Touring tip – Riding a Harley-Davidson in southern Norway

The easiest route to Norway!

Southern Norway surprises visitors with its beautiful natural landscape

I would say that any motorcyclist with even the slightest thirst for travel and adventure gets excited when they hear about Norway. And I can say that this excitement is not unjustified—it really is a beautiful country with wonderful people and many different facets.

But perhaps not everyone wants to drive straight to the North Cape, and you don't have to, because even in the south, Norway offers an incredible wealth of nature and beautiful spots waiting to be discovered. I'd be happy to give you a few tips on how to best experience your own tour of southern Norway on a motorcycle.

I took this short road trip through Norway with Ann-Kathrin Bendixen. She rode her Sportster Nightster, which had been customized by Rick+s Motorcycles, and I rode a Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special. I would say that my personal handicap is that I always take far too much with me. The first tip is to avoid doing that and only pack the things you really need.

You don't have to camp in Norway; there are small hotels everywhere where you can stay. But I'm going to focus more on camping, because Norway is one of the few countries in Europe where you can still camp in the wilderness.

What is the best route to take to Norway?

The shortest route to Norway

The best route is actually through Denmark, taking the E45 to Hirtshals. From Flensburg, it is approximately 360 kilometers to the ferry in Hirtshals. In Denmark, you can drive at approximately 110 km/h to 130 km/h on the highway. There is usually not much traffic, and you can make good time.

In good weather, you should plan for two fuel stops, because it gets windy from Flensburg onwards and it feels like you're always riding into the wind when heading north. That costs fuel, and if you don't have fairing, you'll experience headwind, which is also more physically demanding.

Refuel again in Hirtshals before the ferry

The last gas station before the ferry is called Last Stop Shop ApS, I would head there first and fill up so that I can continue straight on to Norway. Gas prices between Denmark and Norway don't usually vary much, but there's a better chance of finding cheaper gas in Denmark.

The crucial question is: what is the best way to cross over to Norway?

I am already familiar with the Fjordline and several times already with the Colorline Took the Superspeed ferry to Norway and back. At the time of my trip, the Fjordline ferry was cheaper, but both are good and safe. You are expected to secure your own cargo, but both companies will help if you ask.

The buffet on ColorLine ferries offers more!

The most striking difference between the two ferries for me is the buffet on board. You can book access to the buffet on both ferries. The upgrade is particularly worthwhile on the Colorline ferry, where you will find the largest selection of food and drinks. Here you can enjoy proper hot meals, salads, cakes, and desserts. After driving 360 kilometers through Denmark, you will have plenty of time to relax on the ferry, ideally in the buffet area.

The pictures of the Colorline Superspeed ferry speak for themselves!

The assigned seat is available for the entire crossing, but you can leave the area at any time to enjoy some fresh sea air on deck. The crossing from Hirtshals to Kristiansand usually takes 3 hours and 15 minutes with ColorLine, and 3 hours and 45 minutes from Hirtshals to Larvik. Lunch buffet access on ColorLine costs around €29.90 per person (as of 11/22). With Fjordline, it depends on which month you travel; they travel faster in the high season than in the low season, at least that was my experience in September 2022, but it wasn't a problem.

How can I get to Norway without taking a ferry?

You don't want to take the ferry?! Some people don't like traveling by ferry, while others are afraid of heights on one of the bridges. You can also get to Norway without taking the ferry if you travel overland via Denmark/Kolding/Odense/Copenhagen/Malmö/Gothenburg to Oslo. Then you only have to cross the large bridges, and you can avoid the long Öresund Bridge by taking a short ferry ride from Helsingør to Helsingborg. Anyone should be able to manage that.

Where is southern Norway at its most beautiful?

My tip would be to drive from Hirtshals to Kristiansand and then turn left to take the E39 to Flekkefjord. That's where the Fv44 begins, and this route is a dream for motorcyclists. The North Sea Route runs between Flekkefjord and Egersund, and you can easily spend a few days in this area just looking around and riding the routes to the left and right.

There are various options: either you find a hotel in the middle and travel outwards in a star shape, or you simply camp somewhere and then move on. There are countless things to see, such as Helleren in Jøssingfjord, where two houses are spectacularly located under a huge rock. The same goes for Ana Sira, where you can rent a boat and simply enjoy the view of the sea along the mountains in the fjord.

Take five minutes, sit back, and enjoy the beautiful route with us. Watch the end!

Southern Norway has lots of interesting things to offer. The key points are Fv44, Flekkefjord, and Egersund, which you can find at Visit Norway Find something that interests you. Or just drive and explore—there's no need to overdo it, because four to six days and the journey there can be enough to simply recharge your batteries. Norway is always worth a visit, but it's best to avoid August when everyone else is there. July or September are also good months to visit.

If you have a little more time, you can definitely continue on to Stavanger. This city in southwestern Norway has some good museums, which can actually be found in every major city. This is a small peculiarity of Norway: history is preserved in many areas, including the fact that there are many war museums. All along the coast, you will find signs and plaques leading to former World War II mines and dedicated to history.

There are also wildlife museums, everything about Vikings and their wild stories, and even petroleum museums.

You can definitely make a trip to Norway interesting. Oh, I forgot to mention that good clothing is a must. I would recommend warm socks, waterproof boots, and undergloves to anyone, just in case the sun decides to take a break.

Ride safely!

^{Harleysite / November 21, 2022}

These are a few things I have with me.

^{Affiliate links}