Five things that make
Western Norway a
nature-lover's paradise

Looking for your next 72 hour outdoor adventure? Look no further than awe-inspiring Western Norway.

I pretty much love everywhere I go. Whenever people asked me which place I liked best, I never had an answer. But that was before I visited Western Norway. Stunningly beautiful and almost fantastical Western Norway. One look at a fjord, and that question is no longer difficult: Norway is my all-time favorite place. It has never ending greenery, tall evergreen trees, so much water, and lots of mountains. It has scenery and hiking trails unique to anywhere else in the world. So for those nature-loving adventure seekers out there, Western Norway should be on your list! Here are five things that make it a nature-lover’s paradise:

1. Cities that are one with nature.

   Western Norway’s biggest city is Bergen, a city so colorful and charming that you’ll want to spend 72 hours just exploring its quaint streets. My favorite thing about Bergen is that one minute you can be in the city center, and then the next you can be hiking in a forest. Not far from the city center is a hiking trail that leads up to Mount Fløyen, which is a scenic viewpoint over the city. The hike takes about 45 minutes and is all up hill, but it isn’t too difficult and the trail is well-marked. I even saw countless locals running up the trail in the rain! For those who aren’t as keen to run or walk to the top, you can purchase tickets to the cable car.

   Bergen is set between two fjords and is known to be rainy, but don’t let that deter you from your outdoor pursuits. Dress for the weather, act like a local, and forget about the rain! Walk through the winding, cobblestone streets admiring the beautiful houses that cover the hills. Visit the Hansiatic village right by the Bergen Wharf (Bryggen in Norwegian). It’s a collection of cute and colorful houses from the 14th-16th centuries (some rebuilt due to fires) that is right next to the wharf. See the renaissance Rosenkrantztårnet tower, and hike the nearby hills for amazing views.

   

   

2. Fjords. The incredible, unreal-looking fjords.

   Want to see views so beautiful that they make your jam drop? Want to see these views around every corner? If you said yes to both of these questions, driving (or taking the bus) around Western Norway will make your life. Seriously, the fjords are so pretty. If these pictures don’t convince you to visit Norway, I don’t know what will.

   
   I was taking pictures like crazy and probably annoying all the locals on the bus, but I didn’t care. I’ve been to a lot of places, but Western Norway is like nowhere else I’ve seen. Within 10 minutes of leaving Bergen, you can see steep cliffs dramatically falling into water with waterfalls running down the sides. You can see small houses in the middle of fjords with moss covered roofs. You can see fjord after fjord, and each one is as beautiful as the last. You can also go through a ton of tunnels through the mountains and then come out and see yet another incredibly beautiful fjord.  It’s seriously awe-inspiring and amazing and it might just make Norway your favorite place on Earth.

   The best hiking spots.

   While I had always wanted to visit Bergen, the main reason I traveled to Western Norway was to hike to Trolltunga, known as the Troll’s Tongue in English. Ever since I saw photos of hikers standing on the massive rock jutting out over a fjord, it was my dream to complete this 7-10 hour hike.

   
   For a while I was waiting to go during a time when friends could join me, but eventually I got tired of waiting and just booked a flight (a pretty common occurrence for me). To get to the trail, I took a three hour bus ride from Bergen to Tyssedal, the closest town to the trail. There really isn’t anything in the town, but the scenery was beautiful! I stayed at the Trolltunga Guesthouse which ended up being perfect. All the other people staying at the hostel were hiking the next day as well, so instead of having to do the hike by myself, I teamed up with two other solo travelers (who both happened to be super nice Australians). I originally thought I would be hiking by myself, but hiking the trail with new friends made the experience even more special. I solo travel pretty frequently, and encourage you to do the same! If you want to go somewhere, do it! Solo travel has helped me to gain confidence, become less indecisive, see places I’ve always wanted to see, and make new friends. I recommend trying it for 72 hours!

   
   For those looking to hike to this one-of-a-kind spot, I definitely recommend driving your rental car (or getting a ride in a new friend’s rental car) to park near the start of the trail. They only allow 30 cars there, so you have to get up early! We got there between 6 and 6:30 in the morning and were car number 12. This was in September though, which is not peak season. If you don’t get a spot, you have to walk up boring switchbacks for an hour or two with no view before getting to the real trail. I didn’t regret missing that at all. If you don’t have a ride, you can always try to hitchhike up. We picked up some Belgians along the way, and they were very grateful! Overall, I didn’t find the Trolltunga hike too challenging (definitely was challenging at times, but on a whole it’s not so bad), and the views make the hours of walking so worth it!

   For those who want to do more hiking, there are plenty of other places in Norway to visit! The most famous hikes for tourists are Trolltunga, Preikestolen, and Kjeragbolten. You probably won’t meet many (if any) Norwegians on these hikes (I’m convinced that they save all the best ones for themselves), but chances are you’ll meet other foreign adventure seekers who you can join along the way if you’re a solo traveler.

   Waterfalls, waterfalls, and more waterfalls.

   If you visit the Western Norwegian fjords, you’ll see more waterfalls than you ever imagined. These waterfalls range from a slight trickle down the side of a cliff to powerful, fast flowing falls. Renting a car is the best way for you to see all the waterfalls (and to stop and take photos). I took a bus to Tyssedal and spent most of the bus ride taking pictures out of the bus window (not idea). On my way back to Bergen, I got a ride with one of the people I hiked with to Trolltunga, which was so much better! (Obviously I don’t recommend getting in cars with strangers, but after spending an entire day walking with someone and hearing their life story, it’s a little different). Without this generous new friend, I wouldn’t have gotten to see the beautiful (and roaring) Steinsdalsfossen waterfall (among many others).

   
   
   
   

   Quirky trolls.

Norway is all about trolls. They’re in Norwegian folklore. They’re in souvenir shops. They’re in playgrounds. They’re in street art. They’re in the names of different rock formations like Trolltunga and Trollpikken (look it up. You’ll laugh). And they’re amazing. Growing up I always had a wooden Norwegian troll in my room (actually have no idea who gave it to me and it looks terrifying, but I always liked it for some reason), so I loved seeing these funny looking creatures everywhere. On the top of Mount Fløyen, I even found a huge wooden troll that looks exactly like the one I had taken a picture with in Disney World when I was six years old. While they are a bit strange looking, seeing these quirky trolls everywhere helps to make Norway and it’s natural beauty seem even more unreal.

If you love nature, one trip to Western Norway will make you want to go back again.

And again. And again. It might even make all other nature look sub-par in comparison. But it’s so worth it. This post and pictures don’t even do it justice; it’s a place you need to experience for yourself for at least 72 hours. Need more Norway tips? Do you also think that Norway is the most beautiful place in the world? Comment below and share with your friends!

Itinerary: 72 hours in Western Norway

Day One

• Spend around half a day in Bergen
  • Wharf
  • Hansiatic Village
  • Rosenkrantz Tower
  • University
• Drive or take the bus to Tyssedal. If you are taking the bus, you would be leaving from Bergen busstasjon (Bergen) and arriving in Tyssedal. The transportation website gives you a lot of options, and they all require at least one change. Not all are buses, so you have to pay attention. Some are trains and some are ferries. I went with the bus option and went from Bergen to Voss, changed at Voss and headed towards Odda, getting off at the Tyssedal stop. I actually ended up switching buses twice (not sure where I switched the second time), but didn’t have any issues.

Day Two

• Hike Trolltunga
• Drive or take bus to Odda for dinner

Day Three

• Drive or take bus back to Bergen.
  • Stop at Steinsdalsfossen Waterfall if you are driving.
• Bergen
  • Hike up to Mount Fløyen