Norway

shimonsolof
Feb 9, 2025
6 min read

Updated: Feb 14, 2025

Day 1: Monday - Stavanger

We landed at 9:15 AM in Stavanger, Norway.

Initially, we planned to visit Vitengarden, a combination science museum for kids and a farm. However, the kids fell asleep as soon as we got into the car. We decided to skip Vitengarden and drive to Dalsnuten for a hike to a glacier. Unfortunately, the kids were still asleep, so we continued toward our final destination for the day. Dalsnuten does have stroller-friendly pathways, making it a good choice for families with young children.

Next, we stopped at Latefossen, a stunning double waterfall visible from the main road. We pulled over at a small parking lot across the highway and enjoyed climbing on the rocks beside the falls.

We spent the night at the Tyssedal Hotel in Odda, a charming place right by a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains.

Day 2: Tuesday – Odda

Stop 1: We started the day with a beautiful hike to Lake Bondhusvatnet in Folgefonna National Park. The path is stroller-friendly, although some areas can be quite steep. The hike is well worth it, offering stunning views of the alpine lake surrounded by majestic mountains. The hike takes about 1.5 hours up and an hour down, with lovely spots to pause and enjoy the river and views.

Stop 2: Steinsdalfossen is a short walk from the parking lot, where we enjoyed a scenic stroll along the riverfront to the impressive waterfall.

There was an option to take a staircase up to go behind to the falls and feel the mist, but we decided to skip that.

We had planned to visit the Glacier Road National Park Farm, but due to pouring rain, we decided to skip this stop.

We spent the night at the Moxy Hotel in Bergen, located in the modern section of the city.

Day 3: Wednesday – Bergen

Stop 1: We took the Floibanen Funicular to Floyen Mountain, which is essentially a large train car that ascends the mountain. At the top, there is a stunning lookout over Bergen, beautiful trails, free canoes, a small petting zoo, and playgrounds. The kids loved all the attractions and the ride up and down the mountain. (Note: the line can be lengthy, but it moves quickly.)

Stop 2: We explored Bryggen, the old town with buildings dating back hundreds of years. We visited some gift shops in the historic buildings and wandered through the charming alleyways.

Stop 3: The Ulriken 643 cable car, less well-known than Floibanen, was another fun experience for the kids. The lookout area offered a different view than Mt. Floyen, and we enjoyed hiking on the mountain peak and climbing on some rocks.

A Bergen Card is available for purchase to save on attractions. However, not all the places we visited were included, so we opted not to get one. If you’re staying longer in Bergen, it might be worth considering.

Stop 4: We visited Tvindefossen, an absolutely stunning waterfall just a short walk from the parking lot. There’s also a small café nearby.

We spent the night in a cozy Airbnb in Flam, surrounded by majestic mountains and waterfalls. We strolled around the town, marveling at the beauty that residents see every day.

Day 4: Thursday – Flam

Stop 1: We started with the Myrkdalen chairlift. On the way, we realized this could have been added to yesterday’s itinerary, as it’s on the route from Bergen to Flam.

Myrkdalen is a beautiful ski resort and hotel. We purchased lift tickets and enjoyed the ride up the ski lift. While it was chilly at the top, the views were incredible! After a small hike, we headed back down for our next activity.

Stop 2: Back in Flam, we explored the waterfront area, surprised to find three huge cruise ships docked, making the tiny town bustle with tourists. We went to the Fjord Safari office to gear up for our adventure. After a safety briefing and donning our waterproof jumpsuits and goggles, we boarded the rib boats.

We had a fantastic time speeding through the Nærøyfjord, getting up close to a waterfall while our guide shared fascinating history and geography facts about the area.

Stop 3: After exploring the waterfront and enjoying a picnic lunch, we headed to the Flam train station. We rode the Flamsbana, one of the oldest and steepest railways in the world. At times, there was nothing between the train and a sheer cliff thousands of feet below us. The ride was beautiful, offering views of powerful waterfalls and glaciers, but it was a bit long and somewhat boring for the kids.

Stop 4: We visited the Aurlandsvegen viewpoint, a stunning lookout hanging off a cliff. The views are breathtaking, even for those afraid of heights!

We drove to a lovely Airbnb in Loen, where we would be based until after Shabbos.

Day 5: Friday - Loen

Stop 1: We started the day by driving to the Briksdal Glacier. The ride along Lake Lovatnet was so beautiful that we found ourselves pulling over multiple times to take in the scenery. At the glacier, we reserved a troll car from the base to the glacier. Although hiking is an option, we were concerned it would be too long and challenging for the little ones. The cars operate on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved in advance.

The ride was stunning, passing right by a beautiful waterfall fed by the melting glacier. We had to walk the final stretch, as the path was too steep and narrow for the car, which took about 10 minutes to reach the glacier. The glacier and the pool beneath it were breathtaking, though it was sad to see how much it has receded in recent years.

Stop 2: We stopped at a campsite on the shore of Lake Lovatnet and rented a paddleboat for an hour. The ride was peaceful and picturesque; it felt like we were boating in a postcard.

Stop 3: Next, we visited the Loen Skylift, taking the steep cable car up the mountain for unparalleled views of the fjord below, surrounded by massive glacier-capped mountains.

We then returned to our Airbnb to prepare for Shabbos.

Day 6: Shabbos - Loen

We enjoyed a leisurely morning and an extended meal, taking advantage of the long days in Norway. Afterward, the kids played with some toys that came with the house, and we took a walk around the neighborhood. The day passed more quickly than we expected.

After the 9:00 PM Shalosh Seudos, we put the kids to sleep and waited until about 1:30 AM to make Havdalah and pack for the remainder of the trip.

Day 7: Sunday - Geiranger

Stop 1: We began our day by driving up to the Geiranger Skywalk. We took frequent breaks to enjoy the stunning views and even climbed on some nearby glaciers, managing a few snowball fights—something our kids had never experienced before! At the peak, we were treated to incredible views of the Geirangerfjord, and the kids loved spotting the “tiny” cruise ships docking at the port. There is a coffee shop at the peak, which is great for warming up since it can be quite chilly.

Stop 2: After descending the mountain, we headed into Geiranger town, stopping often to admire the glaciers and surrounding views. We then embarked on a 90-minute Geirangerfjord cruise, which brought us up close to waterfalls that are not visible from land. We enjoyed the views from various docks on the boat and from the beautiful indoor spaces.

After the cruise, we walked around the small, historic town and visited shops that have been preserved since their days as fisheries.

We spent the night at the Valldal Fjordhotel, a beautiful waterfront hotel.

Day 8: Monday - Alesund

Stop 1: We started our day at the Valldal Activity Park near our hotel. The kids loved the playground, ropes course, and jumping pillows, especially the mini ropes course that even our one-year-old could enjoy.

Stop 2: Next, we drove up Aksala Mountain to the Fjellstuna viewpoint, where we took in the breathtaking views and climbed on some nearby rocks. We also found a lovely park area near a small lake, where we grilled and had a picnic supper

Later, we checked into our hotel in the historical district and enjoyed a bit of walking around.

We stayed at the Hotel Brosundet, a beautiful hotel in a preserved building.

Day 9: Tuesday - Alesund

We spent the morning exploring more of the old town and browsing the local shops.

Next, we drove to the Alnes Lighthouse and climbed to the top for stunning views of the water and the town across from us.

We had hoped to visit the Atlantic Sea Park but unfortunately had to skip it due to time constraints.

Finally, we headed to the airport to begin our journey home.