Help with "Norway in a Nutshell"
 

Planning a fjord tour is more complicated than I anticipated. I have looked over different threads and internet sites but am still perplexed. With only a total of 16 nights for all of Scandinavia I sadly can’t commit too many nights to this part of our tour. I would like to spend at least 2 nights in Bergen.

One option is to fly into Bergen and do the Norway in a Nutshell from Bergen to Oslo. This would be the most efficient use of time.

The other option is to take a round trip “ Sognefjord in a Nutshell” from Bergen/Bergen with perhaps an overnight in Lavik, Balestrand, Aurland or Flam. This Sognefjord tour seems to cover more area than the Bergen to Oslo tour. I would then fly onto Olso perhaps as a stopover in a Bergen to Miami flight. Any suggestions?

We like nature, easy hiking, quant villages and mountains (we live in pancake flat Miami).

If all of the 16 nights are to be spent in Norway, I do not see any problems. You might want to look at my trip report. Just click on my name to find it.

We did the entire Norway in a Nutshell from Bergen to Bergen, that way we didn't have to worry about carting luggage around. We booked it the day prior at the Tourist Info centre.

We had a wonderful day, it was well worth it. When we arrived in Flam we took off and walked as far as we could in the time allowed, it was good to stretch our legs. Most people just opted to hang around the main area around the station. Best wishes for a great holiday.

Michael, thank you for the trip report, it is very helpful. Im afraid we would like to cover Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo in those 16 nights. So we do not have alot of time for the "nutshell" tours.
Maudie, would you recommend staying overnight at one of the tour stops?

I can't answer that I'm sorry as we stayed in Bergen, but I really don't see the point. Maybe your best bet would be to do the Bergen to Oslo day trip. That way you will get to do the entire trip and also it gets you from A to B. Just be aware that the train from Flam to Oslo will need a booking as the seats are reserved. You can do this as we did at the TI office.

I didn't stay overnight along the Nutshell trip, but in the past people have recommended staying overnight at the Stalheim hotel. There's a bus that takes you up (and down) during the trip.

I went from Oslo to Bergen and I think it's fine to do this without an overnight.

You mention that you enjoy hiking. Keep in mind that on the daytrips there won't be time for any hiking. We did the Norway in a Nutshell trip (one way from Oslo to Bergen) and you're traveling the whole time. That said, it is a FABULOUS trip. So very beautiful. I'm envious; we loved Scandinavia! Stockholm is a gorgeous city. Don't miss the Vasa ship in Stockholm, and also Frogner Park in Oslo.

When I go to the Nutshell site they map the Sognefjord tour ($150 pp) as a large loop, it seems to cover more territory than the more “linear” Bergen to Oslo tour ($200pp).

Does it make more financial and “use of time” sense to take the Bergen loop and then fly later to Oslo ($70 pp)? Taking the Sognefjord tour also allows for the mentioned overnight in one of the fjord towns.

Also, I have read a lot about Alesund, a town north of Bergen. It seems to be loaded with Art Nouveau building due to a fire at the beginning of the century. Am I trying to see too much? (one of my worse trip planning flaws!)

Alesund is a nice town, but does not require more than a half day visit, and that makes it a long way from Bergen. Moreover, northern Art Nouveau is more severe than its French, Belgian or Spanish equivalent. Don't expect the swirls of Horta in Alesund. You might want to check out my pictures attached to my trip report.

Michael I am currently getting this message on your website

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Anyway, would you recommend the Sognefjord round trip with a possible overnight in a fjord town or just the Bergen-Oslo nutshell? Alesund seems to be out of the question and I was also thinking of the Art Nouveau style found in the south.

We did a Norway-Denmark-Sweden trip a couple of years ago. We did the Bergen-Oslo (Nutshell) trip. and it does accomplish moving you along on your way. The only way you can decide if you want to give more time to the fjords would be to sketch out how many days and nights you want for the other places. Then if you have plenty of time to do everything else, you could add a night stopover somewhere in the fjords. I didn't think we had enough time for it, but perhaps you do. JMHO for what its worth.

We have done the Norway in a Nutshell Oslo-Bergen-Oslo. Also, we have done the Golden Triangle. That is by train from Oslo to Stavanger. We took a fjord trip from Stavanger. From Stavanger we took the ferry to Bergen - stayed in Bergen a couple of nights. Took the Nutshell trip to Oslo - this time staying overnight on the fjord.

We found interesting things to see and do in Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger.

We also on our trips visit our relatives and the farms of our great-grandparents. Norway is beautiful wherever you go.

Upon further study I have found that Geirangerford is actually regarded as the most spectacular fjord. I am surprised that no one has mentioned it so far in this thread. Is it just harder to get to? I see that you can catch a plane to Alesund and perhaps take a cruise or rent a car. Anyone have experience with this location?