Oslo, Bergen, and the Fjords: Travel Details
This is a quick and handy source for details on the sights, hotels, tour guides and restaurants featured in "Oslo, Bergen, and the Fjords" show. For much more (and updates), see this year's edition of Rick Steves' Scandinavia guidebook.
Norway in a Nutshell
The most exciting single-day trip you could make from Oslo or Bergen is this circular train/boat/bus/train jaunt through fjord country. It's famous, everybody does it...and if you're looking for the scenic grandeur of Norway, so should you.
Tourist offices and train stations have souvenir-worthy brochures with photos, descriptions, and exact times. The all-day trip starts by train every morning from Oslo and Bergen.
The Route: Leaving from Oslo, you'll ride the Oslo-Bergen train to Myrdal (MEER-doll), take the scenic train from Myrdal to Flåm, hop on the fjord cruise from Flåm to Gudvangen, and then take the bus from Gudvangen to Voss. (It's easier than it sounds — just follow the crowds.) At Voss, jump on the Oslo-Bergen train and head west for Bergen or east for Oslo. The Nutshell trip is possible all year. Some say it's most beautiful in winter (but not possible then as a day trip from Oslo).
Reservations: If you're traveling during peak season (July-mid-Aug), it's wise to make reservations several weeks in advance for the Oslo-Bergen train segment of your trip.
If you have a Scanrail, Eurailpass, or Eurail Selectpass, you can get discounts on the journey (but not on the package deals mentioned below).
Without a Railpass: Allow about 1,085 kr for a one-way trip from Oslo to Bergen and about 910 kr for a round-trip from Bergen. Buying and reserving the Nutshell journey on your own isn't difficult. For solo travelers, the package deals from Fjord Tours (described below) save you time, but not any money. Couples and families should buy and reserve the trip on their own (get train tickets, including Myrdal-Flåm segment, at the train station in Oslo or Bergen) and purchase your fjord-cruise ticket on the boat or from the TI in Flåm. You can buy the tickets for the Gudvangen bus on board from the driver.
With a Railpass: With a railpass, allow about 420 kr (50 kr for seat reservation on Oslo-Bergen train; 105 kr for Myrdal-Flåm train supplement; 185 kr for fjord cruise — discounts for students or couples; 80 kr for Gudvangen-Voss bus). Some fast trains, such as the 10:43 Oslo-Bergen departure, come with a meal in first class, raising the seat reservation to a whopping 300 kr with a first-class railpass.
Packages: Fjord Tours sells the Nutshell package (among other package trips, www.fjordtours.no) at all Norwegian State Railways stations, including Oslo and Bergen, or through their Customer Service line in Norway (tel. 81 56 82 22). The approximate costs of the Nutshell package are as follows: one-way from Bergen or Oslo-1,065 kr; round-trip from Oslo via Voss-1,505 kr mid-June-mid-Sept; round-trip from Oslo via Bergen-1,735 kr, departs year-round; round-trip from Bergen-750 kr.