We visited the beautiful region of Aurlandsfjord for a few days during our Norway road trips, falling in love with the natural beauty. We hired a car to allow flexibility, including the ability for day trips to cute towns and nearby regiuons. One of the best parts from our road trips with the day we drove along the picturesque Aurlandsfjillet road. The Nasjonal turistveg Aurlandsfjellet will be one of the most beautiful road trip drives of your life. Connecting Aurland and Lærdal, this road trip takes between 1-2 hours, where you will be treated to panoramic views, contrasting landscapes of snow, mountains, lakes, waterfalls and wildlife.
At the end of the Aurlandsfjillet road you’ll come to the fjord village of Laerdalsoyri which sits nestled in the Laerdal valley. While we had done some limited research about the town, we arrived eager to explore, and to find a coffee shop to recharge during our road trip.
Laerdalsoyri is a charming town flaked by mountains perched on the edge of a fjord in the heard of the Sognefjord region. It was once a bustling market place being positioned along a key mountain pass route and still has a few streets with incredibly well preserved wooden cottages. We felt as through we had stepped inside a time capsule as we wandered its old town. The main few streets are very picturesque, filled with shops, boutiques, cafes, bakeries and galleries.
We stopped at the excellent Fredag & Fretland Bakery, a must visit in Laerdal, for a savory spinach scroll that was to die for.
We also visited the cute coffee van Vandrar’n Kate for a coffee in the park. Another good coffee option would either be Galleri 13, or the Fredag & Fretland Bakery.
We don’t think you need to spend more than 1-2 hours in Laerdal, however if you were looking to spend longer, it could make a decent spot for a one night stay on a road trip. There were a few restaurants in town, and we spied a sauna on the fjord. Additionally, you can drive another 30 minutes down the road to check our Borgund Stave Church, one of the best preserved old Viking ‘Churches’ dating back to 1180. We’re not usually that impressed by big old buildings but this one was something else!
Overall, our day trip to Laerdal was one of our favourite stops during our road trips in the Aurland region and we would recommend it.
Keen to travel more around Norway? See a few of our guides below..
- Our guide to the colourful seaside town of Bergen
- Our guide to Oslo, a great Scandi city break!
- See why the Woodnest in Odda is one of the best accommodation stays in the world!
- Our road trip stop at the picturesque Stalheim!
- Enjoy the natural beauty of Odda.. here’s what to do and why you should visit!
- A road trip stop in Norheimsund – why you should visit!
- See impressive drone shots from our visit to the Woodnest in Odda
- Aurland is one of the best fjord towns in the region – see our guide here!
- See our road trip stop in Gudvangen here.
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