Nordic Road Trips: Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Faroes

This guide covers five Nordic road trips: Norway's National Scenic Routes, a 12-day Bergen to Tromsø drive, Sweden's Wilderness Road, Finland's Lake District and the Faroe Islands. The main season is June to mid-September; several mountain roads only open from late May or June.

Roads are well maintained but distances are long, speeds are low, ferries are frequent and costs are high, so plan fewer kilometres a day than you would elsewhere in Europe.

1. Norwegian Scenic Routes

Norway has 18 National Scenic Routes, totalling over 2,100 km of roads chosen for their views. Each route features architecturally striking viewpoints, rest stops, and installations by leading Norwegian architects and artists, so the stops are worth pulling in for.

Three routes stand above the rest. The Lofoten Islands route winds through an archipelago of sharp peaks rising directly from Arctic waters, connected by bridges and tunnels. Trollstigen (the Troll's Path) climbs through 11 hairpin bends up a near-vertical mountain face beside the Stigfossen waterfall. And Geiranger-Trollstigen links two of Norway's most famous fjords via mountain roads that rival anything in the Alps.

Must-drive Norwegian Scenic Routes

• Lofoten (230 km): Arctic beaches with turquoise water, traditional fishing villages (rorbuer), and the Northern Lights in winter. The road crosses bridges between islands with mountains on all sides.
• Geiranger-Trollstigen (106 km): The best-known serpentine road in Norway, with 11 hairpin bends. Open late May to October. The viewing platform at the top cantilevers over the void.
• Senja (102 km): Called "Norway in miniature," this island route north of Lofoten offers similar scenery with a fraction of the visitors.
• Hardangervidda (67 km): Crosses Europe's largest mountain plateau, treeless upland at up to about 1,250 metres dotted with cairns and wild reindeer.
• Atlanterhavsveien (36 km): The Atlantic Ocean Road, eight bridges hopping between islands in the open Atlantic. In storms, waves crash over the road itself.

The Atlantic Ocean Road is most spectacular in autumn storms, when massive waves break over the bridges. It is occasionally closed in the worst storms, so check the Norwegian roads authority (Statens vegvesen) before you set off.

Start your Norwegian road trip from Bergen, the gateway to the fjords and a beautiful city in its own right. Plan this trip to map out a fjords and scenic routes itinerary.

2. The Fjord Route: Bergen to Tromso

This 1,800 km drive from Bergen to Tromso traverses the full length of western Norway's fjord country and crosses the Arctic Circle along the way. It takes at least 10 days, from the orchard-lined shores of Hardangerfjord through Sognefjord and Geirangerfjord, over mountain passes and through tunnels, to the Arctic coast of Nordland and Troms.

The fjords themselves are the stars. Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is 15 km long and flanked by 1,600-metre mountains from which waterfalls plunge directly into dark blue water. Sognefjord, Norway's longest at 204 km, penetrates so deep into the mountains that its innermost arm, Naeroyfjord, narrows to just 250 metres between cliffs over a kilometre high. Many fjord roads are narrow and cut into the cliff, so expect to reverse for buses now and then.

Suggested Bergen to Tromso itinerary (12 days)

1. Days 1-2: Bergen. Explore Bryggen wharf, ride the Floibanen funicular, visit the fish market.
2. Days 3-4: Bergen to Geiranger via Hardangervidda and Sognefjord. Take the Flam Railway detour (park your car and ride the train through the mountains).
3. Days 5-6: Geirangerfjord and Trollstigen. Drive the Eagles Road (Ornevegen) for views over the fjord, then cross to Trollstigen.
4. Days 7-8: Atlantic Ocean Road and Kristiansund. Drive the famous island-hopping bridges.
5. Days 9-10: Cross the Arctic Circle. Stop at the Arctic Circle Centre on the E6. Continue to the Lofoten Islands via ferry from Bodo.
6. Days 11-12: Lofoten Islands to Tromso. Tromsø has the Arctic Cathedral and is a good place to drop the car and fly home.

Budget for ferries. Norway's fjord country requires numerous ferry crossings, and they add up. A Bergen to Tromsø trip can involve six or more crossings, and Lofoten ferries cost considerably more than short fjord hops. Many ferries and toll roads charge automatically by number plate, so ask your hire company how it bills these. Check timetables before you go, as some routes run infrequently.

3. Swedish Lapland and the Wilderness Road

Swedish Lapland is flatter and emptier than Norway. The Wilderness Road (Vildmarksvagen), running 360 km from Stromsund to Vilhelmina via the Norwegian border, crosses one of the emptiest landscapes in Europe: a vast boreal wilderness of birch forest, mountain tundra, and lakes that stretch to the horizon. Traffic is very light.

The Wilderness Road reaches its highest point at Stekenjokk, about 875 metres above sea level, where the road crosses an exposed mountain plateau with views stretching into Norway. Snow poles mark the road's edge because drifts can reach several metres deep in winter. Around midsummer it barely gets dark. In September, the mountain birches turn golden and the sky fills with the first Northern Lights of the season.

Swedish Lapland highlights

• Stekenjokk plateau: The highest and most remote section of the Wilderness Road. Usually open from early June to mid-October only.
• Fatmomakke: A Sami church village with traditional wooden huts and a church, near Vilhelmina.
• Jokkmokk: Home to the Sami winter market held every February since 1605. The Ajtte Museum is the best introduction to Sami culture in Sweden.
• Kungsleden (King's Trail): Sweden's best-known hiking trail starts further north at Hemavan; a short day walk gives you a taste of it.
• Icehotel, Jukkasjarvi: The world's first ice hotel, rebuilt from Torne River ice every winter. Open year-round (permanent ice rooms are kept at -5C even in summer).

Carry mosquito repellent and a head net in Swedish Lapland during summer (June-August). The mosquitoes in the birch forests can be ferocious. DEET-based repellent is most effective. By September, they have disappeared entirely.

4. Finland's Lake District

Finland has 188,000 lakes, and the Lake District in the southeast of the country contains the greatest concentration of them. Driving here is unlike anywhere else in the Nordic region: a gently rolling landscape of forests, lake after lake after lake, wooden summer cottages, and very quiet roads.

The route from Helsinki north through Lahti, Jyvaskyla, and Kuopio to Savonlinna covers roughly 550 to 600 km through the heart of the lake country. Savonlinna is the highlight, a town built on islands in the middle of Lake Saimaa, dominated by Olavinlinna Castle, a 15th-century fortress that hosts an opera festival each July.

Finnish Lake District essentials

• Sauna culture: Finland has roughly 3.3 million saunas for a population of 5.5 million. Many lakeside accommodations have private saunas, and the tradition of alternating between the sauna and a plunge in the lake is an essential Finnish experience.
• Saimaa ringed seal: Lake Saimaa is home to one of the world's rarest seals, with a population of only around 500. Boat tours from Savonlinna offer a chance to spot them.
• Punkaharju Ridge: A 7 km esker ridge running between two lakes, with a road running along its spine and water on both sides.
• Smoke sauna: Try a traditional smoke sauna at Kuopio or Savonlinna. The heat is softer and more enveloping than in a modern electric sauna.

Begin your Finnish road trip from Helsinki, an easy starting point with international flights and car rental agencies. Plan this trip for a complete Lake District itinerary.

5. The Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands, a self-governing territory of Denmark in the North Atlantic between Scotland and Iceland, is one of the most unusual places to drive in Europe. This archipelago of 18 volcanic islands is connected by tunnels, bridges, and ferries, and the entire road network can be driven in a few days, but you will want to spend longer.

Expect sea cliffs over 700 metres high, grass-roofed villages on steep hillsides, subsea tunnels between islands, and weather that changes between sun, rain and fog within an hour. The subsea tunnels are tolled; hire companies usually charge this afterwards.

Faroe Islands driving highlights

• Gasadalur and Mulafossur: A waterfall plunging directly from a cliff into the ocean, accessible via a tunnel opened in 2004 that finally connected this remote village to the road network.
• Saksun: A tiny village in a natural amphitheatre of mountains, with a tidal lagoon and a turf-roofed church that is one of the most photographed spots in the Faroes.
• Kalsoy Island: Reached by ferry, with a single-lane tunnel and a hike to the Kallur Lighthouse with views of towering sea stacks.
• Vestmanna Bird Cliffs: Boat tours beneath 600-metre cliffs teeming with puffins, guillemots, and fulmars during the breeding season (May-August).
• Subsea tunnels: The Eysturoyartunnilin, opened in 2020, reaches 187 metres below sea level and has an undersea roundabout lit as an art installation.

Bring waterproof layers for every outing, whatever the forecast says. Sheep wander onto roads everywhere, and some popular hikes and viewpoints now charge a landowner fee.

Practical Tips for Nordic Road Trips

The Nordic countries share some common characteristics that affect planning.

1. Distances are vast. Norway alone is 1,752 km from south to north. Budget more time than you think and don't plan long days.
2. Costs are high. Norway, Sweden, and Finland are among the most expensive countries in Europe for fuel, food, and accommodation. Budget roughly 150-250 EUR per day for two people in a rental car with mid-range accommodation. The Faroe Islands are similarly expensive.
3. Midnight sun and polar night. North of the Arctic Circle, the sun does not set for weeks around midsummer (June-July), giving unlimited driving daylight but potentially disrupting sleep. In midwinter, the far north gets no sun at all.
4. Winter tyres are required in winter conditions in Sweden and Finland (roughly December to March) and effectively essential in Norway. Hire cars come with them in season.
5. Speed limits are strictly enforced. Fines are high everywhere, and in Finland they can be based on your income.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Nordic road trip for a first-time visitor?

The Bergen to Geiranger route in Norway (approximately 450 km, 3-5 days) is the ideal introduction to Nordic driving. It includes the greatest hits of Norwegian scenery, Hardangerfjord, Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, and Trollstigen, in a manageable distance. Fly into Bergen, rent a car, and drive to Alesund via the fjords and mountain passes. Return the car in Alesund and fly home. This avoids backtracking, though expect a one-way fee.

When is the best time for a Nordic road trip?

June to mid-September is the primary season. Mid-June to mid-July offers midnight sun above the Arctic Circle and the longest days elsewhere. Mountain passes (Trollstigen, Stekenjokk) are typically open from late May/June to October. September brings autumn colours, fewer tourists, and the start of the Northern Lights season, but some mountain roads close early and daylight hours decrease noticeably. Winter driving is possible and beautiful (Northern Lights, snow-covered landscapes) but requires winter driving experience and proper equipment.

Should I rent an electric vehicle for a Nordic road trip?

Norway has the world's highest electric vehicle adoption rate, and the charging network is excellent along major routes. An EV is entirely practical for a southern Norway fjord trip. However, for remote routes like northern Norway, Swedish Lapland, or the Faroe Islands, a petrol or diesel vehicle is still more practical due to longer distances between charging points. Check the charging network map for your specific route before committing to an EV rental. Hybrid vehicles offer a good compromise.