When
Late April - September
Written by
Matthew Tolley
Distance
702km
Days
5-10
High point
265m
Difficulty
7/10
Unpaved
10%
Total Ascent
7107m
Ferries
5
Tunnels
20+
Some may underestimate this route. The climate, terrain, and dialects change the further west or east you head. It’s a route full of surprises—some good and some not-so-good! The route is mainly signposted, but navigating certain sections can be tricky. If you wish, you can skip sections with the help of the train or boat, and if you decide to cycle it all, give yourself more time than you think.
Some of Norway’s best beaches are located south of Stavanger, and you should certainly plan a break at one on a nice day. The coastline and fjords you pass are pretty spectacular heading north of Stavanger, and possible detours should be considered. However, perhaps the most significant highlights are the cities of Stavanger and Bergen. They both have their own charm and break up the long journey for those who enjoy a bit of urban exploring.
There’s a lot of contrast in the coastline along this 700km stretch. The route is well signed posted and once again you are kept to mainly quiet roads with one exception (road 13). We should note there are some loose gravel sections where the route meets the E39 heading towards Stavanger. They’re basically makeshift paths through woodland to keep you off the main road. Both hilly and poorly surfaced in places (loose stones) many people end up walking parts of these steep gravel sections.
However, perhaps the hardest part of this route is from Flekkefjord to Egersund where the Scandinavian mountain range reaches the coast. What I like to call the ‘devils teeth’ is a section of several 200m hills that continue for 100km. On the route map, they seem like insignificant bumps but expect to work hard through this tough section.
Once you have overcome the ‘devil’s teeth’ you are rewarded with one of the flattest areas in Norway. Scenic road Jæren is a flat roaming agricultural land and offers beautiful white sandy beaches which are a short detour from the route.
The mountains reappear in the Stavanger region, leading to a short stretch on hilly road 13 with some traffic in places. The roads further north towards Bergen are mainly flat and quiet. However, several ferries are required as you jump from islands to peninsulas on this remarkable broken-up coastline.
We have given this a rating of 7/10. The ‘devil’s teeth’ after Flekkefjord (heading west) is a tough road section of challenging 200-300m climbs all compacted together. The small and sometimes annoying gravel sections are very steep in places. Road 13 has hilly sections and traffic is present. Furthermore, the weather on the west coast can be testing on the wrong day. All these ingredients make the route more challenging than it looks on paper.
This is a beautiful and complicated region to cycle through, requiring several ferries to bridge the islands and peninsulas. The map provides extra information about ferries, accommodation, shops and other points of interest to help you navigate between Stavanger and Bergen.
If you want to hike the world-famous Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock). You can take the passenger ferry from Stavanger to Tau and then cycle the 15km to the base camp. You can leave your bike somewhere secure at the Preikestolen Fjellstue (bring your own lock).
There are countless other attractions in this area and you can find more of an overview on this site
The first ferry at Lauvvik heads down Lysefjorden and there is usually a small fee. The other 4 ferries are free to cyclists.
Reduce your Ferry Crossings
Stavanger’s main ferry port has a number of passenger-only express ferries that can drop you off further up the route. This will allow you to skip certain ferries and cut some kilometers.
Stavanger – Tau or Stavanger – Nordstrand are good options. Bikes are welcome without pre-booking and are free of charge.
My Tip: Going direct to Nordstrand from Stavanger or vice-versa will cut out 3 ferry journeys and road 13 which is hilly and busy in places.
There are many tunnels along this route but 90% of them offer a side path or detour road around. This means there are no long, dangerous tunnels to worry about! The ones you have to go through should be no problem to cycle.
The Tunnel you can sleep in!
Tunnelstuo: This is the only tunnel I know where a separate part has been built for hikers and cyclists to use as a rest stop or even a sleeping spot. There are hooks on the rock walls where a hammock can be hung up. It might sound a bit weird but the wall facing the outer side has been cut away so you have views of the ocean and fresh air circulates through the tunnel.
E39: Unfortunately there are small parts on the E39. This is the main road from Stavanger to Kristiansand. The sections are short but expect cars and the odd truck flying past you.
Road 13: This is also a main road but is controlled by the many ferries. You will have convoys of traffic passing at certain times. If you approach a tunnel ensure there isn’t a convoy approaching from behind before cycling through. It is hilly in places.
There are good cycle lanes entering the cities of Stavanger and Bergen and thus you will have no problems with traffic.
As you travel further west from Kristiansand, expect that the weather will be more unsettled and have a higher chance of rain. The Stavanger – Bergen region is one of the wettest in Europe. I have cycled many days in the rain in this area, and being organized is essential to mitigate the worst of weather. There are days when it can rain most of the day. I usually don’t ride on these days. If I do I shorten the length and ensure I have roof accommodation to dry off. When the weather is settled and dry, I maximize my kilometres and take advantage of my good fortune.
Finnmark too has a certain mystique. Being about the same distance from Oslo as Istanbul, in some ways, it’s basically the last stop before the North Pole. The undoubted highlight of the journey is simply cycling the wild expanse of Europe’s last great wilderness. It will feel very lonely up here but isn’t that a reason to cycle it? The cycling heat maps of the world are full of well-ridden roads. Here you will join a small group of cyclists seeking something extraordinary. Passing wild herds of reindeer and perhaps not seeing another human for many hours is why you came – right? The ride comes to an end in the town of Kirkenes which has Russian road signs. This will indicate you have reached the boundaries of the Western world!
Finnmark too has a certain mystique. Being about the same distance from Oslo as Istanbul, in some ways, it’s basically the last stop before the North Pole. The undoubted highlight of the journey is simply cycling the wild expanse of Europe’s last great wilderness. It will feel very lonely up here but isn’t that a reason to cycle it? The cycling heat maps of the world are full of well-ridden roads. Here you will join a small group of cyclists seeking something extraordinary. Passing wild herds of reindeer and perhaps not seeing another human for many hours is why you came – right? The ride comes to an end in the town of Kirkenes which has Russian road signs. This will indicate you have reached the boundaries of the Western world!
All cycling routes published on CYCLENORWAY.com are simply a planning resource to be used as a point of inspiration in conjunction with your own due-diligence. All route guidelines were prepared under diligent research. However, we can never for certain insure the complete accuracy of the routes. Cycling in Norway is in general very safe. Nevertheless, should you choose to cycle this route you do so at your own risk.
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