Exploring The Most Beautiful But Dangerous Road On Earth

Exploring The Most Beautiful But Dangerous Road On Earth


May 27, 2025 | Allison Robertson

Exploring The Most Beautiful But Dangerous Road On Earth


Atlantic Road, Norway

Norway’s Atlantic Road, famously known as the Norwegian Scenic Route, is an unforgettable drive that hugs the wild ocean shoreline. With jaw-dropping views at every turn, it’s celebrated as one of the most beautiful drives on the planet—but don’t let its stunning beauty fool you. 

The road’s narrow, winding path and proximity to crashing waves make it one of the most thrilling—and dangerous—routes you’ll ever take.

Drive Msn

Location

The Atlantic Road connects Averøy with the mainland via a series of small islands and islets with a total of eight bridges over 5.2 miles.

Atlantic Road NorwayAndrei Armiagov, Shutterstock

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The Design

The road has a roller-coaster feel with curvy bridges that dip and arch over and around the massive ocean waves.

Atlantic Road in NorwayIgor Plotnikov, Shutterstock

Creation

The Atlantic Road was started in 1983 and first opened in 1989. Construction was a major challenge as the workers experienced 12 horrific hurricanes during the project.

Atlantic Road in NorwayDmitry Tkachenko Photo, Shutterstock

Purpose

Originally constructed to connect the islands to Norway’s mainland, the Atlantic Road quickly transformed into a must-see destination, attracting travelers from around the world with its breathtaking views and unique coastal charm.

Atlantic road in norwayIvan Tsvetkov, Shutterstock

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Honorary Acknowledgments

In 2005, the Atlantic Road, Atlanterhavsvegen, was named as the building of the 20th century for its sheer size and creativity.

It is also considered an engineering marvel, considering its challenging construction process.

Aerial view of the atlantic ocean road in norwayBarnabas Davoti, Pexels

The Famous Atlantic Road Bridge

The Storseisundet Bridge is a drastically-curved bridge along the road, and it the longest of the eight bridges.

Landscape Photo of The Atlantic Road in NorwayKy0n Cheng, Flickr

The Storseisundet Bridge

This bridge is often referred to as “the road to nowhere” due to the unique angle and design of the road appearing to drop off into the sea.

It is also the biggest tourist hot spot along the entire road.

Landscape Photo of Storseisundet Bridge on  The Atlantic Road in NorwayErnst Vikne, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Length & Time to Travel

Stretching 8.3 kilometers (5.2 miles), Norway’s Atlantic Road can be driven in just 10 to 20 minutes—depending on how fast you go. But if you pause to soak in the stunning views (and you definitely should), expect your trip to take much longer.

Norway roadGiedrius Akelis, Shutterstock

Cost to Travel

Travel along the Atlantic Road is free. Tolls were previously collected, however within ten years of its construction, the tolls paid off the road’s construction costs—making it now toll-free since 1999.

Landscape Photo of The Atlantic Road in NorwayTha Dah Baw, Pexels

Places to Stay

There are no hotels or restaurants along the Atlantic Road, but there are many nearby towns and villages that offer beautiful coastal experiences.

Landscape Photo of The Atlantic Road in NorwayTatiana Bashinskaya, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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The Scenery

The scenic beauty is the top reason tourists make the drive. The Atlantic Road offers breathtaking views of the Norwegian coastline, the North Atlantic Ocean, and the surrounding fjords and mountains.

Landscape Photo of The Atlantic Road in NorwayClementp.fr, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Fishing

The Atlantic Road isn’t just a scenic drive—it’s also a paradise for anglers. Along the route, you can fish right at the water’s edge, surrounded by open sea rather than vast stretches of land. 

One favorite spot is the Myrbærholmbrua bridge, which features a dedicated pedestrian walkway perfect for casting a line and soaking in the ocean views.

Landscape Photo of The Atlantic Road in NorwayFabio Ligger, Flickr

Bird Watching

Avid bird watchers visit the Atlantic Road to spot sea eagles, Atlantic puffins, gulls and a variety of other sea birds.

Landscape Photo of The Atlantic Road in NorwayZairon, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Cycling & Walking

Vehicles are not needed to experience the Atlantic Road. Many tourists take in the fresh ocean air while riding or walking the route.

Landscape Photo of The Atlantic Road in NorwayJohannes Hulsch, Flickr

Rest-Stops

There are several rest-stops and viewpoints along the Atlantic Road, with the biggest of these being on the island of Eldhusoya, which has a service building, café, bathroom facilities and a mobile home parking lot.

Landscape Photo of The Atlantic Road near Eldhusoya in NorwayOlaf Meister, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Weather Conditions

The Atlantic Road is renowned for its dramatic exposure to the raw power of nature. Fierce storms and crashing waves often batter this coastal route, and when conditions turn dangerous, the road is temporarily closed to keep travelers safe. It’s a reminder that here, nature truly calls the shots.

Atlantic Road in NorwayBenjamin Zocholl, Shutterstock

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Opening Dates

The road is typically open all year round, aside from during extreme weather conditions. Conditions are said to be challenging in winter months.

Atlantic Ocean Road in Norwaypavlanecasova.com, Shutterstock

Traffic Reality

One of the downsides to the Atlantic Road is the traffic. Although these photographs give the illusion of a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, in reality this road is quite popular and often experiences heavy traffic.

Atlantic road in norwayAndrei Armiagov, Shutterstock

Dangerous Conditions

Traveling this road in dangerous conditions is obviously advised against. However, unexpected weather can occur while you’re already on route, such as wind.

It is advised to stay in your car during heavy winds (and other bad weather conditions) to avoid any accidents involving people chasing their belongings over the edge.

A stormy day at the atlantic ocean road between molde and kristiansund.Benjamin Zocholl, Shutterstock

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Vehicle Accidents

Despite its dramatic dips and winding curves, the Atlantic Road experiences relatively few accidents each year—around 15 to 20. Most incidents are linked to speeding or distracted driving, making caution essential on this breathtaking but challenging route

Landscape Photo of The Atlantic Road in NorwayKjell Jøran Hansen, Flickr

Tourism

As previously mentioned, the Atlantic Road is a top tourist attraction in Norway, bringing in around 250,000 visitors each year.

Aerial Photo of The Atlantic Road in NorwayAndrei Armiagov, Shutterstock

Tourism: Rest Stops

The scenic rest stops are the top choice for tourists, making it busier than you might expect. The hot spots for photography and fishing are often said to be “jam packed”, especially during good weather.

Landscape Photo of The Atlantic Road in NorwayTomsickova Tatyana, Shutterstock

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Tourist Fatality

There is only one reported tourist accident, involving a fatality. Apparently, an Israeli tourist fell into the water while standing next to its edge and was quickly carried off by the current.

Hiking path near Atlantic Ocean Road or the Atlantic Road (Atlanterhavsveien), NorwayA. Aleksandravicius, Shutterstock

Norway Roads

Norway has held the title of Europe’s safest country to drive in for eight consecutive years, boasting the lowest number of road traffic fatalities per million residents. 

Even with the challenge of roads like the Atlantic Road, Norway’s commitment to safety remains unmatched.

Landscape Photo of The Atlantic Road in NorwayNick from Bristol, UK, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Final Thoughts

The Atlantic Road in Norway stands as both one of the most beautiful drives in the world, and one of the most dangerous drives in the world—and it fits both titles.

With stunning, edge-of-the-world views along terrifying, steep twists and turns over the treacherous ocean waters, the Atlantic Road is a popular tourist attraction drawing in visitors from all over the globe.

Aerial drone shot of the amazing and world famous Atlantic Road in NorwayDmitry Tkachenko Photo, Shutterstock


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