Norway

Jan 31

We spent two weeks in Norway in October and I can confidently say that it is the most beautiful place I've ever been. The landscape was out-of-this-world breathtaking. The winding roads took us along cliff-lined fjords, mountain tops, farm fields, and through some of the deepest and longest tunnels in the world (we would recommend the scenic routes over the tunnels any day, though). There were sheep absolutely everywhere. While most tourists visit during the summer or earlier in the fall, we. are so glad we went in early October - it was a little less crowded and the leaves were amazing!

We anticipated going on more hikes than we did, however many of the hikes were rated for experts only. They use a difficulty rating system similar to ski slopes in the US - ranging from green to black. We erred on the side of caution and stuck to the greens. Norway was also the most expensive country I've ever been to, so we ended up cooking more than planned, though most of the places we stayed were worth staying in for.

Itinerary

Days 1-2: Oslo

Day 3: Drive through Agder to Rogaland

Days 4-5: Rogaland

Day 6: Drive to Flåm

Days 7-10: Vestland

Day 11: Drive to Oslo through Buskerud

Days 12-13: Oslo

Oslo

Oslo is a very walkable city that has a more modern feel than the other Nordic capitals we've visited. The food was excellent, however the best part, in our opinion, were the numerous specialty coffee shops scattered around the city.

Where to Stay

We spent the first couple of nights at an AirBnB apartment near the famous opera house. It was cute and comfortable and suited our needs for a short stay.

Sommerro

Our last night in Norway was at the Sommerro hotel, an Art Deco-inspired space that was converted from a 1930's office building. The highlights were the lavish breakfast buffet and the beautiful bar/restaurant hall with live music.

Shopping

While we enjoyed some window shopping, most things were cost-prohibitive and so didn't end up bringing much back with us. Pictured is Retro Antikk, it had some great MCM and retro items, and there were a few other nice vintage shops around the Gamle Oslo neighborhood.

Coffee Shops

Oslo had the best selection of coffee shops of any city we've visited. Below are the ones we visited, though there were many more!

Fuglen

Taylormade

Tim Wendelboe

Mocca coffee

Papegøye

Solberg & Hansen

Food + Cocktails

Alex Sushi

HIMKOK

Oslo Streetfood Hall

Render

Possibly the best burger we've ever had!

Svanen

Mathallen Oslo Food Hall

Agder

The drives to the destinations were just as beautiful as the destinations themselves. The drive through Agder to Rogaland was possibly one of the most beautiful and diverse I've ever been on, through mountain ranges, valleys, farm fields (lots of sheep), and even across a fjord by ferry. We are so glad we built in a full day for this drive, as we stopped many times to take in the views.

Rogaland

The Boulder

It's hard to pick a favorite spot, but our stay at The Boulder is up there. A tiny house built on a cliffside over looking a fjord.

The Boulder Hike

Our tiny house was feet away from a hiking trail that wraps all the way around Lysefjord. We didn't end up getting too far because my fear of heights got the better of me!

Pulpit Rock

A very user-friendly hike with a spectacular (and a little scary!) view at the top.

Stavanger

We spent half a day in Stavanger and really loved it. The streets were lined with traditional Norwegian white homes and there was some great cafes, bakeries, and restaurants.

Micro Kaffi

Molinå Bakery

Matbaren Bistro by Renaa

Vestland

We drove through Vestland on the way to Flåm, another beautiful drive.

Flåm

Flåm is a tiny village that sits at the end of Aurlandsfjord. It's a very popular tourist destination because cruise ships can make their way all the way to the docks. We decided to stay here because it was conveniently located to a number of places we wanted to visit. We had the most amazing AirBnB nestled in an orchard overlooking the fjord distanced a bit from the touristy spots by the water. The little village of Flåm is about a mile walk inland and is worth the trip - the highlights are the ancient church, sheep viewing (naturally), and a lovely short hike up to an overlook (Brekkefossen).

Aurlandsvangen view point

A short drive from Flåm on the other side of Aurlandsvangen there are a few beautiful lookout points.

Aussichtspunkt Aurlandsfjord

If you keep driving up past the Aurlandsvangen view point, there is a short hike with incredible views of the fjord.

Spontanious Hike

On our way to the Bøyabreen glacier, we came across an unnamed trailhead by the road and decided to check it out. Make sure to leave time for unplanned exploring!