Norway by car in 4 days, Please help

Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 02:22 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Norway by car in 4 days, Please help

Hi,

My husband and I are planning to travel to Norway this summer, early June, along with our kids aged 10 and 5 (our first trip to Scandinavia)
We only have one week and out of that we were planning to spend 3 days in Stockholm, Sweden. Before that we are planning to start at Oslo and drive around till Bergen from where we can catch a flight to Stockholm.
Day 1: Fly into Oslo in the morning from Germany and spend one night there.
Day 2: Leave Oslo and drive on our own along a scenic route and stay the night at a place suitable to view the fjords. Would Voss be the right place to stop to view Sognefjord?? We also like to stay in luxurious hotels, so would like to make a stop at a place which has some nice hotels
Day 3: Visit some fjords (which ones are the most picturesque and do-able??). How long would it take to visit the fjords? Can we drive to Bergen the same day??
Day 4: Fly from Bergen to Stockholm.

Very confused as to which route we should take, where we should base ourselves and also which fjords to visit. Will it be too much of a drive all the way to Bergen? What is the one thing we should not miss???

Really look forward to some advice...

Thank you.
Travelind27 is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 03:56 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Quite honestly I think your plan is horrendous....and this is why:

- Road distances in Norway, much like in Ireland, are misleading. While roads are good, the average speed is nowhere near 55-75 MPH you would need to meet your schedule.

- NOTHING compares with a road trip in Norway stopping at leisure. The Norway in a Nutshell (NIN) comes close but the flexibility and how close you can get while driving so close to spectacular scenery can not be matched. However, you need TIME to do this.

- My husband and I drove from Oslo to Bergen and back to Oslo. We explore many towns, fjords villages, waterfalls, hiking trails, and incredible stave churches; we took 8 days to do this and we were definitely pressed by time. We did this in late June, had no kids with us, rented a hybrid for fuel economy.

The part about flying in to Oslo to immediatelyu take off makes no sense whatsoever. PLEASE consider flying Germany to Bergen-- pick up a car, explore the Sognefjord for a couple of days, fly Bergen-Stockholm. You will SAVE money in fuel and overnight stays.
Viajero2 is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 07:35 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi,

Thank you so much for taking out time to reply...

We definitely want to drive, as you said, being so close to nature is unmatched.

So we can plan on flying into Bergen directly and skip Oslo altogether.
Day 1: we stay in Bergen
Day 2 : We drive out. Which route should we take for Sognefjord?
Which place should we stay overnight to be able to explore that area better?
Day 3: Do we move base to another place? or stay in the same place?
Day 4: Drive back to Bergen and fly out to Stockholm.

Does that sound do-able?

Thank you
Travelind27 is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 07:52 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Although I've done considerable research for my trip to Norway this coming May/June, I suggest you go to tripadvisor and the travel forums on Norway for the most informed advice. There are several experts that can easily respond to your queries.

I would suggest that you get hold of a good map of Norway as this will answer your question regarding the best route to Sognefjord area. There are several possibilities as to where to stay, but note that while hotels are very expensive and some have v. pleasant rooms, none would be considered luxurious.
historytraveler is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 08:05 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sorry forgot to provide the link

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Show-Foru...50-Norway.html

click on travelforums
historytraveler is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 08:19 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you for the link.

I read somewhere that Hardangerfjord is a better place to go if you're driving by car. Its also closer to Bergen it seems and therefore more do-able...
But most people seem to talk about Sognefjord...

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Travelind27 is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 08:37 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,947
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
For what you want, the NIN package with an adjustment to stay in Balestrand sounds better than driving.
Michael is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 09:16 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Travelind27-- plenty people on the Fodor's Forum have traveled around Norway extensively so you will find great information already posted.

I LOVED the dramatic sceneries around the Hardanger Fjord, about 120 Kms south of Bergen; just spectacular with dramatic waterfalls, glaciers, green fields, and you can crossed by ferry to other incredible spots in the fjord area. We also explored the Sognefjord, but this was farther out; about 200 Kms. If you focus your exploration on these two areas, you would be exploring the top two fjords areas in Norway.

For the Hardanger Fjord we based in Bergen; Scandic Hotel. Not much to write home about, but centric, clean, and breakfast included which, considering how tremendously expensive food is in Norway, it is a great plus. They had a pool which is a huge with kids. That said, the SAS Radisson was our first choice but they were fully booked with tour groups. For the Sognefjord exploration we stayed at the Fretheim hotel in Flam. GORGEOUS area, train station walking also breakfast included.

IF you had more days (even one more!!) I could see you guys doing both fjords regions. With 4 days, it owuld have to be one of the other.

So, a revised draft WITH 5 DAYS could look like:

DAY 1. Fly into Bergen, pick up car, settle. Explore Bergen

DAY 2. Drive towards Hardangerfjord area, explore. Overnight in Bergen.

DAY 3. Drive towards Sognefjords Area. Explore Overnight in Flam. (We thoroughly explored Vik and stave churches in that region-- Urlund, Undredal, Balestrand, etc....).

DAY 4 Drive at leisure back to to Bergen exploring roadside scenery (waterfalls by the roadside to VOSS are spectacular!)

DAY 5 Fly to Stockholm

Hope this helps. Have a great trip!
Viajero2 is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2012, 08:12 PM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Viajero2 ,

Thank you sooooo much for your feedback!!! That really helps!!! I will definitely try and see if we can add one day...

So what you're saying is that since Hardangerfjord is not too far from Bergen we can easily come back at night to Bergen. That helps with kids as it always unsettling to pack and move.

And then on Day 3, we can stay overnight in Flam.

Would love to be able to do both Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord area...

Thanks again...
Travelind27 is offline  
Old Mar 15th, 2016, 07:01 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
bookmarking
asmama is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
tongsa
Europe
16
May 20th, 2015 05:04 AM
dapperdoc
Europe
6
Aug 15th, 2012 09:37 AM
nancyz
Europe
11
Jul 18th, 2004 05:08 PM
jamiej
Europe
5
Jun 21st, 2004 12:44 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -