Norway in August 2025

15 Days → drove ~1800KM

part A: Seattle (SEA) → Oslo (OSL) → Bergen (BGO) → Olden → Loen → Geiranger → Ålesund → Lom → Sogndal → Aurland → Flåm → Bergen

part B: Bergen (BGO) → Oslo (OSL) → Bodø (BOO) → Lofoten Islands (SVJ) → Bodø (BOO) → Oslo (OSL) → Seattle (SEA)

[photographs → https://myinnerpeace.blog/norway-in-august-2025-photos/]

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day 1

Seattle →✈️ Keflavík →✈️ Oslo →✈️ Bergen

departed Seattle at 7:00pm on Icelandair FI682. overnight flight to Keflavík, then connecting through Oslo on Icelandair FI322. a long travel day — landed at Bergen on Scandinavian SK283 at 8:05pm, exhausted. took a taxi from the airport, checked into Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz around 9:30pm. walked out for a late dinner at Egon Kjøttbasaren. ordered burgers and salad. food was good, friendly service. they had outdoor seating with heaters but we opted for inside — it was a bit chilly out there.

Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz [https://www.thonhotels.no/hoteller/norge/bergen/thon-hotel-rosenkrantz-bergen/] — excellent location, just one block behind Bryggen. everything is within walking distances. solid breakfast buffet, good range of options. the head chef came out to interact with guests, to suggest dishes and shared his lovely working experience in Norway.

day 2

Bergen

went out early — around 5–6am — to photograph Bryggen while it was calm. no tourist groups yet – just the colorful historic wooden buildings in the quiet morning light. back for breakfast at the hotel by 9am. later walked around Bryggen and explored the souvenir shops. visited Rosenkrantz Tower (Bergenhus Fortress) – narrow spiral staircases up through dungeons, guard rooms, chapel and royal bedroom to the attic at the top. at 7pm, took the Fløibanen funicular up to Mount Fløyen (320 m above sea level). panoramic views over Bergen and the surrounding fjords. hiked around the mountain trails for a couple of hours — met the resident friendly goats that live up there. enjoyed a gorgeous sunset. dinner at Fløirestauranten [https://www.floirestauranten.no/en] — warm soup, salad, great wine. came back down by 10pm.

tip: Bryggen in early morning is a completely different experience from the daytime crowds.

day 3

Bergen → Olden

breakfast at hotel ~8am. took the public bus to Bergen Airport — frequent service, well marked, easy to navigate. picked up Toyota RAV4 4×4 from Hertz. drove north on E39 toward Sognefjord. took the Lavik–Oppedal ferry — a standard Norwegian car ferry (~20 min). one of many along this route. the drives through western Norway were relentlessly stunning — soaring mountains, green valleys, and traditional red-roofed farmhouses, all perfectly reflected in the still fjords and lakes. we couldn’t stop pulling over. arrived Olden ~5pm. a gigantic cruise ship was docked — a recurring theme on the trip. dinner at Mølla Gjestehus — sandwich and fish, good food. checked into Airbnb Olden Glamping around 6:30pm.

Olden Glamping [https://www.oldenglamping.com/] — stunning location! a single circular transparent dome, completely private, right on the shore of lake Oldevatnet. the host greeted us warmly and shared helpful tips about the area. later, host’s friendly cat stopped by to say meow. a glamping experience that exceeded every expectation.

later that evening, ~7:30pm, drove to Briksdalsbreen glacier — 5mins away. Airbnb host had tipped us: go in the evening to avoid the cruise ship day-trippers. it worked — only 2–3 other people on the trail. hiked in light rain along a wild glacial river. passed Kleivafossen waterfall — the spray hits your face as you hike up. reached the turquoise glacial lake and the glacier tongue at the end. a spectacular hike.

tip: hike Briksdalsbreen in the evening – avoid the crowds completely. parking was fully packed by 10am next day morning.

day 4

Olden → Loen → Geiranger

woke to a jaw-dropping reflection of soaring mountains on lake Oldevatnet — one of the most beautiful mornings of the trip. later left Airbnb, drove to Loen and took the Skylift [https://en.loenskylift.no/] (NOK 625 per person, booked online that morning) — one of the steepest cable cars in the world. 5 minutes from fjord level up to Mount Hoven at 1,011m. 210° panoramic views of mountains, glaciers and winding fjords. lunch at Hoven Restaurant at the top — salad, lamb chop, crème brûlée – happy food with beautiful views. after lunch, hiked around Mount Hoven for about an hour — sweeping 360° fjord views in every direction. met some goats calmly grazing above the clouds. attempted to hike a loop but as fog rolled in with light rain, lost the route — retraced back down. rushed down to catch the popular Hellesylt-Geiranger ferry at 4:30pm (booked it the previous day). about 1hr crossing through the UNESCO Geirangerfjord — past the Seven Sisters and countless other waterfalls, steep mountains and old farms clinging to cliffside. arrived Geiranger ~5:35pm. busy place — had to drive around to find parking. walked around town and had coffee at Café Ole/Olebuda. checked into Airbnb Kilsti Compact Lodge at 6:30pm.

tip: book the Hellesylt–Geiranger ferry in advance — fills up fast with cruise ship passengers.

Kilsti Compact Lodge [https://www.kilsticompactlodge.no/] — moddern scandinavian compact lodge, high on the mountain with sweeping fjord views through glass walls.

day 5

Geiranger → Ålesund → Geiranger

back to Café Ole/Olebuda in Geiranger for breakfast ~10am. took the Eidsdal ferry crossing and arrived Ålesund ~1:45pm. parked and walked around the colorful downtown of Ålesund. later hiked up the 418 steps to Fjellstua viewpoint on Mount Aksla — panoramic views over the city. pretty crowded but worth it. hiked around the top for about an hour. walked down to Dråpe Ålesund Kaffehus for good coffee – a popular specialty coffee shop. did some shopping — mainly quality and stylish rainwear that we don’t get in Seattle. dinner ~6pm at Fisketorget Delikatesse — a seafood restaurant in the heart of Ålesund. had bacalao (salt-cured dried cod) and baked klippfisk — two classic preparations. took the Eidsdal ferry back at 8:30pm.

day 6

Geiranger → Lom → Sogndal

left Airbnb ~10:30am — were immediately held up for about 10 minutes on the narrow mountain road as hundreds of goats crossed, with a handful of farmers struggling to redirect them. one of those unexpected funny moments. coffee at Låna Bistro in Geiranger to start the day. later stopped for coffee and waffle at Pollfoss Boutique Hotel in Skjåk ~1:30pm — right next to the wild Otta River, glacial blue water rushing past. a wonderful midway stop. at 3pm, stopped at famous Lom Stavkyrkje — one of Norway’s oldest stave churches — closed for a private event, so viewed from outside only. drove through many long tunnels — another constant feature of western Norway routes – including the Lærdal Tunnel at 24.5km is the longest road tunnel in the world. arrived Sogndal ~6pm. dinner at Vågal Burger & Gin — and had more fish dishes — good food. checked into Airbnb Sogndal Fjord Panorama Cabin — our original cabin had been double-booked. had to call the host to resolve it and were moved to an alternate cabin, Sognefjord #1. the only negative experience of the entire trip — though the host did resolve it. later at 9pm — hiked down to the nearby beach on the Sognefjord and back. relaxed in the hot tub to end a long day.

Sogndal Fjord Panorama [https://en.sogndalfjordpanorama.no/] — cabins on the Sognefjord with hot tub and fjord views.

day 7

Sogndal → Aurland → Flåm → Bergen

left Airbnb at 11:30am. took the Mannheller–Fodnes ferry crossing (~15 min). coffee break at Fredag & Fretland Bakeri in Lærdal — a cute local bakery. next coffee at Marianne Bakeri & Kafe in Aurland — right where the river meets the Sognefjord. walked around the town and then drove up to popular Stegastein viewpoint at 2pm — very busy – cars parked all along the roadside. drove to Flåm. too crowded — cruise ships had flooded the town. left quickly. visited Flåm Church on the way — an old church. arrived Solstrand Hotel on the shore of Bjørnefjord by 6:30pm — the finest hotels of the entire trip.

Solstrand Hotel [https://www.solstrand.com/] — historic resort with Fjord View. included — 3-course dinner, breakfast buffet, and access to the awesome wellness area. extensive garden with waterfront promenade and gazebo. awesome spa — the best water treatment pool we have experienced anywhere, even better than Bürgenstock in Lucerne! a genuine highlight.

dinner at the hotel restaurant ~7:30pm — white fish, reindeer, an outstanding dessert buffet, great wine.

day 8

Bergen

good breakfast at hotel ~8am. drove out to hike Borgafjellet ~9:30am — tiny roadside parking, only one other car. hiked for about 3 hours, back to the hotel by noon. very quiet trail, good views over Bjørnefjord. later drove back to Bryggen and more shopping. went to Bergen Fish Market — one of Norway’s most famous outdoor markets. tried whale and king crab with beer. bought whale, reindeer and moose sausages. back to Solstrand and experienced the spa for hours.

day 9

Bergen →✈️ Oslo →✈️ Bodø →✈️ Svolvær → Lyngvær

left hotel early, dropped rental car at Bergen Airport ~6am. departed Bergen on Scandinavian SK238 to Oslo. then connecting through Bodø on Scandinavian SK4104. finally landed at Svolvær on Wideroe WF824 at 11:30am — tiny airport. picked up second Toyota RAV4 from Hertz, rental office right outside the terminal. drove to Svolvær downtown. first glimpse of Lofoten: colorful fishing huts (rorbuer) with towering mountains in the backdrop. walked around the marina. lunch at Bacalao Bar — harbor-side restaurant – beers, burgers, omelette. checked into Airbnb Lyngvær Resort (Cabin #19) ~2pm — the best Airbnb of the trip – one of the best we have ever stayed in.

Lyngvær Resort [https://www.lyngvarresort.com/] — breathtaking views from the master bedroom and living space. quiet, peaceful, yet close to Svolvær. spacious and luxuriously modern, fully equipped kitchen, sauna attached to the main bathroom. highly recommended.

at 4pm, drove to Gimsøya, hiked Hoven (368m) — trail starts next to Lofoten Links golf course. muddy through the boggy flatlands at the start, but the views from the top were spectacular — 360° panoramic views over the entire archipelago with white sandy beaches below. back by 7:30pm. dinner at 9:30pm at Brygga Restaurant — waterfront dining, friendly atmosphere. fresh pizza, fish and chips, chicken wings.

day 10

Lyngvær → Svolvær → Hessand Beach → Laukvika → Lyngvær

woke up to stunning views through the large bedroom windows. drove to Svolvær and explored the town. coffee and cinnamon bun at Laura’s Cafe — a local favorite. drove north on the coastal loop through Hessand Beach — a pristine, quiet beach. continued to Laukvika – a quiet fishing village and back to the Airbnb. this northern coastal stretch is largely residential fishing communities — quieter and less touristy than the rest of Lofoten. worth the drive.

day 11

Lyngvær → Henningsvær → Nusfjord → Hamnøy → Sakrisøy → Reine → Nusfjord

left Airbnb, drove to Henningsvær by noon — a charming fishing village. coffee and obvious cinnamon bun at Henningsvær Lysstøperi & Cafe — a famous candle foundry café. colorful handmade candles covering every wall, buzzing atmosphere. tried Lakrids by Bülow — a remarkable Danish liquorice – highly recommended. by 2:30pm, checked into Nusfjord Resort (Cabin 38B) — one of Norway’s best-preserved historic fishing villages.

Nusfjord Resort [https://nusfjord.com/] — Norway’s best-preserved historic fishing village. traditional red fishing huts (rorbuer) with breakfast, open-air wooden hot tub. resort guests park inside the village and come and go freely — while day visitors pay per entry and cannot park inside. the trade-off: the cabins are traditionally beautiful and historic – but tourists walk past all day and peer through the windows. the resident seagulls have clearly claimed the village as their own. well worth staying a night or two.

later drove south through Hamnøy and Sakrisøy to Reine — Lofoten’s most photographed villages, surrounded by dramatic peaks and fjords. Reine — often called Norway’s most beautiful village – red rorbuer perched above the water with steep mountains rising almost vertically behind. Hamnøy — a smaller, quieter version of Reine with the most iconic single photographic frame in Lofoten. Sakrisøy — same dramatic backdrop, but distinctly yellow rorbuer set it apart. at about 5pm, started hiking famous Reinebringen — 448m, seemingly endless stairs. reached the top by 7pm. stunning panoramic views over Reine and the Reinefjord. narrow summit – but crowded. back down around 8pm. dinner Tapperiet Bistro — right in the heart of Reine. fish dishes and colorful drinks.

day 12

Nusfjord → Hamnøy → Sakrisøy → Reine → Nusfjord

breakfast at Nusfjord ~9am. explored the village in the morning. ~1:15pm — drove to Fredvang and started the Ryten hike — 543m summit with iconic views over Kvalvika Beach. good trail with wooden boardwalks through the boggy lower sections. the views from the summit looking down over the turquoise crescent of Kvalvika Beach and the Norwegian Sea were simply extraordinary. back at the trailhead by 5pm. stopped at Ryten & Kvalvika Trail Farm — a newly opened café/pizzeria right at the trailhead. sorbet, cinnamon buns, soda. a perfect end to a long hike. dinner ~9:30pm at Restaurant Karoline in resort — Nusfjord’s flagship restaurant. fish eggs, shellfish, oysters, shrimps, lamb, sweet desserts, and exceptional wines.

day 13

Nusfjord → Hamnøy → Sakrisøy → Reine → Sørvågen → Å → Nusfjord

breakfast at Nusfjord. started the Nusfjord → Nesland coastal hike ~11am — an ancient fishermen’s trail along the coast. relentless climbs and descents, large boulder scrambles, ropes and wooden ladders. trail is marked with red T on boulders — not always easy to spot. the trail itself is the highlight, not the destination. reached Nesland ~2:45pm — a tiny historic hamlet, completely empty, slightly anticlimactic after the effort. took a taxi back to the resort. later drove south through Hamnøy, Sakrisøy and Reine and continued all the way to Å — the literal end of the E10 and the southernmost village in Lofoten. dinner ~9:30pm at Restaurant Gammelbua in Reine — fish, desserts, drinks, and crispy cod tongues — a classic Lofoten delicacy worth trying.

day 14

Nusfjord → Unstad → Svolvær →✈️ Bodø →✈️ Oslo

breakfast at Nusfjord. checked out ~12noon. took the longer route to explore more of Lofoten. stopped at Unstad Arctic Surf in Unstad – one last cinnamon bun of the trip. visited Vågan Church. quick drinks at Nordis, Svolvær marina. dropped off rental car at Svolvær Airport ~5:45pm. then departed Lofoten on Wideroe WF835 to Bodø. arrived Oslo on Scandinavian SK4123 by 9:45pm. checked into Karl Johan Hotel ~11pm.

Karl Johan Hotel [https://karljohanhotel.com/] — central Oslo location.

day 15

Oslo →✈️ Keflavík →✈️ Seattle

breakfast at hotel ~10am. walked around Oslo in the morning — visited the iconic Opera House and other city highlights along Karl Johans gate. left hotel ~12:30pm for airport. left Oslo on Icelandair FI323 to Keflavik. finally arrived back in Seattle on Icelandair FI683 about 8:40pm. end of a great trip!

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trip budget

flights · ~USD $2,700
car rental · Bergen (6 days) + Lofoten (5 days) · ~$2,000
Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz Bergen (2 nights) · ~$750
Olden Glamping (2 nights) · ~$325
Kilsti Compact Lodge (2 nights) · ~$1,000
Sogndal Fjord Panorama (1 night) · ~$500
Solstrand Hotel (2 nights) · ~$1,000
Lyngvær Resort (2 nights) · ~$1,500
Nusfjord Resort (3 nights) · ~$2,000
Karl Johan Hotel Oslo (1 night) · ~$225
dog sitter · ~$2,000
transport (uber / taxi / gas / ferry) · ~$1,000
shopping + food · ~$4,000
total · ~USD $19,000

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Norway — tips

1. always carry rainwear. western Norway weather is unpredictable. a proper rain jacket is essential.
2. hike early or late. day-trippers from cruise ships crowd peak mid-morning to afternoon – plan accordingly.
3. be prepared for extremely narrow mountain roads. you may need to reverse on a cliffside to let oncoming traffic pass.
4. pick up Kvikk Lunsj before a hike. Norway’s iconic hiking chocolate bar.

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