NiN from Bergen - Reservations
Jun 2nd, 2016, 09:00 AM
#1
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NiN from Bergen - Reservations
Hi, We're going to follow the Nutshell route from Bergen to Oslo. We have our seats reserved from Flam to Myrdal to Oslo (the final leg), and were told it's less crucial to have reservations for the other legs (Bergen to Voss to Gudvangen to Flam).
Of course, I'd prefer to have tickets for peace of mind. I went onto the Norway rail site and see that the 8:43am local train from Bergen to Voss does not accept reservations ("app, travel card, or vending maching" only), but the earlier 7:57am one does.
Does anyone have advice about reserving this (or not)?
And how would you recommend one handles reserving for the Voss to Gudvangen bus (9:56am?) and the Gudvangen to Flam Fjord 1 Ferry (11:20am?)?
Thank you for any advice or links you can share!
Aron
Of course, I'd prefer to have tickets for peace of mind. I went onto the Norway rail site and see that the 8:43am local train from Bergen to Voss does not accept reservations ("app, travel card, or vending maching" only), but the earlier 7:57am one does.
Does anyone have advice about reserving this (or not)?
And how would you recommend one handles reserving for the Voss to Gudvangen bus (9:56am?) and the Gudvangen to Flam Fjord 1 Ferry (11:20am?)?
Thank you for any advice or links you can share!
Aron
Jun 2nd, 2016, 11:41 AM
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I took the same train last week.
Bergen-Voss:
You cannot reserve the 8:43am train because it is just a commuter train where the train goes to Voss and the front half continues onto Myrdal. They open the gate at Bergen station to let people on about 30 min before departure. If you want forward facing seats, they were all taken by 8:20am. The left side offers slightly better view because the train runs on the right side of a fjord.
Voss-Gudvangen:
These are free seats first come first served. There were several buses with display at front "950 Gudvangen, Norway in Nutshell". The left side would offer better view especially going down Stalheim winding road.
Gudvange-Flam ferry:
If you want view of both sides, the top deck and back of lower deck. If you don't mind being indoors, the best seats are one of the 5 front tables in the cafe. Just buy something and stay at the front of the cafe the entire trip.
Flam-Myrdal:
I don't think it is possible to reserve. It was free seating. I would recommend a seat where you can open window if you want to take pictures. Less than half of windows can be opened.
Myrdal-Oslo:
The right side (south facing) is hands down the better side to sit.
Bergen-Voss:
You cannot reserve the 8:43am train because it is just a commuter train where the train goes to Voss and the front half continues onto Myrdal. They open the gate at Bergen station to let people on about 30 min before departure. If you want forward facing seats, they were all taken by 8:20am. The left side offers slightly better view because the train runs on the right side of a fjord.
Voss-Gudvangen:
These are free seats first come first served. There were several buses with display at front "950 Gudvangen, Norway in Nutshell". The left side would offer better view especially going down Stalheim winding road.
Gudvange-Flam ferry:
If you want view of both sides, the top deck and back of lower deck. If you don't mind being indoors, the best seats are one of the 5 front tables in the cafe. Just buy something and stay at the front of the cafe the entire trip.
Flam-Myrdal:
I don't think it is possible to reserve. It was free seating. I would recommend a seat where you can open window if you want to take pictures. Less than half of windows can be opened.
Myrdal-Oslo:
The right side (south facing) is hands down the better side to sit.
Jun 2nd, 2016, 01:01 PM
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The layover at Flam is over 2 hours. If you are traveling with luggage, there is a tiny shack that can hold your luggage. It is often unattended. You push a button and someone would come to take you money and luggage and give you a claim ticket.
The train boarding process at Flam requires commenting. The Flam-Myrdal train is a quite long composition. The seating is 3 on one side and 2 on other. Most seats face each other and are spring loaded like movie theatre seats. They train comes into track 4, but you don't wait there. About perhaps 20-25 min or so before loading, they open up about first third of track 5. That is where you wait. Then the train comes into track 4. You wait until everyone is off the train. Then they open the chain between track 4 and track 5, so people can cross over to track 4. You can then move towards forward of the train to find empty cars if you were waiting at the head of the queue on track 5.
However, you might now want to be at the first car. The train makes one 5 minutes stop at spectacular Kjosfossen fall. About 2-3 cars or so in the middle, I thought cars 3,4 stop in the outdoor section of the platform right in front of the fall. The front most 2 and the tail end of the train stop in tunnel. If you are at the extreme ends of the train, it takes some time to get to the fall. You will get sprayed by the waterfall and the boardwalk is somewhat slippery. Also, the train stops while making a right turn and you get off to the left, that means the step up to the train is especially high.
Also think about how you get dinner between Myrdal and Oslo. You can buy food on the train. Myrdal has a tiny store and a restaurant in a tiny station. Flam has many shops.
The train boarding process at Flam requires commenting. The Flam-Myrdal train is a quite long composition. The seating is 3 on one side and 2 on other. Most seats face each other and are spring loaded like movie theatre seats. They train comes into track 4, but you don't wait there. About perhaps 20-25 min or so before loading, they open up about first third of track 5. That is where you wait. Then the train comes into track 4. You wait until everyone is off the train. Then they open the chain between track 4 and track 5, so people can cross over to track 4. You can then move towards forward of the train to find empty cars if you were waiting at the head of the queue on track 5.
However, you might now want to be at the first car. The train makes one 5 minutes stop at spectacular Kjosfossen fall. About 2-3 cars or so in the middle, I thought cars 3,4 stop in the outdoor section of the platform right in front of the fall. The front most 2 and the tail end of the train stop in tunnel. If you are at the extreme ends of the train, it takes some time to get to the fall. You will get sprayed by the waterfall and the boardwalk is somewhat slippery. Also, the train stops while making a right turn and you get off to the left, that means the step up to the train is especially high.
Also think about how you get dinner between Myrdal and Oslo. You can buy food on the train. Myrdal has a tiny store and a restaurant in a tiny station. Flam has many shops.
Jun 2nd, 2016, 02:32 PM
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Book the ferry tickets here - https://www.visitflam.com/en/se-og-g...royfjord-2016/
You should follow the Norway in a Nutshell timetable to get the right connections.
At Flåm rail you are divided up into groups according to your ticket and led to the right carriage - you don't get much choice, and there is plenty of time at Kjosfossen to get off the train.
You should follow the Norway in a Nutshell timetable to get the right connections.
At Flåm rail you are divided up into groups according to your ticket and led to the right carriage - you don't get much choice, and there is plenty of time at Kjosfossen to get off the train.
Jun 3rd, 2016, 08:40 AM
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There has been a huge increase in tourism, especially this year and NiN has become much more organised. Some of the ferries are reserved months in advance for those buying the NiN pass. Also the Flåm rail is often sold out. I wouldn't try winging it in high season (mid-June to mid-September). Did it yesterday and there were 4 bus loads from Voss to Gudvangen - 150+, can't imagine what it will be like July/August.
Mar 10th, 2017, 08:08 PM
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Hello All,
My husband and I are doing NIN from Bergen to Oslo on May 30th, 2017. Dyoll mentioned a NiN pass. Where can we buy these? Are they much more expensive than buying the tickets for individual legs?
Thank you for the details above. I am printing them to be our guide while navigating the transfers.
My husband and I are doing NIN from Bergen to Oslo on May 30th, 2017. Dyoll mentioned a NiN pass. Where can we buy these? Are they much more expensive than buying the tickets for individual legs?
Thank you for the details above. I am printing them to be our guide while navigating the transfers.
Mar 11th, 2017, 06:38 AM
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NiN pass you buy from the tourist office in Oslo or Bergen, or from the railway company NSB. However in mid-season you would need to book well ahead at https://www.norwaynutshell.com/
Off season it is cheaper to buy the legs individually if you do it 90 days in advance as you can get minipris non-refundable rail tickets, while the pass includes full price rail tickets. In high season the ferry is fully booked for pass passengers and the cheapest minipris tickets aren't available, so diy not possible and little saving anyway.
I would count end-of-May as shoulder season - should be possible to save by diy or buy the pass the day before - but who knows. Make sure both ferry and train is available before booking. For a day trip you need to follow the NiN timetable - there are no alternative through connections.
Off season it is cheaper to buy the legs individually if you do it 90 days in advance as you can get minipris non-refundable rail tickets, while the pass includes full price rail tickets. In high season the ferry is fully booked for pass passengers and the cheapest minipris tickets aren't available, so diy not possible and little saving anyway.
I would count end-of-May as shoulder season - should be possible to save by diy or buy the pass the day before - but who knows. Make sure both ferry and train is available before booking. For a day trip you need to follow the NiN timetable - there are no alternative through connections.
