hellosun

Hi all,

I am flying into Oslo in first week of April

Will also be visiting Stockholm, and Copenhagen.

Should I:

1) Book the Norway in a Nutshell tour roundtrip from Oslo to Bergen and sleep on the train

2) Book the Interrail pass from Oslo to Flam, then separately book a mini Norway in a Nutshell (Flam-Gundhaven-Voss) and an Interrail pass from Voss to Oslo?

I've heard that Voss to Bergen is the least exciting part of the tour.

Thanks,

Andrew

wintersp

I did the NIN and spent the night in Flam before returning to Oslo. So I can't speak to whether the Voss to Bergen was the least exciting. Why do you say sleep on the train? Why wouldn't you sleep in Bergen and return to Oslo? Is this in the interest of saving time?

I do regret not going all the way to Bergen - but time matters and sometimes one has to make choices.

These are some of my very favorite cities. Enjoy your trip.

Michael

Unless you plan to visit Bergen itself, which you cannot do at the end of the NIN trip but only the following day, see if you can get a RT back to Oslo. Yes, the Voss to Bergen part of the trip is the least interesting.

dyoll

You could take the sleeper train to Bergen - since you'll be backtracking later it doesn't matter that you won't see any scenery. A sleeping compartment (not available Saturday night) costs NOK 850 for up to two persons in addition to the tickets (you don't share with strangers) - cheaper than a hotel!
Take the NiN from Bergen (there's enough time to transfer - leave baggage in Oslo hotel and travel light). Book Oslo-Bergen and Flåm-Oslo trains early to get minipris discount. Not necessary to book rest of the journey as it's by public transport, so just pay as you go. Direction Bergen-Oslo means that you can snooze last part on the long train journey after you've passed the best of the scenery.
Forget Interrail - you still have to pay to reserve a seat and the minipris is cheaper.

dulciusexasperis

What is your reason for doing this? I mean, what do you want to do, just look out of a train window?

I can't imagine visiting Norway and not visiting Bergen for at least a couple of days. If you don't have time to do that then spend the time IN Oslo, not waste a day sitting on a train looking through glass.

hellosun

I am arriving in Oslo 2 pm, and was planning on doing NiN the following morning.

@dyloll:

Are you recommending that I first take train direct from Oslo to Bergen (bypassing Flam) and then book minipris for Bergen to Voss, Flam to Oslo, and separately book the Flam railway and cruise? I am nervous about missing a connection and throwing the entire itinerary off, especially in April, when there may be less frequent trains/boats

Michael

We did the NIN on our way to Bergen. I see no reason to go to Bergen and then do the NIN separately, and, in my opinion, the changing scenery between Oslo and Myrdal is more interesting than the scenery between Voss and Oslo.

And of course, the NIN does allow a view of the fjords that is more than looking through a train window.

dyoll

hellosun - I am suggesting that you take the night train (sleeper) leaves Oslo 23:23 but you can board earlier - book this with minipris and book a sleeping compartment (if you want). Arriving Bergen 06:51 in time for NiN connection. There is no need to worry about the connections - if for some reason there is a major delay on the train then you could get off in Voss - but no reason to do that otherwise - nothing to do in Voss that early in the morning!.

There is only one connecting NiN route in April. 08:30 train from Bergen connects with bus in Voss and ferry in Gudvangen. You need to book the 16:05 train from Flåm connecting with the NSB 17:55 train at Myrdal arriving Oslo 22:45. Bergen to Flåm NiN is by public transport - no booking available, just pay as you go on train-bus-ferry. There is no minipris to Voss. Booking Flåm-Oslo will get you minipris for Myrdal-Oslo (no minipris for Flåm rail).
http://www.norwaynutshell.com/en/explore-the-fjords/
Personally I would try and spend a day or two in Bergen, but if you don't have the time?

dulciusexasperis

Michael, I would suggest if you want a view of the fjords, you get in a sailboat and sail in the fjords.

I'm reminded that the average visitor to the Grand Canyon spends something like 12 minutes actually at the rim of the canyon taking the obligatory photos.

Then off home to say, 'been there, done that'. Or in this case, 'Yup, I've been to the Norwegian fjords, they're fantastic'.

Michael

<i>I would suggest if you want a view of the fjords, you get in a sailboat and sail in the fjords.</i>

I did see them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/4214156493/

dulciusexasperis

That's fine Michael but there is seeing and there is seeing isn't there. People 'see' the Grand Canyon in 12 minutes too.

Let's separate them by using 'seeing' and 'doing'. Here is doing the fjords: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtbawiHPJLc

Yah gotta get down ON the water for a week or more and experience them. The same with the Grand Canyon, to 'do' it yah gotta walk IN the Canyon for a week or so.

No offense intended Michael, I'm must not a fan of the fast food approach to travel. You can't see the fjords in a few hours or minutes any more than you can see Rome in a few hours.

Michael

dulciusexasperis,

and your mode of travel does not apply to the OP's schedule.

lauren_s_kahn

What I did when I did the Norway in a nutshell was to start in Bergen. I then went through the fiord by boat, Flam and then the train. It takes an entire day one way. Unless you are also staying in Bergen, it won't work as a day trip from Oslo unless you just take the train to Flam (the lest interesting part of the journey).

historytraveler

Actually the route from Flam/Myrdal to Oslo is the most scenic.

Please note that NIN is only a ticket vender. They have a list of itineraries from which to select and they provide the tickets for that route. Usually one picks up their NIN tickets at the rail station.You can buy tickets on your own for the same itineraries or create your own to be more flexible. If you purchase the minipris you can actually save money. Bus tickets can be bought on the bus and you can ride any of the buses marked NIN. I believe you can also get your ticket for ferry when boarding. I prebooked mine but could board which ever ferry schedule was the most convenient. I looked at NIN but their itineraries did not give me the flexibility I wanted, so I did the trip on my own including a day/night in Balestrad.

The most popular itinerary NIN itinerary is the following.


Oslo/Myrdal/Flam ( the famous Flamsbana)then ferry to Gudvengan, bus to Voss ( the most scenic route goes via Stalheim) Voss/ Bergen.

Or the reverse, starting in Bergen.

dyoll has given you some very good information.

Michael

A RT from Oslo is listed on the NIN site, it lasts 16 hours. But the way back repeats the way out, so one can nap.

pittsburgh

We did the same cities as you. What we did was:
- Started in Copenhagen
- Ferry to Oslo
- NIN to Bergen
- Spent a couple days in bergen which was definitely worth it.
- Flew to Stockholm from Bergen (Finnair non-stop).

lauren_s_kahn

I was thinking of the boat journey through the fiord connecting with the train as being the most scenic part of the journey. The train leg to Oslo is interesting--especially the scenery around Finse--but, for me, the "guts" of the experience was the fiord. It was pouring rain when I took the Flam railroad, so that did not turn out to be so interesting, but that is the way it goes. You cannot guarantee the weather on a holiday. Had nice weather for the boat though.

I would never recommend doing this back and forth in a day.

dulciusexasperis

"and your mode of travel does not apply to the OP's schedule."

I agree 100% Michael. What I am suggesting is that the problem is with the OP's schedule. It is simply not enough time and so I suggested spending the time in Oslo.

The real issue is the same old same old, 'to see/do as much as possible' that so many people have in their mind. But they confuse the word 'many' with the word 'much'. The way to see/do as much as possible is to spend your time IN places, not in between places.

So if you have only 3 days in Norway for example, spend 3 days in Oslo and you at least have a chance of seeing some of Oslo. Spending one day in each of 3 places only results in not seeing much of anywhere. That is the 'fast food' approach to travel I am talking about.

I would love to hear just how much time the OP has for visiting Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm which is mentioned to begin with as well as this jaunt by train.

I unabashedly advocate 'slow travel' and will always attempt to convince people who want to take the 'fast food' approach to travel that it is their choice but the wrong choice. They are actually getting LESS out of their time in reality.

lauren_s_kahn

Slow travel is excellent advice, but, alas, many think they have to "do it all" in not too much time. To each his own.

With my trips based on home exchanges, I am a very slow traveler.

Michael

<i>So if you have only 3 days in Norway for example, spend 3 days in Oslo and you at least have a chance of seeing some of Oslo.</i>

I try to avoid imposing my preferences on others. If someone wants to see the fjords during that three day stay in Oslo, the Norway-in-a-Nutshell package as a round trip back to Oslo makes sense. It's 16 hours long but you come back to the same hotel room, don't need to drag suitcases, and the mainline train is comfortable enough for napping on the return trip.

As for Oslo, even two days will give a sense of it. Some people do not spend more than three days in Paris, which, in my opinion, deserves more me than Oslo.