Fjord Norway Was Made for Road Trips

Bergen's Bryggen

“Bryggen” means wharf in Norwegian, and this area of Bergen makes up the oldest area of the city.

Bryggen at sunset

In the middle of summer the sun doesn’t set until well past midnight, making for some incredibly long and beautiful days.

Scenes of Bergen

Another angle of the Bryggen and a glimpse into city life in Bergen.

Into the countryside

Out of the city, I began seeing images like this. I've tried to capture the magical feeling I experienced out in the countryside of Western Norway.

Låtefossen Waterfall

This 165-meter falls is located in the municipality of Odda, southeast of Bergen.

Norwegian cows

A couple of locals I met along the way.

Trolls and waterfalls

Two Norwegian stereotypes I found in abundance.

Hospitality

This triptych sums up the hospitality you'll encounter on the drive.

Avaldsnes Viking Farm

At Avaldsnes you can see replica houses from Norwegian days gone by, along with people who will teach you everything you want to know about the traditional life of the Vikings.

Demonstrations at Avaldsnes Viking Farm

Røvær Island concert

Røvær Island plays host to one concert a year in their small church. The concert is a part of the Silda Jazz Festival and an event that none of the islands' 110 inhabitants miss out on.

Pancake stand

At this roadside stand on Røvær Island, some local kids were selling homemade pancakes and jam.

The pancake chefs themselves

Evening in Haugesund

This coastal town comes to life with live music every year during the week that it hosts the Silda Jazz Festival.

Gaularfjellet

Roads like this one in the mountainous region of Gaularfjellet are what I'm referring to when I say Fjord Norway was made for road trips.

Water and mountain

A small fishing boat rests in the calm waters of Fjærland.

Fjærland, Book Town

Fjærland is Norway’s first International Book Town. There are small bookshops and outlets everywhere you look, including tucked into the sides of barns.

Another look at Fjærland

Country villages

This is a good example of the villages you'll come across when you exit the long tunnels that wind through the mountains.

Picnic stop

If you stop everywhere that looks cool, your road trip will last months.

Local hiker

Norwegians are big hikers. They know they have some of the world's most beautiful mountains in their backyard, and they like to take advantage.

Skåla tower

Some of Fjord Norway's peaks top 5,000 feet, meaning all types of weather can happen here anytime of the year. I learned this the hard way when I took on the 6-hour hike to the Skåla tower in my boardshorts and quickly found out that is not ideal attire when it starts snowing in August.

Fellow hikers

The hikers I met along the way could only laugh—they were properly prepared and couldn’t believe this idiot from California did the hike in shorts. They were extremely nice, though, and even offered up an extra pair of pants for me to wear for the journey back down, which saved my butt!

Lake Lovatnet

This lake sits next to the town of Loen, southeast of Alesund.

Moreller

Depending on the time of year you visit, you may be lucky enough to come across these little stands selling “moreller,” or locally grown cherries. They operate on the honor system…just drop in your payment, grab a tub, and off you go.

Nameless waterfall

One of the countless waterfalls I came across driving through Fjord Norway.

Sunset

Another post-midnight sunset in Fjord Norway.

Kviknes Hotel, Balestrand

“A tradition in the Fjords since 1877.”

Hotel decor

The woodcarvings inside the Kviknes Hotel are stunning pieces of work depicting the traditional Norwegian way of life.

Hopperstad Stave Church, interior

The interior of the Hopperstad Stave Church in the town of Vik. The church was built in the mid-12th century.

Hopperstad Stave Church, exterior

Like many things I saw on my drive, the exterior of the church looked like a scene out of a nursery rhyme.