Oslo, Bergen, and the Bergen Railway
Minimum Time: 3 days
Recommended Time: 5–7 days
Stops: Oslo, Finse, Bergen
Summary: Those with one week or less in Norway can see the country’s two largest cities and breathtaking scenery via the Bergen Railway. Often called “Norway in a Nutshell,” this famous train route between Oslo and Bergen covers 496 kilometers (308 miles) through mountains, fjords, river valleys, and idyllic Norwegian towns. If you’re short a time, there’s no better way to see Norway.
The train route between Oslo and Bergen takes less than seven hours point-to-point and can be done in a single day. Adventure travelers, however, should consider stopping and spending time in Finse on the rugged Hardangervidda Plateau. Finse is the highest rail station in Norway and has no road access, an excellent place for hiking and mountain biking with the Hardangerjøkulen Glacier and Old Navvy Trail nearby. You won’t find luxury in Finse, or much of anything for that matter, but it’s a great place to get off the beaten path and see the wilds of Norway.
A much more famous detour is the Flåm Railway and subsequent cruise on the Nærøyfjord. From the Myrdal railway station, take the 20-km scenic rail journey to Flåm, hop on the Nærøyfjord cruise to Gudvangen, then catch the bus from Gudvangen to Voss (it’s easy to navigate and everyone is doing the same thing). From Voss, you can get back on the train and head west to Bergen or east to Oslo.
Oslo and Bergen make enjoyable stopovers and both have major international airports. Norway’s cities are expensive so plan accordingly (camping is free in Finse and all of Norway). The Oslo-Bergen Railway is extremely popular and tickets should be booked well in advance.
Lofoten Islands + Oslo or Bergen
Minimum Time: 5 days
Recommended Time: 1 week
Stops: Oslo or Bergen, Henningsvær, Reine
Summary: The Lofoten Islands, located more than 100 kilometers above the Arctic Circle, are as stunning as anywhere in the world. Despite the remote setting, direct flights from Oslo to Lofoten can be found for $100 USD or less. The city of Svolvær on the Lofoten Islands has an airport, but Harstad/Narvik, Airport Evenes (EVE) on the edge of the mainland is the closest direct flight from Oslo and air travel and rental cars there are considerably cheaper.
Spending five or six days on the Lofoten Islands is a perfect amount of time. Much of the Lofoten experience is about just being there and soaking up the surroundings—with a week or so you can stay in two or three historic fishing villages, drive the length of the archipelago, and choose a few activities that suite your interests.
For the best fishing villages to stay in on the Lofoten Islands, we recommend Henningsvær and Reine. Henningsvær is nicknamed the “Venice of the North,” a bit of a stretch, but it's the liveliest Lofoten village and home to the most well-preserved architecture. Reine is small and quiet but there is no better place to rent a rorbuer and enjoy the Lofoten scenery. Reine also is a quick drive from the village of Å and the end of the road.
Travelers can visit Oslo or Bergen on either end of the itinerary, although it’s possible to travel to Lofoten without going into the cities. Flights from Oslo to Lofoten are direct and the cheapest. Flights from Bergen stop in Oslo and are about 50% more expensive. Those with extra time can add the Bergen Railway to their itinerary before or after heading north.