E6 through Sweden and Norway
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European route E6 stretches from Trelleborg in Sweden to Kirkenes in Norway. The leg through Norway is the longest road within a single country in Europe except Russia. Much of the E6 is scenic, especially in northern Norway where it provides an astounding view of the mountains and fjords. E6 crosses the Arctic circle at Saltfjellet mountain pass and more than 1000 km of the road is within the area of the midnight sun.
Understand
The E6 is Norway's main road in the south-north direction and in some areas of the northern Norway it is in fact the only road. E6 is a key reference for a self-drive trip in Norway and the road is simply referred to as "the E6" (Eseksen).
There is one ferry crossing remaining, the 8 km stretch across Tysfjord, and about 80 tunnels. The entire route is 3,140 km (1,950 miles) or 40-50 hours driving. That means five-six days driving is needed at normal pace, visitors doing sightseeing and frequent stops should calculate more time. The route is constructed as motorway (multi-lane controlled-access highway) until Hamar, about 210 km of 2600 km within Norway (speed limit 90 to 110 km/h). In addition there is some 200 km semi-motorway (two-lane expressway) with speed limit 80 or 90 km/h.
While the E6 in Sweden and around Oslo runs through lowlands and flatlands, further north the route includes mountain passes:
- Dovrefjell between Dombås and Oppdal, 1026 meters above sea level
- Saltfjellet between Mo-i-Rana and Fauske, 693 meters
- Kvænangsfjellet, 400 meters
Mountain passes and some exposed sections in Northern Norway are occasionally closed in extreme winter conditions, primarily at night. Convoy driving is also used during blizzards, drivers then have to wait for the snowplow. Driving in winter conditions in the north is recommended only for experienced winter drivers. Even if elevations are modest, mountain passes like Kvænangsfjellet is exposed to rough weather. E6 partly runs through the coldest areas in Norway with Karasjok's -51.4°C (-61°F) the coldest ever recorded in Norway. The interior of Northern Norway is however relatively warm in summer, although in places like Karasjok there can be real frost also then. While large parts of E6 is north of the Arctic circle, the climate is generally not arctic because the coast enjoys the mild Gulf stream in the Atlantic. During winter the interior can be 10 or 20°C colder than port towns like Trondheim or Narvik.
| Town | July average | January average | Coldest ever | Warmest ever |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gothenburg | 18.9 | +0.1 | -26.0 | 33.8 |
| Oslo | 16.4 | -4.3 | -26.0 | 35.0 |
| Lillehammer | 14.8 | -9.1 | 34.0 | |
| Trondheim | 14.4 | -2.3 | -25.0 | 35.0 |
| Narvik | 13.4 | -4.1 | -20 | 32.5 |
| Karasjok | 13.4 | -17.1 | -51.4 | 32.4 |
Between Karasjok and Tana bridge, the E6 runs for 180 km along the big Tana river and the border with Finland.
History
The stretch through Nordland county is about 650 km and is the most complex part of the E6. In 1941 the road through Nordland had 8 ferry crossings. New stretches were built by the Nazi regime during the war. Slave laborers from concentration camps were exploited. The stretch of road between Rognan and Langset was named The Blood Road because of this.
Get in
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Ferries from Germany (Rostock, Travemünde/Lübeck or Sassnitz) or Poland (Świnoujście) to Trelleborg.
The Öresund Bridge from Copenhagen to Malmö.
Though a south-to-north passage might be natural for visitors from mainland Europe, a north-to-south passage gives a better view of the scenery. To start from the northern end, drive up through Finland (some 1300 km from Helsinki) or through Sweden (see E4 through Sweden) and Finland to Kirkenes, or if you're arriving from Russia, there's also a road from Murmansk. The border between Norway and Russia is a Schengen border.
The E6 connects to European route E18 (east-west road) at Oslo, and European route E39 at Trondheim.
Go
Sweden
All of the E6 through Sweden consists of limited-access expressway. The route is not very scenic, and mostly used for convenience.
Drivers who have time and want to enjoy a waterfront view, can find parallel routes closer to the sea.
- 1 Trelleborg. Sweden's southernmost city.
- 2 Malmö. Sweden's third city.
- 3 Helsingborg. Junctions with E4 through Sweden
- Halmstad, Sweden's golf capital.
- Falkenberg
- Varberg
- Kungsbacka
- 4 Gothenburg. Sweden's second city and largest port. Junction with E45.
- Uddevalla
- Strömstad, a border city, and the last chance to buy supplies before Norway.
Norway
There are tolls on many sections of the E6, mostly from the Swedish border up to Trondheim.
- Halden - first town in Norway
- Sarpsborg
- Moss
- 5 Oslo. Norway's capital and largest city.
- 6 Lillehammer. A ski resort which hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics.
- 7 Gudbrandsdalen. Norway's great central valley
- Dombås, village northern part of Gudbrandsdalen, junction with E136, railway junction, ski slopes.
- 8 Dovrefjell. A high plateau where the road is surrounded by two national parks.
- 9 Oppdal. A major ski resort in the upland valleys.
- 10 Trondheim. the capital of Trøndelag. Connection to European route E39.
- Stjørdal; the nearby village Hell might be interesting for English-speaking travellers, road and rail from Sweden.
- Mosjøen - a fine little town at the mouth of Vefsn river
- 11 Mo i Rana.
- Saltfjellet mountain pass, arctic circle
- 12 Fauske. With Bodø nearby.
- 13 Narvik. A port city connected by rail to Sweden. Junction with E10.
- Nordkjosbotn junction, 80 km to Tromsø, main city of the north
- 14 Lyngen. The magnificent Lyngen Alps and fjords.
- 15 Alta. The main town of Finnmark, roads into the Finnmark plateau.
- Detour to Nordkapp
- 16 Karasjok. Village in Finnmark interior, capital of Sami land, coldest place in winter.
- Tana bru - bridge across Tana river
- 17 Kirkenes. End of the route, 15 km from Russia
Detours
The coastal road 160 in Sweden offers beautiful sea views.
At Ringebu in Gudbrandsdalen valley along the mountain road through Rondane back onto E6 Dovrefjell.
Steinkjer-Bodø along county road 17 is known as Helgeland coast road (also known as Kystriksveien) and is also designated as a national tourist route. The 630 km route is much slower than the E6, also includes six ferry crossings. Towns and destinations along the Helgeland coast road: Namsos, Brønnøysund, Tonnes, and Vega archipelago, an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Shortcuts
- When going between Oslo and Trondheim, road 3 is 25 km shorter, and around 20 min faster, but less scenic mountain views.
- When going to Finnmark county, going through Sweden and Finland is much shorter and faster.
By bicycle
E6 south of Lillehammer is motorway and not suitable or permitted for bicycles. Through Gudbrandsdalen until Otta traffic is often heavy and cycling not recommended. There are however parallel local roads that can be used by bicycle such that E6 can also be used to plan a bicycle trip. There is currently (2015) significant construction work on E6 through Gudbrandsdalen (Ringebu-Otta), and road system will change. Between Otta and Trondheim there are a few, short tunnels. There is also motorway around Trondheim and Trondheim airport at Stjørdal. In Nordland county there are many and some very long tunnels. There is a "National cycle route 1" or "EuroVelo 1" which follows routes 720 and 17 Trondheim-Bodø and then the ferry to Lofoten.
Stay safe
Driving in Norway and Sweden is generally safe as these countries maintain the highest road safety in the world.
The E6 runs through some of the coldest and roughest climates in Norway. The high plateaus are exposed to strong wind in the winter. In the interior areas such as Gudbrandsdalen and Finnmark temperatures can drop to -30 or -40 C, creating problems for cars, particularly those with diesel engines; see winter driving.
Animal collisions are a danger along most of the road; moose, deer and boars in the south, and reindeer in the north.
See also
