Well, we visited 5 countries last year in 13 days, so I'm okay with moving fast and so is he. ;) We get in early on the first day and leave late on the last day, so I'm counting those as sorta days. The actual travel to and from the next destination is part of the enjoyment of the trip for us. My son likes to keep a running tally in his head of all the places and types of transportation he's experienced.

I'm just trying to figure out the best logistics for making this big triangle work. I think I'm going to have to do a flight in there at some point just to speed up the process, but I'd really prefer not to. I like trains and boats.

Current ponderings --

Day Night
Friday Arrive Stockholm AM Stockholm
Saturday Stockholm Stockholm
Sunday Stockholm Stockholm
Monday Train to Oslo Oslo
Tuesday Oslo Oslo
Wednesday Train to Bergen Bergen
Thursday Fjord/NiN?/Etc. Bergen
Friday Fly early to Copenhagen Copenhagen
Saturday Copenhagen Copenhagen
Sunday Depart Copenhagen PM

Day Night
Friday Arrive Stockholm AM Stockholm
Saturday Stockholm Stockholm
Sunday Stockholm/Fly to Bergen Bergen
Monday Fjord/NiN?/Etc. Bergen
Tuesday Train to Oslo Oslo
Wednesday Oslo Oslo
Thursday Oslo Overnight Ferry
Friday Copenhagen Copenhagen
Saturday Copenhagen Copenhagen
Sunday Depart Copenhagen PM

Thoughts?

For option 1 - Wednesday do Norway in a Nutshell on your way from Oslo to Bergen - will save you a day. Then you can spend Thursday in Bergen.
Same for option 2 - do NiN between Bergen and Oslo giving you a day in Bergen.
Book the train between Oslo and Myrdal in advance to save with non-changeable minipris tickets - https://www.nsb.no/en/
Follow the NiN timetable to ensure connections - http://www.norwaynutshell.com/
But buying the pass costs more as they include only full price rail tickets.

But you have to take your baggage on buses, boats the way dyoll suggests (not a bad suggestion) but to me that it too hurried - try to if possible do the NIN as a more leisurely day trip from Bergen.

If in a rush there are I believe still overnight trains running between Bergan and Oslo and v.v.

<i> but to me that it too hurried </i>

When we did it, there was plenty of transfer time--sometimes too much. Nothing hurried about the transfer with the exception of the ferry to bus, and that was because it was not well explained. To go from Oslo to Bergen without doing the NIN loop and then do it separately from Bergen is, in my mind, a waste of one day traveling and an unnecessary added expenditure.

@dyoll - Yes, that's what I was thinking, but didn't articulate well. Was planning on doing part/most of the NiN on the train travel day between Oslo/Bergen.

@palenq - Good point about the luggage. We'll probably be traveling with just packs, but that will still be a lot to deal with - especially for my smaller-than-average son.

Thanks for helping talk through this!

Just checked there is an overnight train between Bergen and Oslo and v.v. - my son at a young age was thrilled to take night trains - saw it a real adventure - you can get a private triple and bring all the food and drink you want onboard - could be an experience for all.

Having taken all component of the NIN baggage is not that much a hassle as you never have to walk very far between trains, bus and boat and all had ample room for luggage - even the boats. But still it could be a tiring long day - the train ride is already several hours.

Just to update - the boy overruled me on Bergen and we're now just going to hit the 3 capital cities. I guess I'll save my dreams of traveling Western Norway for a trip with my husband some day.

Probably be Friday through Tuesday in Stockholm, Tuesday through Thursday in Oslo, then overnight Ferry to Copenhagen Thursday night until we depart home on Sunday.

Thanks :)

thank you thank you to who ever suggested the ferry Copenhagen to Oslo.. Its perfect!! Its the cost of the hotel at night. so great!! was thinking train but this is much more fun.

Check out www.porterservice.no as they will transport your luggage while you do a Bergen to Oslo NIN but certain hotels do not accept luggage so be sure to check that out as well.. I have also verified with NIN that there are places at each stop on the Bergen-Oslo NIN tour that you can store your luggage.

Hi so a question. so excited about the ferry...but hubby wants to know how rough it could possibly be.. in June. does anyone know? Any thoughts on splurging for a balcony?or even a nicer room?

Seas are hard to predict at any time of year but in summer I think less likely to be rough - they say those big boats have good stabilizers but nevertheless some I've been on can be quite rough - I think you'd know that some days in advance perhaps.

They have barf bags in any case.

How far in advance do you need to book a nice room on the ferry??? the ones with the nice barf bags :)

I think that is hard to tell - depends a seasons too - IME of taking such boats the cheapest berths go first - maybe someone has first-hand knowledge of that exact boat but rather doubt it.

School holidays in Norway start 23rd June - after that you can expect ferries to be busy (especially in direction Oslo-Copenhagen - Danish holidays start a week later I think)) - less busy before.
'How rough it could possibly be'? - very, but highly unlikely. Most of the journey is in reasonable sheltered water - and the roughest bits would be in the middle of the night when you'd be lying down and sleeping anyway. Take seasickness pills in case.