Aurlandsfjellet National Tourist Route is a road with breathtaking views

# Aurlandsfjellet: Norway's Jaw-Dropping Mountain Drive

Ready for one of Norway's most spectacular road trips? Road 243 winds through Vestland county as a National Tourist Route, stretching 47 kilometers (29 miles) from Aurlandsvangen to Lærdal. Opened back in 1967, this legendary drive has since been complemented by the Lærdalstunnelen—the world's longest road tunnel at a massive 24.5 kilometers.

## The Challenge Ahead

Fair warning: this isn't your average leisurely cruise. You'll navigate 20 hairpin turns on roads that get seriously narrow—think single-car-wide stretches that demand respect. Buses over 12.4 meters? They're not welcome here. Keep your vehicle in low gear and go easy on the brakes, especially on the steeper sections. Traffic can get thick heading toward Aurlandsfjorden, so stay alert.

## Winter? Not Here

This road earns its nickname "Snow Road" honestly. The entire upper section shuts down completely during winter once you hit the 1,305-meter (4,281-foot) summit. You can drive year-round from Aurlandsvangen up to the Stegastein viewpoint, but beyond that? Forget it from November through spring.

## Why It's Worth Every Hairpin Turn

The real magic? Once you crest that barren, desolate plateau of snow and rock, the views on the descent toward Aurland are absolutely mind-blowing. The landscape shifts dramatically from sparse alpine terrain to lush fjord scenery. And then there's Stegastein—an architectural marvel of timber and steel that juts 30 meters out into thin air, 650 meters above the fjord. It's the kind of viewpoint that stops you in your tracks.

Waterfalls, forests, and cascading fjord views await at numerous pull-offs along the way. This is quintessential Norwegian scenery at its finest.