There are many tunnels in Norway. Some are open to cyclists and some are not.
Tunnels that are open to cyclists are generally safe and most are lit, however it is important that you make yourself visible to other road users when you cycle through them.
A rear light and reflectors are essential. A front light is very useful, especially in an unlit tunnel.
When planning a bicycle tour you should check if there are any banned tunnels on your proposed route.
Statens Vegvesen, the Norwegian Roads Board, published a Tunnel Guide for Cyclists in 2001 but it is no longer readily available.
They now provide this information online in the form of a map that shows which tunnels are banned for bicycles.
You will find the map at
www.vegvesen.no
The map can be a bit tricky to use.
It does not always show whether it is easy to avoid a banned tunnel (for example using a bicycle path), or whether the route must be avoided altogether.
We have updated and summarised the information from the Statens Vegvesen 2001 Tunnel Guide for Cyclists to produce the two lists of tunnels below.
Some tunnels that are banned but which we know can be easily avoided by a road or bicycle path have been excluded.
If the 'Alternative route' mentions 'summer only' this is a clue that the alternative route might be be covered in snow at other times of the year.
The tunnels are arranged by administrative department, starting in the south east, heading west and then north.
Disclaimer: If you use this information you do so at your own risk. New tunnels are constantly being built, so our guide will become less accurate over time.
Norway Tunnel Guide for cyclists - Selected Banned Tunnels