Netherlands – Skørping (Denmark)
This post is about a trip to Norway. Starting point is the Netherlands. From the Netherlands the trip goes to Skørping in Denmark. It is a trip of around 900 km. In Skørping we stayed the night in hotel Comwell Rebild Bakker, which is mainly a conference hotel. For staying just a night it was just fine.
Skørping – Kristiansand – Stavanger
Skorping – Stavanger
In the morning we had a breakfast at a very large room in the hotel. Not much like a nice cosy hotel, but more like a canteen in a university or a large school. The food was good though with plenty of choice. After breakfast we left for Hirthals where we took the ferry to Kristiansand. We booked the ferry in advance, so showing the booking was enough to get on the boat.
At 12:15 h we left and we arrived in Kristiansand at 15:30 h. From Kristiansand it was still about 3 hours driving to Stavanger, but including stops it took till 8 before we arived in our Hotel.
Stavanger
One of the most beautiful destinations of this trip was scheduled today. We went to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) at the Lysefjord. We started inStavanger where we took the ferry to Tau. From there we drove to the parking near Preikestolhytta, where we continued walking.
From the parking to Preikestolen is a 2 hour hike, but because of the large number of people and because of the many photo stops, it took us 3 hours to cross the rough terrain. The views on the way and especially the views from Preikestolen made it worth every step. It was an experience no one should miss when going to Norway.
Stavanger – Ulvik
Because Ulvik was not too far away, we decided to visit Stavanger before leaving to Ulvik. Stavanger is a nice place with nice outdoor café’s at the Harbour and a picturesque old part of Stavanger where the wooden houses from the past have still survived (Gamle Stavanger).
Ulvik
From Ulvik you can do the “Norway in a nutshell” tour.
On the way to Flåm, the train will stop at the Kjosfossen waterfall.
This tour will take you from Voss to Flåm via Myrdal by train, then to Gudvangen by boat through the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord and finally back to Voss by bus. It’s also possible to go the other way around. Although very touristic, the trip to Flåm down to the Aurlands fjord is fantastic as is the boat trip to Gudvangen and even the bus trip back to Voss is great as the road is very steep and needs many hairpins to go down after reaching the top.
Ulvik – Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is a nice harbour town in the west of Norway. It has a sea harbour from where ships for the oil industry depart. For visitors especially the old houses from the Hanse era at the port, see photo above, are the highlight of Bergen. The remains of the quays, Bryggen, is a World Heritage Site.
Bryggen
Bryggen (Norwegian for the Wharf), also known as Tyskebryggen (the German Wharf). The city of Bergen was founded around 1070 within the original boundaries of Tyskebryggen. Around 1360 a Kontor of the Hanseatic League was established there, and Tyskebryggen became the centre of the Hanseatic commercial activities in Norway. Today, Bryggen houses museums, shops, restaurants and pubs.
Bergen – Førde – Ålesund
Forde
Ålesund
Ålesund is known for its architecture in Art Nouveau style and its surrounding fjords. Ålesund also is Norway’s fishing capital and fishing is a popular activity for locals and tourists.
Ålesund is a good starting point to explore the Geirangerfjord and the Hjørundfjord. Worth a visit as well is the Alnes light house. The wonderful light house can be reached by 2 sea tunnels. You can have lunch at the light house and have a walk at the beach.
The Atlantic Road
The Atlantic road (Atlanterhavsveien) is a piece of road which almost seems to go through the sea as it consists of many bridges crossing inlets from the sea. It goed from Kristiansund to Molde and of course it was not built as a tourist attraction, but the scenic beauty have made it one.
Chosen as “Norwegian Structure of the century” in 2005, this road connects several small coastal villages. From Kristiansund the Atlantic Road can be reached in only half an hour by car through Atlanterhavstunnelen. When you exit the tunnel you will pass the small island of Averøy where the Kvernes Stave Church li located.
The Atlantic Road has been awarded the status national tourist route because of the architecture of the road and the bridges, and the incredible coastline it passes through.
Trondheim
Trondheim – Skeikampen
Skeikampen – Oslo
Oslo
As you probably know, Oslo is the capital and the largest city of Norway. It is a nice place to visit with plenty to see such as the famous Vigelandsparken sculpture park. The famous park is filled with 212 bronze and granite sculptures and locals enjoying outdoor life.
One of the ships in the Viking ship museum in Oslo
The famous statue of Sinnataggen, Vigelandsparken, Norway
For more photos of Norway look at my gallery