Norway, a country that seems to have come straight out of a fairy tale. With breathtaking landscapes, majestic fjords, and Viking culture.It was a destination that had been on my wishlist for years, and I finally got to visit it.
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Located on the Scandinavian Peninsula, with a coastline dotted with numerous fjords, Norway borders Sweden, Finland, and Russia, and is a destination that cannot be missed on a trip through Northern Europe.
We only had 12 days to visit this absolutely incredible country. So we had to figure out how to make the most of every minute we were there. After a lot of research, I'm sharing the itinerary we followed, and also what we would have done if we had more days available, or fewer days.
See also my complete itinerary for Iceland, another Nordic country that equally enchanted me.
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How much does it cost to travel in Norway?
This is the question about Norway that I get most often in my Instagram inbox: how much does a trip to Norway cost? Is it very expensive? Is it possible to travel on a budget?
For those planning a trip, it’s important to know that Norway is an expensive country to live in and to visit. It was one of the most expensive destinations we’ve visited in recent years, even more expensive than Japan, the United States and Spain. In fact, Norway only lost to Iceland in our personal ranking of expensive destinations!
But the beauty of its landscapes makes up for every penny spent. And when you leave, you’ll think: I could have saved a bit more and stayed another day!
With simple strategies and proper planning, it’s possible to reduce your travel costs and still enjoy everything Norway has to offer. Check out our detailed post on how much it costs to travel in Norway.
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Our 12-day Norway itinerary
We only had 12 days to visit Norway, so we had to make the most of every minute there. After a lot of research, I can say this itinerary was perfect. We traveled in mid-July, had long days, and perfect weather.
Arrival in Oslo: Our flight from London landed in the afternoon, and we were able to enjoy the evening light in the city.
Oslo: Spend the day exploring Oslo, one of the most charming capitals in Europe.
Trip to Voss by train. Pick up the rental car and enjoy the late afternoon at our Airbnb in Oppheim/Voss.
Flåm: boat trip through the Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord in the morning; in the afternoon, take the Flåmsbana train from Flåm to Myrdal and return by bike (rented at Café Rallaren).
Flåm: kayak tour in Aurlandsfjord. We had lunch in Gudvangen, spent the afternoon at Viking Valley (a great activity for kids), and stopped at the Stalheim Hotel viewpoint. We had also planned to visit Undredal and the Aurland Shoe Shop, but we decided instead to stop by Aegir Brew Pub for a beer and head back to our apartment to relax and enjoy the lake behind it.
Flåm: rent a car, stop at the Stegastein Viewpoint, and take the scenic drive to Geirangerfjord. We stopped several times along the way to admire the views. I recommend skipping the convenience of the Lærdal Tunnel and instead enjoying the curves of the beautiful Gamle Aurlandsvegen, the old road, at a slow pace. It’s one of Norway’s scenic drives. Yes, it will add time to your trip, but I promise it’s incredibly beautiful.
Geirangerfjord: They say it’s the most beautiful fjord in Norway. I can’t confirm that since I haven’t seen them all, but it’s certainly one of the most impressive landscapes I’ve ever seen.
Drive back to Voss, return the rental car, and continue by train to Bergen.
Bergen Enjoy the city, the charming historic district of Bryggen, Bergenhus Fortress, take the funicular up to Fløyen, visit the city’s museums and cafés, in short, take in everything this city offers, which truly brings together the best of Norway.
Bergen in the morning, then travel to Stavanger in the afternoon. We went by bus (keep reading and I’ll tell you more.)
Hike Preikestolen
Stavanger: take a stroll through this port town with its compact and beautiful historic center.
Flight back home: our flight left at 6:00 AM for Frankfurt. (Okay, technically it was a 13-day trip, but that last day doesn’t really count as Norway, right?)
If you have more time in Norway or, on the other hand, need a shorter trip, at the end of this post I share suggestions on how to adapt this itinerary. I mention what I liked most, what I would skip, and what I’d include if I could stay a few more days. It’s also worth checking out our post about Iceland, since it’s close by, maybe you can combine both countries in one trip?
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How to get around in Norway
Norway is a country to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Whether by train, bus, car, motorhome, or even bicycle, take the time to enjoy every moment of the journey, every curve in the road, every viewpoint you encounter along the way.
On this trip we used every possible means of transport, from train to bicycle, from car to funicular, from plane to boat. The only thing missing was a motorhome. In fact, I regretted not renting one. Just like Iceland, Norway is a country that begs to be explored on a motorhome road trip. We already did one in Alaska and it was sensational.
It goes without saying that public transportation in Norway works very well: clean, punctual trains and buses, friendly service, no complaints. The trains are operated by Vy.no. For buses, we used Nor-Way. It was excellent, but I think there are other companies too.
How did we get around in Norway?
Our flight departed from London and landed in Oslo in the early afternoon. We took the train from the airport to Oslo Central Station and walked a few blocks to our hotel. We bought the tickets on the spot.
From Oslo to Voss/Flåm we went by train and I HIGHLY recommend it. The views on this trip are the kind that leave you glued to the window. It is one of the most beautiful train journeys I have ever taken.
Upon arriving in Voss, we rented a car to explore the region of Flåm. For car rentals, I always use RentCars. It is a car rental aggregator; I compare prices there and then check the best deals on the official rental-company websites. Usually the price on RentCars is better, but it is always worth double-checking.
A few days later, we drove from Flåm to Geiranger, one of Norway's scenic roads. I recommend taking this travel day at a relaxed pace, making the most of every stop along the way. Instead of taking the Lærdal Tunnel (the longest tunnel in Europe), we followed the old road, Gamle Aurlandsvegen, and it was spectacular. On the map, the complete route is about 300 km, but believe me, it will take a full day.
We spent a day in Geiranger and returned the next day with the rental car to Voss. That day, we took a different route back, made fewer stops, and it took about 6 hours to complete the journey. Both the outward and return trips required taking a ferry.
We had planned to travel from Voss to Bergen by train, but the line was closed for maintenance that week, so the train company arranged a bus instead.
From Bergen to Stavanger, the best way is by bus (or a rental car), as there are no direct train lines between the two cities. There are two ferries along the way.
At the end of the trip, we flew from Stavanger to Frankfurt with Lufthansa. This is a technique I use a lot. When a trip includes several cities, I buy a multi-destination ticket, with one flight to the first city and the return from another. This saves time and money, since I do not need to set aside a travel day to get back to the starting point. Even with renting a car, it is often better value to pay the drop-off fee than to spend the day and money returning to the initial place. We did this on our trips to Kenya and Tanzania, Morocco, Colombia, and also in Brazil, when we took a road trip through Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul States.
Where to stay in Norway
We were traveling with seven people: three adults and four children, aged eight to eleven. We prioritized accommodations that provided space for the kids and privacy for the adults.
Except in Oslo, we stayed in houses rented through Airbnb or Booking I really enjoyed all the places we stayed, and since we always had a kitchen at our disposal, we were able to... reduce travel costs by preparing breakfast and most dinners at home.
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Check out our post with tips to save on a trip to Norway: simple strategies to spend less in one of the most expensive countries in the world.
Where to stay in Oslo
You may have already heard, and I am here to confirm, that Norway is an expensive country to visit and that Oslo is its most expensive city, so prepare your wallet.
The best value-for-money accommodation I found was Citybox Oslo, a minimalist self-service hotel with an excellent location, very close to the city’s central station. We booked a family room with a double bed and a bunk bed.
Where to stay in Flåm
My plan was for us to stay in the small town of Flåm. But when I went to make reservations, all the hotels and guesthouses in the city that fit our budget (and even those that didn’t) were already fully booked.
So, take note: book your accommodation in Flåm as early as possible! My main options were the Fretheim Hotel, Flam Hostel, or the beautiful Flamsbrygga Hotel.
We ended up finding an Airbnb in a place called Oppheim, about 40 km from Flåm (with a 16 km tunnel along the way) — a very comfortable house on the shores of Lake Oppheimsvatnet. This small town is near Voss, which is known as one of the best regions in the country for adventure and extreme sports, as well as for winter activities.
Where to stay in Geiranger
Needless to say, what I really wanted was to stay in a hotel with views of the Geirangerfjord, such as the Grand Fjord Hotel or the Hotel Union Geiranger Bed & Spa.
I wish I could say we did not stay there because they were full, but the truth is they simply did not fit our budget. The more affordable hotels, like the Havila Hotel Geiranger, were already fully booked. So we stayed in a charming house in Stranda — a very comfortable wooden chalet with a jacuzzi on the balcony and a beautiful view. In winter, there is a ski facility nearby, and the ski lift passes just a few meters from the chalet.
Where to stay in Bergen
We stayed in a house in Bryggen, the historic district of Bergen, with its narrow streets and wooden houses. The house was, as expected, old, full of charm and history, but it left a bit to be desired in terms of cleanliness. It might not have been spotless, but it was the most authentic accommodation we had.
If you prefer a hotel, the Radisson Blu Royal is very well located, also in the Bryggen area, and is always a great choice. A more charming option is the Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz Bergen and the Klosterhagen Hotel, which both offer great value for money.
Where to stay in Stavanger
In Stavanger, the city we used as a base to hike Preikestolen, we once again opted for a house. We chose one in a residential neighborhood, away from the city center. I loved it — it was a real family home, with everything a home has, including a little storage corner. We had to take the bus to the city center, but the host explained everything clearly, and it was super easy. Everything was well organized, the bus was on time, just as you would expect.
Downtown, the most popular hotel is the Radisson Blu Atlantic Hotel, and in fact, it is from there that the buses depart for the Preikestolen trekking. Other options include the Thon Hotel Stavanger and the historic Hotel Victoria, located in a beautiful building that dates back to the early 1900s.
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Detailed map of our Norway itinerary
In the map below you can see details of everything we did, where we stayed, and the best places we visited on this trip to Norway. There are different layers with different colors, one for each area we visited. The blue line shows the route we took by car.<br>
Save the map to your Google account so that when you plan your next trip to Norway, you already know where to start 😉 There is also a post on the blog where I explain how I use Google MyMaps to plan trips, check it out!
Options for longer itineraries in Norway
I would have loved a few more days (or weeks) to explore Norway. So here we go — I have no shortage of ideas for what to do in Norway.
Fifteen-day Norway itinerary
In fifteen days in Norway, I would do exactly what we did, with the following additions:
After Geiranger, I would continue to Ålesund. From there, I could drive back to Voss (as we did, it is only 60 km more), or return the car in Ålesund and fly to Bergen, which is more convenient and would save a travel day.
I would stay one more day in Stavanger to do the Kjerag Stone hike — the one with the famous photo of the small rock wedged between two massive fjords!
If you enjoy nature, beautiful landscapes, and are up for a long hike, set aside one or two days to hike Trolltunga, using Bergen as a starting point. The trailhead is 150 km from Bergen, in a place called Odda.
(Note that my fifteen-day itinerary proposal is actually sixteen days 
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For 15 days, I recommend doing everything we did and adding a few more of these activities, or even an extra day in Oslo or Bergen if you enjoy exploring cities and their museums at a more leisurely pace.
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Twenty-day Norway itinerary
With twenty days in Norway, I would follow exactly the itinerary we did (12–13 days) and use the other seven or eight days to visit the Lofoten Islands.
It is possible to drive there. It must be an incredibly scenic trip. However, it is about 1,300 km from Geiranger, the northernmost point of our route, or 1,230 km from Ålesund. With twenty days, I think it would be too tiring, but for those who have more time and can stop in towns along the way, it must be an epic road trip.
The most practical way to get to Lofoten is by plane, flying into Leknes or Bodø. There are flights from Oslo, Bergen, and other cities in the region. Another option is to fly to Tromsø, the largest city in northern Norway, and start the road trip from there.
Or how about taking the opportunity to visit Iceland? If you enjoy incredible landscapes and that Nordic atmosphere, Iceland will not disappoint. On another trip we stayed there for nine days, and in this post we share a complete itinerary and suggestions for shorter stays — with 5- to 9-day options on the island. There are direct flights from Oslo and Bergen to Reykjavik.
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Shorter itinerary options in Norway
I’ll tell you, I enjoyed this trip so much that it’s really hard to choose one of the places we visited to leave out...
But we know time is limited and choices must be made.
I think deciding what to keep in your itinerary depends on your interests.
Are you someone who loves culture, art, and museums?
Then Oslo and Bergen should be on your list — perhaps you could skip Stavanger and even Geiranger.
Are you a nature lover who never misses an adrenaline adventure?
Then you could leave Oslo out, and maybe even Bergen.
Do you want a taste of everything the country has to offer but have even less time than we did?
Then choose just one fjord area to visit: Flåm or Geiranger.
Both are stunning and offer similar activities, but only in Flåm can you take the scenic train and bike rides — which, in my opinion, were amazing and unmissable.
If time is really short, skip Flåm and take the
Norway in a Nutshell tour,
which includes a one-day round trip to Flåm from Bergen.
So, to make your life easier,
below are my suggested itineraries for those with less time in Norway:
Ten-day Norway itinerary
Oslo
Oslo
Trip to Flåm by train
Flåm
Flåm
Morning trip to Bergen, explore Bergen in the afternoon
Bergen
Morning in Bergen, afternoon trip to Stavanger
Hike to Preikestolen
Stavanger
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Seven-day Norway itinerary
Oslo
Oslo
Morning train to Bergen, explore in the afternoon
Bergen
Bergen,
Norway in a Nutshell tour to Flåm
Stavanger
Hike Preikestolen
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Another Nordic destination that completely won me over was
Iceland.
If you’re planning to explore this region of the world, don’t miss
this post
with our complete itinerary and all the tips to experience
Iceland —
one of the most impressive countries I’ve ever visited!
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Here are the websites I always use to plan my trips:
– 🛌 Accommodation: Booking
– ☀️ Tours & activities: Civitatis & Get Your Guide
– 📱 eSIM for mobile data: Airalo e-SIM – use promo code DANAE2375
– 🚗 Car rental: RentCars – use promo code DANAE
Posts to inspire and help you travel to Scandinavia:
- The best of Norway in 12 days: our complete itinerary
- Is it expensive to travel in Norway? Practical tips to reduce the cost of your trip
- Preikestolen with children – what it’s like to hike the most beautiful trail in Norway
- 5 unmissable small towns in Europe
- Our 8-day Iceland itinerary – and suggestions for 5-9 days
- What to do in Iceland: the best of the south and east of the island
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And here our posts about other destinations in Europe:
Greece
Spain
Balkans Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Ultimate guide to Kotor, Montenegro: what to do, where to stay, when to go, and much more
- Mostar – what to do in the most charming city in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- 20-day itinerary through the Balkans, in Eastern Europe – Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina
- What to do in Sarajevo: 1 or 2-day itinerary in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Portugal
- Portugal in two weeks: our complete itinerary and tips
- One week in the Azores - Complete itinerary with Sao Miguel, Pico and Terceira Islands
- São Miguel, Azores: your complete guide to the largest island in the Azores
- Pico Island – complete guide to visiting the most picturesque island in the Azores
- Terceira Island (Azores) – itinerary and tips
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And now, after this bunch of tips, save this pin to your Pinterest account, so you can find this post whenever you need it, with everything you need to know to visit Norway in 12 days, and suggested itineraries for 7, 10, 15 or 20 days!
