Round trip through Norway by camper - discover Scandinavia

Norway is a country full of endless expanses and untouched nature. Norway is now one of the most popular camping destinations in Europe for a reason, not least because of the freedom of wild camping! Here, in the regions of endless possibilities, natural landscapes that will leave even the most demanding travellers speechless are awaiting you.

Waking up to the vast nature of Norway - it doesn't get any better than this.

More than 1,700 fjords, including the largest one in the world, as well as breathtaking mountain ranges, lakes, waterfalls, coasts, the sea and a multitude of islands. All this awaits you in Norway.

When travelling from Germany to Norway by motorhome, you have several options either by land or by ferry. Each way has its advantages and disadvantages, learn more here:

From Germany, it is a good idea to first head for Kiel with your camper. From there, a daily ferry trip takes place to Norway, which brings you to your destination within about twenty hours. The trip costs about 480€. With this single ticket you will get an inside cabin for the overnight stay on board. On board you will also find various restaurants and even a spa area.

Due to the relaxed ferry ride, you will reach Oslo completely refreshed the next morning and can start your road trip right away!

The faster and much cheaper option is the ferry connection from Denmark. Prices for a one-way trip are around 190€ (depending on season and vehicle size). The ferry time from the north of the country, from Frederikshavn to Oslo, is about 10 hours.

Alternatively, you could also travel to southern Sweden by ferry, both from Germany and Denmark. It is only about 5 hours by car from Sweden to the Norwegian border.

If you have more time available for your trip, then the overland route by camper that goes through Denmark and Sweden is a great option as you can explore the scenery of the other countries on your drive. However, it's about a 950km drive from Hamburg to Oslo, so it's best to create a schedule for thattrip.

You can also find more information and tips about the countries of transit on our blog: Camping in Denmark and Camping in Sweden.

Note: Plan for the cost of tolls that will come your way if you decide to take the overland route.

In Norway, the so-called Public Right of Access applies, so wild camping is allowed and you can pitch your tent anywhere as long as you stay at least 150 metres away from residential buildings and do not stay in the same place for more than two days. For motorhomes the rules are different, but free standing on the side of the road is allowed as long as you do not block anyone's way.

Camping is very common in Norway, even among the locals. Norwegians have the highest density of campers per capita in Europe. That's why you don't have to worry about finding a suitable campsite. The country offers around 1,000 campsites with a wide range of facilities, from very simple meadows and wooded areas to luxurious facilities, or you can choose to go wild camping in Norway.

Okay, let's get to the really important part: the route. What are our tips, what should you keep in mind and how do you best travel Norway? Our colleague recently went on a trip through Norway and her journey took her here:

The starting point of the tour was in the south of the country in the capital Oslo.

One of the most famous landmarks of Oslo is the Holmenkollen ski jump, which offers a breathtaking view of the city. Sports enthusiasts can also visit the Ski Museum here to learn more about the history of skiing in Norway. But the Ski Museum is just one of the many museums and galleries Oslo has to offer.

One of Oslo's most famous works of art is Vigeland Park, a sculpture park that contains works by Norwegian artist Gustav Vigeland, in addition to providing the perfect spot for a relaxing picnic amidst the artistic backdrop.

As with any new place, it's best to explore Oslo on foot: that way you'll get as many impressions of the flair, the architecture and the people as possible, and maybe discover a little café or two along the way.

The Trøndelag region in the middle of Norway is surrounded by valleys, mountains and idyllic fjords. This is where Trondheimfjord is located. The third largest fjord in Norway offers not only a fabulous view, but also the possibility of swimming in summer. In winter, the region is also perfect for skiing and snowboarding.

In addition - foodies beware: Trøndelag convinces with typical Norwegian cuisine. Here you can find lamb, cheese or caviar and countless farmers markets with fresh fruit and vegetables.

The harbor town of Kristiansund consists of four island districts and gets its flair from many many colorful houses. The small municipality with about 24,000 inhabitants consists of several larger and smaller archipelago islands, some of them are uninhabited. In the center of town is the harbor.

Sundbåten, the town's ferry and one of the oldest public transportation systems in the world. By boat you can get from district to district in about 20 minutes. The boat ride to the small island of Grip , to which you should definitely make a trip, takes about 40 minutes. In winter, the island is no longer inhabited, but in summer, the residents move back to the island and it is a bit busier and the boats go there regularly from Kristiansund. On the island you are surrounded by a few hundred spars and skerries and you can see the highest lighthouse in Norway (44 metres).

At the old guard place in Kristiansund, which is about 80 metres high, you get a great view up to Grip and over the whole city the mountains and surrounding fjords.

Åndalsnes, known as `the starting point par excellence` for all hiking fans is surrounded by impressive mountains, as well as the world-famous mountain road Trollstigen. The Trollstigen is a total of 20 kilometres long and consists of 11 hairpin bends. On the way you will not only pass immense mountain peaks and valleys, but also several waterfalls, some of which drop right next to the road. In the winter months (in very bad weather conditions also in summer) the road is completely closed. At the right time, however, this is undoubtedly the right place for the true Norway experience!

Our tip: Due to heavy traffic during peak season, you may have to back up your camper more often on the trip, so only drive along the road if you really feel confident backing up, it's probably easier to handle with one of our smaller camper models.

Åndalsnes is also suitable for a trip to the Geirangerfjord, probably the most famous fjord in Norway. Here, several waterfalls cascade from the surrounding mountain slopes and unite at the bottom in perfect blue.

For very sporty cyclists there is the possibility to cycle the almost 90 kilometre long route from Åndalsnes to the Geirangerfjord via the Trollstigen. The route is very demanding due to its steep climbs, so we recommend this unique experience only to experienced, well-conditioned cyclists, and even if you are one of those you should plan an overnight stay, e.g. at Eisdal.

If you are more drawn to the city, the picturesque art nouveau town of Ålesund is just right for you to stroll the streets in a relaxed way or explore the town by kayak on the Brosundet Canal.

Norway's second largest city Bergen is nicknamed `the heart of the fjords´. Some of the world's most famous fjords are located in this region. These include the Sognefjord, the longest and deepest in Norway, and the Haardangerfjord. From this fjord, the 10-14 kilometre hike, which is very challenging, winds its way up to Trolltunga, one of Norway's highlights, the famous horizontal rocky outcrop which is 1,100 metres high.

If the feeling of freedom was a place, it would certainly be this one.

Our tip: If you have little hiking experience or want to take it easy, you can also get to Trolltunga with a guide or explore the beauty of the area on one of the many other easier hikes.

Hardangervidda National Park is one of the most famous and largest national parks in Norway. It is located in the Vestland region, roughly between the cities of Bergen and Oslo. The national park includes both rocky mountain landscapes and vast plateaus with beautiful rivers, lakes and waterfalls, and is perfect for relaxed hikes to more challenging treks lasting several days. Besides the incredible landscapes you can also see deer, moose, grouse and foxes here with a little luck.

From Hardangervidda National Park you are back in Oslo within about three and a half hours, at the starting point and also at the end of your Norway round trip. But we have one more stop for you: This one is a little detour, but our colleague Lea is sure: It's worth it!

This is Stavanger: You can drive from Bergen to Stavanger and further to the national park Hardangervidda to Oslo. If you want to include Stavanger on your route, then it's about 5 hours of additional driving time.

Stavanger, a city of around 140,000 inhabitants, has white wooden houses and cool street art. It also offers excellent gastronomy and natural attractions such as the Lysefjord and the famous Preikestolen.

It towers over the Lysefjord at a height of about 600 metres and can be reached on a four-hour hike of medium difficulty. You can also join a night hike to experience the unique view from Preikestolen at sunrise. Or you can take a more relaxed approach and see the Preikestolen from a boat on the fjord.

The municipality of Stavanger forms part of Jæren, a coastal landscape and the largest flatland area in Norway, which is why you will also find the country's widest and whitest sandy beaches here, in addition to the fjords and mountains.

What else is there to think about? Norway is the perfect destination for any nature lover! As you have probably noticed, there is hardly a stop in the ´land of countless fjords` where there is no fjord to admire. Whether you prefer to enjoy the landscapes from a boat, or during a hike, the feeling of pure nature and relaxation or action is guaranteed. And the best thing is: free standing with the camper is allowed, it is no problem if you pass somewhere during the round trip, where the enthusiasm grips you and you absolutely want to make a spontaneous stop.

On the whole round trip with 7 stops you will cover about 2.300km in 36 hours by camper. We recommend this tour for a travel time of at least 3 weeks. It depends on how long you stay at every stop and how much you want to do and discover in each place. Note that this period covers the route only. You still have to add your outward and return journey, which can vary depending on the route. We wish you every bit of freedom and adventure that Norway has to offer.

Adventures ahead.