The detours you shouldn´t miss – Norwegian scenic routes

Because in Norway, the road less travelled often comes with a better view.

If you’ve found your way to Fjord Norway, there are some roads you shound´t miss. The Norwegian Scenic Routes are no ordinary roads — they are curated detours that turn the drive itself into an unforgettable part of your trip. Here, nature, architecture, and art come together to offer you something rare in modern travel: the luxury of slowing down. And yes — even a restroom break might become one of the stories you tell when you get back home.

Norwegian Scenic Routes are 18 carefully selected drives through some of Norway’s most striking landscapes — 10 of them located in the dramatic terrain of Fjord Norway. This concept was developed by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, with a clear mission: to transform road travel into an immersive experience of Norwegian nature and culture.

Explore 10 of Norway´s most unforgettable routes here:
👉 10 Norwegian Scenic Routes in Western Norway – FjordNorway.com

Where nature, design and stillness meet

These are not the fastest ways to get from A to B. They are scenic alternatives that encourage you to stop — to look, to listen, and to feel. Along each route, you’ll discover viewpoints suspended above deep fjords, art installations nestled into the mountainsides, and rest areas crafted by some of Norway’s most respected architects. Whether you’re navigating the sharp curves of Trollstigen, braving the sea spray on the Atlantic Road, or crossing the desolate beauty of the Aurlandsfjellet plateau, the journey itself becomes part of the reward.

Every turn reveals something unexpected: a glacier-fed lake, a hidden waterfall, or a herd of goats balanced impossibly on a steep hillside. The highlights along these routes are not overrun tourist magnets. They are carefully curated pauses — located where nature calls for quiet, where design has been added with restraint, and where time seems to slow. You won’t find billboards or souvenir shops here. What you will find is space. Space to breathe, to take it in. This is more than sightseeing. It’s place-seeing — and heart-filling.

Høsebru, along the Norwegian Scenic Route Ryfylke. Photo: Fredrik Fløgstad, Statens Vegvesen

“Loo with a view” - Where nature calls in style

Let’s talk about toilets. Really. Along the Norwegian Scenic Routes, bathrooms have become something of a phenomenon — even an attraction. The phrase “Loo with a View” might sound like a joke, but once you’ve stepped into one of these carefully designed facilities, you’ll understand.

Take the rest stop at Utsikten on the Gaularfjellet route. From the outside, it looks like a modernist sculpture — clean lines, concrete and glass — and from the inside, it frames the valley like a postcard. Or head to Liasanden on the Sognefjellet route, where curved steel panels echo the flow of the nearby river. These aren’t just stops. They’re statements.

Another example is Eldhusøya, by the Atlantic Road. It features an elevated circular walkway that offers stunning views of the ocean and surrounding landscape. The path allows visitors to experience the dramatic coastline up close while protecting the natural environment. The site is a memorable place to pause along the drive. You might go in out of necessity, but you come out with a renewed sense of wonder.

This is “Loo with a View” in the truest sense. These facilities have become icons in themselves, designed with the same architectural care as galleries or museums. They symbolize how much thought has been put into every part of your journey — even the private and practical bits.

The toilet building by the Skjervsfossen waterfall along the Norwegian Tourist Route Hardanger.

Sculpted by nature, framed by design

What makes the Norwegian Scenic Routes exceptional is not just the landscapes — it’s how human creativity has been woven into them. Along the routes, you’ll find a world-class collection of architecture and art — not in museums, but under open skies.

The Stegastein Viewpoint near Flåm is one of the most iconic examples. Designed by architects Todd Saunders and Tommie Wilhelmsen, the platform shoots 30 meters out from the cliff, hovering 650 meters above Aurlandsfjord. With its transparent glass end, it gives the sensation of floating in the air — not for the faint of heart, but unforgettable for those who dare.

Further south, Allmannajuvet in Sauda offers something entirely different: a quiet tribute to the history of Norway’s mining industry. Here, Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor has created a series of raw, weathered buildings that reflect the harsh beauty of the site — angular walkways, a café, and yes, another remarkable toilet.

Tyrvefjøra along Fylkesveg 7 in Ålvik, along the Norwegian Tourist Route Hardanger

On the Hardanger route, you’ll encounter Hardanger Skyspace, an installation by American artist James Turrell. As daylight shifts, the artwork plays with perception, creating a meditative space where sky and architecture merge. It’s part science, part spirituality — and all deeply connected to the place it sits in.

None of these pieces try to compete with nature. They emphasize it, frame it, heighten it. Built with care, and often in difficult conditions, these works represent years of planning and craftsmanship — all for the sake of the traveling public.

Scenic, silent, sustainable

There are few places in the world where you can explore vast natural landscapes with such ease — and such a clear conscience — as in Fjord Norway. Along the Norwegian Scenic Routes, the experience of travel has evolved. Today, it’s not just about where you go, but how you get there. Thanks to Norway’s deep roots in renewable energy — and a century-long legacy of hydroelectric power — the country is a global pioneer in clean mobility. That means your journey through the fjords can now be quiet, emission-free, and deeply satisfying. Whether you choose to rent an electric car, hop on a regional electric bus, or glide across a fjord on a battery-powered ferry, you’re part of a travel movement that values preservation as much as pleasure.

Stegastein Viewpoint in Aurland, along the Norwegian Scenic Route Aurlandsfjellet. Photo: Fjord Norway

In fact, Norway boasts one of the world’s most advanced charging infrastructures, even in its most remote corners. You can charge your car at scenic viewpoints, remote rest areas, or while enjoying a local meal in a small fjord-side village. And the electric ferries — such as those crossing the Sognefjord or Hjørundfjord — not only cut emissions but also cut noise, making every crossing more serene, for both travelers and the environment.

This new era of travel allows you to immerse yourself in wild landscapes without harming them. It’s not just the right way to travel — it’s the most rewarding way.

The Atlantic Road and the Eldhusøya, along the Norwegian Scenic Route Geiranger. Photo: Roger Ellingsen, Statens Vegvesen

The art of travelling responsibly

Stillness, silence, and scenery — these are gifts that need protection. As more travelers find their way to Norwegian Scenic Routes, the responsibility grows with them. Every footprint, every plastic wrapper, every car left idling at a viewpoint leaves a mark.

Being a responsible traveler means embracing low-impact habits. Stay on marked paths, pack out everything you bring in, and avoid disturbing wildlife. Don’t leave litter behind, or cigarette butts in the grass. These landscapes may seem vast, but they are fragile — and their future depends on how we move through them today.

Traveling sustainably is not a limitation — it’s a deeper way to connect. When you drive silently through a pine-scented valley, or charge your vehicle under a tumbling waterfall, you’re not just seeing Norway. You’re traveling in harmony with it.

Allmannajuvet by the Norwegian Scenic Route Ryfylke. Photo: Fredrik Fløgstad, Statens Vegvesen

The detour is the destination

Choosing a Norwegian Scenic Route means choosing experience over efficiency. It means leaving the highway behind to drive a little slower — and see a lot more. To let the sound of a waterfall replace your playlist. To find yourself staring into a mirror-still fjord, or walking out onto a platform suspended between earth and sky.

Whether it’s the dizzying curves of Trollstigen, the storm-swept views of Jæren, or the snow-dusted stillness of Sognefjellet, these roads offer more than sights. They offer feelings. If you travel to one of the fjord cities like Stavanger, Bergen or Ålesund, you are able to reach many of the Norwegian Scenic Routes in one day, and see some of the most stunning highlights in the fjords – just a few steps from the road.

The viewpoint of the Vøringsfossen Waterfall, along the Norwegian Scenic Route Hardanger. Photo: Kjell Rolseth, Rolseth Foto / Statens Vegvesen