Multi-Day Plans Around Åndalsnes
Åndalsnes works well as a base for two to four nights. The gondola, the ridge, the viewpoints and the climbing centre are all in town, and the road and rail routes out of it lead to some of western Norway’s best-known scenery. Prices are in Norwegian krone (NOK).
Getting there by train
The Rauma Line ends at Åndalsnes, 114 km from Dombås, with regular trains taking about 1 hour 17 minutes. At Dombås it connects with the Dovre Line between Oslo and Trondheim, so you can reach the town from either city by rail. SJ Norge runs four services each way daily, and the line runs all year. Summer tourist trains take about 1 hour 35 minutes.
A sample three-night stay
Day one: town viewpoints. Ride the Romsdalsgondolen to the top station at 708 m, have a meal at Eggen restaurant, and walk down to the Rampestreken platform at 537 m in about 15 minutes. You can finish by walking down Romsdalstrappa, the stone steps built by Nepalese Sherpas.
Day two: Romsdalseggen. The ridge is about 10 km with 970 m of ascent and takes 5 to 8 hours. Take the Romsdalseggen bus to Venjesdalen and finish in town or by gondola from Nesaksla. It is open from mid-June to early October.
Day three: road trip. Drive Trollstigen when it is open, then continue towards Geiranger on the Geiranger-Trollstigen route, about 104 km and 2 hours each way with the Eidsdal to Linge ferry, so a round trip is a very long day. Check vegvesen.no before you set out, since Trollstigen is always closed in winter and rockfall can close it at short notice.
Combining via ferrata and ridge walking
Climbers and hikers can stack activities over several days. Romsdalsstigen via ferrata from Norsk Tindesenter has two routes: Introveggen (grade B, 3 to 4 hours, minimum age 12) and Vestveggen (grade D, 5 to 6 hours, minimum age 16, from about NOK 1,675). Tours run from about 1 June to 20 October. Leave a rest day between the ferrata and the ridge, and take a guide if you do not know the area.
Reinheimen National Park
Norsk Tindesenter, at Havnegata 2, also serves as the visitor centre for Reinheimen National Park, and it houses Norsk Tindemuseum and a climbing wall with 60 routes. Entry is from about NOK 90. Ask there for current information on the park before heading into the mountains.
Other stops on a longer trip
- Trollveggen visitor centre at Horgheimseidet on the E136, with a 14-minute film and a cafeteria.
- Rødven Stave Church, about 34 km by Rv64, with guided visits in summer.
- The Kylling Bridge, a stone arch 59 m above the river, on the Rauma Line.
Practical notes
Cards and phone payment work almost everywhere. Weather turns cold fast on the ridges, so pack mountain boots and warm layers. Check the FjordNorway Romsdalseggen page for the route details.
Read more: day trips from Åndalsnes covers each excursion in more detail. Rooms can be compared on Booking.com .