Which part of Norway is best for bicycle touring?
I will not claim to have been all over Norway, but after cycling throughout the country for 76 days and more than 5,000 kilometers in the summer of 2016 and, in addition, a dash of shorter trips, I take the chance to call a winner.
The boring, but perhaps also the uplifting answer to the question in the headline, is that it is nice everywhere in Norway. Start from where ever and it will be a good trip.
Still, some places are nicer than others. And most of all I like the stretch along the coast from Brønnøysund to Tromsø, ie through the areas of Helgeland, Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja. Why? Because...
The area has relatively flat roads
There is little traffic on the stretch (with a few exceptions)
There is fantastic view to the fjords and the mountains from the seat of your bicycle, so to speak all the way
Much of the stretch goes on national tourist roads, with their great picnic areas
There are good opportunities for free camping (right to roam), as well as many nice campsites
The area has many nice little villages and places
There are good opportunities for doing other exciting activities than cycling
Are there any disadvantages with the area? Well, sometimes it can be some distance to the next grocery store and the next place to stay if you do not have your own tent. With a little planning, this is doable.
Straight ahead it is about 900 kilometers from Brønnøysund to Tromsø. This part suits very well if you are riding Norway from south to north or vice versa.
In another article I made an unpretentious award of Norway's 25 best bicycle tours. Five of the first sixteen are from the area between Brønnøysund and Tromsø.
Still in doubt? Here are some pictures from the area.
Bicycle touring in Lofoten is often something like this. Please note that there is quite heavy traffic in some areas in the high season.
There is a great offer of nice places to camp, both in the nature (right to roam) and at campsites. Here at the campsite in Nesna.
The national tourist roads offer such cool picnic areas that it is often difficult to cycle by without taking a break.
There are also many nice small towns and villages, like Nyksund in Vesterålen.