Carotta

Hi - just starting to build an itinerary for our upcoming trip to Norway in May or June this year and I have a few questions that I'm hoping you can help me with.

Part of our itinerary includes:
- taking the train from Oslo to Trondheim - spending 1.5 days in Trondheim
- renting a car in Trondheim and driving north in hopes of reaching Lofoten Islands area in one day (note that we are used to very long drives 12 - 17 hours is not a deterrent for us)
- spend one day/one night in area
- drive back to Trondheim - spend night then board Hurtigruten for Bergen the following day.

Questions:
- would it be better if we took the train from Oslo to Bodo and rented a car in Bodo then took the train back from Bodo to Trondheim - spent some time there and boarded Hurtigruten
- would it be better to board the Hurtigruten in Bodo and do the walking tour of Trondheim

I realize this might be a tad crazy and not relaxing but as mentioned above I've only started researching and am not sure of the real driving distance/time between locations.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice.

Carotta

Hi - I just found the website www.viamichelin.com which answers my questions regarding the distances and times. Many thanks for taking the time to read my post.

hetismij2

On the trip south on Hurtigruten you only have a short amount of time in Trondheim. There is just enough time to do the bus trip which includes a visit to Nidarosdom, and even then it can be a bit tight to get back in time.

Bodo is probably the most boring town to visit. There really is very little there. The cathedral is good, if you like modern - it was built in 1956, and is made of concrete. I found it quite attractive in a very minimalist way. Otherwise the town has little to offer unless you want to visit the aeronautical museum, home of U2s.

Hope this helps you make up your mind.

An alternative idea might be to take the Hurtigruten north, from Bergen, so you see Geiranger too, and get off at the Lofotens, rent a car there and drive back to Trondheim. Or get off at Trondheim rent your car there and carry on as above.

Carotta

Hetismij2,

Many thanks for your response - greatly appreciate all the advice I can get. I've read several of the trip reports and that has also helped to give me a better understanding of things.

rjsol

Lofoten and Vesterålen deserves more than one day, and you should use more than the short amount scheduled in Trondheim

Carotta

rjsol, thank you for responding. We have in fact changed our itinerary and now plan to fly into to Bodo, go across to Moskenes by ferry, rent a car and stay in Svolvaer for about three nights before boarding the Hurtigruten in Svolvaer. We plan to take day trips from Svolvaer or maybe find another location for one of the three nights. Unfortunately Trondheim will get short changed but unfortunately not all is doable ...as much as I'd like to.

hetismij2

That sounds like a good plan Carotta. I hope you enjoy your trip. Personally I'd rather spend my time somewhere like Lofoten than Trondheim.
My only souvenir of my Hurtigruten trip last year (a painting) came from Svolvaer.
I would love to go back and spend longer in that area one day.