Finally, Norway Itin - please critique & advise
 

Firstly, a huge thanks for the great and patient guidance! Can't really imagine how one travelled in the pre-internet and pre-Forum era!

So here goes, firming up slowly but as am writing it, doubts creep up again!

2N Oslo
2N Bergen
1N? Driving to Jorpeland on the "Discovery Route via Ryfylke". Any ideas for night halt?
2N Jorpeland
Can I skip going to Stavanger and Tau completely if I am going on the Ryfylke route? Not clear from the route maps as such. Is 2N too much - thought we might be tired from the hike up and relax/recup there itself.
1N Odda or Roldal? Enroute Gudvangen (ferry to Kaupanger)? Any thoughts? Does the route up from Jorpeland have to be the same as way down?
2N Sogndal/Solvorn or somewhere further? Suggestions of places? Aim is to do the glacier walk at Nigardsbreen and not to close to the city centre. Read is that Nes/Luster is too far out for a single day non-stop return drive to Bergen. Which route would be the most efficient? Or should I stop overnight enroute?

Am I missing anything in the vicinity that I should consider?
Thanks again!

Assume you are doing Norway in a Nutshell route between Oslo and Bergen, then hiring car after stay in Bergen.
FjordTours gives suggestions for overnight on Ryfylke route. Never stopped in Jorpeland but tourist office makes it sound attractive http://www.visitnorway.com/uk/
You can skip Stavanger and Tau. The FjordTours route takes you through Lysebotn (access to Kjerag) on the way to Stavanger. If you drive into Stavanger you can return by coast road E39 - E134.
What city centre - these are all small villages? Use journey planner to get an idea of net driving times - http://www.visitnorway.com/uk/VN/Map/ but these are optimistic and don't allow for ferries (waiting and crossing time) or stops etc. A 4 hr net drive is a good guide for a day's travel if you want to stop and smell the roses on the way.

Some typical Oslo restaurants with lots of history in the walls:

Olympen: http://www.olympen.no/
Frognerseteren (fabulous views of the city and the fjord from the west): http://www.frognerseteren.no/
Ekebergrestauranten (fabulous views of the city and the fjord from the east): http://www.ekebergrestauranten.com/
Theatercaféen: http://www.theatercafeen.no/restaura...tercafeen.aspx
Lorry: http://lorry.no/

The three best restaurants in town:
Maeemo: https://vimeo.com/27856616
Ylajali: http://www.ylajali.no/
Statholdergaarden: http://www.statholdergaarden.no/

I recommend the Grünerløkka and Majorstua districts to get a feel for the city.
Grünerløkka: http://www.visitoslo.com/en/activiti...s/grunerlokka/
Majorstua: http://www.visitoslo.com/en/activiti...ghs/oslo-west/

Lots of great parks in town, from huge Vigelandsparken to bustling St. Hanshaugen. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parks_a...spaces_in_Oslo
The Vigeland park: http://www.vigeland.museum.no/en/vigeland-park
St. Hanshaugen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Hanshaugen_Park

Kimhe, thanks for the tips. Still figuring out Oslo acco.

Dyoll, your advice has been invaluable. Finally getting there, though circuitous going to be able to do most of what I want...I meant village/town centres not city of course (as they say, 'my bad')

Ditched the NIN Flam/Gudvangen for a pre-booked Bergen-Gudvangen-Kaupanger ferry ride. Hope to be able to the blue ice hike at Jostedal. Worry is the long drive back from there towards Ryfylke where it looks like I have to pass the Gudvangen.

Decisions pending:
1)Stavanger to Haugesend (a 55 km stretch can take 3 hrs!?) - overnight at Stord or Etne or Haugesend?
2)Laerdal to Jorpeland (Pulpit Rock) - stoppver at Lofthus or Odda or Kinsarvik?

And while I am writing this,wondering if it should be Vik/Balestrand? And or the glacier walk at Jondal (Folgefonna) and forget Sognefjord for Hardangerfjord...

Ooh, better get off the forum before I start this all over again...

Stavanger - Haugesund 81 km plus a ferry. But Stavanger - Bergen (passing Haugesund) is 210 km and by bus is only 5 ½ hrs including another ferry.
http://www.fjord1.no/eng/ferry/ferry-timetables