Our Norway road trip: from Trondheim to Tromsø (part 1)

We just got back from a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Norway. It had been our dream destination and it absolutely lived up to our expectations (even more). We are so grateful that we were able to explore this beautiful country! We rented a car and drove from Trondheim all the way up to Tromsø, stopping in some of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever seen. The landscapes in Norway felt very untouched, and it was easy to feel like we were the only people in the world, just us with nature. We made it our goal to swim in a fjord or lake every single day. At the start, we could barely manage a few seconds in the icy water, but by the end we were staying in for full minutes and genuinely enjoying it. And now we are big fans of ice baths (you truly feel so energized and refreshed afterwards)! The only real downside was the cost. Norway is very expensive. Everything from food to gas to accommodations adds up fast. Fresh fruits and vegetables were also hard to come by, especially in smaller towns, and when they were available, they cost us a small fortune. Still, the scenery more than made up for it!

Here are the cities and regions we visited, along with some of our favorite highlights in each:

TRONDHEIM
Our flight landed in Trondheim, where we visited a beautiful gothic church called the Nidaros Cathedral. Right next to it is a museum where we saw the Crown Regalia, which included the capes, septres, crowns, and other jewels of the Norwegian royalty. We also walked across the Old Town Bridge, which leads to the cozy Bakklandet neighborhood filled with cobblestone streets, cute cafés and waterside restaurants.

BRØNNØYSUND & VEGA
On the way north we stopped in Brønnøysund and took a short walk up Torghatten, a mountain with a hole straight through it. The view from inside the hole is super unique and the hike is more of a climb up rocks than a traditional trail. We also hiked Vegatrappa on the nearby Vega island. This was a more intense hike consisting of a long staircase, but the views over the coast were definitely worth the struggle.

SANDNESSJØEN
As soon as we crossed the bridge into Sandnessjøen, we were completely blown away by the view. The drive there had taken us along winding roads through mountain landscapes, with barely a trace of civilization (only a few sheep). Then suddenly, a striking bridge appeared, leading us into a coastal town perched right at the edge of the sea. The town is very charming, with little cafés, shops, and restaurants lining the streets. There are plenty of scenic spots where you can jump straight into the fjord for a refreshing swim. We decided to take on one of the Seven Sisters, known as De syv søstre in Norwegian, which is a mountain chain named after its seven distinct peaks. We chose to hike Grytfoten, and it ended up being the hardest hike we have ever done. There wasn’t much of a defined trail, just loose rocks, steep inclines, and long stretches where we were literally on all fours scrambling up the mountain. Reaching the top felt like we had completed some sort of pilgrimage. We were so so proud of ourselves and beyond excited (until we realized how far we still had to go to get back down). On the way down, we swam in a crystal clear glacial pool to cool off.

LOFOTEN ISLANDS
After taking the ferry from Bodø to Moskenes, we arrived in what might be the most beautiful place I have ever seen: the Lofoten Islands. If you ever visit Norway, this archipelago is an absolute must. The scenery is simply unreal, with jagged mountains rising straight out of the sea, fjords of deep blue water, and quaint fishing villages scattered along the coastline. We spent 6 days exploring the area and visited multiple beaches, including Haukland, Uttakleiv, and Unstad. We also did the Reinebringen Hike, which is a steep staircase-style climb that rewards you with that classic postcard view over the fjords and the fishing village of Reine. Another hike was Ryten, which gave us views of the sea stretching endlessly in every direction, with a beautiful detour down to a secluded beach called Kvalvika Beach. We also explored the charming town of Henningsvær, where we saw the famous Henningsvær Stadion (a football field perched so close to the edge of the sea it looks like it’s floating). Another town we visited is Svolvær, known as one of the best fishing spots in the world. Naturally, we had to take a fishing trip, expecting to catch at least one fish. But with our luck, everyone on the boat caught fish (multiple fish each!) except for us. It was still an amazing experience, but we seriously need to sharpen our fishing skills. After our failed fishing expedition, we relaxed in a floating sauna called Lofoten Sauna – Svinøya Rorbuer. Lastly, we visited the Lofotr Viking Museum, which surprised us with how interactive and fun it was. We thought it would be a standard museum visit, but it turned out to offer all kinds of outdoor activities like horseback riding, a Viking boat ride, archery, and axe throwing. Several horses were grazing around the land surrounding the museum,and we took a moment to feed them some grass through the fence.