The Norwegian Scenic Route Ryfylke, in south-western Norway, never ceases to impress as it takes you past breathtaking fjords, mountains resembling lunar landscapes, and verdant farmland brimming with colourful fruits and berries.
Norwegian Scenic
Route Ryfylke
From mountains and fjords to lush farmland and skerries
The Norwegian Scenic Route Ryfylke, one of 18 Norwegian Scenic Routes, takes you on a real journey through Norwegian nature with its varied landscapes.
Explore Ryfylke
This road trip has something for everyone, whether you're a foodie, nature-lover, adventurer, architecture enthusiast, or all of the above. The Norwegian Scenic Route Ryfylke is 260 kilometres long with two ferry crossings along the way. It runs between the Stavanger and Hardanger regions, and is a fantastic route for driving from one region to the next.
It’s a long route with plenty to discover, so it’s well worth spending a week or two exploring this hidden gem of an area. The landscapes may be distractingly beautiful, but be aware that most of the route has narrow, winding roads where you have to use lay-bys to let meeting traffic pass safely.
There are several ways to reach Ryfylke. You can fly to Stavanger airport, rent a car and drive for about an hour to Oanes, including a ferry from Lauvvika to Oanes. It's also possible to fly to Haugesund and drive a rental car for about 1 1/2 hours to Ropeid. Another option is driving for about 5 hours from Oslo or 4 hours from Bergen to Håra.
You can book plane tickets with Norwegian, Widerøe, or SAS.
Starting from Stavanger, this city is worth exploring before you embark on the scenic route. Wander on cobblestone streets past white, wooden houses in the old town.
Then head over to the colourful streets full of cute shops in the city centre. It's also the home of several Michelin-starred restaurants!
Stavanger is also a great starting point for other adventures. Enjoy a fjord cruise that departs directly from the city's harbour. Cruise past islands and into the mighty Lysefjord with its spectacular mountains, waterfalls, and the famous Pulpit Rock. You can also hike to the Pulpit Rock if you're up for the challenge.
Drive for about an hour from Stavanger to Lauvvik and get the ferry to Oanes, which is the starting point for the scenic route if you're driving from the south to the north.
About five minutes into the route, you'll find Høllesli (pictured). Stop here to enjoy panoramic views of the Lysefjord. Spend the night at The Bolder nearby, for even more stunning views of the fjord.
Follow the route for about 20 minutes until you reach Jørpeland. Here you can enjoy a walk along the Jørpelandsholmen Promenade, with views of Solspeilet, art work known as "The Norwegian Stonehenge".
You can explore Lysefjorden from here too, on a cruise, rib boat, or kayak tour.
Drive towards Tau and make a stop at Strand Gård after about 15 minutes. What started as a simple fridge with eggs, accidentally escalated into a fully fledged self-service farm shop, that's brimming with tasty local goods.
Find everything from wood smoked bacon, cured ham, lamb ribs, and mature cheeses to sweet treats, homeware, and vibrant produce.
The fields right next to the shop contain curious woolly pigs that love a bit of attention. Did you know that they can handle temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees celcius?
Continue heading northeast for about 30 minutes to a place called Årdal. This cosy little village is the home of the red, wooden Årdal Old Church from the 17th century.
Follow the route for about 15 minutes before stopping at Ryfylke Gardsysteri. It's definitely worth stopping at their farm shop for their tasty homemade cheeses and yogurt!
Then head back onto the main road, and after about 15 minutes you can take an exciting detour to the island of Randøy. Shortly after crossing the bridge, you'll find Norglamp.
Thomas Helgesen, the fourth generation of his family to own the farm, returned home with his wife, Natalia, and together they transformed it into a unique campsite!
The couple have put a great deal of time and effort into creating a site filled with unique glamping units, all surrounded by beautiful nature, such as The Hobbit Hole or the hanging tent known as The Cocoon. For extra relaxation, book a spot in their sauna and jacuzzi, both with fantastic views.
Some of the units are also accessible, allowing everyone to enjoy the experience!
Top tip: It's close to the family-owned Mikals Laks, where you can buy local smoked and cured salmon!
Activities and attractions
Explore the southern part of Ryfylke through these activities!
Where to stay
Explore accommodation options in the southern part of Ryfylke!
Drive for about 10 minutes to Hjelmeland. This little village by the fjord is a great place for foodies. Enjoy a delicious seasonal meal created with local ingredients at the restaurant Smaken av Ryfylke. Not to mention the stunning fjord view from the restaurant itself.
Sebastian Schläwicke, the chef and owner of the restaurant, originally planned on working at a luxury hotel in Berlin, but ended up quitting after just four days due to the state of the food quality.
He came back to Hjelmeland and brought Smaken av Ryfylke to life with his family.
OmCider is also in this area. Stop by the fruit and cider farm where juicy apples and sweet cherries grow below towering mountains. Try some of their sparkling or still apple drinks, known as Eplemost. They even have an apple energy drink!
Bodil and Andreas Kvame took over Fevoll farm in 2001 as third generation owners. They pick everything by hand and make all their drinks on site. Drop-ins are welcome at the farm shop every Saturday, or you can book a visit.
Then stop by the world's largest traditional chair, Jærstol, before getting the ferry from Hjelmeland to Nesvik. This type of chair is a Norwegian classic and Hjelmeland has been an important town when it comes to its production.
Drive from Nesvik for about half an hour on winding narrow roads above fjords, towards Lovraeidet. From here you have two options. Both roads lead towards Hardanger, so you can choose the road to the east or the west, or drive the entire loop.
This route follows the road to the east and up north to a lay-by for the rest area known as Lovra. Wander along the narrow path to the slightly hidden spot that gives you a stunning view of the Lovrafjord.
Head north along the fjord for about 20 minutes to Høsebrua in the village of Sand. This footbridge allows you to cross the Suldalslågen river and it takes you to a recreational area on the other side. The slightly open grates also let you watch the powerful forces of nature as the river rushes below your feet.
Sand has even more to offer. This village by the fjord has a fantastic café, coffee roaster and restaurant all in one, called Drøs, with freshly baked buns and colourful, delicious dishes. Urban meets rural in a historic building from 1890, and you can even spend the night in their bed and breakfast on the third floor.
You can also stay at Ryfylke Fjordhotell and enjoy calming views of the fjord.
If you want to try something truly unique, how about going on a salmon safari? Experience the Suldalslågen river up close with Mo Laksegård from 1st June to 1st November.
They'll equip you with wetsuits and snorkels before you step into the refreshing river, and allow the stream to take you on an adventure for 2 1/2 kilometres, as you try to spot wild salmon along the clear riverbed. You can also book their sauna as part of the experience.
If you'd rather stay on land you can try guided fishing, or maybe you'd enjoy a calm river expedition on a raft? If all of this sounds fun, how about booking one of their cabins and staying for longer?
After spending some time in Sand, it's time to continue north for about an hour. The winding, narrow roads take you past the beautiful Suldalsvatnet lake, before you enter a slightly hidden village known as Nesflaten.
This is where you'll find Energihotellet in all it's architectural glory. The functionalist hotel gives you a front row seat for the surrounding nature and there's a special sense of calm here. It's a dream destination for both architecture and hiking enthusiasts, and has a special history.
The hotel's restaurant offers an authentic and relaxed experience, showcasing the best of local ingredients. They enjoy experimenting with different recipes and focus on minimising food waste by using the whole animal and serving set breakfast plates, among other things.
One of the dishes that frequents the menu is their silky smooth kulturmelkpudding, that can be described as a Norwegian pannacotta, and the toppings vary depending on the season.
The original building was designed by the architect Geir Grung and built in the early 60s for the Røldal-Suldal hydropower development. The restaurant is where the workers used to eat back then. The newer building from 2015 was drawn by Grung's daughter, Tai Grung.
Geir Grung also drew the brutalist power plant and the functionalist houses built for the workers nearby. It's like discovering a new world hidden in the mountains. The couple that run Energihotellet, Gunhild Moe and Olav Lindseth, offer an architectural and historical tour of the area.
About five minutes further down the road, Juvo awaits. It may not look like much from the road, but there's more than meets the eye! Walk down to the viewing platform and gaze into the gorge with its interesting rock formations and rushing river.
Then a mere six minutes further north lies another spectacular rest area. Enjoy the mighty Flesefossen waterfall and surrounding landscapes. Not to mention the sleek toilets built into a steel and wood structure.
Follow the main road north for about 30 minutes past mountains and Røldalsvatnet lake, to a place called Håra in Hardanger. The roads are still quite narrow with plenty of sharp bends, so watch your speed and use lay-bys when necessary.
From Håra you can take a little five minute detour to Røldal. This little mountain village has a stave church that dates back to the early 13th century.
Food and drink
Try everything from baked goods to fine dining in Ryfylke!
Book nowStavangerTemplate restaurant listing - RE-NAA
In 2016 RE-NAA is the first restaurant outside of Oslo to achieve a Michelin star in the Scandinavian Michelin Guide. The star was maintained in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2020 RE-NAA achieved another star and is the only restaurant in Norway with two stars in the Scandinavian Michelin Guide.
If you don't continue on to Hardanger, it's time to start heading south to complete the loop. Drive for about an hour to Allmannajuvet along a truly special section of the road. First, you'll drive up serpetine bends above a beautiful lake, before entering a vast mountain landscape that feels like being on the moon. The views are simply out of this world!
As spectacular as the scenery is, the roads up here are very narrow, so be prepared to slow down and make room for oncoming traffic.
The Allmannajuvet zinc mines lie in a deep ravine and were in operation from 1881 to 1899. Now you'll find buildings designed by the world famous Swiss architect, Peter Zumthor, that attract architecture students from all over the world. They house a gallery and a café that are open during the summer months.
Tours of the mines are also available at the same time, and part of that tour takes you along the spectacular old mining road that stands above a powerful rushing river.
Carry on for 15 minutes to Sauda. This small town combines history and a plethora of fun activities.
Wander around the area known as Åbøbyen and visit the Ryfylke Museum. This neighborhood was designed and built in the 1920s for people who worked for the Sauda smelting plant. About 120 houses were constructed over the span of 60 years. It's also known as the American Town, as it was built based on the American suburban model.
Activities and attractions
Discover Sauda through these fun activities!
Continue heading south for about 10 minutes and make a stop at Svandalsfossen waterfall. Note that there are limited parking spots, so it's best to not be in a rush.
The waterfall can be enjoyed right by the road, or you can hike up the 540 steps to the top for the most spectacular view of the water plunging down the mountainside.
Follow the picturesque road south for about 20 minutes to Ropeid. This peninsula in Suldal has a rest area with some fun, mushroom-esque sculptures that light up in the dark. Take a seat and enjoy the view!
Then about 10 minutes down the road, another viewpoint and funky toilet awaits. Ostasteidn is on the west side of the Sandsfjord and this landscape heavily inspired the Norwegian artist Lars Hertevig. But it's also possible to take a fun detour right before this stop...
Drive west for about half an hour past farm land, cabins and the coast, until you suddenly see a vinyard right next to a fjord!
The Hebnes vinyard is run by Arild Hebnes and Toyni Tobekk, who swapped pig farming for grape growing. Both grapes and honeyberries grow in idyllic surroundings, before they're harvested by hand. Contact them to visit their farm shop, or to help with harvesting. You can also get here on a fjord cruise directly from Stavanger.
Activities and attractions
Explore the northern part of Ryfylke through these activities!
Where to stay
Explore accommodation options in the northern part of Ryfylke!
It only takes about five minutes to drive from Ostasteidn to Lovraeidet, and then you have completed the whole route! From here you have several different options. You can either drive back down to Stavanger and maybe even embark on the Norwegian Scenic Route Jæren (pictured)?
A two hour drive from Ostasteidn will take you to the coastal town of Haugesund. Explore the Haugalandet area on the way!
Or head north and explore the famous Norwegian Scenic Route Hardanger (pictured).
Camping
Find great camping options in Ryfylke.
Nice to know before you go
The road between Røldal and Helandsbygd, in the northern part of Ryfylke near Allmannajuvet, is closed in the winter months. It opens around May-June, depending on the conditions. Note that after it's been opened, it can close again due to bad weather. Therefore, the recommened time of year to drive this route is from June to September. Note that certain attractions along the road are only open during the summer holidays, so check opening times in advance.
As mentioned throughout the article, there are a lot of narrow sections of road on this route, including sharp serpentine bends and a few steep drops. Make sure that you're comfortable driving on these kinds of roads and that you're respectful of oncoming traffic and wandering sheep. Definitely keep an eye out for lay-bys, especially when driving over the mountain from Håra to Allmannajuvet.
If you have to empty a motorhome or carvan toilet, you have to go to Sauda or Sand.
Information for cyclists:
If you follow the route from Håra to Sauda, you'll have a steep and challenging climb. You can avoid the tunnels along the Saudafjord by following the old road that runs on the outside. You do however, have to cycle through the tunnel between Ropeid and Ostasteidn. The same goes for the route between Håra and Lovra. There are plenty of tunnels and no optional routes.
Source: Norwegian Scenic Routes
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