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Our experience of the Atlantic Road Norway
This particular road was a ‘must-see’ for us as we took a Norwegian road trip from Bergen, north to visit places in the Arctic Circle during summer.
So, what is so special about this road you might ask?
The Atlantic Road (in Norwegian called Atlanterhavsveien or Atlanterhavsvegen) is a road that runs through an archipelago just off the mainland that offers wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean and coastal landscape as you hop between a series of small islands and skerries, driving through several causeways, viaducts and 8 bridges.
In total, the road only goes for 8.3 kilometres (5.2 miles) but is such a famous stretch of road because of the beautiful sea and coastal views that surround it. It even has its own website.
Described as The most beautiful journey in the world, this particular stretch of road has featured in multiple top travel publications, where many impressive photos and film have been shot. Whether on a calm summer’s day with bright sunshine or during a storm or even a winter’s day with all the islands covered in snow, there are many stunning photos you can take here.
Where is The Atlantic Ocean Road Norway?
Situated in the Hustadvika and Averøy municipalities in Møre og Romsdal county, the Atlantic Road is a section of Route 64 running between the villages of Vevang in Hustadvika and Kårvåg in Averøy.
The two major towns that are on either side of the Atlantic Road are Molde (on the southern end) and Kristiansund on the northern side.
We approached the Atlantic Road from the south and our destination for where we would stop and rest was very close by, just before reaching Kristiansund.
Be careful when driving
A word of caution to be very aware of the road conditions here and to watch the weather.
It can be extremely treacherous particularly during a storm. Sizable waves can hit this unprotected area straight from the North Sea and sweep right across the road. Icy conditions during winter also need to be taken into consideration, particularly where there are steep climbs and descents on a couple of the bridges.
If you are planning a trip to take in the amazing sights here, you may want to check out the information published on the Dangerous Roads website just to be aware of the potential dangers, even though most of the time it is fine.
An impressive engineering feat
Due to its location and impressive construction, the Atlantic Road Norway has won several awards including “Norwegian Construction of the Century”– awarded in 2005.
In particular, the Atlantic Road construction is remembered for the Storseisundbrua: The longest bridge, being a curved architectural feat and is regarded as the symbol of the road.
From some angles as you approach it can look quite scary as if it rises up as a launching pad for cars! Depending on the road conditions and the amount of traffic you really need to be careful. The number of motorhomes, caravans and trucks you see along this road during the day is amazing and you can imagine how you need to slow down to be safe.
Similar to Trollstigen which we had just visited earlier, the road is an engineering marvel built amongst magnificent natural surroundings.
The construction of the Atlantic Road from beginning to end took 6 years.
Our experience
We visited here in summer which is a really good time to do a road trip up to the northern regions of Norway for two reasons. Firstly, (barring unforeseen circumstances) all the roads are usually open. Secondly, the closer you move north toward the arctic circle and beyond, it stays light for much later and therefore you can drive and explore for longer each day.
For our trip, we were both lucky and unlucky. Lucky because it was great weather and being late, there were very few cars and people around. Unlucky because even though there was plenty of light to see the beauty of this place, there was not enough light to produce great photographic shots.
So, while we loved spending time here and went up and down the entire stretch a couple of times, our photos did not come out half as well as we would have liked. Nevertheless, I share some of these below so you can have some idea of how stunning this place is, especially during the middle part of a sunny day.
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Bear in mind that these were taken around 10.00 pm at night. We did have the option to return early the following morning but we had already had such a long day, so we decided instead to grab a bit more sleep and then push on toward the Arctic Circle the next day.
Activities
Aside from a number of parking areas on either side of the road where tourists pull over to take scenic photos throughout the archipelago, there are also other things you can enjoy here.
There are various sections of trails you can hike along, the most popular place to start being on Eldhusøya island. This is where the visitor centre is located where there are also toilets and a café.
You can also visit Askevågen viewpoint which is a small platform located at the tip of the breakwater. It is walled in by glass panels to protect you from the ocean spray and gives you yet another gorgeous view. This whole area is another photographer’s paradise.
Fishing enthusiasts can find many great spots around and also have the option of taking a boat excursion out onto the water.
The end of our day
We arrived very late to a gorgeous Air BNB that we had booked right next to the Atlantic Road. It was a two-story, 2-bedroom home with a generous living and dining area, modern kitchen and a wonderful outlook to a cove with boats you could all see from the front windows. The host was so lovely to drive out there to meet us so late and she made us feel very welcome as we settled down to rest there.
More information
Aside from the links included above on various aspects relating to the Atlantic Road there are also other good pages to see on Visit Norway as well as Fjord Norway.
Have you visited the Atlantic Road Norway?
If not, what are your impressions?
Would you also ensure to include this on your Norwegian itinerary?
Please do share your thoughts below and stay tuned for more articles within this series on Norway.
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed seeing this little piece of beautiful Norway.
Outdoor adventure enthusiast that loves nature having travelled locations across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.
Passionate Travel Writer, Blogger and Influencer.
I love road trips and drives and if it is the scenic one, then it is a total must for me. Good to know that Atlantic road runs through an archipelago with wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean and coastal landscape. It must be amazing to cross 8 bridges and hop on to series of islands and driving through several causeways, viaducts, and 8 bridges. It really looks similar to Great Ocean Road, Melbourne. It is good you have given a tip to check the weather as a storm on this road could be dangerous for driving. Thanks for all tips.
It really is an amazing drive for sure, Yukti, although I’m not sure I would have drawn too many similarities to the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. I say this simply because the Great Ocean Road is siutated entirely on the Australian continent and doesn’t connect a chain of islands like the Atlantic Road does. However there is no doubting the beauty of both locations. Thank you very much for reading and sharing your thoughts here. I’m really pleased you liked the post.
Wow the Atlantic road looks beautiful and scary at the same time. That’s definitely a scenic route.
It is indeed a beautiful spot, Lily. Provided you choose to drive it in good weather and at a reasonable speed for the conditions, it is quite safe.
I was so impressed with the place, especially the road and its surrounds that you shared through this post. Honestly, I saw images of this place many times but didn’t know where it was exactly. I’m so interested in the Atlantic Road Norway right now and definitely will travel there soon after the virus pandemic.
That’s great to hear Khoign. It does hold a fascination for many and I hope you will enjoy the experience as much as we did.
What an amazing drive!
I would Love to visit Norway.
Thanks Nicole For Sharing this.
You’re so welcome. Really happy that you like this and hope you will be able to visit yourself sometime.
What a gorgeous drive! The Air B&B looks perfect for a stay at the end of the Atlantic Road. It reminds me a little of the highway out to the Florida Keys, but the scenery is so different. Thanks to you, I keep adding to my Norway bucket list.
Thank you so much Tracy. There truly is so much to see and do across Norway.
I would love to visit Norway! It is definitely on my travel bucket list. I had no idea about the Atlantic Road, but oh my word. It is beautiful and scary, at the same time. That would be one of those things where I want a tour guide driving me around so I can just take in all the views without worrying I’ll crash into something or someone.
I can totally relate to what you’re saying here, Erica. In my case, I was the passenger and was very distracted by looking at the fabulous outlook all around us – something I couldn’t do if I was driving. Plus a tour guide obviously knows the road and the area so much better and can talk to what you are seeing as well. The trick, of course, is to stop off on the numerous car parking areas along this stretch of road and hike a bit. Thanks so much for reading and making your point.
I can see why it‘s such a popular and well loved trip – how gorgeous! I also loved the photos of your Airbnb accommodation, it‘s great to see you could stay in such a lovely house. I almost always book Airbnb‘s for trips like this.
Airbnb certainly has some lovely properties in all sorts of places, Kat. We were lucky to be able to find this property so close to the Atlantic Road.
Oh wow, the views here look absolutely incredible! I can only imagine, however, how challenging and dangerous these roads could be to drive during a storm. Great warning – I will definitely keep that in mind if we’re looking at booking when the world starts to open back up to travel again. Thank you for sharing. I had never heard of this stretch of road, but now I HAVE TO see it!
When the weather is fine, what you see would truly be glorious, Britt. Fortunately during summer, this is most of the time anyway. Hope you love it as much as we did. I’m sure you would.
idk if i would want to drive on that road. looks beautiful but yikes lol
So long as you are careful in the way you drive and the weather is fine, it is a lovely drive Katrina.
So many things to love about this place! It’s really beautiful out there. Truly a bucket list material.
I have to agree with you Amy. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.
What a great read! I work in the engineering field so I was blown away at the design of The Atlantic Road Norway. I can’t lie though, I’d be a little terrified to drive on those steep cliffs and hills!
So long as you drive with care and there is good weather, there isn’t too much to worry about, Shannon. Plus you can stop off at various places along the way and enjoy the views!
Such a beautiful experience! I absolutely loved all the photos you provided in this post.- And such a cozy space that you all stayed at. I’d love to visit Norway one of these days. I love when I visit a blog, and I get to experience a trip through the author. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us all.
Thank you for reading and leaving such a lovely comment, Stephanie. I’m so please you liked it.
That Atlantic Road is SUPER cool! I love how it goes through all of those island chains. It’s like modern day transportation meets a fantasy world. It’s really awesome.
I never thought of it that way Ben, but I guess you’re right. It is really cool.
Wow….that is some serious engineering, right there! I would love to take a walk on this road.
There is no doubting the quality of engineering here, Ntensible. There are also a number of people that enjoy hiking along the footpaths and taking in such beautiful scenery.
Oh my God, I never knew these kinds of road exists, I only saw them in movies. What a great view. It would be a great experience seeing this on a visit to Norway. Wow… Thanks for sharing. I really love it.
You are so welcome and thank you for reading and leaving such a lovely comment.
I would love that it stays light longer. I would love to take this road trip (during the safest times to do so, of course). I think it would be beautiful for a home video too! I imagine it is a trip to remember.
That’s for sure, Rosey! I agree safety first and video shots here would be pretty fabulous, especially on a clear day.
I have been to Norway before but only in Oslo. I haven’t heard about Atlantic Road Norway. It sounds like a very good camping place. I wish I could have explored more camping sites in Norway. There’s so much beauty to see. I hope I can go back once pandemic is done.
Hopefully it won’t be too long before you can head back to Norway to see a lot more of what this beautiful country has to offer Emman. While we were driving through the Atlantic Road we saw a few motorhomes parked in various carparks for the night, so you can camp there in a sense and enjoy the fabulous scenery all around you.
I would love to visit Norway it’s such a nice place. Also I’m a big fan of Scandinavian culture.
Thanks Steven, I hope you will visit sometime in the future.
I have read about it and also heard from my friends. The curves and the ups and downs with the majestic Altantic Ocean by the side. The views are mesmerizing and stunning. Loved reading your journey, such a fabulous experience.
Thank you very much Kuntala. It was a lovely experience and your comment has made my day.
Hi Nicole,
What are my impressions? Are you kidding me?! I want to be there right this moment!!! It’s gorgeous! Your way of telling the story and pictures you include (yours or not) are making it hard for me to stay in place. 🙂 I definitely want to visit Norway, and when I’m there, I’ll make sure to drive the Atlantic Road. Thank you for providing a detailed tour guide. The home you stayed in looks like a cozy place, and I don’t need to look for anything else… unless there is no vacancy at the time we travel there.
I’m used to the “white nights” as I’m originally from St. Petersburg, Russia. It’s always nice during the summer to be close to the Arctic Circle, but difficult and somewhat depressing in the wintertime when daylight is very short. It may also be pretty cold there in the winter. So, summer is definitely the best time of the year to visit Northern countries.
Thank you for another great travel report.
~ Julia
Thank you so much Julia for such a lovely comment, including your own experiences near the arctic circle. I’m so pleased you enjoyed this article and would love to experience Norway and the Atlantic Road.
I have not been to St. Petersburg as yet but I have heard it is a very beautiful city. In future articles on this series on Norway, I will be covering our experience north of the arctic circle where we experienced the midnight sun and unspoilt beautiful nature in the arctic region. I do hope you will enjoy those articles as well and thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Wow! Looks amazing! I don’t believe I had ever seen an aerial shot of the fjord. Not at all how I imagined it.
This is not actually a fjord, Joy. Do have a look at the past posts published on Geirangerfjord or Lysefjord to see examples of fjords in Norway. It is very different indeed, although it is good to hear that you like the Atlantic Road as well.
It’s the first time I’ve heard of this road before but I can definitely say that Altantic Road looks absolutely beautiful. I would definitely enjoy passing through here and looking at the amazing view.
Thanks very much Lyanna. I’m so pleased you liked this.
the Atlantic Road Norway…. UMMMM WOW!!!!! I am looking forward to getting back to traveling. Norway looks stunning. What a great experience.
Thank you very much for following this series on Norway, Jennifer. I hope you will also like others in the series yet to come.
There’s a lot to like about what you’ve shared! I can see why the area won awards for architecture!
That’s for sure Nkem – it’s not everyday you see a bridge with twists/curves on it like you see here!
That is such a beautiful and quaint archipelago! But that Storseisundbrua! It looks so cool in pictures but I feel like I would be afraid to drive on it!
I felt exactly the same way Marie but fortunately James was driving, not me. It actually isn’t as scary as it looks when you are driving on it. Plus it was really quiet when we went on it, so we did so quite slowly and enjoyed the views from up there. We did the same as we drove the other way as well so we viewed it from both directions.
Wow!! Imma add this to my must-visits! I’d probably be so scared though if I pass through during a strom — but it would be an experience to tell!
Well that’s for sure, Meki. Although I would advise waiting any storm out, just to be safe!
WOW! Another reason why Norway is on my bucketlist. I gotta visit the place of my ancestors soon. And definitely take a ride on that road.
Two great reasons to go Matt – your family roots and the beauty that is Norway. Thank you for reading and leaving a comment.
Oh, WOW! What a wonderful place to travel to. The sites are amazing. I can’t wait to travel again. I’m going to have to add this to my list!
The sites are certainly incredible from all angles throughout this section of road, Christine. I do hope you make it here and love it as much as I did.
Holy. Moly. Now that’s a road trip I’d love to take! I think the way the road runs through all those little islands is so amazing. It looks so magical!
Magical is pretty much the way I would describe it as well, Colleen. It is just so different from any road I have experienced so far. Really lovely.
I must say right away that it was a very cool experience! I have not yet managed to get to Norway. This is a wonderful country, it looks very tempting and beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome and I’m happy you also like the natural beauty Norway has to offer. Hopefully you will also visit and enjoy it as well one day.
Wow this is so cool! Thanks for sharing.
Pleased you like it Cheeia. Thank you for reading and leaving a comment.
Wow, I did not know that I needed to visit Norway but this article has me convinced! What an amazing construction.
Thanks CJ! I agree. No wonder the Atlantic Road took a while to construct through this archipelago but the result is fabulous.
I visited Norway about 4 years back and remember reading about the Atlantic Ocean Road at the time. However, due to the lack of time, I couldn’t make it there and always felt it was such a pity because it looks gorgeous. I was not aware of the hiking trails in the area, I’d love to go on a hike somewhere on the Eldhusøya island. Also, the Askevågen viewpoint seems to offer amazing views and I’m always looking for such places!
What a shame you missed out when on your past trip, Medha. Perhaps there may be an opportunity to return to Norway at some stage? Not just for the Atlantic Road but so many other beautiful attractions in the country. If so, maybe other articles done in this series on Norway (with more to be published) will offer some more ideas for your itinerary. Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts here.
Oh wow! Another place to add to my travel bucket list! The Atlantic Road is a true engineering marvel! The long wait to complete the road was so worth it. The views must be fantastic. I am glad you were able to experience driving down this iconic road. Hopefully we can also be there someday.
That’s for sure, Kristine! Thanks so much for reading and sharing your impressions.
So beautiful! I would love to drive there some day and see this natural beauty!
Thanks very much Neely, so pleased you enjoyed this and would like to visit also.
Wow, this looks like a dream road. I didn’t know about it though I was in Norway for a month. Maybe because I was only in the capital and didn’t read much about the other places. The waves look adventurous and scary but the views are fabulous. This is a must-do for sure.
Thanks Manjulika. Whilst I found Oslo to be a nice city, I generally try to get away from cities in general when I travel as I find the best places (for me anyway) are always found out in the country where nature abounds. So pleased you like this gem of a place and that you would like to experience this as well.
I can not believe I didn’t know about this! Wow what a view from above! The crashing waves make me a bit nervous, I don’t think I would fancy heading out in a storm! Your Airb&b looked so cute and homely! Looks like a great drive but in the right weather hah!
Totally agree with you Emma. In the right weather (which is most of the time in summer), it is such a lovely drive.
Wow, what an amazing road trip. I hope I will get to see it one day. It looking absolutely fantastic, a must try. I live in London so it shouldn’t be very difficult to get there.
London is certainly quite easy to reach Norway, Monica – perhaps flying to Oslo and then Kristiansund would be the closest city to the Atlantic Road. However if you are planning a road trip, I would suggest starting out from Bergen and head north as we did during summer. Well worth the planning for such a beautiful road trip.
I was driving the Atlantic Road Norway two years ago. The views are fabulous; it is one of the most beautiful routes in Europe. The bridges are spectacular engineering work. For sure, it is worth adding Atlantic Road to the Norwegian itinerary.
I couldn’t agree with you more Agnes. Such a beautiful place. Thank you for sharing your experience here.
I guess the Altantic Road is one of the most beautiful road I have seen online and it would be ashame not to drive here. The scenery is fantastic! Can we fly a drone here?
Hi Blair. I have seen a number of drone shots of the Atlantic Road and there is nothing to indicate that this would be illegal. Norway does have a number of regulations that should be followed but nothing that would stop you flying a drone here that I could see. Check out this article for more information: https://uavcoach.com/drone-laws-in-norway/ and I wish you all the best for your trip.
Wow. Thank you so much for writing this article. I had never heard of the Atlantic Road in Norway before, but from that first picture I was hooked. This looks like such an adventure. I probably would not drive on the road during a storm though given everything that you menioned. Those waves and curvey roads could be terrifying in a storm. Anyway, I have officially added this place to my bucket list.
That’s so great to hear Cecilia. I agree I wouldn’t want to drive there during a storm either, but it is so pretty at any other time.
I actually love road trips and this trip looks so good. I loved your itinerary.
Thanks for following along our Norwegian Itinerary, Monidipa. The Atlantic Road was certainly a lovely part of it and there is still a lot more of Norway yet to be published.
Whoa driving on some of those roads!!! It’s very beautiful though, and the AirBnB looks great!
Thanks Di! It was certainly a very enjoyable trip and the cottage was so comfortable as well.
Never heard of this highway and that snaking bridge!! Woah!! Like a launching pad, truly. I’m sure the views are epic and that’s an experience on its own. I’d have been so happy for the cozy cottage because even in summer, I’m sure it was freezing.
The cottage was really lovely Kemi and situated really close to the Atlantic Road. It was cold but not freezing as such as it was summer. I think that is the best time to visit this beautiful area.
This place is so scenic to travel. I would love to visit here sometime. All the clicks are amazing
Thanks very much Khushboo. It is definately a very photogenic place for sure.
What a wonderful idea – a road trip across this Norwegian archipelago using this engineering feat. Good advice on checking the weather – the road could prove treacherous and the photo looks scary. I will definitely be saving the link for future reference.
The road could definitely prove to be very dangerous Adele, so timing your visit for a calm day (which I gather is most days) would be safest and also offer the best views here. Hope you will enjoy it as much as we did.
This was an interesting read. The Atlantic road is really something. I could feel my heart skip a bit just by looking. Wow!
It truly is quite a engineering feat Viano, among such a beautiful region of islands along the coast.
We loved our cruise last year through the Norway Fjords. It was a great teaser for how many beautiful areas there would be to visit on a return trip. But we did miss the ability to do road trips like the Atlantic Road trip. The engineer in me was always fascinated when I heard the stories of what it took to build roads and railways through this rough land. Love that view of the bridge! I love that there were parking areas available for hikes. I would surely not want to miss the Askevågen viewpoint! We too are remembering Norway at this time of year.
Thanks so much Linda. I’m sure the engineer in you would definitely love looking at the bridges and the entire project along this archipeligo, to say nothing of the scenic views. Your teaser trip will no doubt have whetted your appetite to return to explore more in-depth on land when the opportunity arises.
Wow! I will add this to my list. I can’t wait to travel here someday. Thank you for sharing the Atlantic Road Norway.
You’re so welcome Chei. I’m so pleased you liked this and thank you for leaving your comment.
wow! i did not know about this at all.. i know we will loooovvvee this road trip.. thanks for this post; adding this to our bucket list..
You’re most welcome Vidya and I hope you will have as much enjoyment as we did.
Looks like you had a great time! I would love to experience passing over the Storseisundbrua as well.
The Storseisundbrua is certainly a highlight Aleeza and very memorable for its very different angles and design. Very cool to experience the drive over it and enjoy the views at a higher level in the process. Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment.
The Atlantic Ocean Road offers a stunning natural view worth treasuring. To be there will be quite an experience. The pictures look great.
I couldn’t agree more Azubike. Thank you very much for reading and sharing your thoughts.
What a neat place to drive! The scenery is just beautiful. What an awesome experience to visit and stay.
Thanks so much Marysa. We loved this part of the world a lot, it was just so natural, full of beauty and no pollution.
That does seem like a gorgeous road trip. Quite amazed to see those bridges – they look like a rollercoaster track. The advisory on the weather conditions is a good tip coz one would not expect the waves or water to rise so high over those bridges. The pic you shared does make it look really dangerous.
I totally know what you mean Ami. I was totally surprised when I first saw that photo. Always better to be safe than sorry!
The Atlantic Highway is on my bucket list!
It is quite a well-known attraction Tia, and certainly something we really wanted to see on our trip.
Ohh I need to add this to my bucket list!! Such a beautiful stretch of road connecting all the islands!
That’s for sure Jessica! So pleased you love this as well.