From mountains, to fjords to coastal environments, northern lights and arctic wildlife, Norway has unlimited amounts of great photography opportunities.
With these diverse and dramatic landscapes, comes narrow, winding and extremely slow roads, making for long driving times. Thus if you are planning on doing a road trip to shoot these great locations, we would recommend choosing an area and exploring it thoroughly, that is unless you have 6 weeks to soak up all of it.
The map to shows the specific locations with notes added. Further down outlines the locations with either an accompanied link or image.
WESTERN NORWAY
Åndalsnes (Click for Image)
A small town with breath taking views surrounded by towering peaks.
With multiple hiking options up the valley walls, you are able to grand view of Åndalsnes from a few locations.
Trollveggen (troll wall), Åndalsnes (Click for Image)
Dramatic moutain ridge, outlawed for Base Jumpers this is like no other mountain scenery.
A great angle for these unique peaks is from across the valley. Take a drive up the neighbour valley and with a 20 minute walk from the road you can be on the ridge staring at the Troll Wall.
Bispevatnet, Åndalsnes (Click for Image)
When this frozen lake starts to melt, saturated blue water streams around the edge of the lake. It makes for spring skiing and snowboarding fun, or a dynamic landscape foreground.
Trollstigen and Stigfossen, (Møre og Romsdal) (Click for Image)
Winding steep road zigzagging up the hill with a pumping waterfall in front. You can park off the side of the road and take a walk to the lookout or find another angle.
Geiranger and Seven Sister Waterfall (Click for Image)
The steep walls of the valley and S-curve of the Fjord are extremely picturesque. You are able to shoot this valley with few different accessible locations. Take a 30 minute walk from the town up Flydalsjuvet to shoot down the Valley or drive up Ørnesvingen and take a shot from the road side.[group]
Stegastein Veiwpoint, Aurland
A man made lookout, it is still a spectacular view and shot even if you won’t be the only one with it.
Gudvangen Valley (Click for Image)
Surrounded with sheer cliff faces, this is a base jumpers paradise.
Numerous waterfalls cascade off the valley walls and provide photo ops everywhere, this is time to explore.
Crystal clear saturated blue waters and a twisting river.
The Brandseth is a playground for kayakers so if you are lucky you get some paddlers flowing over the waterfalls as you take your shot.
Park on the road and either bush walk or follow a trail if there is one to the spot you want. Easy walking parallel to the river if there is no trail.
Sunset will be on your back if you want to shoot the waterfalls, so morning light could be your best choice for dramatic skies.
TvindeFossen , Voss
You can’t miss Tvindefossen as you drive along the E16. It bellows off the cliff and spews a mist of water (at least in the summer) during winter the water still flows yet massive ice walls like hang from the top. You can take a shot from the bottom, yet with a 30 minute walk you can be on the top of the waterfall shooting down to the valley below.
Breifossen, Voss
A local secret is to drive up up behind Tvindefossen to Breifossen, park just past the farm house and follow the creek behind the wood shed for a 12 minute walk. This leads to another dramatic waterfall in a tight canyon.
Breifossen generally needs to be shot in the morning, as the sun shoots around the corner with the canyon walls covering the water fall in shade after midday.
Bryggen, Bergen. (Click for Image)
A world heritage site, these buildings are inquisitive close up with their twisting doors and leaning walls. Take a shot from across the harbour.
Hardanger Bridge (Click for Image)
You won’t know about the Hardanger bridge until you pop out the side of a mountain and onto it suspending road a 100m in the air.
On the North side of the bridge take a left in the tunnel towards Ulvik and once out of the tunnel take another quick left. This drives you back under the tunnel and along the fjord edge. There is a small village with fishing boats that can provide a good foreground to the impressive bridge.
Oksen hut lookout, Hardanger Fjord (Click for Image)
Continue along the same road to Tjoflotviki. Drive as high as you can to the end of the road where there is a parking spot. It will take 40 minutes to walk to a clearing where you can see down the fjord and camp if you wish.
Oksen Peak, Hardanger Fjord (Click for Image)
Continue walking up to the radio station and an epic view down 2 fjords. This is about a 5-6 hour return walk from the parking lot.
Eidfjord
The most picturesque town in the Hardanger fjord.
You can find a few different shots of the town if you explore, or just walk along the road down the fjord until you get a good angle.
Vøringfossen, Øvre Eidfjord (Click for Image)
An amazing waterfall just outside of Eidfjord
Oksli, Tyssedal
A short walk from the parking lot, there is a huge reward for a small amount of effort (albeit a short walk, it is steep).
Bondhusbreen, Sunndal (Click for Image)
A scenic mountain lake, its a one hour walk from Sundal.
Låtefossen (Click for Image)
Driving up to Låtefossen you can’t hide from the thrashing river next to the road, nor can you duck past Låtefossen without getting covered in it’s mist as you drive over the bride. Park next to the bridge to capture this tremendously powerful waterfall.
Kjeragbolten (Click for Image)
Another Norwegian classic. This shot is more powerful with a fearless companion to stand upon the rock. Located Near Stavanger this is a 12km hike with 500m of climbing and takes around 5 hours return, not including your time spent shooting.
During the middle of winter the access road is closed. Depending on the amount of snow the road will re-open in May. There are no restrictions on exploring the mountains during winter, however safety needs to be number one.
Preikestestolen, Lysefjord, Stavanger (Click for Image)
The last of the classic Norwegian hiking shots, Preikestolen looks over the same fjord as Kjeragbolten. With a relatively easy walk it takes around 2.5 hours return, again not including your photo time.
This is mainly a summer destination and would recommend not attempting in the middle of winter, due to safety, the slippery rocks and sheer cliffs, however is doable (depending on conditions early and late winter.
NORTHERN NORWAY AND LOFOTEN
Hammerfest for Northern lights (Click for Image)
There are multiple options for great Aurora photography around Hammerfest.
Tromsø area for Northern Lights (Click for Image)
Being the major city for Northern Norway this is great place to fly into and explore the surrounding area for Aurora photography.
Nordkjosbotn, Tromsø
A glorious location overlooking water to the mountains beyond.
Kabelvag, Lofoten (Click for Image)
Park at the end of the street and walk past the houses towards the water.
Utakleiv Beach, Lofoten (Click for Image)
A coastal spot with endless compositions of boulders and mountains in the distance. Park nearby and explore the beach.
Skagsanden Beach, Lofoten (Click for Image)
A rocky beach overlooking water body to Mountains on the other side. Park in the car park just outside of Flagstad.
Hamnøy, Lofoten (Click for Image)
Park next to the road and take the shot from the bridge south of the town. Alternatively head around to the Harbour and include boats in the foreground of this extremely picturesque village.
Reine, Lofoten (Click for Image)
With reflections, mountains and red houses you can park almost anywhere and find a postcard shot.
Lofoten is an outstanding winter photography location with many more photo opportunities.