|
Best
of Oslo, Norway: Top 10 Attractions
Car
Hire Norway - take to the roads & explore!
Essential
Haugesund area tourist visitor and hotel guide
Explore
The Northern Lights On Cheap Cruises
Norway
Fjord Drive Not Cruise
Stavanger
Hotels and Things to Do
Things
to do in Bergen
Trondheim Information
Uniquely
surprising weather of Norway
Car Hire
Norway - take to the roads & explore! by Mairead Foley
Norway 'The Land of the
Midnight Sun' is located in western Scandinavia. It's a country renowned
for its immense natural beauty with deep fjords (the finest in the
world!), snow capped mountains, glaciated valleys, the unspoilt open
countryside and lush forests. All these natural attractions combine to
produce some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.
From
the midnight sun, northern lights, Viking Ships, stave churches, medieval
farms and an endless list of outdoor activities - Norway is a superb holiday
destination.
If
you're intending to spend some quality time exploring Norway then a car
is the best means of transport as it can take you to some hidden gems off
the beaten track.
Norway
Car Hire Tip: When in Norway, drive on the right, overtake on the left
and always leave your headlights on.
Probably
the best starting point for your Norway adventure is its capital Oslo.
The cultural city of Oslo is becoming a very popular holiday and short
break destination. It's a fantastic city with lots of shopping,
nightlife, and top attractions like the City Hall, the Royal Palace, the
Cathedral and Akershus festning - a superb medieval castle in the city
centre. While in the city it's recommended that you park the car up and
use the public transport as the city has poor parking and severe
congestion during rush hours.
However,
it's only when you drive out of the city that you begin to experience the
true extent of Norway's natural beauty (and this is where your car hire
comes in!).
Norway
Car Hire Tip: Speed limit is 90km/hr on a motorway, 80km/hr on open road
and between 30-50km/hr in residential areas.
Outside
the city you can drive to Winter Park Tryvann, which is the main ski area
in Oslo and is only about 10km from the city centre. It's located at the top
of Holmenkollen and has 14 slopes and 6 lifts. It's popular for
snowboarding and both telemark and alpine skiing. To get there, take exit
for 'Smestad' from Ring Road 3 and follow signs for 'Holmenkollen'.
Another
top attraction is TusenFryd Amusement Park, which is in Vinterbro, about
20km from Oslo. You'll enjoy endless family fun here with roller
coasters, carousels, a spectacular waterpark (seasonal) and loads of
restaurants. Get on route E18 and take exit 6 to get to Vinterbro.
Norway
Car Hire Tip: There are severe penalties for drink driving in Norway -
the strictest in Europe, so just don't do it.
One of
the best scenic driving routes in Norway (and indeed Europe) is from Oslo
to the city of Bergen. The drive is roughly about 500km (plus a ferry
crossing) but how long it takes is up to you! This popular driving route
is called the RV7, more commonly known as the 'Hardangervidda' as this is
the name of the national park you drive through en route. There is so
much to see and do along the way and plenty of accommodation. It's mainly
a mountainous drive but you'll really see a slice of Norway on this road
trip!
Norway
Car Hire Tip: In some parts of Norway snow chains and snow tyres are
compulsory during the winter time.
Bergen
is the second largest city in Norway. When you arrive here you're better
off parking the car and walking as it will be much faster! Try to drag
yourself away from the amazing bar, clubs, pubs and restaurants to see
attractions like Bergenhus Fort (one of the best preserved in Norway!),
Fantoft Stave Church, or take a cable car to the top of two nearby
mountains and enjoy the view. Because Bergen has such a long established
maritime history, you should really visit the famous Bergen Fish Market
and watch what goes on beneath the surface of the water at the Bergen
Aquarium. There's a tropical area here too with crocodiles, snakes and
monkeys.
Stroll
down 'Bryggen', which is the old wharf of Bergen, now a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, or visit the home of composer Edward Greig which is now a
museum or simply do some shopping. Bergan has lots of pedestrian shopping
streets.
Norway
has an amazing array of Fjords and the ones along the west side of the
country are incredible. Take E39 north of Bergen to Sognefjord which is
said to be the world's deepest fjord! The most scenic route to get there
is through the Sognefjell Mountains. If travelling from Oslo you'll need
to head northwest and get on route 51 taking a left off road 15 and
taking exit on to route 55.
Other
fjords in that area worthy of a visit are the Hardangerfjord,
Geirangerfjord,the Lyserfjord and the narrowest one in the world the
Naeroyfjord.
Norway
Car Hire Tip: Some roads are closed in Norway during the winter due to
poor driving conditions, so it's better to check you're driving route
before you leave for your destination.
If
you're up for an adventure then you can continue north of Bergen and
drive to the Artic Circle or you can even go futher to the North Cape
(Nordkapp) and stand at the very tip of Northern Europe while watching
the mid night sun. This is a superb driving route where you'll notice
field and fjords give way to remote lakes, forests, wilderness and snow
further north. Stay in a cosy little log cabin for a real Artic
experience.
Norway
Car Hire Tip: You'll come across lots of toll roads!
South
of Oslo is very popular with tourists. Important destinations include the
historical town of Sandefjord - a 14th century town located on the south
east of Norway. This charming town was formed during the Viking era and
the harbour hosts a replica of the historic Gokstad Viking Ship. Long
ago, Sandefjord had many whaling expeditions to the Antartica and at one
stage up to 2,500 men from here worked on the whaling ships. Whaling
stopped at the end of the 1960’s. The whaling monument and the
whaling museum (Sandefjordmuseene) are two popular attractions in the
town. Sandefjord is located just off the E18 about 120km from Oslo.
Stavanger
city is on the west close to the stunning Lyserfjord. The city, which is
on a peninsula, has been chosen as the 2008 European city of culture. The
city centre has a beautiful old town, lots of cobbled street, open air
markets, a beautifully preserved cathedral and lots of museums. The city
and its outskirts are a paradise for outdoor activities like hiking,
climbing, skiing, snowboarding and if you're up for ice skating during
the winter time you can drive to a lake called Stokkavannet which is
about 20 minutes outside the city.
There
is just so much to see in Norway and this is just a taste of what you can
visit by car.
top
About
the Author: Mairead Foley writes for http://www.Novacarhire.com/ where
you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and
towns all over the world. Book your www.novacarhire.com/car-hire/Norway
now.
|
