National tourist road Ryfylke is running through Ryfylke on Rv. 13, Fv. 523 and Fv. 520 and is 260 km long. It is one of 18 national tourist roads in Norway. The tourist route runs from Oanes by the Lysefjorden to Hårå in Røldal.
The national tourist routes offer drives through the most beautiful Norwegian nature, viewpoints and organized rest areas with exciting architecture. Along the Ryfylke National Tourist Route, you will encounter a varied, beautiful and lush landscape, where green archipelago idylls and well-kept cultural landscapes are replaced by rock formations, sheer cliffs, fjords and mountains.
Preikestolen and Kjerag
The most famous attractions are Lysefjorden, Preikestolen and Kjerag, but along the way you will also find rest areas in beautiful nature and memorials from ancient times. Take a detour to Preikestolen (2 hour walk one way). Try a stop in Ryfylkebyen Jørpeland. Here there is accommodation, catering and the open-air area Jørpelandsholmen. A little further north you will find the rock carvings at Solbakk and Årdal old church from the 17th century.
Local products
On Hjelmeland stands the world’s largest Jærstol . There are several places to eat and stay, and you can taste world-class apple pies, cheese and salmon. When you drive along the tourist road you can see the characteristic profile of Skomakarnibbå on the south side of the Jøsenfjord.
At the exit to Jelsa, just before the Lovrafjorden, you can choose whether you want to continue along the National Tourist Route Ryfylke on the south or north side of the fjord.
Modern architecture
On the north side, you drive over the Sandsfjord Bridge, and continue along Sandsfjorden and Saudafjorden. Svandalsfossen appears along the fjord just before Saudasjøen. A staircase with modern architecture has been established here, which allows you to get up close and feel the power of the waterfall. In the industrial town of Sauda, you will find the historic town of Åbø and a cozy center with shops, restaurants and accommodation.
You can also visit the Allmannajuvet, at Fv. 520, which was designed by the famous Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The facility consists of service buildings, a café and a museum, which conveys the history of mining.
Spectacular mountain pass
From Allmannajuvet you can continue on in sharp turns over Saudafjellet to Røldal. The mountain pass has a changing and dramatic landscape up to 900 meters above sea level. The narrow road dates from 1960 and was built by local construction workers with American capital. Say hello to the goats and see Røldal stave church!
The mountain pass (Fv. 520) is closed in winter between Hellandsbygd and Røldal. In winter, there can be up to six meters of snow. In winter, you must therefore use Rv. 13 along Suldalslågen, Suldalsvatnet and Flesefossen in Brattlandsdalen for the section Sand–Røldal.
Study the salmon
On the south side of the fjord, you can take a detour to the beach town of Jelsa with beautiful old houses and a distinctive church. Stop at the rest area above the Lovrafjord and see the small island in the fjord.
At Sand you can visit the Ryfylke Museum, see the mighty Sandsfossen or study the salmon up close in the Salmon Studio . Try the special pedestrian bridge, Høsebrua , over Suldalslågen, which was designed by the well-known architectural firm Rintala Eggertsson Arkitekter AS. In the center you can shop, spend the night and enjoy yourself in a café.
In summer, Kolbeinstveit is worth a visit. The family-friendly facility of Ryfylkemuseet is a living museum farm with farm animals.
Power architecture
Stop at Nesflaten and see exciting power architecture from the development of Røldal-Suldal power. In the 60s, the well-known architect Geir Grung designed the power station, the residences and the Energy Hotel in a functionalist style. The area is one of the finest and best-preserved examples of functionalist style in Norway. Feel free to stay overnight at Energihotellet.
How to get to Ryfylke
You get to the National Tourist Route Ryfylke via Ryfast from Stavanger to Solbakk or Røldal in the north. A good tip if you come from the east is to take the Lysevegen (closed in winter) from Suleskar to Lysebotn, and the boat on the beautiful Lysefjorden to Forsand, close to Oanes.