Norwegian Fjords Loop
A scenic loop through the heart of Norway's fjord country, starting and ending in Bergen.
Bergen → Eidfjord → Flåm → Geiranger → Ålesund → Balestrand → Bergen
Land in Bergen, ease in
Pick up the rental at Bergen airport or downtown, then leave the car — today is a walking day to shake off the flight.
Bryggen
Bryggen, also known as Tyskebryggen, is a series of Hanseatic heritage commercial buildings lining up the eastern side of the Vågen harbour in the city of Bergen, Norway. Bryggen has been on the UNESCO list for World Cultural Heritage sites since 1979.
Fløibanen
Fløibanen is a funicular railway, owned by Fløibanen AS, in the Norwegian city of Bergen. It connects the city centre with the mountain of Fløyen, with its mountain walks and magnificent views of the city. It is one of Bergen's major tourist attractions and one of Norway's most visited attractions.
KODE Art Museums
Four buildings, Munch and Dahl paintings, closes 18:00 weekdays — a calm way to end the day. Dinner around Vågen harbour.
Bergen → Hardangerfjord
Roll out east on the E16, then drop south toward the Hardanger region. Bergen mornings are slow — beat the school traffic and you're out in 20 minutes.
Steinsdalsfossen
Steinsdalsfossen is a waterfall at Øvsthus in the eastern part of the village of Steine in Kvam Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The waterfall is located about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of the large village of Norheimsund which sits along the Hardangerfjorden.
Vøringsfossen
Vøringsfossen or Vøringen is the 83rd highest waterfall in Norway on the basis of total fall. It lies at the top of the Måbødalen valley in Eidfjord Municipality in Vestland county. It is located near Norwegian National Road 7, which connects Oslo with Bergen. It has a total drop of 182 metres (597 ft), and a major drop of 163 metres (535 ft).
Eidfjord
Eidfjord is the innermost village at the far end of Hardanger, Hardangerfjord. Eidfjord sits at the intersection of Hardangervidda plateau and the great western fjords. Within Eidfjord wild canyons cut deep into the bedrock where tall waterfalls plunge to the valley floor below.
Eidfjord → Flåm
Early start — today's drive is the prettiest of the week, and you want the Stegastein viewpoint before tour buses arrive.
Stegastein Viewpoint
A wooden ramp launching you 30m out over the Aurlandsfjord. Free, 650m up, and the road to reach it (Bjørgavegen) is half the fun — hairpins through birch forest.
Flåmsbana
The Flåm Line is a 20.2-kilometer (12.6 mi) long railway line between Myrdal and Flåm in Aurland Municipality, in Vestland county, Norway. A branch line of the Bergen Line, it runs through the valley of Flåmsdalen and connects the mainline with Sognefjord. The line's elevation difference is 866 meters (2,841 ft); it has ten stations, twenty tunnels and one bridge. The maximum gradient is 5.
Flåm
Flåm is a village in Sogn og Fjordane county, at the innermost point of the Aurlandsfjord arm of the Sognefjord. Flåm is among the busiest cruise ports in Norway. This article also covers the neighbouring villages of Aurlandsvangen, Gudvangen and Undredal, located approximately 10 km (6 mi) away in either direction; and Myrdal station at the junction of Bergen railway and Flåm railway.
Flåm → Geiranger via Nærøyfjord
Drive north through Jotunheimen country towards the iconic Geirangerfjord.
Nærøyfjord
The Nærøyfjord is a fjord in Aurland Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is a branch of the Aurlandsfjord, itself a branch of the Sognefjord. The fjord is about 17 km (11 mi) long, and at its narrowest point it is about 250 m (820 ft) wide.
Lom Stavkyrkje
Drive north through Jotunheimen country. Lom's 12th-century stave church is all dragon heads and tar-black timber. Grab a cinnamon bun at the bakery next door — it's legitimately famous.
Geiranger
Geiranger and Hellesylt are villages in Møre og Romsdal. The Geirangerfjord is one of the most beautiful mainland fjords and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Norway. In a rating of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Geirangerfjord (along with Nærøyfjord in Sogn og Fjordane) obtained top score in a survey conducted by the prestigious National Geographic Magazine.
Geiranger → Ålesund via Trollstigen
Drive up to 1,500m for the bird's-eye of Geirangerfjord. Toll road, cash or card at the gate. Layer up — it's 10°C cooler than the village.
Dalsnibba
Dalsnibba is a mountain in Stranda Municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located at the end of the Geiranger valley, about 7 km (4 mi) south of the village of Geiranger and the Geirangerfjorden. The 2-square-kilometre (0.8 sq mi) lake Djupvatnet lies directly to the southeast of the mountain.
Trollstigen
Road 63 is a 100-km regional route in Møre og Romsdal between Åndalsnes and Skjåk/Stryn via Valldal and Geiranger. The route runs through some of Norway's top sights, including the road with 3 dramatic hairpin roads and an excellent panorama of the famous Geirangerfjord. It used to be called the "golden route"; it has been named one of 18 national tourist routes.
Ålesund
Ålesund is the largest city in Møre og Romsdal county, West Norway, with about 53,000 inhabitants, 66,000 in the surrounding area (2018). Ålesund is the gateway to the iconic northwestern fjords (among which Geirangerfjord is particularly famous) and surrounding alpine mountains.
Ålesund → Balestrand
Long day, mostly driving south through farm valleys and across two short fjord ferries (Festøya–Solavågen, Hellesylt–Geiranger crossings — check current schedules, they run hourly-ish).
Urnes Stavkyrkje
Oldest surviving stave church in Norway (~1130), UNESCO-listed, across a small ferry from Solvorn. The carved north portal is the real prize — swirling Norse beasts. Small, reverent, no crowds.
Balestrand
Balestrand is a small charming village on the northern shore of the Sognefjord in Sogn og Fjordane.
Balestrand → Bergen
Catch the Dragsvik–Hella ferry (quick 15min hop), then wind south along the Sognefjord and over the mountains back toward Bergen.
Depart
Catch the Dragsvik–Hella ferry (quick 15min hop), then wind south along the Sognefjord and over the mountains back toward Bergen.
Tvindefossen
Tvindefossen is a waterfall in Voss Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north of the village of Vossevangen along the European route E16 road to Flåm.
Voss
Voss is in a municipality in the inner part of Hordaland, between the great fjords of Sogn and Hardanger. Voss is known to be the adventure capital of Norway. Voss is also the major winter destination in Hordaland with two ski resorts and long skiing traditions. Voss village is surrounded by rivers, mountains, fjord and lakes, and there is a wide range of challenges at all levels.
Bergen return
Drop the car, if you're flying out tomorrow stay near Bryggen again for one last fish soup.
- Ferries: Several legs need car ferries. Use the Ferry Booking Norway app or ferjebooking.no — some routes (Geiranger–Hellesylt in summer) fill up, others are walk-on.
- Fuel & tolls: Norway is expensive. Budget ~2x what you'd pay in most of Europe. AutoPASS chip in the rental handles tolls automatically.
- Season: This route assumes late May through September. Trollstigen and Dalsnibba close in winter.
- Daylight: June–July you'll get near-midnight sun up north — use it, push late dinners.
- Day 4: 6h 48m driving — plan rest stops
- Day 6: 7h 27m driving — plan rest stops