Åndalsnes sits at the end of the Romsdal valley where the river meets the Romsdalsfjord, surrounded by some of Norway's most dramatic mountain scenery. It is a small town — more a base than a destination — but the surrounding landscape more than compensates.
The Trollveggen (Troll Wall), Europe's highest vertical rock face at over 1,000 metres, looms above the valley just outside town. The Trollstigen (Troll's Path), a serpentine mountain road with eleven hairpin bends and a waterfall thundering alongside, is one of Norway's most famous drives. In summer, the Golden Route from Åndalsnes over the mountains to Geiranger — via the Trollstigen Pass and the Eagles' Highway — is one of the great scenic road trips in Scandinavia.
Åndalsnes is a popular starting point for hikers and climbers in the Romsdal Alps. The Romsdalseggen Ridge walk, with views over the fjord and surrounding peaks, is considered one of Norway's finest day hikes.