Experience Norways’ national treasures by car

The first stop on this scenic road trip is the mighty Langfoss waterfall, which is nestled among the steep mountainsides and lush cultural landscapes along the Åkrafjord. The waterfall’s 612-metre drop is an impressive sight. It's not surprising that CNN and Budget Travel named Langfoss one of the world's ten most beautiful waterfalls!

If you want to feel the force of the water, park at Langfoss picnic area and walk through the underpass. If you hike to the top of Langfoss waterfall, you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the Åkrafjord with Folgefonna glacier in the background.

Haugesund is the perfect base, whether you want to shop, go to a festival or experience Viking heritage.

Visit charming niche shops

There is a whole host of charming niche shops in the town centre, where you can browse for unique finds at Krimz Kramz and Shabby Records, experience glass blowing up close at Formbar Glassverksted glass studio and visit Den Lille bokbutikken, Norway's smallest bookshop, which has the town’s finest window display. If you’re interested in watches, you can buy a unique souvenir at Lervik Ur watchmakers, where you can find the unique Bruvik Time timepieces designed by Rune Bruvik.

When you fancy a break from shopping, you can enjoy excellent food and drink while watching the world go by at Smedasundet strait and Indre kai quay.

Festival summer in Haugesund

The festival summer in Haugesund and Haugalandet has a lot to offer. Haugesund is especially known for the Sildajazz Festival and the Norwegian International Film Festival, but there are also festivals reflecting the town's maritime coastal culture and folk song and poetry traditions.

A deep dive into Viking history

Haugalandet has a long Viking history, and The Viking Planet digital museum in Haugesund town centre offers a fun and educational dive into local history.

Did you know that, according to Snorre's kings’ sagas, the Viking king Harald Fairhair is buried two kilometres north of Haugesund? Norway's only national monument, Haraldshaugen, was erected over the Viking grave to commemorate the unification of Norway into one kingdom by Harald Fairhair in 872.

Enjoy great art and fascinating museums

The beautiful and easy-to-walk Coastal Trail starts at the national monument. The highlight of the trail is 'The Rising Tide’ by Jason DeCaires Taylor, sculptures of horses that were previously exhibited in the Thames River in London. The artwork changes with the tide and makes for a beautiful sight in Kvalsvik.

Haugesund also boasts a number of fascinating museums, such as Karmsund Folk Museum, Haugesund Art Gallery and Dokken Herring Museum.

Film becomes reality

New films and series keep coming out about the wild and beautiful Norsemen who went on Viking raids across the North Sea. At Avaldsnes, those scenes become reality! You can visit the Viking Farm where Harald Fairhair and his successors held their royal seat for almost 500 years. Avaldsnes is strategically situated on Karmsundet strait, otherwise known as Norðrvegr or Nordvegen (the way north), which is where Norway got its name. The Nordvegen History Centre and the medieval St Olav's Church are other historical gems that simply must be experienced!

If you really want to immerse yourself in Viking culture, you should check out Fjord Norway's largest Viking festival! In June, 'Vikings' and spectators from all over Europe gather in the small village in Haugalandet.

A taste of New York

You can get a taste of ‘The Big Apple’ at Visnes, where the copper used in The Statue of Liberty in New York originated. In the park ‘Fransehagen’, which once belonged to the first director of the mine, there is a smaller, but equally beautiful, replica of the world-famous statue. At Visnes Mining Museum, knowledgeable guides take you on a fascinating journey through the history of the mining community.

Norway's best-preserved coastal town

In the well-maintained and charming sailing ship town of Skudeneshavn, you can stroll around the narrow streets lined with white-painted, quaint houses and wharfside warehouses preserved from the 19th century. You can also visit Skudeneshavn Museum and explore Norway's best-preserved coastal town using the ‘Tilbakeblikk’ app. When you fancy a breather, we recommend visiting the bathing jetty Bade Olena, where you can combine a refreshing dip in the sea with a hot sauna.

If you arrive in early July, you can visit Skudefestivalen festival, one of the highlights of the summer.

It's now time to leave the coast and travel back inland towards the high mountains and deep fjords.

The idyllic farmstead Nesheimstunet at Nedre Vats has been in the family of Elisabeth and Bjørn Steinar Nesheim for many years. The couple offer accommodation in the nostalgic ‘Gamla Løå’ (old barn) and ‘Oldemors hus’ (great grandmother’s house). You can enjoy homemade local food while listening to the silence. It’s an amazing place to unwind. Try fly fishing or explore the wonderful hiking areas.

Architectural gems

Are you inspired by amazing architecture? If so, you can look forward to the next stage of your road trip! The northern part of the Norwegian Scenic Route Ryfylke is often referred to as the Architectural Route, and not without reason, as it features an amazing collection of architecture.

Take a break at the beautiful picnic areas Ropeid and Ostasteidn, and the mighty Svandalsfossen waterfall. When you arrive in Sauda, visit the Industrial Workers Museum and the quaint town Åbøbyen, which dates from 1916 and is often referred to as the American town. The picturesque houses clearly illustrate a class divide, with the workers living closest and the director furthest from the noise and smoke of the smelting works.

Ready for a bit more inspiration? The next architectural gem is the abandoned zinc mines in Allmannajuvet gorge, where the world-renowned Swiss architect Peter Zumthor has designed a spectacular facility that conveys the fascinating history of the mines. You can join a guided tour of the mines, visit the gallery or grab a bite to eat in the summer café.

Take in the beautiful mountain scenery as you drive over Saudafjellet mountain. Flesefossen waterfall is a natural place to stop before continuing on to the village of Nesflaten. In connection with the development of the hydroelectric power plant in the 1960s, the Norwegian architect Geir Grung designed the power station, Energihotellet and the residential area, which are now considered Norway's best-preserved examples of functionalist architecture.

Visit Guggedalsloftet, dating from 1281, and the farm cluster Litunet, dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, before concluding your architecture round trip on the beautiful Høsebrua bridge. The corten steel bridge crosses Suldalslågen river at Sand.

Now it’s time to tantalise your taste buds! At Hebnes vingard, the former pig farmers have swapped rearing swine and started making wine, in all kinds of varieties. They are happy to share their knowledge and experience, and have fixed dates for wine tasting each summer.

The picturesque fjordside village of Jelsa, with its quaint white houses and beautiful wooden church dating from 1647, is known far and wide for its tasty strawberries. Not far from the village is Fuglestein Fruktgård, which produces apple cider, apple juice and apple jelly.

Award-winning local food

As you drive back onto Norwegian Scenic Route Ryfylke (Rv 13), you’ll see farm outlets dotted along the route. The first stop is the cidery Eiane Gard and then the salmon smokehouse Mikals Laks, which is right next door. After taking the ferry across the Hjelmelandsfjord, you can also visit Apal Sideri and OmCider. Enjoy a delicious meal made using local produce at Smaken av Ryfylke, before stopping at Ryfylke Gardsysteri cheesery and Strand Gård farm. These local producers are passionate about quality and have won a number of awards. The fruit farms also organise tasting tours in summer.

Close to Ryfast, the world's longest underwater road tunnel that links Ryfylke with Stavanger, you can study rock carvings of ships and sun figures that date from around 500 BC. Villa Rosehagen offers an insight into the history of the old steel works at Jørpeland, and in the garden, you can admire the 120 different species of roses in full bloom.

Spectacular design

The Bolder is an absolute must for all architecture enthusiasts. A number of the cabins are designed by the renowned Snøhetta architects. Their spectacular location on the edge of the Lysefjord makes these small designer cabins a truly unique place to stay.

The magnificent viewpoint at Høllesli is well worth a stop before boarding the ferry that takes you up the majestic Lysefjord.

Boat trip on the Lysefjord

The boat trip is quite an experience in itself, and passes the world famous Preikestolen, Flørli (home to the world's longest wooden stairway) and Kjeragbolten, the iconic boulder wedged between two mountainsides. If you're lucky, you might even catch sight of base jumpers launching themselves off the steep mountainsides!

Lysebotn is a wonderful gem innermost in the Lysefjord. The small power-producing village is best known for the popular mountain hike to Kjerag, although the incredible drive from the fjord to the car park through 27 hairpin bends is an experience in itself. You can either take the boat back again or continue your road trip towards Sirdal.