As some of you have read from my other posts, I am throwing together a last minute trip to Europe for our 25th wedding anniversary. We are going to spend a few days in Copehagen before flying to Norway for five days and then fly to Belgium for six plus days. I booked my open jaw flights. I just need to arrange my middle trip flights.

My plan is fly from Copenhagen to Norway the afternoon of 9/1/2010. I want to take the Nutshell tour but I am not particularly interested in Olso. I can fly to Oslo for $56 each or fly directly to Bergen for $73. By flying directly into Bergen, I save a day on whatever rail pass I purchase plus the time. I am a natural landscape type of guy and less of a museum type. My first question is do I miss any substantial landscape views by flying directly to Bergen enough to justify flying into Oslo?

Second, I will be in Norway from the afternoon of 9/1 to the afternoon of 9/6. I think I want to stay some nights in possibly Bergen, Flam, Balestrand but am open to other locations instead. What would you recommend as my best itinary with the five days in Norway? I may rent a car part of the time or take train, depending on itinaries suggested.

Third, what town destination do you recommend for my departure flight from Norway on my flight to Brussels? On a few cities I checked, SAS was going to charge me the same rate, so I have flexibility in that regard.

Thank you guys in advance.

Another idea - perhaps you could go to Stavanager from Copenhagen. There is short fjord trip out of Stavanger - it returns to Stavanger. Then you could take the ferry - not a large ferry around the coast to Bergen. I thoroughly enjoyed that ride to Bergen - the scenery is beautiful.

The last time I flew into Oslo, there was a local train and an express train into Oslo from the airport. The local train cost half the price of the express train and was only a few minutes slower. We were happy with the local train.

Thank you Brat, do you remember about how long that ferry took from Stavanger to Bergen?

The pictures I saw of Geiranger and Andalsnes sure look pretty as well.

Arvin, are you around? The other day when I considered driving to Norway from Copenhagen, you suggested entering by ferry from the south and touring that region. Now that I will be flying and know I plan to spend only five days, do you suggestions to my questions please? Thanks.

Anyone?

Bugler The ferry leaves from Hirshals Denmark and it takes 11 hours and 30 minutes to Stavanger. You can search online and get all the correct info.

http://www.dfdsseaways.com/copenhagen_oslo/co There is an overnight ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo. Saves a hotel room for the night.

I never took the ferry from Denmark to Stavanger. We actually went by train from Oslo to Stavanger. Beautiful scenery. Then from Stavanger by Ferry to Bergen. Then Norway in a Nutshell to Oslo.

The first trip we went from Oslo to Bergan and back to Oslo. It is a trip you don't want to miss.

If you have 5 days, it would make sense to take an overnight ferry and save a day of traveling.

Hi Brat.

I am sorry I was not more clear. My question was referring to the ferry from Stavanger to Bergen.

I've only done the Oslo-Myrdal-Flam part of the train trip, so I can't say if the Voss-Bergen part is different. I can tell you the trip out of Oslo follows a river valley with forests, up onto the plateau where the landscape is more stark, tundra with small lakes, a glacier in view before arriving at Myrdal.

There are many posts on the board with different itineraries people have taken. We enjoyed our overnights in Flam as a base, but other places are great too. Especially if you have a car. Traveling by ferry, bus, and train were great, but limiting in terms of schedule.

Thank you Kay.

Bugler, as you did not want to do the journey I suggested, I figured I had to do it myself I've traveled from Kristiansand, up the Setesdal, via Røldal, Odda and Vøringfossen, before tonight arriving at Ulvik in Hardanger. I am writing this while looking out over the Hardangerfjord from my hotel room balcony. And what a view! I can highly recommend Ulvik and the Rica Brakanes hotel. Actually, I strongly recommend the entire journey I have traveled.

I am sure you have progressed further in your planning from where you was when posting your message above. I have not yet been to Balestrand, so can't really comment on that part of the Sognefjord.

Hi Arvin.

Yep, I was worried about time constraints and I am now not planning of renting a car out of Denmark, so I am flying directly into Oslo. I really did not want to go to Oslo, but folks said I needed to see the view as into Flam.

After spending the night in Balestrand, I will catch the morning boat to Bergen which should arrive before the noon hour. I am still wanting to see the southwest Norway which I why I am now here to search the Stavanger area. I might take a rental car from Bergen to that area and spend a night or two to give me more flexibility and then back to Bergen for a final night.

I will do a search for the locations you mentioned. I made a mistake in booking my flight out of Bergen to Belgium. If I had had more time to plan correctly, I would have flown out of Stavanger.

Nice to hear you are enjoying your trip. Thank you again.