A quieter trip through Norway starts with fewer kilometres, a well-chosen base and room to adjust your plans to the weather. For a first visit beyond the most famous photo stops, Gaularfjellet, parts of Nordfjord and the villages along Hardangerfjord offer interesting starting points. You will not automatically have them to yourself, but you can build a journey that revolves less around the next viewing platform.
Gaularfjellet: make the road part of the experience
Norwegian Scenic Route Gaularfjellet connects the area around Moskog and Sande with Balestrand. Water, waterfalls and mountain scenery alternate along the way. Utsikten is the striking viewpoint above the hairpin bends, while Likholefossen puts the water centre stage. The bridge there makes even a short stop a proper break from driving.
We would avoid simply driving to Utsikten and turning back. Spread your attention across several stops and allow time for a short walk. The landscape deserves that much: Norway is more than a car park with a view behind it. Expect other visitors at well-known viewpoints. This route offers a quieter alternative to the main roads, not a promise of an empty mountain.
The mountain section between Mel and Mjell closes in winter. Temporary closures can also occur after the seasonal reopening. Avoid building an entire trip around the assumption that you will definitely be able to cross it on a particular day.
Nordfjord: choose a base, not a checklist
Nordfjord is a large region on the west coast. Around Stryn, Loen and Olden, you will find the familiar combination of fjords, steep mountains and valleys. With its cable car and organised activities, Loen is very much a tourist destination. That need not be a drawback, but it is hardly a convincing recommendation for someone hoping to avoid other travellers altogether.
Instead, use a stay in the region as a base. Set aside one day for a well-known attraction and leave another open for a local walk or drive beside the water. The route between Stryn and Nordfjordeid reveals plenty of scenery without requiring you to move accommodation every night. Ask your hosts which short routes suit current conditions: a name on a map tells you little about wet paths or snow higher up.
Historic Gamle Strynefjellsvegen can be a beautiful addition if you deliberately want a scenic detour. It is a seasonal road. Check opening status and any vehicle restrictions directly with the road authority before adding it to your route.
Hardanger: spend time in the villages
Hardanger is well known and popular, so we would not promise a complete escape from the crowds. You can, however, shift the focus of your stay: choose a village such as Utne or Jondal as a base, spend time beside the fjord and plan modest days instead of concentrating only on the major attractions.
Scenic Route Hardanger consists of several road sections, and ferry crossings need to be part of your planning. Treat a crossing as part of the travel day, rather than a straight line to which your navigation app conveniently attaches a time. Missing a departure can change your plans. First work out which crossing you actually need, then decide how many additional stops will fit.
This area suits travellers who want to combine nature with villages and the cultivated landscape around the fjord. Someone visiting solely for one major mountain hike is planning a different kind of trip. Squeezing both into a short day mainly creates a rush.
When should you go for a quieter trip?
Summer opens up more options for mountain roads and walks, but popular places also attract more visitors. Outside high season, the pace and atmosphere can change. The trade-off is that opening hours, transport and access may be more limited. September is no magic button delivering summer weather, empty roads and every facility at once.
Decide what you want to do first. A drive beside the water involves different considerations from a high mountain walk. Check individual passes and keep a lower-altitude alternative ready. In poor weather, a village, museum or short walk is often more enjoyable than sticking to a summit you will not be able to see.
How we would plan three days
Day one: arrive at your chosen base, explore locally and plan the following day around the weather. Day two: one longer excursion, leaving enough time for stops and any ferry crossing. Day three: a local walk, a village visit or a quiet day beside the water. This is a plan for one region, not a suggestion to drive through Gaularfjellet, Nordfjord and Hardanger in three days.
With children or limited mountain experience, we would not automatically make the hardest walk the main event. Choose a marked trail that suits the whole group. Allow for quickly changing weather, take suitable clothing and enough food and water, and turn back when conditions or energy levels suggest it. Seeking quiet should not mean overlooking access or safety.
With or without a car?
A car makes it easier to combine scattered places, but does not give you unlimited time. Narrow roads, stops and ferries set the pace. A focused trip without a car is also possible if you choose accommodation and outings around connections that actually run. Check the complete outward and return journey in Norway's Entur planner: a beautiful trailhead without a workable way back is not a useful day plan.
Looking for a more compact mountain region for another trip? Our Lake Achensee guide helps you combine water, villages and mountain activities in Austria. You can find more travel stories in our article directory.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you find quieter places in Norway?
Gaularfjellet offers an interesting alternative to busy main roads. In Nordfjord and Hardanger, you can also choose smaller stops and a slower stay. Visitor numbers vary by place, season and time of day; none of these regions is quiet everywhere.
Can you drive these routes in winter?
Not necessarily. Parts of Gaularfjellet and Gamle Strynefjellsvegen, among other roads, close in winter. Check current road conditions and plan an alternative.
Do you need to drive somewhere new every day?
No. Spending two or three nights in one place leaves room for bad weather and less hurried days. That is our editorial preference, rather than a required length of stay for everyone.
An editorial route guide, not a report of a personal stay. Access and seasonal information checked on 11 October 2026; check current conditions before departure.