Bergen vs. Flam Railway

Old Mar 13th, 2015, 02:13 PM
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Bergen vs. Flam Railway

Hi everyone,

In June I will be traveling to Norway for a cruise. I'm currently researching activities to do in each port but am torn/stuck on what to do in Bergen. I've heard that it's one of Norway's and even Europe's prettiest cities and I've definitely found a lot of stuff that piques my interest there (Grieg's house, Mount Fløien, walk the medieval waterfront). But one of the cruise's port excursions features the Flam railway (along with plenty of other stops along the way). My hesitancy with the Flam excursion is that it's an all day affair so there would obviously be no time to explore Bergen. I've never been to Norway before and I have no doubt that all of it is beautiful and spectacular, I just don't want to feel like I missed out on a once in a lifetime outing (riding the railway). Both my h and I love scenic train rides (the train to Machu Picchu was a highlight of our trip to Peru last year) and know we'd love the Flam one too.

Any thoughts or opinions on this very first world problem would be most appreciated

Thanks in advance.
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Old Mar 13th, 2015, 02:23 PM
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Are you sure the extra optional excursion does not includ a ride on what is called Norway's most beautiful fjord (the usual goes by train from Bergen to Myrdhal - hop on the Flam Railway which includes a stop at a roaring waterfall en route - a relatively short ride to the fjord at Flam - all called the Norway in a Nutshell excursion.

At Flam you should take a boat on the fjord to Gudvagen for a thrilling mountain bus ride to Voss where you catch the train back to Bergen.

It's called Norway in a Nutshell and is one of the most awesome incredibly awesome things I have ever done in decades of European travel - and you can easily do it on your own - they sell a Norway in a Nutshell ticket in Bergen's train station for all the components - no reservations needed.

Thus I would not go for just the Flam rail ride if that is the excursion but I would do the Norway In a Nutshell excursion for sure it it were me.

some sites that have things about the Norway in a Nutshell Excursion:
http://www.visitnorway.com/us/gettin...n-a-nutshell-/ and www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Now I am not sure what kind of fjord travels your cruise may entail but if none then this is a trip - the Flam mountain railway, the fjord ride and the mountain bus ride are all cool.
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Old Mar 13th, 2015, 02:36 PM
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Thanks for your reply and I apologize for not including everything the excursion covered-but based on what you just listed, it seems that the excursion is the Norway in a Nutshell tour that you mentioned (I see everything from Myrdal to Gudvangen to Tvinde Waterfall listed on the cruise port excursion description).

We will have the chance to see some other fjords-Lysefjord and also in the Geiranger area.

I am so torn though. It all sounds incredible.
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Old Mar 13th, 2015, 02:38 PM
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If the cruise will take you into fjords such as the Geiranger fjord, I would skip the Flam excursion and visit Bergen.
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Old Mar 13th, 2015, 04:53 PM
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ditto for me...the usual coastal voyages take you deep into Geiranger after a stop in beautiful Alesund...and then comes back to Alesund for a short time...you'll be seeing plenty of one of Norway's bigggest and most scenic fjords, Yes, skip Flam ..time in Bergen...Grieg's home is a kick, staved churhes along the way, the waterfront ((Bryggen), fish market for a delicious seafood lunch at stateside prices..no kidding...local bus ride from Bergen station to Grieg's Troldhaugen (see pics below)..The take Floibannen for classic views of Bergen.


I'll give you some additional tips after I post the pics. I also recommened if your cruise has an option (Hurtigruten does) excursion to see the Svarteisen (Black Ice Glacier)...we loved that.
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Old Mar 13th, 2015, 05:20 PM
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https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...uHk6iIgbSEgAE#

Library chick:

see 'em all or scroll down to see Bergen, Geiranger, Alesund, Flam, Bergen, Trondheim, Bodo, Lofotens and Narvik to Tromso. We mde a reservation as "local travelers"...stayed on the Hurtigruten Bergen to Trondheim..then eebted a car in Bodo and went off on our own to the Lofotens and northward to Tromso.
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Old Mar 13th, 2015, 05:23 PM
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that should be "rented a car"...aging eyes!
we did about a month in Norway, then took the overnight sleeper trsin from Narvik to Stockholm (19 hours).
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Old Mar 14th, 2015, 08:06 AM
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Yes if your cruise will go into a fjord you may well want to explore Bergen - a lovely old Hanseatic Port. A museum several kms south of town has the remains on display of a pre-historic Bogman.
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Old Mar 14th, 2015, 03:04 PM
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Well, don't know about your tour route and time factor...some years ago we were with Grand Circle from Helsinki to Copenhagen to Oslo and Stockholm and back. I will say that Norway in a Nutshell including some fjord cruising was very nice and Bergen one of my favorite cities. I could say more about what to enjoy there.
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Old Mar 16th, 2015, 01:30 AM
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Tours from cruises often don't have time for the Nærøyfjord ferry ride. If it's bus ride from Flåm then you're missing it. But if the cruise is visiting Geiranger then you'll get to see magnificent fjord scenery anyway. Choice is a day travelling through magnificent scenery seen through bus/train windows or a day at ease in Bergen.
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Old Mar 16th, 2015, 06:36 AM
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Choice is a day travelling through magnificent scenery seen through bus/train windows or a day at ease in Bergen>

If the cruise did not go into fjords then the Nutshell day would for most be tyhe obvious choice - but since the cruise does than yes bop around Bergen and its neat wooden architecture.
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