🇳🇴 Norway

After driving straight across Sweden for five days, we finally reached Senja, Norway’s largest island, often lovingly called “Little Norway.” And let me tell you – it was love at first sight. We’d heard so many wonderful things about the island, but nothing could have prepared us for just how breathtaking it really is. Before crossing the bridge to Senja, we made one last pit stop in Finnsnes, the final proper town before the island.

After spending a few days in Tromsø, we travelled to Sommarøy, a tiny fishing village which literally means ‘Summer Island’ in Norwegian. This tiny fishing village is located about an hour west of Tromsø and is home to around 350 people and more seagulls than inhabitants. It boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Northern Norway. We parked Wilma at a private campsite right by the sea. It was surrounded by crystal-clear water and white sand. It was beautiful to look at, and the weather was teasing us to go for a swim – but the water temperature isn’t “pleasant” 🥶

We spent a few incredible days in Tromsø, often called the “Gateway to the Arctic.” It’s the largest city in Northern Norway, and back in the 19th century, a French visitor gave it the nickname “Paris of the North.” After spending some time here, we can see why – it’s lively, stylish, and full of surprises, even this far above the Arctic Circle. Our first stop was the Arctic Cathedral (Ishavskatedralen), one of Norway’s most distinctive and modern churches. With its striking triangular shape inspired by Arctic icebergs, it’s impossible to miss.

We visited the Vesterålen Islands, a tranquil archipelago located just north of the Lofoten Islands. We arrived by ferry in Andenes, the northernmost town in the archipelago. The town is best known for whale watching, as the deep waters off the coast are home to sperm whales all year round.

Visiting the Lofoten Islands had been one of those long-held travel dreams. The kind you tuck away in your mind, hoping that one day life will line up perfectly and make it happen. And then suddenly, it did.

If you’ve ever wondered whether places from postcards actually exist, let me introduce you to Reine. Nestled among dramatic granite peaks, dotted with bright red fishermen’s cabins, and surrounded by impossibly turquoise water, Reine is the kind of place that makes you stop mid-sentence and simply stare. It’s often called one of the most beautiful villages in the world — and honestly, we get it.

After visiting Reine and the tiny village of Å at the very end of the road, we continued our journey to Vikten – a small and peaceful place known for its glass workshop and its stunning beach. The light there was absolutely magical. Soft, golden, and constantly changing, it turned the whole landscape into a painting. A group of photographers had gathered to capture the scenery, and we completely understood why.

One of our last stops on the Lofoten was Vik beach and Haukland beach (they are right next to each other). Supposed to be one of Lofoten’s most beautiful beaches it doesn’t disappoint. Beautiful white sand in a bay surrounded by mountains and perfectly oriented to allow for wonderful sunsets.

Vestersand – a name you won’t find on any tourist map, which is exactly why it was perfect. A tiny place somewhere in Norway, a lake, our camper van, and absolutely nothing else. No other travellers, no noise, just the gentle lapping of the water on the shore. We spent the night here and simply spent the evening gazing out at the water.

Saltstraumen is the world’s strongest tidal current – and that’s no empty claim. Every six hours, around 400 million cubic metres of water forces its way through a strait just 150 metres wide. The result: enormous whirlpools, a ferocious current, and a natural spectacle that simply has to be seen.

Svartisen – one of Norway’s largest glaciers, and a place that puts your own size firmly into perspective. The glacier pushes through a corridor of massive mountains, its ice shimmering in every shade of blue, while the air stays cold and crisp even in summer.

Flostrand surprised us three times over, and each surprise was better than the last.

Sometimes you come across places so peaceful that you’re almost afraid to break the silence. Frøyningen was exactly that kind of place. We found a spot in the middle of the forest, right by a lake, and utterly quiet. Not another soul around, no traffic, just nature in its purest form.

Trondheim is a city you fall for quickly. From the very first stroll through the old town, you sense that everything here is just right. The colourful warehouses along the Nidelva river, the narrow lanes, the historic buildings – Trondheim has a charm that catches you straight away. The city feels lively and cosy at the same time: big enough to keep things interesting, small enough to feel warm.

Sometimes all you need is a quiet overnight stop between two highlights. Vågland was exactly that. No spectacular view, no tourist attraction, no Instagram hotspot. Just a peaceful patch of earth where you can switch off the engine and simply rest.

Not every stop on a journey is a winner, and we’ll be honest about Kristiansund: it didn’t really grab us. The city sits picturesquely across several islands, and the bridges connecting them are perfectly pleasant, but somehow the spark just wasn’t there.

The stave church at Kvernes is a genuine gem – one of those places where you can almost smell history, and quite literally so. The scent of centuries-old wood is the first thing that greets you, and it stays with you long after you’ve left.

Bud was really just a way of filling time. We needed to wait until the following day, and this small coastal village happened to be conveniently on the way. No grand plan, no great expectations. But sometimes it’s exactly these unplanned stops that turn into little gems.

What an experience. Trollkyrkja was one of the absolute highlights of the entire trip, and that’s saying something when you’ve had so many wonderful stops along the way.

Trollstigen. Even the name sounds like an adventure, and that’s exactly what it is. This road is one of the most famous and spectacular in the world – eleven hairpin bends set into a dramatic mountain landscape, with waterfalls plunging right alongside the carriageway.

Ålesund is a pleasant little town with a rather special history. In the early twentieth century, a devastating fire destroyed almost the entire town centre. Rather than simply rebuilding what had been there before, the townspeople chose the then-fashionable Art Nouveau style. The result is still visible today: beautiful, sometimes playful facades with turrets, ornaments and flowing lines that you really wouldn’t expect to find in Norway.

The Geirangerfjord is as beautiful as everyone says. Probably even more so. Deep blue water, sheer rock faces rising hundreds of metres, and waterfalls trickling down the cliffs like white threads. It’s UNESCO World Heritage listed for good reason. The drive to the fjord alone is spectacular, and when you stand at the top and look down, it genuinely takes your breath away.

This place left us speechless. And I mean that literally.

Bergen is beautiful. Full stop. There are cities where you have to search long and hard for what makes them special – in Bergen, you practically trip over it.

Tvinnefossen is one of those waterfalls you hear before you see. And then you stand before it and grasp the sheer force with which the water hurls itself into the depths. Multiple cascades, white foaming water, spray that hits you in the face – even from the road.

Borgund delivers two highlights in one go, and both are impressive in their own right.

The best discoveries are the accidental ones. And this one was an absolute gem.

Oslo. What can you say? It’s Norway’s capital, it’s big, it’s modern, and it has… everything a capital city tends to have. Museums, restaurants, traffic noise, traffic lights. After weeks in the Norwegian countryside, Oslo felt like a culture shock. Suddenly back in the city: crowds, noise and queues.

We had promised ourselves we would, and we kept our word: we returned to Sundvollen. But this time not just to watch – this time we got to take part.

In Jevnaker we visited a glassblowing workshop, and it was one of those experiences that leaves you thinking afterwards: why don’t I do this more often?

Tønsberg was a stop on the way further south. Nothing more, nothing less. The city is considered one of the oldest in Norway and certainly has its appeal, but at this point in the journey we were firmly in drive-on mode.

Fredrikstad was another transit stop – but this time with a special bonus: the cinema. Yes, really. Sometimes on a long trip you need an evening that has nothing to do with nature, hiking or exploring. An evening with popcorn, cola and a big screen.