Trollstigen - Western Norwegian nature at its most powerful
Two hours inland from Molde you will find one of Norway’s – and perhaps the world’s – most enchanting tourist routes. The unique and winding drive can be enough to raise the pulse in itself.
11 turns with spectacular views
The Trollstigen winds up from Isterdalen on the back of the Trollveggen, past the beautiful 180-metre-long Stigfossen and up over the mountain to Valldal. This is a journey that should and should be slow. Not only because of the 11 hairpin bends you have to manoeuvre, but also because of all the visual impressions you have to take with you. This is spectacular in the truest sense of the word! The hairpin bends are so tight that there are strict restrictions on which cars may drive on the road, and cars longer than 13 metres are totally prohibited on the route.
Here you are a short drive from both our hotel in Molde and Ålesund.
Half a million visitors
Even if you don't encounter large trailers, there is usually a lot of traffic on this road in the summer. In fact, Trollstigen is Norway’s third most visited tourist attraction, as it is estimated that more than 500,000 people visit the road every year. In comparison, the summer of 2020 is a unique opportunity to experience the attraction in peace and quiet.
Because there’s a reason why the road is popular. Not only is the road a symbol of the Norwegians’ desire to get over mountains to do a good deal, it also forms a beautiful contrast to the green valley and the mighty mountains around it. In fact, this road is surrounded by several mountains of well over 1,000 metres. The fact that the mountains are called Bispen, Dronninga and Kongen says something about how majestic they are.
Trollstigen visitor centre and strawberry village Valldal
The award-winning visitor centre on top of Trollstigen is a great starting point for hiking in the area. It takes 4-5 hours to reach the edge of the Trollveggen, but familiarise yourself with what is required before you go on a tour in this area. On the other side, you will come down to Valldal, an agricultural municipality known for its fantastic strawberries. Pick up a basket from one of the strawberry sellers along the way. Here you get a completely different strawberry experience than what you get in the shops at home.
What’s next?
You can drive the tourist road all the way to Geiranger and see the most postcard-depicted fjord in Norway. Here you’ll also find several hairpin bends and magical lookouts, but kep in mind that it’s a bit of cramped for space in Geiranger during the tourist season. A completely different road trip route can be found on the coast between Molde and Kristiansund. Here, the Atlantic Ocean Road winds it's way from islet to islet, offering sea spray and vast seas views.