The Atlantic Ocean Road: A stunning seaside spin

Atlantic Ocean RoadPhoto: Leonardo Venturoli / Unsplash

The 8.3-kilometer-long Atlanterhavsveien (Atlantic Ocean Road) connects the Eide with the island of Averøy in far northern Norway. Offering unparalleled views of the Norwegian Sea, this road is a “must drive” for anyone wanting to experience the sheer beauty of archipelago life in Western Norway.

A hidden gem nestled between the islands and fjords

The Atlantic Ocean Road is one of the hidden gems nestled amongst the fjords of Western Norway. At first glance, this 8.3 kilometer stretch of tarmac would not necessarily be on most people’s bucket lists. Yet this driving on this stretch of road has been labeled as one of the world’s greatest road trips.

The road is on part of County Road 64, between Molde and Kristiansund, on the west coast of Norway. The Atlantic Ocean Road is the part of this road that connects the island of Averøy to Eide. The road has 12 bridges that seem to just float over sea level, making any journey on this road seem airy and magical.

More than a century in the making

The Atlantic Ocean Road has a history that stretches back a century. During the 1920s many proposals were made to extend the Norwegian rail network from the larger cities to coastal towns. In 1935 the Norwegian parliament (Storting) decided to connect coastal towns in Møre og Romsdal by road instead of rail.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that the idea of connecting Averøy, an island, to the mainland, gathered momentum. A toll company was set up in 1970 but it wasn’t until a decade later that the proposal of building this road, for job creation, was discussed in the Storting. The proposal was approved in 1983 and finished with the help of the Norwegian Road Administration in 1989.

Its huge cost – NOK 122 million – was seen offset by large amounts of tourist traffic. It soon became a detour for anyone traveling on the West Coast of Norway and was voted the “Norwegian Construction of the Century” in 2005.

Photo: Miriam Eh / Unsplash

The most beautiful drive in the world

The entire stretch of the Atlantic Ocean Road has a National Tourist Route status and is packed with plenty to do for tourists. First and foremost, there is simply no better way than to experience the gorgeous fjords than dot this stretch of the West Coast of Norway. Driving on this road gives you a panoramic view of the gorgeous majesty of both the Norwegian Sea interconnected by islands and the mainland archipelago. There are plenty of opportunities to pull over and simply be amazed by the salty landscape and definitely a thousand #Instagram opportunities available.

For those that cruise along the road, there are daily boat sightseeing trips available in Håholmen. Fishing trips are also available from Håholmen and Strømsholmen. For those that want to see what lies beneath, both swimming and scuba diving are offered too.

Chasing James Bond…in Norway!

In recent years, the beauty and design of the Atlantic Road have made it a popular destination for filming.

No more is the sheer majesty and beauty of the road shown than in James Bond’s latest outing, No Time to Die released in 2021. Without any spoiler alerts, a key car chase occurs on this road seeing James Bond, and his beautiful companion, try and outrace the bad guys. The zigzagging nature of the road just adds to the heightened suspense and drama of the chase.

A trip along the Atlantic Ocean Road is a cinematic experience like no other. It is, after all, a cheaper way to imitate everyone’s favorite suave spy than a night out at Monte Carlo casino.

Visit Norway has more information on the road, available here.

Source : #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayTravel

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1 Comment on "The Atlantic Ocean Road: A stunning seaside spin"

  1. Faye Jenkins | 5. February 2022 at 07:49 | Reply

    I’m in love with Norway and have visited there three times. Wish it were closer
    Fay
    Sydney
    At
    Australia

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