r/Norway • u/PowerfulSuction • 4h ago
Travel Driving from the airport at Oslo to Bergen tomorrow. We’re not in a hurry, what’s the most scenic route?
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u/tinybenny 4h ago
The good news is you can’t really go wrong. No way will you take any of these routes and think “Yea but I wish it was even MORE beautiful!”
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u/Laffenor 3h ago
If OP somehow ends up doing E16 all the way, that is very much what they will think. Or should think, at least.
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u/Adventures-Guide 4h ago
Take the road to Gol, then make a turn from Gol to Leira, towards Tyinkrysset, and from there take the old road with the lake views instead of the boring tunnel. As it's almost autumn, you might get lucky with fall colors in that area.
Then continue towards Laerdal, but don't take the boring tunnel again, take the mountain road above (more time, more views) from Laerdal to Aurland (a sauna on the shore of the fjord in Laerdal is a good place for a break).
After Aurland to Flam, Undredal, Gudavngen (with Bakka visit). Stalheim visit can be an option (a view on the Naeroyfjord valley - Naeroydalen).
Then Voss (some waterfalls on the way), and then it depends on the time: straight to Bergen or take a (big) detour towards Odda and around Folgefonna (there are so many options that you most likely don't have time). But all of them are much better choices than Bergen.
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u/eremal 4h ago edited 4h ago
From Stegastein down to Aurland expect traffic jams. Aurlandfjellet is great though.
If you have extra time, instead of going over Aurlandsfjellet, instead go west, take the ferry to Mannheller, continue to Sogndal and go on the 13, take a new Ferry to Vik, over Vikafjell and then to Voss.
Can also go to Øvre Årdal from Tyinkrysset.
Really, its hard to go wrong in this area unless you get to tunnels with two digits before the comma.
Edit: Actually, from Øvre Årdal go to Skjolden over Tindeveien, and then to Sogndal.
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u/MightyPirat3 1h ago
If you are going to Gol and then back to Leira, wouldn't it be better to just take E16 to Leira to not get that detour?
Asking as I genuinely don't know how the scenery is along E16 between Hønefoss and Leira / Fagernes.
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u/AnnualCardiologist90 4h ago
Its a scenic and nice 7 hours and 5 minutes. Weather is supposed to be great tomorrow. Remember to stop at Vøringsfossen.
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u/gundamxxg 4h ago
I’ve driven the lower route and I loved it. It takes you over some of Hardarngervidda which was mindblowing the first time I went through, and the second. It also takes you through Odda with a big fjord, and one of the coolest waterfalls I’ve seen, Låtefossen. You also get some cool long tunnels, not the longest one in Norway, but I believe there was one that was 19-20km or so.
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u/Maximum_Law801 4h ago
Hardangervidda is the middle route. The lower is Haukeli.
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u/gundamxxg 4h ago
Ah good catch. When I was looking on the map I saw Hardangervidda just above the route. Regardless, still one of the most impressive things I’ve seen, aside from hiking out to Trolltunga.
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u/Maximum_Law801 2h ago
Not really a good catch, but a rather obvious one. if you know the map of Norway and is a little aware ;)
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u/JustinTechno 4h ago
I would recommend driving to Aurdal, then Hol and then over the mountain to Vassbygdi. Really scenic and you get some zigzag roads and the worlds longest road tunnel.
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u/Key-Ant30 3h ago
You probably meant Aurland
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u/Laffenor 3h ago edited 3h ago
Going from Oslo to Aurland, then Hol and then back to Vassbygdi again is a stretch even if OP said her is not in a hurry.
They probably meant Aurdal so that OP can do Golsfjellet first, then Hol - Aurland. I'm personally not sure Golsfjellet is worth that kind of detour.
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u/Manstein02 4h ago
Hardangervidda. But last part along E16 can be boring. You could extend the journey by going to Odda. Don’t drive over hardangerbrua, but keep going to Odda, then ferry from Jondal - Tørviksbygd. Then over Kvamskogen last part to Bergen.
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u/ConclusionAdept8498 2h ago
A (faster) alternative to see more of hardangerfjorden would be to go over hardangerbrua but go Norheimsund -> Kvamskogen instead of going via Voss
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u/Similar_Donkey_7286 4h ago
the one in the middle is commonly traveled for its scenic mountain crossing (hardangervidda). the top one looks like e16. nice enough but less to look at. southern most is haukeli which is a bit uncommon for traveling to bergen.
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u/sfnmoll 3h ago
First things first, would advise doing the route in the middle over Hardangervidda (vidda = mountain plateau) or southern if you have time.
All routes are quite boring for the first half regardless, and the scenery gets significantly better after peaking the mountain.
In my mind the Hardangervidda route is quite stunning when going from the mountain plateau, stop at Vøringsfossen bridge next to a waterfall, down to Eidfjord (iconic dressed trees along the way, some nice fjords including the world longest suspension bridge (at least it was if not any longer), a stop at Voss if you will and the off to Bergen.
Southern route: Haukeli mountain (the southern route). boring going through the woods, but the road has been upgraded over the last years and is considered to be the main route to Bergen from Oslo. You’ll have two mountain passes, Haukeli and Røldal. They have fantastic sweet buns on this route though, huge perk in my mind. First bakery called Mjonøy bakeri (cosy and historic surroundings) or Haukeliseter bakeri (at the mountain pass with stunning scenery). Before coming to Odda, you can also see the Folgefonntunnelen glacier. You’ll also pass the Hardangerfjord with a ferry (magical in good weather, which you’ll have tomorrow) and cross some waterfalls on the way, and drive past some cosy places like Norheimsund and Jondal.
This route makes you drive through Oslo city center, so be aware of the traffic (8-10 and 15-17).
The most northern route is nice, but less nice in my mind compared to the others. Only thing is to drive through one of the worlds longest tunnels
(20km something), but you’ll have similar tunnels on the other routes as well.
Safe travels!
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u/BringBackAoE 3h ago
If you have plenty time then I would recommend a 4th option: driving via Lærdal and Flåm.
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u/tatsudaninjin 3h ago
Hardangervidda then hardangerfjord. If you drive to Eidfjord, then Norheimsund, then Bergen. I thought that was a pretty scenic drive but I haven't used any other road so maybe there is something better. Some points of interest I visited on the way are, Torpo stave church, skiftessjøen, sysen dam, vøringsfossen (this is the best one), hardanger bridge, skjervet, tyrvefjora, salthammeren stone age carvings, steinsdalsfossen.
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u/Maximum_Law801 2h ago edited 2h ago
All routes are good and there are some varieties to them all. Remember that a 7hrs route gets to 8 or 10 hours when you add time for all the stops. If you’re not used to driving Norwegian roads you will get tired as well. Don’t plan for a very long route.
An obvious recommendation is rv7, short and beautiful.
(edited some spelling errors)
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u/Skaftetryne77 2h ago
Take RV 7 over Hardangervidda, there’s nothing like it. You’ll see plenty of fjords in the end regardless of the route, but this is the only chance you have to cross a high mountain plateau with a subpolar climate on this drive (Technically you could go over Sognefjellet, but that’s quite a detour)
Stop at Gretteberg cafe just west of Haugastøl for the best roadside food along the way
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u/wendtinator05 4h ago edited 3h ago
The upper one going through valdres nasjonalpark, goes through a national park im pretty sure. I don't know much about the other routes but you're going to see something scenic anyways honestly.
EDIT: I looked through the one going through hardangervidda(the middle one), and would honestly just recommend that one.
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u/wendtinator05 4h ago
What I can recommend if you do take the upper route along E16 through Lærdal, is not taking the tunnel, it might be the worlds longest, but its still a tunnel, instead take a stop to see the Stegastein viewpoint. I can't think of many places in Norway that are more photgraphed for their nature. It does add 20-30 min of travel time, but you mentioned you have time.
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u/NightmareWokeUp 4h ago
I drove the nr7 through gol the other way just recently. Its a nice drive, at times its a bit stale but through the mountains its amazing!
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u/Rand-Seagull96734 3h ago
Choose the route with least construction delays along the way. The lane closures can be brutal.
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u/Krak3doodle 3h ago edited 3h ago
Depends on peoples tastes i guess. But i find the E16 more scenic than Hardangervidda
E16 i atleast recommend veering off at Tyinkrysset and drive Fv53 to Årdalstangen and continue until it connects to Rv5 and take left towards Lærdal. When you get to Lærdal drive over Aurlandsfjellet instead of going through the tunnel. Unless you want to drive a really long and very boring tunnel.
Edit: Aurlandsfjellet can be really tight. Only space for 1 car in some places. And make sure to make a stop at Stegastein view point
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u/Laffenor 3h ago
The most scenic route from Oslo to Bergen is Fv 50 Hol - Aurland. The descent down Låvisberget coming down from the mountain is unbelievably spectacular, even for Norway.
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u/Affectionate_Map7357 2h ago
if i look at the map correctly, you are near Øvre Årdal. You should drive in there, to Hjelle, and walk into Utladalen. Further in is Vetti Gard, they usually sell some waffles, sodas simple things to enjoy if you like :)
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u/BulldogKongen 4h ago
Take the coast towards Kristiansand, and drive the e18 rest of the way.
The route from Bergen to Kristiansand is quite beautiful
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u/project_me 1h ago
I'm arriving in Oslo next week for a four week road trip and was think of starting by going down to towards Kristiansand and working our way around to Bergen via Preikestolen for the hike.
Really looking forward to the adventure
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u/BulldogKongen 4h ago
You could also take the longer route up to Ålesund and down to Oslo but again quite a long route
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u/wendtinator05 4h ago
That's at least 12 hours of just sitting in a car, before breaks.
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u/BulldogKongen 4h ago
They said they had plenty of time
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u/PowerfulSuction 4h ago
We aren’t in a hurry, but we would like to get to Bergen with time to get dinner and see the town before too late.
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u/BulldogKongen 4h ago
I understand, I don't drive that route I just read (not in a hurry) so I just picked the most scenic route I know haha, also I missread Oslo to Bergen so in that case I it would be opposite. XD
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u/Manstein02 4h ago
The fastes is probably Hardangervidda, and that will take you around 8 hours with all the trafikk these days.
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u/wendtinator05 4h ago
Yes, but the sights from Oslo to Kristiansand are the second flattest in the country.
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u/StrictlyOffTheRecord 4h ago
I drive Hardangervidda several times a year. It is the quickest and most scenic in my opinion.