The Ultimate Norway Road Trip
Peter Dawson
Norway, land of fabulous fjords and majestic mountains, is a driver’s delight thanks to a road network that zigs and zags along its coast and sends switchbacks up its peaks.
It also offers the opportunity to go road tripping with a clean conscience. The country has fully embraced the electric car and has an extensive charging network, fuelled by hydro-power. Some 60 per cent of the cars sold in Norway are electric and the hire car fleets are well stocked with EVs.
Here our five top spots for the ultimate Norway road trip.
Lysebotn Road
Lee Brimble
Some 300 miles south west of Oslo is the Lysebotn Road. Built to service the Tjodan hydro-electric power station it was only opened in 1984. Climbing to a 932-metre summit, highlight include a dizzying 27-hairpin descent and a tunnel that turns through a full 180-degrees. Discover more.
Laerdal Tunnel
Peter Dawson
The longest road tunnel in the world was blasted through the mountains between Laerdal and Aurland. It’s over 15 miles long and features a series of massive caverns, big enough for an articulated lorry to pull a U-turn. In a car with a combustion engine it’s one massive echo chamber. In an electric vehicle, an eerie experience. Discover more.
Atlantic Ocean Road
Peter Dawson
A series of eight bridges join Averøy and Kristiansund, some just a few metres from the sea, others a rollercoaster up-and-over. It’s a short drive, just five miles, but photo opportunities are packed in to every inch of it. Discover more.
Trollstigen
Kristoffer Eknes / Unsplash
The Trolls Tongue is a stunning, snaking road that has acquired a status as legendary as the creatures that gave it their name. It’s now the most popular tourist drive in the whole of Norway. Avoid the rush and you’re in for an adrenaline rush of your own as you tackle its 11 hairpins. Discover more.
Nordkapp
Nik Berg
The northernmost point in Europe is hard to reach. Not only is it some 700 miles further north than the Atlantic Ocean Road, the final leg is a bleak and treacherous few miles that will require an escort if you’re brave enough to tackle it in winter. Discover more.