The Wonders of Norway!
Aurlandsfjord in southwestern Norway
Mother Nature has provided several awe-inspiring wonders that make you realize we are just a small part of what she has created - sky touching peaks, canyons seemingly a mile deep, powerful waterfalls, and expanses of sand further than the eye can see. Add to that the Norwegian Fjords, with their deep blue waters, cascading waterfalls, and snow-capped mountains, will leave you stunned with amazement as you take in the grandeur of it all.
Most visitors reach the western region of Norway by auto, train, or bus from Oslo however flying to Bergen or Alesund via a connection in Oslo or another northern European airport will place you in the middle of the fjords. Transportation is very modern and dependable in Scandinavia so any means of transport can be trusted.
We began our trip in Bergen, the second largest city in Norway. A trip to the fjord area wouldn’t be complete without a brief stay in this city to absorb its history, culture, and beautiful coastline. There are several attractions to take in including the old historical center, Bryggen, which features several hundred year old wooden houses set along the old town wharf. You can spend a couple of hours winding in and out of the alleyways connecting the museums, shops, pubs, and historical points.
The Floibanen Funicular is also close by that will take you up to the top of Floyen Mountain for great views looking down onto Bergen and the harbor. Instead of buying a roundtrip on the funicular, take one of the hiking paths back down into Bergen through a forest where trolls are rumored to still live (and look like they could!). It’s a leisurely and picturesque 30-45 minute walk downhill on wide paths which lead back into town. Once you reach the beginning (or top) of the city limits, stone steps and ascending, small streets take over.
A fish market exists on Torget (St.) at the end (or is it the beginning?) of the Bergen Harbor and is quite busy in the mornings. A few small cafes are located within for a fresh seafood lunch as well. Starting a couple hundred feet away from the fish market is a wide pedestrian street called Torgallmenningen, that offers various shopping, dining, bar, and entertainment options. There are also numerous restaurants on side streets in addition to plenty of hotels in the city center. Check out the China Palace on the main drag as it is quite unique (who wouldn’t want Chinese food while in Norway!). Regarding lodging, we stayed in this popular area at the Hotel Oleana.
Regarding the fjords, if you’re driving yourself, be ready for slow, two-lane roads, plenty of Kodak moments, and tunnels. Norwegians love building tunnels! The longest driving tunnel in the world is located in Norway in addition to others in the top 20.
We chose to visit a couple of fjords, to the NE of Bergen, called the Naeroyfjord and Aurlandsfjorden (gotta love the Norwegian language!) which extend off of the massive Sognefjorden. Along the way, we stopped and had lunch in Voss, which is a top destination for adventure seekers as several local companies offer tours of different kinds. Once we arrived in the fjord area, we stayed in a small village called Gudvangen which had a small but awesome “Viking” hotel, Gudvangen Fjordtell, and spent most of our time traveling back/forth through the second longest road tunnel in Norway to reach a tourist area called Flam, which features hotels, restaurants, and the famous Flam Railway. Fjord excursions to/from Bergen in addition to Gudvangen are also found here.
Beyond Flam and just past Aurlandsvangen, is the 24.5 kilometer (15.2 miles) Laerdal Tunnel, the longest driving tunnel in the world. It’s so long that they actually built a few pull-outs so you can get out and stretch and break any hypnotic spells that might be starting. We experienced the tunnel and then returned on the old road, which takes you up and over the mountain, providing great views, an interesting art showcase, flocks of sheep, and ending at one of the best views in the fjord area, the Stegastein viewpoint platform. This architectural wonder allows you to walk out over the valley below for great views of the Aurland fjord and town below. The views from one of the most scenic viewpoints in the fjords makes you feel like a Norse god looking down over the kingdom. After you snap a few selfies and photos, continue down the switchback road into town.
There are other fjord areas to visit including traveling from Alesund to Bergen, taking a southerly route with a few ferry crossings mixed in. And north of Alesund is one of the greatest drives in the world, the Atlantic Road which connects an island with the mainland and is said to be one of the world’s most beautiful drives.
And SE of Bergen is one of the more popular nature attractions within the area called Trolltunga. It is a scenic cliff overlooking a lake and valley which requires a long hike, sometime strenuous, but is one of those iconic photos that stays on your wall forever.
There are so many incredible sights in Western Norway to see that one trip is not enough. A return trip is definitely on the docket!