[Countrywide] Best hairpin roads for views: which routes are stunning and have safe places to stop?

For hairpin roads that actually let you stop without tempting fate, Ørnevegen above Geiranger is still top-tier, and yes, it deserves the hype this time. The switchbacks are dramatic but manageable, there are proper lay-bys and viewpoints (not “park half in the road and pray”), and the fjord views hit especially hard in the morning before buses multiply. From what I’ve seen, the real danger is overconfidence and fog rolling in fast, so if visibility drops, just keep driving and save the photos for another day. Am I missing a hairpin road that’s just as stunning but less famous, or is Ørnevegen the rare case where popularity and payoff actually align?

For me, nothing beats Trollstigen, and I’ll happily die on that hill. The hairpins are pure drama, but what really makes it work is that the road is actually built with people in mind. You get proper viewpoints and lay-bys where you can pull over safely, catch your breath, and take photos without doing anything reckless. The big platform at the top is obvious, but there are also a few solid stopping spots lower down that give you amazing angles of the switchbacks. Yes, it’s steep and narrow in places, but it feels controlled. Golden hour is incredible, midday gets bus-heavy fast, and fog just kills the whole experience. After the drive, I always recommend grabbing a coffee or a cold beer in Åndalsnes and letting the adrenaline wear off.