When you rent a campervan in Norway, your first challenge is to pick which of our country’s many fascinating landscapes to explore. If you choose to include the west coast in your campervan adventure, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to holiday snaps. The nature is simply breathtaking. Here we offer you 5 spots that will beautify anyone’s Instagram-account!
1). Preikestolen, Rogaland
Preikestolen, a majestic cliff that rises more than 600 vertiginous meters straight out of the Lysefjorden, is one of the most stunning sights Norway has to offer. Its unique profile is emblematic and has pride of place on many visitors’ Instagram posts.
Hiking to the top of the cliff is a popular option. The view from the plateau is nothing short of stunning, taking in the Lysefjorden and surrounding mountains. This is an obligatory selfie-spot if ever there was one!
For adrenaline junkies, Preikestolen offers great base-jumping possibilities. As one of the most well-established tourist attractions in Norway, Lysefjorden offers great facilities for visitors. You will not have a hard time finding a good place to camp out with your rented motorhome.
2). Geirangerfjorden, Møre & Romsdal
This UNESCO World Heritage site counts among the most beautiful of the west coast’s many fjords. And that is really saying something! Surrounded by steep mountains that rise steeply right out of the water on all sides, Geirangerfjorden offers a plethora of great spots for a photo session. The hiking terrain is excellent, and the views from up in the mountains are amazing.
A highlight for many, are the two waterfalls that cascade down the mountainsides that surround the fjord: Friaren (The Suitor) and De Syv Søstre (The Seven Sisters). If you can’t snap a good pic here, you never will!
The charming village of Geiranger and the surrounding area, offer many suitable places to set up base with your hired campervan.
3). Kaupanger, Sogn & Fjordane
Along the longest fjord in Norway, Sognefjorden, we find the ancient village of Kaupanger. Surrounded by stunning natural beauty, this is a great stop as you drive your campervan along the impressive fjord. Dating back to the Viking-age, Kaupanger boasts a rich history. The highlight is without a doubt, the famed Stavkrike, a church that dates back to about 1200 AD. It is certainly worth a picture or ten!
The surrounding mountains offer a wealth of hiking trails. From nearby Storhaugen Mountain, you enjoy unimpeded views of Sognefjorden and the landscape that surrounds it.
Kaupanger is easily reached by road and offers many exciting places to set up base with your hired campervan from Cabin Campers.
4). Trollstigen, Møre & Romsdal
When you rent a campervan in Norway, driving up Trollstigen – a serpentine mountain road that snakes its way up to an elevation of 850 meters above sea level – should be close to the top of your list of things to do. The many hairpin turns to make for spectacular views from the road, as you drive up it in your cabin camper. They are also very picturesque in their own right. The road has several viewing platforms where you can stop for taking pictures and marvel at the scenery underway. A highlight is the Stigfossen waterfall, which cascades 320 meters down the mountainside, adjacent to Trollstigen. There is a visitors’ center which offers great views and excellent facilities.
Please note that Trollstigen is closed in fall and winter. Sometimes the season can be extended, weather permitting. Make sure to check this before planning your campervan adventure in Norway.
5). Bryggen in Bergen, Hordaland
Bergen is Norway’s second city, and arguably the most beautiful. The ancient trading port was our capital city for many centuries, and boasts a rich history. There are many beautiful old buildings, such as Gamlehaugen Castle and Bergenshus Fortress, and the city is surrounded by seven mountains that offer a scenic backdrop.
The highlight for many visitors to Bergen is Bryggen. This UNESCO World Heritage site, right in the heart of the city, is iconic for Bergen. It consists of rows of charming, colorful, wooden buildings that line the harbor. Great for snapping a selfie in front of. No visit to Bergen is complete without visiting Bryggen, and no visit to Norway’s west coast is complete without visiting Bergen!
It is worth pointing out that some of these spots are so Instagram-tastic that they draw vast crowds of visitors from all over the world. This can result in periodic queues and crowding. This is worth keeping in mind when you hire a campervan in Norway. For example try to camp near the sights, and try to get up early in the morning before the crowds!
Reaching the west coast from Oslo (where you pick up our campervans) is easy – and there are several scenic routes you can take to get there. Depending on how you cross over from Oslo to somewhere on the west coast, it can take 7-12 hours of driving. You can split that up in two days, and for example, combine it with at a hike to Gaustatoppen right in the middle of Norway. We are always available to recommend routes to you – just get in touch!
