hellomoe

Hi!

We'd really like to travel from Oslo to Bergen on the beautiful railway and take a cruise in the fjords nearby Bergen, but after checking on Norway in a Nutshell's site (and independently looking up rail/ferry/bus prices), it's incredibly out of our price range

What's the best way to experience the beauty of the fjords, if you can't afford / don't have the time to make it up to Bergen? Unfortunately, we only have 2 and a half days in Oslo. I understand that city is on a fjord, but I'm having difficulties finding any information other than traveling to the islands just off of Oslo (which don't appear to be very striking). Is there maybe a shorter train ride we could take, or a ferry that would be particularly beautiful?

Thanks!

nytraveler

Unfortunately I think you will find that everything in Norway is incredibly expensive. Have you looked at hotel and dining costs yet?

Sorry can't help with cheaper way to see fjords.

hellomoe

Yes, I'm aware about the food and such. We already have a place to stay so it's not a problem. Just looking for suggestions on how to see the landscape without traveling too far from Oslo!

dyoll

Unfortunately the classic fjords are a long way from Oslo and it's going to cost to get there. If you book the train journeys yourself you can do the NiN for around NOK 1000 between Oslo and Voss + NOK 249 to get back to Oslo.
The absolute cheapest might be to take the express bus Oslo-Flåm, but at the cheapest fares booked on-line you are only saving about NOK 100 and having an uncomfortable bus journey instead of train and missing out on the scenic Flåm rail.
Assuming you are visiting in summer you can take a ferry from Oslo to Drøbak and visit Oscarsborg. But the Oslo fjord, although beautiful in itself, is not the classic fjord scenery of the brochures.
http://www.visitoslo.com/en/product/?TLp=278691

RM67

The cheapest way to do it is to drive to the fjord region (if you already have a hire car - not if you need to rent one specially), then stay overnight in cheaper accomodation like a basic cabin, and do the basic triangular NIN tour which can be completed in a few hours but passes lots of spectacular scenery en-route (Flam-Gudvangen on the ferry, Gudvangen to Voss on the bus, then Voss to Flam on the train. You need not go as far as Bergen and it will substantially add to your costs if you do.

Tbh, if you mean you only have 2.5 days in Oslo IN TOTAL (rather than some unspecified time in Oslo, plus 2.5 days to explore the fjords - its not entirely clear what you mean) then you do not have time to get to the fjord region full stop.

I actually think Oslo is lovely city and you will find plenty to do there. It is on a fjord, but a flat one if that makes sense - no towering cliffs - but the peninsulas and islands are lovely.

You either need to add some time to your schedule so you can get north to the fjord region, or, if you can't, resign yourself to to staying in the city and making the most of that.

By the way, it is not true that Norway is extortionate - alcohol is, food can be, but accomodation not a million miles in price from other western european cities, museums and galleries are cheap to visit and the scenery is free.

hellomoe

Thanks for the replies. We do only have 2.5 days in total, which is a big part of the reason we don't feel we should do the NIN, as alluring as it sounds. And dyoll, we're going next week, though I wish we could take the warm weather of summer Tickets were cheap for a semi last minute booking.

We're looking into renting a car... anyone know of somewhere particularly pretty that's not far from Oslo?

colduphere

Well it's pretty to us but as far as I can tell no one else thinks so. I've been trying for 2 years to recruit someone to go there. Probably still too far at four hours:

http://tinyurl.com/oj7rs3d

Ozarksbill

Yes, Oslo is a lovely city in itself. Bergen is a favorite city for me. You do enjoy fjords in the Norway in a Nutshell en route from Oslo. Also we cruised outside the harbor in Bergen with more fjords visible. So you want more? Yes, in the interior if you have time.

Vital1975

By bus
Several daily departures between Oslo and Bergen operated by Nor-Way Bussekspress. Approximate travel time: 10 hours.