pinterest pin ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ Itinerary

Prologue

When it comes to over 90% of Norway, rugged is an understatement. This was one of the primary motivations for the Vikings’ journey south, and many Norwegians chose to depart and settle in the United States. However, with millions of tourists visiting each year, the west coast of Norway, which is endowed with breathtaking mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, fjords, and the sea, has resurrected its former splendor. And why are they flocking to Norway, despite the fact that it is one of the most costly locations in the world? A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Today, we will take that opportunity and explore the best fjords of Norway starting from Bergen, the “Gateway to the Fjords” with the Flam Railway, popularly dubbed as one of the “Most beautiful train journeys in the world,” followed by a fjord cruise; a journey of a lifetime to capture the essence of ‘Norway in a Nutshell.’ And guess what’s the best part of this journey? That you’re coming along. So, without further delay, let’s hit the road. Thank you for joining us!

The Itinerary

Map created using Wanderlog, a road trip planner on iOS and Android

1. The Bergen Railway - Bergen to Myrdal

We began our journey in Bergen, Norway's second-largest city after its capital Oslo, nestled between seven mountains and seven fjords, making it the most popular gateway to the West Norwegian fjords. From Bergen, we boarded the Bergen Railway, which runs between Bergen and Oslo, thereby connecting Western and Eastern Norway. We disembarked after traveling for two hours at the mountain station of Myrdal. If you are traveling from Oslo, the journey to Myrdal takes about 5 hours.

Image Source: Wikipedia article ‘Railway Oslo - Bergen’

world's most beautiful train journey flam railway from bergen to flam via myrdal norway

2. The Flam Railway - Myrdal to Flam

Upon reaching Myrdal, we boarded the Flam Railway which travels from the Myrdal mountain station, 867 meters above sea level, down to Flam at the sea level situated on the Sognefjord, Europe's longest and deepest fjord in about an hour. The Flam Railway has been dubbed one of the "most beautiful train journeys in the world." It was ranked first in Lonely Planet Traveller's list of "The world's most incredible train journeys of 2014."

The Flam Railway is one of the world's steepest standard gauge railway lines, with a 5.5 percent gradient for 80 percent of the length. This one-hour journey showcases the best of Western Norway's breathtaking surroundings - lush green valleys, steep mountains, foamy waterfalls, and quaint villages. En route, it passes through about 20 tunnels and stops at the most picturesque locations, such as the Kjosfossen waterfall.

village houses river valley fjords waterfalls as seen from world's most beautiful train journey flam railway from bergen to flam via myrdal norway

3. Kjosfossen Waterfall

One of the highlights of the Flam Railway's journey from Myrdal to Flam is when the train stops at the mouth of Kjosfossen waterfall to allow all passengers to disembark and take photographs while a minuscule figure of a lady appears amidst the mist on top of the mountains at the edge of the waterfall and dances to the tune of Norwegian folk music. It is unquestionably a sight to behold.

villakjosfossen waterfall with lady dancing as seen from world's most beautiful train journey flam railway from bergen to flam via myrdal norway

4. Flam

After traveling for about one hour from Myrdal in the Flam Railway, we reached Flam. Flam is a quaint little village in the Flamsdalen region of Norway, situated in a picturesque setting at the mouth of Aurlandsfjord, a branch of the Sognefjord, Europe's longest and deepest fjord. The village lies in the municipality of Aurland, in the county of Sogn og Fjordane.

5. Fjord Cruise - Flam to Gudvangen via Sognefjord and Naeroyfjord

From Flam, we took a cruise to Gudvangen, another small village in the municipality of Aurland in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, via the Naeroyfjord, a UNESCO world heritage area known as one of the world's most spectacular fjord scenery.

The Naeroyfjord (literally, the Narrow Fjord) is a branch of the Sognefjord and is truly a spectacle of creation. The splendor of Naeroyfjord, which is surrounded by rugged mountains that rise to 1800 meters above sea level, waterfalls cascading down, and idyllic settlements dotting the landscape, can neither be explained in words nor portrayed by images. It can only be appreciated from the cruise ship's deck, where you have a 360-degree view of nature all around you, which should consume you over the hours you spend traveling through the fjord.

village houses river valley fjords waterfalls and ship as seen from world's most beautiful fjord cruise from flam to gudvangen over sognefjord and naeroyfjord norway

6. Gudvangen

Our fjord cruise ended at Gudvangen, where we disembarked. Gudvangen is a historic Viking settlement offering a plethora of activities for people of all ages and inclinations, right from boating across the UNESCO-listed Naeroyfjord, to trekking the stunning valleys and fjords, to exploring historical monuments. After exploring Gudvangen, we took a bus back to Flam instead of taking the cruise back again. From there, we made the return journey to Bergen via Myrdal (following the same route we came through).

village houses river valley fjords waterfalls boat ship men and women standing as seen from world's most beautiful fjord cruise from flam to gudvangen over sognefjord and naeroyfjord norway

village houses river valley fjords waterfalls boat ship kayak men and women standing as seen from world's most beautiful fjord cruise from flam to gudvangen over sognefjord and naeroyfjord norway

man walking on bridge in gudvangen on sognefjord and naeroyfjord norway

lady sitting on stone with flowers in gudvangen on sognefjord and naeroyfjord norway

7. Osterfjord

We also visited a few other fjords near Bergen, the most notable of which is Osterfjord. We boarded the Osterfjord cruise directly from the harbor of Bergen. During the journey we saw breathtaking scenery such as serene hamlets on lush green patches of land nestled in the lap of rocky mountains surrounded by turquoise sea water and innumerable waterfalls lined up one after the other in close proximity, all while Norwegian folk music played on the cruise, setting the mood.

A highlight of the Osterfjord trip was getting the ship dangerously near to Heskjedalsfossen, a stunning waterfall, and filling up pure mountain water to distribute to the passengers for drinking. That's experiencing nature in its purest form.

village houses river valley fjords waterfalls and ship with reflection as seen from fjord cruise from bergen to osterfjord norway

village houses river valley fjords waterfalls and ship with reflection and sheep grazing as seen from fjord cruise from bergen to osterfjord norway

Heskjedalsfossen waterfall as seen from fjord cruise from bergen to osterfjord norway

8. Bergen

Bergen is Norway's second-largest city, lying between seven mountains and seven fjords, making it the most popular entry point to the West Norwegian fjords. Bergen makes up for its bad weather all year with its quaint colorful wood buildings on the coast or little communities crawling up the hillsides, parked ferry boats asking to be boarded to blast out to the fjords, and a bustling nightlife.

Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf

Bryggen or Tyskebryggen (meaning the dock), is a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring a row of colorful Hanseatic buildings along the eastern side of Bergen's Vagen harbor.

lady standing bergen dock Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf colorful wooden buildings unesco world heritage harbor and ships norway

graffiti mural wall art in bergen dock Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf colorful wooden buildings unesco world heritage harbor and ships norway

St. Mary’s Church

St Mary's Church is a parish church in the Hordaland county municipality of Bergen. It is situated in the Bryggen area in the city center of Bergen.

St Mary church bergen dock Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf colorful wooden buildings unesco world heritage harbor and ships city center bergen norway

Gamle Bergen

If you want to see Bergen from the 18th century, go to 'Gamle Bergen,' an open-air museum with more than 40 wooden homes that reflect Bergen architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries. The beautiful time-boxed interiors of the houses portray life in a tiny town, with its dwellings, various shops, baker, barber, dentist, photographer, and so on.

Every hour, a small play is played in the town's center square by artists dressed in traditional Norwegian clothes that depict some element of life in Bergen during the 18th century. It's an amazing sight to behold.

gamle old bergen norway showcasing old wooden houses fences street lights benches fjord and play acting

gamle old bergen norway showcasing old wooden houses clock fences street lights benches fjord and play acting

portrait boy standing gamle old bergen norway showcasing old wooden houses clock fences street lights benches and fjord

gamle old bergen norway showcasing old wooden houses clock fences street lights benches and fjord

lady standing in front of door in gamle old bergen norway showcasing old wooden houses clock fences street lights benches and fjord

man taking photograph at gamle old bergen norway showcasing old wooden houses clock fences street lights benches and fjord

Visiting Bergen

Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Bergen is during the summer months, particularly from June to August. With its pleasant temperatures and longer daylight hours, this time of year provides the best weather conditions for exploring the city and its environs. Bergen's driest weather occurs in the summer, which makes it perfect for outdoor activities and sightseeing. We traveled to Bergen in August. However, we still got one night of tremendous rain. Luckily the days were dry.

Number of Days to Stay: We suggest spending at least two or three days in Bergen to truly take in all of its natural splendor. You will have ample opportunity to visit the city's historical landmarks and go on day trips to neighboring fjords.

Best Place to Stay: Bergen provides a range of lodging choices to accommodate all tastes and price ranges. Staying in the city center, in Torgallmenningen Square, or close to the ancient Bryggen district will put you in a central location with easy access to important attractions. Alternatively, lodgings by the waterfront or in areas like Sandviken or Nordnes can offer a more laid-back experience if you'd want a calmer setting with beautiful views.

Best Way to Arrive: Flying into Bergen Airport, Flesland, which is situated about 20 kilometers south of the city center, is the most popular way to arrive in Bergen. The airport offers connectivity to key cities in Europe and Norway for both domestic and international flights. To get to the city center from the airport, use the Bergen Light Rail (Bybanen), an airport shuttle bus, or a cab. We flew into Copenhagen from the Netherlands, spent a couple of days there, and then flew from there to Bergen. After that, we spent three days in Bergen and then flew back to the Netherlands from Bergen.

To know more about the best places to visit in Copenhagen, please visit our article One Day in Copenhagen Itinerary | 10 Best Places to Visit and Things to Do in Copenhagen in One Day | Top 10 Must See Tourist Attractions in Copenhagen on a Day Trip.

Best Local Mode of Conveyance: Bergen is a small city with a central business district where many of the attractions are accessible by foot. The greatest way to see Bergen's picturesque streets, monuments, and waterfront promenades is usually on foot. The city also boasts an effective public transportation system that includes buses and the Bergen Light Rail, which can carry you to locations outside of the city center as well as to neighboring districts and tourist destinations. For more freedom, think about hiring a car if you intend to visit the nearby fjords and mountains, or sign up for one of the guided tours that leave from Bergen.

Epilogue

So that brings us to the end of our ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ journey. Please let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed reading this article. And until we meet next time, I wish you merry traveling and happy shooting!