Norwegian Scenic
Route Hardanger
Drive through a real-life postcard.
The Norwegian Scenic Route Hardanger, one of 18 Norwegian Scenic Routes, is surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty at every turn.
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A great place to start is in the quirky town of Odda, where you can even spend the night in a unique Woodnest treehouse!
Odda is the perfect base for exploring all the natural wonders in the area, such as...
... the enormous Låtefossen waterfall. It's located around 20 minutes south of Odda by car, along picturesque winding roads. It's a perfect start or end to the scenic route.
Drive across the stone bridge as the water rushes into the river below.
Just 10 minutes north of Odda, you'll find Tyssedal, the starting point of the famous Trolltunga hike. If you're up for a tough challenge, you can hike the 27 kilometres to the rock formation that protrudes 700 metres over Ringedalsvatnet lake.
The hike takes about 8–12 hours to complete. Go with a guide if you want to hike it during the winter months.
You can visit The Power Museum in Tyssedal and learn more about Norwegian hydropower. This is also where you can find Kaiser Wilhelm II's royal loo! He frequently visited Norway at the beginning of the 20th century and has been credited with starting fjord tourism to Norway.
Around 27 kilometres later, you'll reach Espenes, where you'll find both a scenic photo stop and a rest stop with a unique design!
If you follow the scenic route for around 30 kilometres along Sørfjorden, a branch of the Hardangerfjord, you'll arrive at the idyllic villages of Lofthus and Kinsarvik.
Spend a night or two here for panoramic views of the fjord and beautiful rolling hills and towering mountains.
It's a great place to stop for food, with several local bakeries and restaurants. It's also possible to buy freshly picked cherries, strawberries and raspberries on the side of the road when they're in season. You can often just leave coins in a box and take a prefilled basket with you.
For a bit of luxury, check in at the venerable Hotel Ullensvang. Enjoy its first class spa with an outdoor swimming canal and stunning views of the fjord.
This area has no lack of natural beauty and there are plenty of great hikes!
If you're an experienced hiker, try Dronningstien, aka Queen Sonja's Panoramic Hiking Trail. It takes around 6 to 9 hours to complete and has an elevation gain of 1,100 metres.
It's no secret that this area is famous for its lush orchards. The local fruit farmers will happily give you a tour of the rows upon rows of delicate trees. You can also taste their delicious apples, cider, cloudy apple juice, and more!
How about walking the 7-kilometre-long Fruit Trail between Hotel Ullensvang and Hardanger Hostel?
Take the 30-minute ferry ride from Kinsarvik to the historic village of Utne. How about an authentic stay at Utne Hotel, Norway's oldest listed wooden hotel, that started as an inn in 1722? Fun fact: the hotel has always been run by women with strong personalities!
Learn more about local culture at the Hardanger Folk Museum.
If you head south-west along the narrow road from Utne to Jondal for about an hour, you'll reach a ferry that takes you across the fjord to Tørvikbygd.
Before crossing, how about a detour down to the picturesque village of Rosendal, where you can visit Scandinavia's smallest castle, Baroniet, which dates from 1665?
A 20-minute drive from the ferry terminal in Tørvikbygd brings you to the magical Steinsdalsfossen waterfall. You can actually walk behind it without getting wet, thanks to its unique platform!
If you want to see it at its strongest flow, be sure to visit in May or June.
Note that parts of the attraction are closed during the winter months.
Just five minutes down the road lies the charming village of Norheimsund, another great place to spend a night or two.
Explore the cosy local shops and restaurants.
Continue driving on the winding fjord roads for about half an hour until you reach another beautiful rest stop, called Steinstøberget.
There are service facilities and seating, as well as benches by the fjord, where you can take in the view of Hardangerfjorden and the mighty Folgefonna glacier. There's even a spot right by the water if you fancy fishing.
Enjoy the last 30 minutes of the scenic route as you drive to Granvin on yet another narrow and winding road. If you still have some time left you might want to take a slight detour, as Skjervsfossen waterfall is only about 10 minutes away by car. This is also a great place to start the scenic route if you want to go the opposite way.
Take a break at one of the rest areas and see the twin falls cascading from a 150-metre drop.
Note: the road to this waterfall is closed during winter.
If you have the time, it's worth continuing over the Hardanger Bridge. It's one of the world's largest suspension bridges, connecting the south and north sides of the Hardangerfjord. There are parking spots on either side of the bridge and you can cross it by car, bike, or on foot.
After crossing the bridge, you can drive for another 20 minutes and arrive at the picturesque village of Eidfjord. Wander around the village centre or go on one of the many hikes in the area.
A short drive up a winding tunnel from Eidfjorden brings you to the mighty Vøringsfossen waterfall!
This marks the start of another scenic route in the area, The Hardangervidda Scenic Route, which is 67 kilometres long and runs east between Eidfjord and Haugastøl.
Note that the road is open all year, but the weather heavily affects driving conditions in the winter and can cause temporary closures.