The Atlantic Road and Trollstigen are, by common consent, two of the most spectacular driving roads on Earth. That they exist within a few hours of each other in Norway's More og Romsdal region makes this one of the great driving pilgrimages.
The Atlantic Road — Atlanterhavsveien — runs 8.3 kilometres across a chain of islands and skerries on the edge of the Norwegian Sea. Eight bridges connect the islands, the most famous being the Storseisundet Bridge, which appears to launch cars into the sky before curving back to earth. In calm weather, the road is surreal; in a storm, with waves crashing over the bridges, it is one of the most exhilarating driving experiences anywhere.
Trollstigen — the Troll's Ladder — is a mountain road of 11 hairpin bends climbing 858 metres through a landscape of waterfalls, sheer cliff faces, and snow-capped peaks. The road was completed in 1936 after eight years of construction, and it remains a monument to Norwegian engineering ambition. The viewing platform at the top, designed by Reiulf Ramstad Architects, cantilevers over the void with views down the entire switchback sequence.
Between these two roads, the Romsdal valley offers gentler driving through farmland and fjords, with the Romsdalsfjord and the town of Alesund — rebuilt in Art Nouveau style after a fire in 1904 — providing culture and cuisine to balance the driving drama.
This is a route best driven in summer (June to September) when both roads are open and the midnight sun extends the driving day to near-infinity.