Minimum Time: 3 days
Recommended Time: 5–7 days
Stops: Oslo, Finse, Bergen
Summary: With one week or less in Norway you can see the country’s two largest cities and experience 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 some 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.