walk down to the bridge, but when you get there, there are amazing views over the lake!
Things to do near Oppstrynsvatnet:
- Visit Gamlebutikken på Hjelle: This was my favourite café we stopped at on the trip – a beautiful old house on the edge of Oppstrynsvatnet with very cosy seating areas looking out over the water.
- Swim at Hjelle Stranda: Swim in the crystal blue glacier waters, surrounded by snow topped mountains. Beware, the water is very cold, but it is certainly fresh!
- Hike to Glomnesfossen and Segestad: One of the best hikes near Oppstrynsvatnet is the walk towards Glomensfossen and Segestad old farmhouse. The walk starts just past Hjelle and it takes around 1 hour 30 minutes one way. At Segestad, there’s a small museum about the old farm and all the instruments that are left there.
Tours and Activities
Where to stay near Olden
We stayed at Gryta Camping in a beautiful spot just by the edge of lake Oldevatnet. After driving around for a week, it was so nice to be at a camping for a few days with the possibility to create a sort of base. While you can still find “wild” camping spots in this area, it is much more difficult and busier than in the other areas we visited. Gryta Camping was great because not only were the spots beautiful, but they had fire pits by the water for grilling food, and free rental of a canoe, row boats, and a pedalo! This was the perfect way to spend the evenings on the lake.
We stayed here after receiving many recommendations for how great it is! However, another place I would like to try next time is Melkevoll Bretun Camping as we drove past it a few times and it looked super cosy, nestled into the forest at the base of the mountains by Briksdalsbreen Glacier. They have camping and two small cabins available to rent.
Right next to Gryta Camping you have Olden Camping which has quite a similar set up but also have cabins for rent for two to five people! See them here.
Alternatively, there are some beautiful hotels in the area – my personal pick would be Hotel Alexandra Loen which has a beautiful terrace area with a pool and amazing views over the fjord.
Day 10: Lom and Lillehammer
On day 10 we head back to Oslo to finish the 10-day road trip loop. The drive from Oppstryn to Oslo takes around 6 hours without stops, however, I recommend adding it driving the Norwegian Scenic Route Gamle Strynefjellsvegen, a stop in Lom, and Lillehammer on your way down.
Scenic Route Gamle Strynsefjellsvegen
The first stop along the route is Øvstefossen, a powerful waterfall that streams down the mountain. There is a parking here and a short walk to different levels of the falls. Just after this, you can turn right along Scenic Route: Gamle Strynefjellsvegen. This drive adds a little bit of time to the route, but I recommend it. Even in the middle of the summer, the mountains here are covered in snow. There are a few lakes you can swim in along the way if you are brave enough!
If you do want to add a bit of nature to your trip, you can take a detour to Jotunheimen National Park on your way down to Lom. This is one of the most famous National Parks in Norway and where you will find Norway’s tallest mountain, Galdhøpiggen, and The Besseggen Ridge, and loads of other hikes!
Lom
Lom is a National Park Village, located at the base of the mountain Lomseggen. The city has been around since the 16th century and thus is a centre for culture and history. Following the historical pathway, you will find one of Norway’s biggest Stave Churches, and the biggest store house, dating back to 1613. For lunch, make sure to stop at the Bakery in Lom, owned by renowned Norwegian chef Morten Schakenda. We had pizza here and it lived up to expectations.
Lom Stave Church is right in the city centre, built in a traditional and unique method, it remains where it was first built in the mid 1500s. During the summer, the church is open for viewing, with guides walking in and out giving talks about the interior and its history. In the off season, you can still enter the church but it requires prebooking in advance.
Lillehammer
Lillehammer is a small town, mostly known for their holding of the Winter Olympic Games in 1994. The town though, is very picturesque and cosy, and the perfect place for a short stroll to stretch your legs. We parked by the main street and wandered down to Søndre Park where we took a coffee in Parkkaféen.
Tours and Activities
Things To Know Before You Go
Do I need cash in Norway?
Although Norway is mostly cashless, we found that a lot of places (mostly parking and a few self-serve bakeries) only accepted cash or Vipps (a Scandinavian money transfer service which requires residency to sign up). Therefore, I can recommend getting out a little bit of cash to take with you just in case. Most parking cost from 50kr to 100kr
How to find free camping spots in Norway.
If you haven’t already, I recommend downloading the app Park4Night. This is how we found all our paid and unpaid camping spots on the trip. Most places are uploaded by users with reviews and photos, so you know exactly what to expect from each spot.
Where next? Extend your 10 day trip to Norway with these guides!
10 days in Norway is hardly enough to see all the country has to offer! While it is a starting point, there is so much possibility to extend this trip, or plan a return in the future. Below, you will find some inspiration for other trips like this:
- The Best Itinerary for 2 Days in Oslo
- Visiting Innerdalen – Norway’s most beautiful mountain valley
- Guide to visiting Oslo in Winter
- Oslo’s Best Christmas Markets
- The Perfect Autumn Road Trip through Norway
- The Perfect 10 Day Scandinavia Itinerary through Norway, Sweden and Denmark
- Hiking The Besseggen Ridge
- Visiting The Lofoten Islands in Winter
