Extending 260 kilometres from Oanes to Hårå, the Ryfylke National Tourist Route takes in some of Norway’s most magnificent scenery. It’s dotted with viewpoints and picnic areas where you can soak up the views, which include glacial-carved fjords, dense forests and idyllic farmland.
From the shores of Lysefjord, drive north to Preikestolen (also known as “Pulpit’s Rock”), a flat-topped cliff that has become one of Norway’s most popular photo stops. Continue north to discover the petroglyphs of Solbakk and admire the Årdal Old Church before getting a bird’s eye view of the Jøsenfjord from the craggy peak of Skomakarnibbå.
Take the time to browse the Ryfylke Museum and watch salmon swimming upstream at Sandsfossen, then delve into Norway’s industrial past at Allmannajuvet’s zinc mines. The Ryfylke National Tourist Route continues over the 900-metre-high pass of Saudafjellet before ending on the shores of Røldalsvatnet in the village of Hårå.
Getting there
Oanes is around a one-hour drive from Stavanger Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Renting a car is the most convenient way of exploring the Ryfylke National Tourist Route. The Saudafjellet is closed during the winter when an alternative route connects Sand to Hårå.