Norway

After my trip to Italy, which can be described as a “foodie” heaven, I decided that my next trip should be focused more on nature and hiking. After giving my goals extensive thought, I decided to select Norway, a Scandinavian gateway, as my next destination. Given its extensive and well-preserved nature, this is a perfect destination for outdoor lovers and those who are bold enough to explore off the beaten path. Even though many people think of Norway as a winter locale, it has an abundance of activities in every season of the year. In fact, if you want to camp and thoroughly enjoy the outdoors, I would suggest a summertime trip.

Summer days are long. The sun rises around 4 in the morning and it does not set until around 11pm. These long day light hours are a unique experience for many tourists. Even though summer is a great choice for many people, winter has its own unique charms, including the incredible northern lights and outstanding ski trails. Because I was venturing to Norway in the summer and was interested in hiking, camping, and viewing the fjords, I decided to stay in Norway’s western region. I flew into Stavanger, Norway, and then drove to Bergen. I then camped at the world renowned Trolltunga fjord.The town of Stavanger:  

Norway is known for its seafood, so as soon as I checked in at my hotel I immediately ventured to one of the town’s best known restaurants and fish shops. 

Hotel: 

Best Western Havly Hotel: Friendly and helpful staff. The rooms are generously sized, and each guest receives a complimentary breakfast. The hotel is also centrally located, in the middle of many of Stavanger’s attractions and restaurants, and this is a distinct advantage. It makes successfully navigating the town far easier. 

Restaurants: 

Fisketorget was our first stop after a long flight, and it did not disappoint! A huge chalkboard is their menu, and attached to their restaurant is their fish market/shop, so everything is fresh. I don't think you can find anything but fresh food in Norway. I  can still taste the delicious light creamy sauce they served with their shrimp sandwich. And, oh my god, the fish soup was to die for. Writing this makes me want to go back … Now! LOL.

Re-Naa: A Michelin-starred restaurant usually does not disappoint. When we arrived, we were seated in the lounge area and offered super tasty drinks. We were then invited to our table. They have an open kitchen concept with no glass and no barriers, and you can even talk to the chef. We loved every dish, and our wine pairing was great too. The staff were super friendly and accommodating when I took pictures and videos. Something that caught my attention was that Norwegian people are not as into social media and taking pictures. Most of the time they either did not have Instagram or did not want to be tagged in pictures or videos.

Egget: When you travel to norway you will notice that most restaurants require reservations in advance, especially ones that provide fixed menu or no menu. The chef usually purchases his or her products every day and based on that they create their dishes. This restaurant has no menu. Depending on what is available in the market, they cook and make a menu that day. They did not disappoint. I truly loved every dish. You can consider this place to be fine dining since it is pricier than other area restaurants and the portions are small. But it is definitely something you have to try.

Re-Naa matbaren: We did not have reservations and this restaurant needs them. But, they have a cute indoor patio where they were able to seat us. We had an early reservation for Egget, and we shared our meals so that we could try Re-Naa matbaren. As expected, this place did not disappoint either.

Pjolter and punsj: We went to many bars and small coffee shops, but this one stands out. The guys who make the drinks are pretty cool and friendly. We had a great time chatting. And their drinks are amazing too!

Sightseeing:

There are many hiking trails you can visit with stunning scenery. I had only 2 full days in the city, so we booked a 3-hour cruise to see the fjords. The rest of the trip we explored the city, relaxing and recovering from our jet lag.

 Sverd I fjell: Sverd I fjell, means sword in the rock, and it  commemorates a battle between three Vikings. We stopped here on our way from the airport to the hotel. It was interesting, but other than the monument, there is not a lot to see there.

Rodne fjord cruise: An amazing cruise that offers unique views of the fjord. You have different options when booking with this company. You can book a 3-hour cruise or add on hiking as another option. The cruise ship is clean and has an inside lounge area where you can purchase snacks and drinks. It also provides information about sites in several different languages. You get a sweeping panorama of the city and the fjord from sea level. A fun fact: this is the fjord that Tom Cruise was hanging from in a Mission Impossible movie.

Fargegaten: This is a famous pedestrian street full of colorful houses, restaurants, and shops. I would highly recommend checking it out. Most people visit during the afternoon for drinks and some music.

On the third day, after breakfast, we headed to Bergen. The drive to Bergen can take from 5 to 7 hours depending on time of day and traffic. Many parts of Norway are connected using water ferries. They are available 24 hours a day, but are more frequent during the day. I made it to Bergen around 2 pm. Due to some unfortunate events (a very dirty AirBbnb),  I had to book my hotel that same day. Even though I had to pay a premium for booking last minute, this worked out great. My hotel was right in the city and I could walk everywhere.

Hotel:

Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret:  My friend joined us here, so there were now three of us. The hotel gave us a room with 2 queen beds and a sofa/bed. Our room was a great size, but since we wanted to sleep on the sofa bed, it got a little cramped. Overall we had a great experience with the hotel. They offer free breakfast, and also have snacks during the day and a light dinner, which is pretty cool.

 Bergen is filled with adorable colorful buildings. If the weather cooperates, you can definitely explore it in a single day. Unfortunately, it rained intermittently during our stay, but we still managed to see everything.  And, when the rain picked up, we would take breaks at coffee shops and restaurants. 

There were a few restaurants that I really wanted to visit, but unfortunately they were either fully booked or not open. Summer time in Norway is great, but a lot of restaurants are closed for vacations. This meant we missed some great places!

From Bergen, we headed to our guesthouse in Trolltunga. This was a breathtakingly scenic drive, spotting waterfalls, double rainbows, and many small villages.

You reserve your room as either shared or private. We asked for a private 3 bed, and received a spacious one-bedroom apartment. The one bedroom had a queen bed. There was also a bunk bed in the hallway, and in the living room, we had a single bed. Everything  from our sheets to our towels were clean and fresh. They do not offer breakfast or food. However, they do provide food to purchase and cook, such as eggs and cereal. 

Trolltunga Hike: I booked with this company in advance. It was an easy process, and they even helped us book our guesthouse. Our group was small, only the three of us and our two guides. This contributed to an incredible experience. They provided snacks for the hike, along with lunch and dinner. They advertise their reindeer stew and it is truly exceptional. Unfortunately, the weather was not in our favor. It was cold, rainy, and windy, so we had to be really careful when walking.

Our two guides were very informative. They knew the area very well, and they were super nice. It is a well-signed hike and many people hike this route everyday. You will have service and internet connection throughout your hike, so you can go on your own. However, I highly recommend booking a tour. Not only will you meet new people, but it is also definitely worth camping one night to enjoy Trolltunga to its fullest. All you need to bring is yourself and some extra clothes and water, they will provide the rest. 

People are nice and always happy to help you. They enjoy the outdoors and nature, and appreciate what their country has to offer. Five to six days is not enough to explore everything Norway has to offer, but it definitely made me fall in love with the country!