isemida

We will be spending 8 days in Norway, flying in and out of Oslo. We want to see Oslo, Bergen, Alesund and Geraingerfjord. We are not doing Norway in a Nutshell (because we want to take our time rather than rushing through all of the destinations in two days), but we do plan to use public transportation to get around.

So far, I figure that we'll spend two days in Oslo (arrive in the afternoon and then one full day). The next day, we will take the train to Bergen - I understand it's supposed to be a very scenic train ride. Spend the day in Bergen, and set out the next day.

My question is: where do we go from there? Is there an easy way to get to Geiranger and take a fjord cruise from there and then on to Alesund? Or should we go straight to Alesund and see the fjord via a day cruise from there? Are there scenic routes we can take between these destinations by train or bus or ferry?

Also, is there any way to fit in the famous Flam railway, either on the way to Alesund or on the way back to Oslo?

hetismij2

Have you considered taking the Hurtigruten from Bergen to Alesund? That goes into Geraingerfjord in the summer.

You could then fly back to Oslo from Alesund.

isemida

Hurtigruten is all booked. I guess 1.5 months out is not enough time to book the Hurtigruten

historytraveler

Do you realize that the train from Oslo to Bergen generally takes 7 hours or more, leaving you only a half day in Bergen at best.

Michael

<i>We are not doing Norway in a Nutshell (because we want to take our time rather than rushing through all of the destinations in two days), but we do plan to use public transportation to get around. </i>

You won't have the time to take your time, especially if you take public transportation. You will have to live by their schedule, be it train or bus.

Marija

Public transportation is great in Norway. Buses, ferries and trains all wait for one another. We went by public transportation from Oslo to Bergen (spectacular ride across the spine of Norway), spent two nights in Bergen. From Bergen we took a bus and ferry to Ulvik on the Hardangerfjord and spent the night at Brakanes. The next morning we took a bus to Voss and then the tram to Flam and the ferry down the Naerofjord (gorgeous!) . After a night at the Stalheim Hotel we took a bus and ferry to Balestrand on the Sognefjord, where we spent another night. From Balestrand we returned to Bergen. All done by public transportation without any problems or waste of time.

isemida

<i>Do you realize that the train from Oslo to Bergen generally takes 7 hours or more, leaving you only a half day in Bergen at best. </i> Yes. I know Bergen is a really pretty town, but our priority is seeing nature, and we particularly want to see Geirangerfjord.

<i>You won't have the time to take your time, especially if you take public transportation. You will have to live by their schedule, be it train or bus.</i> Maybe I didn't express myself well. My point is that we want a 7-day itinerary, whereas Norway in a Nutshell is a 2-day itinerary. Obviously we'd still have to travel a lot and be cognizant of bus/train schedules, but 7 days is a much more relaxed pace than 2 days.

Michael

<i>whereas Norway in a Nutshell is a 2-day itinerary. </i>

We did it in one day.

Michael

<i>whereas Norway in a Nutshell is a 2-day itinerary. </i>

We did it in one day. I might add that there is nothing rushed about the transfers. 15 minutes in Myrdal which consists of crossing the platform, more than an hour in Flam--enough time for a small lunch, etc.

menachem

NIN is all available public transport anyway, so you can take as long as you like. But public transport in Norway is excellent and gets you everywhere.

http://eng.tide.no/Default.aspx?pageid=1038

For instance: Fjordekspressen from Bergen to Ålesund, or Sognebussen 450 Bergen - Sogndal. From Sogndal the Glacier bus gets you to Nigardsbreen.

Sogndal - Hellesylt by bus is also possible: a beautiful ferry ride will get you to Geiranger, through the Geiranger Fjord and there's a bus from Geiranger to Ålesund. In every Hurtigruten port it's possible to book tickets to other Hurtigruten ports: you won't have a cabin, and you'll have to use the cafeteria. Along the coast, Hurtigruten is just another way to go from port to port, it's not a cruise.

Prepare for long rides though: distances in Norway are considerable, so pick one choice destination and take your time to get there and get back to Oslo. Domestic flights in Norway are also plenty, so consider that as an option too.

surfmom

We did a variation. Our original flights took us into Bergen - and we rented a car there. We spent time working our way to Oslo on our schedule. We did like having the flexibility of a car and found that driving wasn't bad. I know it wasn't what you suggested, but since your original plan has been changed, it might be worth a consideration.

amy_torres_sd

We took the Hurtigruten south from the Lofoten Islands, all the way to Bergen, then drove our brand-new Volvo from Bergen to Oslo in one day. I don't recommend that journey though. Most stops on the Hurtigruten are not for very long; just enough time for people and packages to disembark, etc. Alesund looked beautiful but we were there early in the morning and for probably less than 30 minutes. (I don't remember off the top of my head.)

If you haven't already booked your tickets, consider flying to Bergen, seeing the local sights, then taking the Norway in a Nutshell tour to Oslo. We liked Bergen a lot and wished for more time there.

amy_torres_sd

Let me clarify my previous post... I don't recommend the Hurtigruten for seeing Alesund. The trip itself was spectacular, but there was no flexibility. It was a wonderful way to see the coastline of Norway but I'd have liked to have stopped for longer in the towns we visited.

Michael

Looking again at your original post: You might want to read my trip report; click on my name to find it. We drove from Bergen to Trondheim in 5 days, going via Geirangerfjord and Alesund. So it is doable within your time frame.

historytraveler

I did not use NIN. I did all the transportation ( tickets and/or reservations)myself which is easy to do once you have the websites for trains, ferries and the bus schedules. I disembarked from a National Geographic expedition in Bergen and spent a full day there. I then traveled to Balestrand via ferry and did the tour ( ferry & bus) up to Mundal and visited the Ice Museum and the glacier traveling back to Balestrand for the evening. The next day I took the ferry to Flam and then the ferry along the Naeroyfjord to Gudvangen. From Gudvangen I took the bus to Stalheim where I spent the night. Late the next morning I took the bus back to Flam for the night and the following morning, the Flamsbana to Myrdal then the train to Oslo arriving early evening. I spent a full day in Oslo. The trip took six days, and I had an excellent experience.Wouldn't change a thing. Just an example of what you can do in your time allotment. I think it would be best to break your trip from Oslo to Bergen as I did in reverse.