7 Day Norway Road Trip Itinerary & Travel Guide (Stavanger, Odda, Geiranger, Lillehammer & Oslo)
After spending 8 nights in a campervan around Iceland’s Ring Road and 5 nights exploring the Faroe Islands, Norway became the third stop on our 5-week Nordic adventure.
For this leg of the trip, we rented a car and set out on a 7-day road trip loop through some of Norway’s most famous fjord regions, visiting Stavanger, Odda, Geiranger, Lillehammer, and Oslo.
In total we drove about 25 hours across the week, weaving through fjords, waterfalls, glacier valleys, and winding mountain roads. It was absolutely beautiful, but also a lot of driving.
Honest tip:
While this itinerary is doable in 7 days (we did it), 10 days would make this trip much more relaxed, allowing more time for hikes and exploring each stop.
Our Stops
- 1 night in Stavanger
- 2 nights in Odda
- 2 nights in Geiranger
- 1 night in Lillehammer
- 1 night in Oslo
- After Norway, we flew to Belgium for 4 nights at Tomorrowland Festival, which made for a pretty fun contrast after all the fjords and hiking.
Norway Travel Logistics
Our Norway adventure started a little chaotic.
After leaving the Faroe Islands, our flight to Oslo ended up delayed by six hours. By the time we landed at Oslo Airport, it was already late — and we still had a 7-hour drive ahead of us to Stavanger.
Not exactly the start we imagined.
But sometimes travel goes that way. We grabbed our rental car, loaded up on coffee, turned up the music, and powered through the overnight drive. We didn’t arrive at our Airbnb in Stavanger until 5 AM, but thankfully the host allowed a late checkout so we could get at least a little sleep.
Best Time to Visit Norway
Norway is beautiful year-round, but the experience changes a lot depending on the season.
Summer (June – August)
Best for:
- Hiking
- Fjord cruises
- Kayaking
- Midnight sun and long daylight hours
Temperatures are mild and most mountain roads are open.
September
- Beautiful fall foliage
- Cooler temperatures
- Beginning of Northern Lights season
October – November
- Fewer crowds
- Cheaper travel
- Rain is common
- Possible Northern Lights sightings
Winter (December – February)
Best for:
- Skiing
- Dog sledding
- Northern Lights
- Snow landscapes
Expect very short daylight hours.
Spring (March – May)
- Snow activities continue early in the season
- Waterfalls become powerful from melting snow
- Wildflowers start appearing by late spring
Our trip:
We visited July 20 – July 27 and had mostly sunny, warm weather. Geiranger was cooler and cloudier, so a light rain jacket and layers were useful.
One thing that surprised us: nothing felt overly crowded, even in peak summer.
Norway Road Trip Highlights
Stavanger
Highlights:
- Lysefjord fjord cruise
- Hike to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock Hike)
- Cute old town and harbor restaurants
Stavanger makes a great base for exploring the famous Lysefjord region.
Odda
Highlights:
- Base for the famous Trolltunga hike
- Glacier hikes in Folgefonna National Park
- Scenic fjord landscapes
Geiranger
Highlights:
- Kayaking to the Seven Sisters Waterfall
- Beautiful fjord views
- Flydalsjuvet and Ørnesvingen viewpoints
This fjord is one of the most iconic landscapes in Norway.
Lillehammer
Highlights:
- Scenic valley hikes
- Charming small town atmosphere
- Olympic history
Oslo
Highlights:
- Oslo Opera House
- Waterfront dining in Sørenga
- Food trucks and fjord views at Sukkerbiten
Our 7 Day Norway Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Oslo + Drive to Stavanger
Drive time: ~7.5 hours
- Land in Oslo
- Pick up rental car from the airport
- Long scenic drive to Stavanger (we did not get to see the scenery since it was dark out unfortunately)
Because of our delayed flight, this ended up being a very late night drive fueled by coffee and music. Not exactly ideal, but the scenery the next morning made up for it.
Day 2 – Stavanger + Lysefjord Cruise
Drive time: ~4 hours
After sleeping in as long as possible, we explored Stavanger’s harbor area, grabbed coffee, and walked around the very colorful and charming downtown (make sure to walk down Øvre Holmegate street).
That afternoon we did a 3.5-hour fjord cruise with Rødne Fjord Cruise through Lysefjord and Preikestolen.
Cost: about $95 per person.
The cruise takes you past:
- dramatic cliffs
- waterfalls
- views of Pulpit Rock towering above the fjord
- the very spacious cruise ship has plenty of comfortable indoor seating
- has a cafe serving snacks and drinks
Later we grabbed dinner in Stavanger before driving 4 hours to Odda, where we stayed the next two nights in a cozy Airbnb with beautiful water views.
We finished the night with wine on the porch at Vertshuset bar in Odda.
Day 3 – Buarbreen Glacier Hike
We originally planned to hike Trolltunga, but after the chaotic travel days we decided an 11-hour hike wasn’t the best idea.
Instead we discovered the Buarbreen Glacier hike (15 minute drive from Odda), and it ended up being one of our favorite surprises of the trip.
Hike details:
- Distance: ~6 km (3.7 miles round trip)
- Time: 3–4 hours total
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
- Parking: 150 NOK (~$15) paid with credit card at the gate when you exit
- Hike is near Buer Restaurant
This hike includes:
- suspension bridges
- rope-assisted climbs
- glacier views
- rushing glacial rivers
Fun fact: the running water along the trail is safe to drink.
We started late (around 6 PM) and finished close to sunset — which meant almost no crowds.
Afterwards we celebrated with wine and cheese at Buer Restaurant before heading back to our Airbnb.
Day 4 – Scenic Drive to Geiranger
Drive time: ~8 hours
This was the longest drive of the trip, but also one of the most scenic.
Norway’s roads wind through:
- glacier valleys
- waterfalls
- mountain passes
- fjords around every corner
We arrived in Geiranger around 8 PM and checked into a small Airbnb overlooking the fjord. The property had a small café where we grabbed excellent sandwiches before heading to bed.
Day 5 – Kayaking to the Seven Sisters Waterfall
One of the best experiences of the entire trip.
We rented single kayaks from Active Geiranger.
Details:
- Cost: ~ $60 per person
- Duration: 3-4 hours
- Distance: ~10 miles round trip
- Wear closed toe shoes
- Bring a waterproof jacket and a water bottle
- There are guided tours available for more money
Kayaking through the fjord toward the Seven Sisters Waterfall was absolutely incredible.
The paddle there was calm and easy.
The return was much harder because we were going against the current.
Totally worth it.
Afterwards we treated ourselves to spa time at Hotel Union Geiranger, buying day passes for:
- heated outdoor pool
- sauna
- indoor pool
- Perfect way to relax after kayaking.
Day 6 – Trollstigen + Romsdalsgondolen + Drive to Lillehammer
Drive time: ~6 hours
This day was full of scenic stops.
First stop: Gudbrandsjuvet cafe, where we had coffee next to some white-water rapids.
Next: the famous Trollstigen (AKA “The Trolls Path”) known for its steep hairpin turns.
We walked to the viewpoint overlooking the winding road — one of Norway’s most famous photo spots.
Then we noticed a gondola in the distance while driving and decided to go check it out:
it was the Romsdalsgondolen.
We rode the gondola to the top for incredible fjord views and visited Eggen Restaurant at the summit.
That evening we continued driving another 3 hours and 45 minutes to Lillehammer and stayed the night in an Airbnb.
Day 7 – Lillehammers Balberkampen Hike + Oslo
Drive time: ~2.5 hours
Before heading to Oslo, we did the Balbergkampen hike.
Hike details:
- Distance: 1.8 miles (3km)
- Time: ~1–1.5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy–moderate
The trail leads to panoramic valley views and even has a swing at the summit.
After the hike we drove to Oslo and explored the waterfront area near the Opera House.
We had dinner at Seaport Restaurant, then walked around Sørenga and Sukkerbiten, where locals were swimming and jumping off the docks into the fjord.
Such a fun summer vibe.
Final Thoughts on Our 7 Day Norway Road Trip
Norways landscapes were beautiful — towering fjords, glaciers, waterfalls, winding mountain roads, and endless hiking opportunities.
But if I could change one thing about this trip, it would be adding more time. Seven days worked, but it felt rushed with all the driving.
If you’re planning a similar route, 10–12 days would be ideal.
That said, this was still one of the most scenic road trips we’ve ever done — and it definitely made us want to return to Norway someday for a longer, slower adventure.
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