Practical information

Total driving distance: Around 650-750 kilometres, depending on the detours taken.

Best time to travel: May to September usually has the best conditions. Remember that some experiences, such as Trollstigen and Grip, are seasonal.

Suitable for: Couples, families, groups of friends or travellers looking to combine city life, coast, mountains and nature.

Driving from Denmark? Fjord Line is a practical way to start your road trip in Western Norway.

Day 1: Experience Ålesund - Art Nouveau, views and seafood

Start your road trip in Ålesund, a city known for its distinctive Art Nouveau architecture and picturesque location among fjords, mountains and the sea. The city is compact and easy to explore on foot, making it a great place to start your trip.

After checking in at Thon Hotel Ålesund or Thon Hotel Baronen in Ålesund, you can spend the rest of the day exploring the city.

Highlights

• Climb the 418 steps up to Aksla.
• Experience Art Nouveau architecture in Brosundet.
• Visit the Art Nouveau Centre.
• Explore Atlanterhavsparken Aquarium.

Start with a walk through Brosundet, with colourful buildings a stone's throw from the water. The city was rebuilt in Art Nouveau style after a citywide fire in 1904 and is today considered one of Europe’s best preserved Art Nouveau cities.

Aksla, one of the city’s most popular viewpoints, is close to the city centre. Here you can enjoy panoramic views of Ålesund, the islands off the coast and the Sunnmøre Alps on the horizon.

If you want to learn more about the city’s history, start the day with a visit to the Art Nouveau Centre before continuing to Atlanterhavsparken, one of Northern Europe’s largest saltwater aquariums.

Dinner tips

End the day with dinner at one of the city’s restaurants:

• XL Diner is famous for its bacalao, a speciality with roots in Sunnmøre’s long history of clipfish production.
• Fisketorget Delikatesse - a great choice in the city centre for fresh seafood and shellfish. Perfect for lunch or dinner.
• Anno Restaurant - an excellent destination for Norwegian and international dishes, perfect for those looking for more variety.

Day 2: From Ålesund to Fosnavåg - lighthouse, archipelago and dinner on Skotholmen

Driving time: approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes

After breakfast, head south towards Fosnavåg. Along the way, you drive through a landscape with bridges, islands and sea views that will give you a taste of what lies ahead for the next few days.

Before driving to Fosnavåg, we recommend taking a detour to Alnes lighthouse on Godøya.

The lighthouse has guided sailors since 1853 and offers beautiful views of the ocean. On clear days, you can see the Norwegian Sea stretching out to the horizon.

Afterwards, you continue towards Fosnavåg and Thon Hotel Fosnavåg, which is centrally located by the harbour.

Highlights

• Alnes Lighthouse
• Horizon Restaurant
• RIB boat tour
• Skotholmen

Start the afternoon with lunch at Horisont Restaurant, where the focus is on local ingredients. The restaurant offers views of the shipping lanes and a good introduction to the coastal culture of Sunnmøre.

After lunch, the highlight of the day awaits.

A RIB boat takes you among the islets, skerries and small island communities of the archipelago off the coast of Herøy. From the sea, you get to experience first hand the landscape that has shaped life along this part of the coast for generations.

If you are not interested in a RIB boat tour, an excellent alternative is a trip to Runde. Admire the puffins and rugged coastal landscape or book exciting activities at Runde here.

Dinner on Skotholmen

Every evening, a boat departs from the pier at Thon Hotel Fosnavåg to Skotholmen.

This small island has a long history as a trading post and fishing village and is known today for its restaurant in a renovated seaside cabin from the 1800s. The restaurant has a seasonal menu with a focus on seafood – for the perfect end to the day.

Day 3: From the archipelago to Molde - coastal city, views and local flavours

Driving time: approx. 3 hours including ferry and stops

After enjoying breakfast in Fosnavåg, head north towards Molde. The road takes you along beautiful coastal landscapes to ferry crossings and views of mountains and fjords – the drive itself is part of the experience.

On arrival, check in at Thon Hotel Moldefjord, which is centrally located by the harbour and a great base for exploring the city on foot.

Highlights

• Molde city centre
• Varden viewpoint
• Romsdal Museum
• Restaurant Hav

Spend the afternoon exploring Molde. Known as the 'city of roses', the city combines relaxing small town charm with views of the distinctive Romsdal Alps. During the summer, the rose gardens in the city centre are in full bloom and the harbour promenade is the perfect destination for a stroll.

Afterwards, head up to Varden, Molde’s most famous viewpoint. From here you can see the famous Molde panorama, comprising over 220 mountain peaks and a sight that has impressed visitors for generations.

If you're interested in local history, the Romsdal Museum is well worth a visit. It is one of Norway’s largest museums of cultural history and shows what life has been like along the coast and in the valleys for centuries.

End the day with dinner at Restaurant Hav, where the menu features seasonal ingredients from the coast and fjords around Molde.

Day 4: Experience Åndalsnes - mountains, views and spectacular nature

Driving time: approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes each way

Today, you leave your luggage in Molde for a day trip to Åndalsnes. After a day of mountain and nature experiences, you return to Molde before your road trip continues north towards Kristiansund the following morning.

Highlights

• Rampestreken
• Norsk Tindesenter
• Trollveggen
• Rauma line
• Trollstigen (when the road is open)

Start your day at Norsk Tindesenter, where you can learn about Norwegian climbing history and the mountains surrounding Romsdalen.

The highlight of the day – Rampestreken – awaits afterwards. Follow a well-marked trail up the mountainside that offers increasingly stunning views of Åndalsnes, Raumaelva and the surrounding mountains. At the top is the viewing platform Rampestreken, located 537 metres above sea level and offering panoramic views of Romsdalen.

For a less strenuous route, you can combine the hike with the Romsdal gondola. Lots of people choose to walk one direction and take the gondola the other, while others take the gondola both up and down to enjoy the views from Nesaksla without the long hike. Simply choose the experience that best fits your schedule, physical condition and preferences.

Afterwards, you can drive to Trollveggen, Europe’s highest vertical rock face. The visitor centre and vantage point give a good impression of its enormous dimensions.

For a relaxing experience, you can take the Rauma line, considered one of Norway’s most beautiful train routes.

If Trollstigen is open, a detour is recommended before returning to Molde. This iconic mountain road with hairpin curves and spectacular viewpoints is an experience that most people include in a road trip through Western Norway.

After returning to Molde, you can end the day with dinner at Glass Restaurant & Bar, which serves seasonal dishes in the heart of the city centre.

Worth a detour: If you are an experienced hiker and want an all-day experience, Romsdalseggen is a good alternative to Rampestreken.

Day 5: Atlantic Ocean Road to Kristiansund

Driving time: approx. 3 hours without stopping

Today, your road trip takes you to one of the world’s most famous driving routes. From Molde, you head north towards the Atlantic Ocean Road, where bridges and roadways connect small islands at the far edge of the sea.

Highlights

• Atlantic Ocean Road
• Eldhusøya
• Bud (optional stop)
• Kristiansund

Take your time as you drive, stopping at the many viewpoints. On Eldhusøya, you can stroll along a short footpath close to the sea, enjoying fantastic views of the distinctive Storseisundet Bridge.

Time permitting, you can also take a detour to the historic fishing village of Bud or visit Farstadsanden, a long sandy beach with views of the open sea.

In the afternoon, you arrive in Kristiansund and check in at Thon Hotel Kristiansund or Thon Hotel Storgata.

End the day with dinner at Smia Fish Restaurant, where the menu features local ingredients and fresh seafood.

Day 6: Kristiansund - clipfish, culture and coastal history

Kristiansund is built on four islands and has a long tradition of fishing and clipfish production. The city is compact and easy to explore on foot.

Highlights

• Sundbåten
• Klippfiskmuseet
• Innlandet
• Varden viewpoint

Start the day with a trip with Sundbåten, the world’s oldest public transport ferry in continuous operation. You can then visit Klippfiskmuseet, which tells the story of one of the region’s most important exports.

Continue to Innlandet, the oldest section of Kristiansund, home to wooden buildings, narrow streets and views of the harbour.

Before calling it a day, a trip up to Varden is recommended, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city and surrounding islands.

Restaurant tips

• Smia Fish Restaurant
• Sjøstjerna

Tips: Make sure to try bacalao while in Kristiansund - the dish has a long history in the city and is still an important part of local food culture.

Day 7: Grip - ending the road trip at the very edge of the sea

Season: The boat to Grip operates during the summer season.

On your last day, you can end your road trip with a boat trip to the island of Grip, Norway’s smallest inhabited island. See all the possibilities and how to plan your day with Gripruta.

Highlights

• Grip stave church
• Small wooden houses and narrow alleyways
• Coastal history
• Boat trip to the island

Grip was once one of the country’s most important fishing villages and the small island has retained much of its historical character. A stroll among the colourful wooden houses gives a glimpse of life along the coast over generations.

If you are not able to visit Grip, you can spend the day exploring several of the coastal paths around Kristiansund or enjoy a quiet lunch at the harbour before heading back. 

Practical information

Total driving distance: approx. 650-750 kilometres, depending on the detours taken.

Best time to travel: May to September usually offers the best conditions. Remember that some experiences, such as Trollstigen and Grip, are seasonal.

Suitable for: Couples, families, groups of friends or travellers looking to combine city life, coast, mountains and nature.

Driving from Denmark? Fjord Line is a practical way to start your road trip in Western Norway.