This is more of a roadtrip travel post so bear with us. 3500 km of roads from Finland across Sweden to Norway and back. Beautiful, changing landscapes and friendly people all over. Take a look at our journey. Find a couple of hints on what to see based on our experiences exploring the Norway Fjords and Geiranger.
Skellefteå and Åre
From our lovely small Finnish town of Iisalmi we drove via Haparanda to Skellefteå, Sweden for one night. We stayed at Scandic Skellefteå. The hotel rooms had been renovated recently and there was a small swimming pool at the hotel. From there we continued to Åre. The journey was long and it was hammering down with rain. In Åre we stayed overnight in a beautiful Holiday Club Åre.The spa with several saunas and pools was wonderful. It was perfect after a long day of driving. The view from the hotel was amazing. We could see the lake and mountains.
This was truly relaxing as we were driving in the pouring rain and it was quite scary at times. We slept well in our wonderful room and the breakfast was ample so it was definitely worth every euro. Åre is known for the ski slopes so it would be interesting to visit in winter.
The next day we arrived after several hours and 2 ferries to our guesthouse Jordbar Stova.I was luckily able to pay the fee for each ferry with the staff on board as I had not registered with the europass. The accommodation we chose was closest and cheapest we could find near Geiranger Fjord 
which was our main destination. The guesthouse staff were incredibly friendly. They prepared us a lovely breakfast tray. We could find it in the fridge in the morning. The large tray included cold cuts and carrot cake. There were also eggs and pancakes with local strawberry jam. It was a delight together with a sunny start for the day. This Stova in the countryside so the views in the valley among the strawberry fields were lovely.
Trollstigen and Gudbrandsjuvet
We were tipped off by the lady in our guesthouse to visit the Trollstigen sights as well in addition to Geiranger so we headed that way first. The actual Trollstigen road 
was closed due to some accidents we were told. But nevertheless we were able to visit the visitor centre and the waterfall. You can find a short video on our Instagram. Here is the link to the Trollstigen info in case it is open when you want to visit:https://www.visitnorway.com/plan-your-trip/travel-tips-a-z/norwegian-scenic-routes/trollstigen-road-closed-2024/.We stopped at Gudbrandsjuvet on our way back to admire the waterfall. There is also a cafe if you want to sit down and watch the beautiful waterfall. Just listen to the sounds it makes.
Finally in Geiranger
From there we continued to the Sylte harbour. We bought warm food from the Spar market. We then enjoyed our little lunch by the sea. The weather was nice and sunny so we made our way to our main destination. The road was steep and winding after the ferry crossing but nevertheless the views were breathtaking. I would have wanted to book accommodation at the Hotel Union. The hotel has a spa and beautiful rooms and views overlooking the Geiranger Fjord. Unfortunately it was too pricey at the time of booking. We went to take photos from the hotel and had a stroll by the Geiranger harbour and shops. The little chocolate factory 
was wonderful with its chocolatey waffles on stick. The views were definitely worth all the driving. There are restaurants and cafes where you can spend your time while admiring the views.
On the way back, you can stop at the view points to take some more photos. Capture a snapshot of yourself standing in front of a small water fall. In the evening we still had some energy to play football in the Sylte Camping site football court. Pro-tip: when traveling with kids, always bring a football with you.
Trondheim and Svenningdal
The next day, from there we continued all the way to Trondheim and enjoyed one night walking to the Nidaros Cathedral and the main city square. By the river 
there were several busy terraces with lots of fun-loving people behind the Solsiden Mall. It was a short walk to the centre as we stayed at the Scandic Solsiden Hotel. The next day we continued north and stayed at a small and calm campsite in Svenningdal, Trofors. The cabin was clean and there were all the equipment we needed for one night (we had our own bed linen). We got the heating going as well after some thought… This was not a 3-star night but nevertheless the views were beautiful surrounded by the mountains.
Luleå
Our final destination was back in Sweden driving all the way to Luleå across Sweden and the Swedish Lapland. Reindeers were aplenty on the way. Next time we visit, I definitely think Arvidsjaur looked nice. It would be worth a longer visit. We stayed at Scandic Luleå and were surprised to see it was full of Finns. There was a great Arctic Thai Food restaurant within walking distance so I can recommend it. From Luleå, we finally drove back to our little town. I think I avoided driving the car for a couple of days. Despite all the driving, we enjoyed our trip exploring the Norway Fjords.
Back in Finland
Next time we are going to Norway, I am thinking of visiting Stavanger and Bergen. I prefer spending less hours on the road and more at the destinations! We were doing 5-9 hour legs with our BMW-318 and next time I am thinking max. 3-5 hours of driving per day. Let’s see if we can make that happen in summer 2026!
Check out the new blog about Sevilla and the top 5 sights to see there!
Take a look at the best hotels here on this Hotels.com link . You can check out the beautiful hotels mentioned above. These include the Hotel Union, Jordbaer Stova, and Scandic Trondheim. You can also explore Scandic Skellefteå and Luleå. Check their availability on your chosen dates in the link above.
If you are looking for a seasonal getaway, Hotels.com is offering a -30% discount at this link so take a look! Just change the language on the site to your liking and you are all set to browse different hotels. Also if you want to book a cheaper holiday deals you can check this Travelup link. With Travelup you can save up to 40% + £60 extra with code TU60. This means bookings over £1299. These are affiliate links. I may earn a commission on any qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.