What do you think of Norway Itinerary

Here's our plan so far - wanted to get some ideas. We will have total 10days Aug 18-28

Day 1: arrive in Oslo, fly to Stavanger
Day 2; Hike KjeragBolten, drive to bergen
Day 3: Rest sight see Bergen
Day 4: Norway in. Nutshell
Day 5: Fly to Lofoten islands from Bergen Leknes)
Day 6-8 Lofoten
Day 9: Fly to Oslo from Lofoten
Day 10: depart

Would love to see Northern lights in Lofoten, but aware its a high chance it won't happen

Two travelers - will rent a car for day 1-5; can we rent car in Stavanger and return it in Bergen?

Are hotels or AIrBNB Better?
Have I given enough time in each place?

[ Edit: Edited on 23 Jul 2022, 06:50 GMT by GROSEJAY ]

Looks a good choice of things to do. Pace is ambitious but not silly. Probably about the same as I'd do it.

Yes forget northern lights at that time of year.

No idea about one-way car hire or Airbnb sorry.

Thanks!

Yor plan is ambisious, but doable.

I would suggest not doing eighter Stavanger or a day in Lofoten to spend more time in Bergen, but that's me.

Regarding your questions:

August is too early to see the Aurora. You will not be able to see the Nortern lights before September. Nights in August are still light, even if the midnight sun isn't present anymore.

Hire car: If I were you I'd rent a car when you're in Stavanger to get to Kjerragbolten, and then return it to the rental company. Take a ferry between Stavanger and Bergen (fjordline.com are currently the only company servicing that route). Bergen is a city you definetly do not need a car. I lived in Bergen, and I can trouly say a car would be more trouble than it's worth while you are in Bergen. Norway in a Nutshell is a trip best done with public transport, in fact you have to, since the train from <myrdal to flom is only doable by train. But to answer your question the way you want: You can return the car in Bergen for a fee.

Hotels or AirBnB: All depending on what you rent. There are good and bad hotels and good and bad AirBnBs, so I really cannot answer. As for AirBnB being a problem for locals: we are not there in Norway yet.

Hi Skandinavisk,

Thanks for your suggestions.

The only reason we were going to spend the night in Stavanger is to do the Kjeragbolten or Pulpit Rock hike. I may leave it out. Also heard there's a lot to do in Lofoten ... but if absolutely no possibility of Northern Lights, could skip one of the nights as well.

But why do you say spend more time in Bergen? Did you mean to do the Norway in a Nutshell tour over more than a one-day period?

Thank you SO much for the suggestion about the car being a pain in Bergen. Will look into taking the ferry from Stavanger. I had just thought the drive would give a different vantage point than the Ferry.

Thanks!!

I wouldn't cut out time in Lofoten when first there. I've not visited personally but know many that have, and there is a lot to do and see there, and just the nature side of things would make that worth it vs one of the cities.

I'm guessing this is the Norway in a Nutshell tour you are talking about? I don't think I personally would drop the hiking near Stavanger for an extra day in Bergen when you have about 2 days there (spread over 3 days). But it'd probably be more a cost excercise if I was looking at it. If I had the money and wanted to do as much as possible in the time frame you have, I'd probably go for something similar.

Living in Oslo myself I think you haven't given it much time, but in all honesty the main sites are easily taken in in the time you have

I revisited Lofoten last month (photos below). Was also there in 1973 and in other places in Norway, entering the country from the northern border with Finland. Weather is changeable, so be prepared.

One of the things I liked was that you have a few days in Lofoten so that gives you some backup against poor weather days. I've been but not for long enough - I think that the attraction is the very very scenic drive down the island chain both ways, and then some getting out and hiking. This isn't particularly varied, more a case of if you get one day of clear views it pays for all.

Oslo is a very fun city but I agree that you can see the main sights in the few half days you've allocated. More is nice, but isn't worth sacrificing seeing any of the scenic areas.

I've spent too long in Bergen. I've been through four or five times, I treat it as a jumping off point for the surrounding areas. The main thing I like in the city is to walk seeing the fish market and the Bryggen, take the funicular up Mount Floyen and walk in the woods up there enjoying the views over the city. Easily done in a half day. So I wouldn't get hung up on having extra time in the city - same for Stavanger; nice enough but it's a gateway.

Top of my to-do list is the Pulpit Rock hike. Possibly the Kjerag hike but without having researched in depth I think the main event of the wedged boulder is outside my comfort zone. I've done enough adrenalin rush silly things on mountains, now I want to enjoy the views from a path not leap across gaps. I think it doesn't matter much whether you choose the pulpit rock or kjeragbolten hike, as both will be nice and give you great views of the lysefjord area.

The "nutshell" trip on the train between Myrdal and Flam is very nice, but in a context of the nicest thing people are going to see if they just have time to do the train trip from Oslo to Bergen. I think you will have just as good a time driving round the villages of the fjord country and visiting viewpoints by the roadside. Don't get hung up on heading there just for this rail trip. There are nice cascades to see as the train goes up the valley, but there are cascades aplenty elsewhere too. Arguably if you have a car you can get away from the crowded train and have the freedom to linger in the nice bits, go for a hike, etc.

I think I would forget the train and instead extend a driving segment from Stavanger to Bergen, going via kjerag, then exploring round the Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord areas then to Bergen. There's about 12 hours driving to do that, which seems fine spread over 3 or 4 days.

With your current plan for Lofoten, you're arriving in Leknes halfway down the islands, it would be entirely feasible to head down to the end and back in two days instead of three. (I've done it in one day, Leknes to A and back, with a hike at Reine included.) So I would be tempted to look at flying in to Harstad instead to cover more territory over your planned three days, either that or you could trim your Leknes entry to be a two day trip and use your spare day to add to the fjord country.

The spectacular Trollstigen road has reopened. Photos taken June 25.

https://www.newsinenglish.no/2022/06/10/famed-mountain-road-finally-reopens/

Quoting berner256

I revisited Lofoten last month (photos below). Was also there in 1973 and in other places in Norway, entering the country from the northern border with Finland. Weather is changeable, so be prepared.

Those are stunning photos and have renewed my desire tp go to Lofoten