Scandinavian Trip 2023 - Questions/Advice

[Boris]

Am off to Scandinavia in 2023, likely mid June through to late July. I have a loose travel plan, but am very flexible with the route. Current idea is, Hirtshals/Kristiansand, then following the Fjords and coast ish, all the way to the Nordkapp. Returning through Finland and Sweden. Most of my mileage will be in Norway and Sweden, however I don’t want to miss out on things to see and do in Denmark and Finland.
I have pencilled in lots of the usual tourist stuff (in no order),
Trollstigen
Atlantic Ocean Road
Lysebotn
Silver Moose in Atna
Hell
Lofoten Islands
A
Gerainger
Vildmarksvagen
Rovaniemi
Oresund Bridge
That really long tunnel?
So many waterfalls (which ones are must see?)
Etc etc

I know we have many Scandinavian members on here and am hoping they and others can give some local knowledge, places that are worth a visit away from the usual tourist areas, must do roads, must see places that might not be as well known.

I particularly enjoy the wilderness, mountains, lakes, mountain passes, spectacular scenery. I enjoy photography and plan to make the best of my time in Scandinavia. Please note though, I have little or no off road experience or skills and my bike is set up for tarmac, however I’m happy and confident to take on simple non tarmac roads, just NO mud, sand or ruts, please.

I like to get a full day off of the bike about once a week, any suggestions on bigger towns/cities that are interesting and good for a days wandering (and laundry).

A bit about me as it might help with responses, I’ll be 61 at time of travel, am experienced with European bike travel and have been riding for 42 years, always owning a bike in that time, I’ll be travelling solo.

Lastly, I have lots of other questions/enquiries, which I will post at a later time, I hope you don’t mind.

Thanking you in Advance
Boris

 

[bimota]

OFF TOPIC

wow boris i,m 61 next year with 42 yrs of riding without a break, what dates your birthday

rob

 

[Boris]

OFF TOPIC

wow boris i,m 61 next year with 42 yrs of riding without a break, what dates your birthday

rob

January 62 I was born.

 

[Saint rob]

January 62 I was born.

Am off to Scandinavia in 2023, likely mid June through to late July. I have a loose travel plan, but am very flexible with the route. Current idea is, Hirtshals/Kristiansand, then following the Fjords and coast ish, all the way to the Nordkapp. Returning through Finland and Sweden. Most of my mileage will be in Norway and Sweden, however I don’t want to miss out on things to see and do in Denmark and Finland.
I have pencilled in lots of the usual tourist stuff (in no order),
Trollstigen
Atlantic Ocean Road
Lysebotn
Silver Moose in Atna
Hell
Lofoten Islands
A
Gerainger
Vildmarksvagen
Rovaniemi
Oresund Bridge
That really long tunnel?
So many waterfalls (which ones are must see?)
Etc etc

I know we have many Scandinavian members on here and am hoping they and others can give some local knowledge, places that are worth a visit away from the usual tourist areas, must do roads, must see places that might not be as well known.

I particularly enjoy the wilderness, mountains, lakes, mountain passes, spectacular scenery. I enjoy photography and plan to make the best of my time in Scandinavia. Please note though, I have little or no off road experience or skills and my bike is set up for tarmac, however I’m happy and confident to take on simple non tarmac roads, just NO mud, sand or ruts, please.

I like to get a full day off of the bike about once a week, any suggestions on bigger towns/cities that are interesting and good for a days wandering (and laundry).

A bit about me as it might help with responses, I’ll be 61 at time of travel, am experienced with European bike travel and have been riding for 42 years, always owning a bike in that time, I’ll be travelling solo.

Lastly, I have lots of other questions/enquiries, which I will post at a later time, I hope you don’t mind.

Thanking you in Advance
Boris

I did a very similar solo trip in 2018 fro Hirtsals to Kristitiansand.
I don’t know if you are interested in military history at all Boris, but if you are then I have a couple of suggestions.
The Norwegian workers museum in Vemork, you’ve probably seen the film The Heroes of Telemark, great place
The Tirpitz museum is worth a look into in Alta fjord which isn’t very far from Nordkapp.
The Adolf canon at the end of the Atlantic wall, I’m still annoyed with myself for missing that one!
There is a Lancaster crash site in the middle of a marsh in Sweden which is worth a visit. It’s about a mile and a half across a boardwalk in the middle of nowhere, good photographic opportunity for you. Search for Lancaster Easy Elsie, it’s easy to find when you are there.

After crossing the Øresund bridge, I jumped on a ferry across the Baltic to Rostock in Germany so that I could visit the V2 rocket site/ museum at Penemünde. Great place to visit and you can also go on board a Russian nuclear sub while you are there too.
Just up the road from there is Prora - Hitlers holiday camp, longest building in the world, something like 2 miles long. You could buy an apartment there now if you have a spare €1.5m although 4 years on it’ll probably cost a bit more.

If you like we can meet for a brew somewhere, I spend quite a bit of time wandering around the south Peaks area because my daughter lives in Staffordshire

 

[Squibb]

There are several trip reports on UKGSer & ABR, amongst others.

Our last trip to Norway was jinxed sadly, so we decided to cut things short due to snow (August) as it became too treacherous to continue north. However, it highlights the fact that you can get 4 seasons in one day which, along with some slow traffic, means it's important not to get too ambitious with the daily mileage. It's quite a flog up to the Nordcapp too, but I appreciate some riders have it on their bucket list. Be prepared for some eyewatering prices, enough to turn anyone teetotal.

Other sites to see, well we found Lonely Planet Scandinavian Europe useful - it covers pretty well everything you might need, so I won't repeat the potential highlights here. @Saint rob mentions NE Germany too, well worth including, if you have the time, but worthy of a separate trip otherwise.

 

[Boris]

I did a very similar solo trip in 2018 fro Hirtsals to Kristitiansand.
I don’t know if you are interested in military history at all Boris, but if you are then I have a couple of suggestions.
The Norwegian workers museum in Vemork, you’ve probably seen the film The Heroes of Telemark, great place
The Tirpitz museum is worth a look into in Alta fjord which isn’t very far from Nordkapp.
The Adolf canon at the end of the Atlantic wall, I’m still annoyed with myself for missing that one!
There is a Lancaster crash site in the middle of a marsh in Sweden which is worth a visit. It’s about a mile and a half across a boardwalk in the middle of nowhere, good photographic opportunity for you. Search for Lancaster Easy Elsie, it’s easy to find when you are there.

Thanks Rob, am certainly interested in the military stuff, will make a note and definitely include at least some of it.

 

[Boris]

There are several trip reports on UKGSer & ABR, amongst others.

Our last trip to Norway was jinxed sadly, so we decided to cut things short due to snow (August) as it became too treacherous to continue north. However, it highlights the fact that you can get 4 seasons in one day which, along with some slow traffic, means it's important not to get too ambitious with the daily mileage. It's quite a flog up to the Nordcapp too, but I appreciate some riders have it on their bucket list. Be prepared for some eyewatering prices, enough to turn anyone teetotal.

Other sites to see, well we found Lonely Planet Scandinavian Europe useful - it covers pretty well everything you might need, so I won't repeat the potential highlights here. @Saint rob mentions NE Germany too, well worth including, if you have the time, but worthy of a separate trip otherwise.

Thanks Squibb, the weather is a slight concern, I’ve seen YT videos of snow and almost freezing temps in late July, I’ll just have to gauge it at the time. I gave up big mile days years ago, 200-250 miles max these days, fortunately I’m retired now, so not usually stuck with a time limit, if I need a few more days, so be it. I’ve been meaning to join ABR, this is the push I need, Ta.

 

[Saint rob]

I thought I’d morphed into Owen Wilson when I was in Norway, every bend you go around it was Wow. You deffo won’t get anywhere fast, nor would you want to.
I found that somedays I would be up, had breakfast with the tent down and packed and on my way by 06:00 and then find myself pitching the tent again around 22:00. As I was on my own and didn’t have to please anyone else, the frequent breaks/stops meant I could just keep going, I loved every minute of the trip. Some nights I’d treat myself and stay in one of the many Hytte (huts) that you’ll find, saving the effort of pitching the tent and packing up in the morning - not that it was ever much bother with an air tent. I will return again one day in the not too distant future

 

[Strummer]

Based on my experience about my trip to Nordkapp: be aware of wild animals like elk but mostly reindeers!
You would find them laying inside the tunnels, maybe with no lights at all.....
So if the sign invites you to slow down for no apparent reason please follow the advice.
Be prepared for a lot of rain ( I left Italy last two days of July), it rained 90% of the trip....
The scenery is unique and priceless.

 

[Boris]

I thought I’d morphed into Owen Wilson when I was in Norway, every bend you go around it was Wow. You deffo won’t get anywhere fast, nor would you want to.
I found that somedays I would be up, had breakfast with the tent down and packed and on my way by 06:00 and then find myself pitching the tent again around 22:00. As I was on my own and didn’t have to please anyone else, the frequent breaks/stops meant I could just keep going, I loved every minute of the trip. Some nights I’d treat myself and stay in one of the many Hytte (huts) that you’ll find, saving the effort of pitching the tent and packing up in the morning - not that it was ever much bother with an air tent. I will return again one day in the not too distant future

Cheers Rob, I don’t camp and am planning on using the Hytte/Cabins throughout the trip, with a hotel when staying in larger towns/cities. Are these cabins commonplace throughout Scandinavia, or just Norway? Do you know if they have bedding and or cooking facilities? Will I need to take a sleeping bag?

Solo travel can be lonely at times, but doing what you want, when you want, at what pace you want, is a bonus a lot of the time. When in a group, I’m sure photo stops drive them made sometimes.

TIA
B

 

[Boris]

Based on my experience about my trip to Nordkapp: be aware of wild animals like elk but mostly reindeers!
You would find them laying inside the tunnels, maybe with no lights at all.....
So if the sign invites you to slow down for no apparent reason please follow the advice.
Be prepared for a lot of rain ( I left Italy last two days of July), it rained 90% of the trip....
The scenery is unique and priceless.

Wildlife is one of my big interests, although from a safe distance. I’m looking forward to seeing reindeer and hopefully moose/elk as well.

 

[Saint rob]

Cheers Rob, I don’t camp and am planning on using the Hytte/Cabins throughout the trip, with a hotel when staying in larger towns/cities. Are these cabins commonplace throughout Scandinavia, or just Norway? Do you know if they have bedding and or cooking facilities? Will I need to take a sleeping bag?

Solo travel can be lonely at times, but doing what you want, when you want, at what pace you want, is a bonus a lot of the time. When in a group, I’m sure photo stops drive them made sometimes.

TIA
B

Pretty common throughout Norway and Sweden Boris. They tend to have cooking facilities along with a table and chairs, in some you may get a sofa or easy chairs as well and all the ones I stayed in you used the shared bathroom facilities of the site. It was July when I was there and I never booked anything, always preferring to turn up on spec.
I never noticed if bedding was available as I always used my sleeping bag because I had it, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it were.
I found the Norcamp app reasonably useful along with the visit Norway app and I downloaded a few guides to some of the areas/regions too, I think it was from the Norwegian tourist board but I’ll check when I get home in a few days and let you know

 

[Jiivee]

Welcome to Finland Boris. We have lots of nice gravel roads and wilderness and thousands of lakes. Finnish Lapland has great landscapes and also a lot of reindeer along the roads, be careful with them...

Accommodation is not a problem, hotels, cabins, bed and breakfasts and much more... The eastern border of Finland has a lot of WWII history from 1939-1944. For example Raate Gate, European`s largest Winter War museum.

Raatteen Portti - Historical & immemorable tourist destination | Historiallinen & elämyksellinen matkailukohde

Historiallinen &

www.raatteenportti.fi

Sorry for the typos!

 

[Boris]

Welcome to Finland Boris. We have lots of nice gravel roads and wilderness and thousands of lakes. Finnish Lapland has great landscapes and also a lot of reindeer along the roads, be careful with them...

Accommodation is not a problem, hotels, cabins, bed and breakfasts and much more... The eastern border of Finland has a lot of WWII history from 1939-1944. For example Raate Gate, European`s largest Winter War museum.

Raatteen Portti - Historical & immemorable tourist destination | Historiallinen & elämyksellinen matkailukohde

Historiallinen &

www.raatteenportti.fi

Sorry for the typos!

Thanks for the advice and link Jiivee, I’ll have a good look through that website. As for typos, your English looks perfect to me.

 

[Tangedal]

I live in Western Norway (Bergen) and as far as SW Norway tips, here are some of my fave roads.
From Kristiansand take the Rv 9 highway north. At Rysstad turn west towards Suleskard. That takes you to Lysebotn/Lysefjord, you need to go there (look at one of my previous posts as to why).
From there, turn south toward Tonstad then west on hwy 42; or if you want, continue south to Sira; in both cases ending up on the E39. Then go north.
At Helleland take the hwy 426 to hwy 44 and continue north to Stavanger (my mom's home town). That'll be a great day. Hotel: Thon Hotel Maritim, dead in the city center, you can park right outside the reception if you ask nicely.
From Stavanger take the Rv 13 east to Tau, through the world's deepest under-sea tunnel. Stay on the 13, take the ferry between Hjelmeland and Nesvik and continue to Vindsvik where you make a right on Fv 632 to the Jøsenfjord. Lots of WWII history right there, look it up. Foloow this hwy until it rejoins the 13 then go tight to Røldal, make a left on E1 34 but then quickly hang a right and take the old road across the mountain nstead of the tunnel. You won't be sorry but on account of the views and vistas it'll take some time. Stay on the E134 until the 13 takes a right to Odda, foloow it to the 550 and the Folgefonn tunnel. Get up high on the glacier Folgefonn if you want, they hav summer skiing up there -- https://www.visitfonna.no/ Then get on the 549,to Jondal, take the ferry across to Tørvikbygd and then go right to Norheimsund. That'll be a day. Recommended hotel is Sandven Hotel (it's about the only one, anyway).
From Norheimsund take any old road to Bergen and spend some days exploring. Within an hour's riding there's all you would want, fjords, the North Sea, narrow roads, the city with cobbkled streets, lots of war memorials etc. including one that honors my grandfather (among others). The outer skerries in Øygarden have bridges more exciting than the Atlantic Ocean Road, IMHO (great grandfather from there and I was a deputy Sheriff there in a long gone previous century).
Going north to get to the Atlantic Ocean Road take the outer route, Fv 57 to near Florø and then get on 614 and 616 to Kalvåg, a fantastic little resort town. You'll need a day or two to explore the beaches they have up there.
From Kalvåg get on the ferry to Måløy, Norway's uglliest city. There's a Thon hotel right smack in downtown and a few restaurants. From there you'll want to get to the Kråkenes lighthouse and the beach at Refviksanden, and if you'r up for it. Honningsvågen at the tip of Stadlandet. This is one of the most treacherous ocean crossings we have to pass going north by boat.
From there you can take the hwy 61 and get to Ålesund and further north and make the trip east to Trollstigen.
I'll leave it there, I suppose we have members from the area who can guide you further on northwards.

 

[Boris]

I live in Western Norway (Bergen) and as far as SW Norway tips, here are some of my fave roads.
From Kristiansand take the Rv 9 highway north. At Rysstad turn west towards Suleskard. That takes you to Lysebotn/Lysefjord, you need to go there (look at one of my previous posts as to why).
From there, turn south toward Tonstad then west on hwy 42; or if you want, continue south to Sira; in both cases ending up on the E39. Then go north.
At Helleland take the hwy 426 to hwy 44 and continue north to Stavanger (my mom's home town). That'll be a great day. Hotel: Thon Hotel Maritim, dead in the city center, you can park right outside the reception if you ask nicely.
From Stavanger take the Rv 13 east to Tau, through the world's deepest under-sea tunnel. Stay on the 13, take the ferry between Hjelmeland and Nesvik and continue to Vindsvik where you make a right on Fv 632 to the Jøsenfjord. Lots of WWII history right there, look it up. Foloow this hwy until it rejoins the 13 then go tight to Røldal, make a left on E1 34 but then quickly hang a right and take the old road across the mountain nstead of the tunnel. You won't be sorry but on account of the views and vistas it'll take some time. Stay on the E134 until the 13 takes a right to Odda, foloow it to the 550 and the Folgefonn tunnel. Get up high on the glacier Folgefonn if you want, they hav summer skiing up there -- https://www.visitfonna.no/ Then get on the 549,to Jondal, take the ferry across to Tørvikbygd and then go right to Norheimsund. That'll be a day. Recommended hotel is Sandven Hotel (it's about the only one, anyway).
From Norheimsund take any old road to Bergen and spend some days exploring. Within an hour's riding there's all you would want, fjords, the North Sea, narrow roads, the city with cobbkled streets, lots of war memorials etc. including one that honors my grandfather (among others). The outer skerries in Øygarden have bridges more exciting than the Atlantic Ocean Road, IMHO (great grandfather from there and I was a deputy Sheriff there in a long gone previous century).
Going north to get to the Atlantic Ocean Road take the outer route, Fv 57 to near Florø and then get on 614 and 616 to Kalvåg, a fantastic little resort town. You'll need a day or two to explore the beaches they have up there.
From Kalvåg get on the ferry to Måløy, Norway's uglliest city. There's a Thon hotel right smack in downtown and a few restaurants. From there you'll want to get to the Kråkenes lighthouse and the beach at Refviksanden, and if you'r up for it. Honningsvågen at the tip of Stadlandet. This is one of the most treacherous ocean crossings we have to pass going north by boat.
From there you can take the hwy 61 and get to Ålesund and further north and make the trip east to Trollstigen.
I'll leave it there, I suppose we have members from the area who can guide you further on northwards.

That brilliant, it’s late now, but I will be having a study of that over breakfast tomorrow . Thanks Tangedal.

 

[Boris]

Questions around Toll charges across Scandinavia- for motorcycle travel only. Roads/Tunnels/Bridges/Towns only (not ferries)

As I understand it, no Vignette is required anywhere.
Motorcycles are exempt from most (but not all) tolls.
Any tolls payable, are paid at the actual time of travel, I.E. toll booth/machine.

TIA
Boris

 

[Jiivee]

Hi, there are no tolls in Finland and lake ferries are also free inland.

 

[nico09_fr]

January 62 I was born.

Good date !

 

[Strummer]

Another thing to keep in mind the restaurant tend to close very early (around 19'00 o'clock) if I remember correctly.
Being used to something different I have had some issues because sometimes I arrived that they were already closed...
Maybe things has changed since my visit....