Atlantic Ocean Road

Skip across the ocean on this famous highway

The Atlantic Ocean Road (“Atlanterhavsveien”) is an 8.3-kilometre (approximately 5.2 miles) stretch of Road 64 that connects a series of small islands to the mainland between Averøy and the Romsdal peninsula. This unique route, featuring 8 bridges, offers open sea views at every turn, passing Hustadvika, a stretch of coastline notorious for shipwrecks in its shallow waters.

Plans for a route here date back to the early 20th century, when a railway through the area was first proposed. Construction of the road took 6 challenging years and was completed in 1989, despite the area being hit by a total of 12 hurricanes during construction.

The Atlantic Ocean Road is now part of Norway’s National Tourist Route and has been honoured as the “Norwegian construction of the century.” Passing along it gives a vivid sense of the raw power and beauty of Norway’s coastline.

The road has several rest stops perfect for taking photographs. It’s open all year, though autumn is particularly dramatic, when storms can send waves crashing against the barriers. Passengers on the Havila or Hurtigruten Coastal Voyage can experience a view of the road and surrounding island from a boat between Kristiansund and Molde.