Short answer: with 7 days in Norway, spend two nights in Oslo, ride the Bergen Line and the Flåm Railway to a night in Flåm, cruise the Nærøyfjord, and finish with three nights in Bergen. That is the Norway in a Nutshell route, and it runs all year. With 10 days, add the coastal ship from Bergen to Ålesund and two nights at the Geirangerfjord (best June to August). With 14 days, fly north: in summer to Lofoten and Tromsø under the midnight sun, or from late September to March to Tromsø and Lofoten for the Northern Lights. Trains and boats cover the fjords; you only need a car in Geiranger and Lofoten in summer.
This guide turns the sample trips on our Norway travel guide into day-by-day plans, with train and boat times between stops and the best area to sleep each night. Read our best time to visit Norway guide before you choose between summer and winter, and see our top places to visit in Norway for more ideas. For a plan built around your dates and interests, use our AI trip planner. Everything was checked as of October 2026.
The three routes at a glance
| Route | Days | Stops (nights) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oslo, Flåm and Bergen (Norway in a Nutshell) | 7 | Oslo 2, Flåm 1, Bergen 3 | First trip, fjords without driving, any season |
| Fjords to Geiranger | 10 | Oslo 2, Flåm 1, Bergen 2, coastal ship 1, Geiranger 2, Ålesund 1 | The two UNESCO fjords, June to August |
| Fjords and Lofoten, summer | 14 | Oslo 2, Flåm 1, Bergen 3, Reine 2, Henningsvær or Svolvær 2, coastal ship 1, Tromsø 2 | Midnight sun, hiking, Arctic scenery, June to August |
| Fjords and the Arctic, winter | 14 | Oslo 2, Flåm 1, Bergen 2, Tromsø 4, Svolvær 4 (coastal ship between) | Northern Lights, snow, whales, late September to March |
Fly into Oslo and home from Bergen, Ålesund or Tromsø so you never backtrack; Norway’s domestic flights, run by SAS, Norwegian and Widerøe, link all of them, usually with connections in Oslo. Norway is part of the Schengen area, and since 10 April 2026 non-EU visitors register fingerprints and a photo at the border under the EU’s Entry/Exit System on their first entry.
Travel times between the main stops
These are the legs used in the plans below. “Official” means the time comes from the operator: Vy for trains, Fjord Tours for the Nutshell bus and boat, Norled for the express boat. The rest are typical times, labeled approximate.
| Leg | How | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oslo Airport – Oslo S | Flytoget airport express | 19 min | Official |
| Oslo – Bergen | Bergen Line train (6–7 departures a day) | about 6 h 30–7 h 30 | Vy (official) |
| Oslo – Myrdal | Bergen Line train | about 4 h 30–5 h (approximate) | Timetables vary |
| Myrdal – Flåm | Flåm Railway, daily all year | about 1 h | Vy (official) |
| Flåm – Gudvangen | Nærøyfjord cruise (zero-emission boat) | about 2 h | Operators (official) |
| Gudvangen – Voss | Bus through Nærøydalen | 1 h 05 | Fjord Tours (official) |
| Voss – Bergen | Train | about 1 h 15 (approximate) | Timetables vary |
| Bergen – Flåm | Norled express boat, 1 April–31 October | about 5 h 30 (08:00 from Bergen, 15:30 from Flåm) | Norled (official) |
| Bergen Airport – city center | Bybanen light rail | about 45 min | Visit Bergen (official) |
| Bergen – Ålesund | Coastal ship (Hurtigruten or Havila), daily northbound | overnight, about 13 h (approximate) | Sailing listings |
| Ålesund – Geiranger | Drive, with a ferry crossing | about 2.5–3 h (approximate) | Our Geiranger guide |
| Bodø – Moskenes (Lofoten) | Torghatten Nord car ferry | about 3–3.5 h (approximate) | Timetable sites |
| Svolvær – Tromsø | Coastal ship, northbound | overnight (approximate) | Sailing listings |
| Oslo – Tromsø | Flight | about 1 h 50–2 h (approximate) | Flight schedules |
| Tromsø Airport – city center | Airport bus (Flybuss) | about 20 min | Operator (official) |
You can book every leg of the Oslo–Flåm–Bergen route yourself (Vy for the trains, separate tickets for the boat and the bus) or buy Norway in a Nutshell from Fjord Tours, which packages the same trains, boat and bus from NOK 2,698 and can be split over several days. Flåm Railway tickets go on sale 120 days ahead and summer departures sell out.
7 days: Oslo, the Flåm Railway, the Nærøyfjord and Bergen
Norway’s classic first trip, all by train, boat and bus. It works all year: in summer every boat runs and the days are long, while in winter departures are timed for daylight and the fjords are snowy and quiet.
- Day 1, Oslo: Flytoget from the airport (19 minutes). Walk onto the sloping roof of the Opera House, then along the harbor to Aker Brygge. Sleep: around Oslo S and Bjørvika.
- Day 2, Oslo: MUNCH or the National Museum in the morning; from April to October, the Bygdøy ferry from City Hall Pier 3 to the Fram, Kon-Tiki and Folk museums; Vigeland Park in the evening light. Sleep: same.
- Day 3, Bergen Line to Flåm: A morning train across the Hardangervidda plateau to Myrdal, then the Flåm Railway down 20 km (12 miles) of hairpins and tunnels to the fjord, with a stop at the Kjosfossen waterfall. Sleep: Flåm.
- Day 4, the Nærøyfjord: Early to the Stegastein viewpoint (sightseeing buses run in season), then the boat through the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen (about 2 hours), the bus to Voss (1 hour 5 minutes) and the train to Bergen. Sleep: Bergen, near Bryggen or the center.
- Day 5, Bergen: The wooden wharf of Bryggen, the Fish Market, and the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen (about six minutes) for the view over the harbor. Sleep: same.
- Day 6, a fjord from Bergen: A round trip by boat to the Osterfjord and the narrow Mostraumen strait (3 to 3.5 hours), or the Ulriken cable car and a ridge walk. Troldhaugen, Grieg’s home, in the afternoon. Sleep: same.
- Day 7, home: The Bybanen light rail to Bergen Airport (about 45 minutes).
Swap it: spend a second night in Flåm for a slower day on the fjord, or take Norled’s express boat from Flåm to Bergen (15:30 departure, April to October) along the Sognefjord instead of the bus and train. With an extra day, take a short flight or express boat south to Stavanger for the Preikestolen hike (April to October). See our Oslo, Flåm, Bergen and Stavanger guides.
10 days: Oslo to Bergen, Ålesund and the Geirangerfjord
Ten days adds Norway’s most famous fjord. The Geirangerfjord and the Nærøyfjord are both UNESCO World Heritage, and this route sees them both. Go between June and August, when the mountain roads, the Dalsnibba road and the summer ferries are open; in late May and June the waterfalls are at their fullest.
- Days 1–2, Oslo: As in the 7-day plan. Sleep: around Oslo S (2 nights).
- Day 3, to Flåm: Bergen Line and Flåm Railway. Sleep: Flåm (1 night).
- Day 4, Nærøyfjord to Bergen: Boat to Gudvangen, bus to Voss, train to Bergen. Sleep: Bergen (2 nights).
- Day 5, Bergen: Bryggen, Fløyen and the Fish Market. In the evening, board the northbound coastal ship (it leaves Bergen daily; check the time). Sleep: on board (1 night).
- Day 6, Ålesund to Geiranger: Arrive in Ålesund in the morning and climb the 418 steps up Aksla for the view over the Art Nouveau town. Pick up a hire car and drive to Geiranger (about 2.5–3 hours with a ferry), or take the fjord cruise from Ålesund, which sells one-way tickets. Sleep: Geiranger (2 nights).
- Day 7, the fjord: A fjord cruise past the Seven Sisters and the Suitor waterfalls, a hike to the Skageflå farm or Storseterfossen, and the Flydalsjuvet viewpoint.
- Day 8, Dalsnibba and the Eagle Road: Drive up the toll road to Dalsnibba, 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above the fjord (it can close for snow at short notice), then over the Eagle Road toward Trollstigen if it is open.
- Day 9, back to Ålesund: Drive back to the coast. Sleep: Ålesund (1 night).
- Day 10, home: Fly from Ålesund, usually via Oslo.
Swap it: start in Stavanger with Preikestolen and the Lysefjord, then continue north to Bergen, Flåm and Geiranger by car, as on our Norway guide. Trollstigen and other mountain roads usually open from mid-May into June, depending on the snow; check the Norwegian Public Roads Administration before you drive. More in our Geiranger guide.
14 days, summer: the fjords, Lofoten and Tromsø
The midnight sun shines over Lofoten from about 28 May to 14 July and over Tromsø from 20 May to 22 July, so in June and early July you can hike at midnight. This route follows the fjords to Bergen, then flies north. Book the Lofoten ferry, rooms and cars early: July is Norway’s busiest month.
- Days 1–2, Oslo. Sleep: around Oslo S (2 nights).
- Day 3, Flåm: Bergen Line and Flåm Railway. Sleep: Flåm (1 night).
- Days 4–6, Bergen: The Nærøyfjord on the way in, then Bryggen, Fløyen and a fjord trip. Sleep: Bergen (3 nights).
- Day 7, to Lofoten: Fly to Bodø (direct or via Oslo), then the car ferry to Moskenes (about 3–3.5 hours; reserve a car space). Alternatively, fly from Bodø to Leknes or Svolvær and pick up a hire car there. Sleep: Reine, Hamnøy or Sakrisøy (2 nights).
- Day 8, the west: Reinebringen (1,974 steps, about 1–2 hours round trip, very steep), the village of Å at the end of the E10, and the beaches of Ramberg.
- Day 9, to the east: Drive the E10 past Nusfjord, Haukland and Uttakleiv beaches and the Lofotr Viking Museum at Borg. Sleep: Henningsvær or Svolvær (2 nights).
- Day 10, Henningsvær and the Trollfjord: The fishing village on its islands, then a boat or RIB trip into the narrow Trollfjord with sea eagles overhead. Return the hire car.
- Day 11, coastal ship to Tromsø: Board the northbound coastal ship in Svolvær in the evening; in summer it sails past the mouth of the Trollfjord. Sleep: on board (1 night).
- Days 12–13, Tromsø: The Arctic Cathedral, the Fjellheisen cable car (up in four minutes, open until midnight) for the midnight sun, Polaria and a fjord or hiking trip. Sleep: Tromsø center (2 nights).
- Day 14, home: The airport bus (about 20 minutes) and a flight via Oslo.
Tent camping is banned in summer at Reine, Reinebringen and several other busy spots, and campervans may not stay overnight in many lay-bys, so use campsites. More in our Lofoten Islands and Tromsø guides.
14 days, winter: the fjords and the Northern Lights
From late September to March the nights in the north are dark enough for the aurora, and this route gives you eight nights above the Arctic Circle to raise your chances of a clear sky. The Nutshell route runs all winter, with departures timed for daylight. In Tromsø the polar night lasts from about 27 November to about 15 January, a blue twilight with no sunrise; February and March bring more daylight, snow and the best conditions for winter activities.
- Days 1–2, Oslo: Museums, the Opera House and, in winter, floodlit cross-country ski tracks in Nordmarka, within 30 minutes by metro. Sleep: around Oslo S (2 nights).
- Day 3, Flåm in the snow: Bergen Line and Flåm Railway. Sleep: Flåm (1 night).
- Days 4–5, Bergen: The winter Nærøyfjord boat, the bus and train to Bergen; Bryggen, Fløyen and KODE’s art museums on rainy days. Sleep: Bergen (2 nights).
- Day 6, to Tromsø: Fly north (direct or via Oslo). An evening walk across to the Arctic Cathedral, then a first look at the sky. Sleep: Tromsø center (4 nights).
- Days 7–9, Tromsø: A Northern Lights chase by minibus (guides drive to wherever the sky is clear), a day of dog sledding or reindeer sledding, and, from about late October or November into January, a long day of whale watching for humpbacks and orcas, now mostly north toward Skjervøy. Fjellheisen at dusk.
- Day 10, coastal ship south: Take the southbound coastal ship from Tromsø to Svolvær, a day among the islands of the Vesterålen and Lofoten coast. Port times change by season, and some sailings leave Tromsø in the middle of the night, so check before you book your last Tromsø night. Sleep: Svolvær (4 nights).
- Days 11–13, Svolvær: Guided tours instead of driving icy roads: the snowy fishing villages, Henningsvær, the Viking Museum at Borg and aurora watching over the peaks.
- Day 14, home: Fly from Svolvær via Bodø and Oslo.
Seeing the aurora depends on clear skies and solar activity, so no tour can promise it; staying several nights is the best way to improve your odds. Tromsø’s Northern Lights Festival, a music festival, runs from 11 to 20 February 2027.
Where to sleep, by stop
| Stop | Best area for a short stay | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Oslo | Around Oslo S and Bjørvika; Grünerløkka for cafés | Next to the airport trains, the Bergen Line, the Opera House and MUNCH |
| Flåm | In the village by the station and quay | Railway, boats and buses all leave within a few steps |
| Bergen | Around Bryggen and the harbor | Walk to the Fish Market, Fløibanen and the boats |
| Ålesund | The Art Nouveau center | Walk to Aksla and the coastal-ship quay |
| Geiranger | The village at the head of the fjord | Cruise boats, hikes and viewpoints from the door |
| Lofoten | Reine, Hamnøy or Sakrisøy (west); Henningsvær or Svolvær (east) | Split the stay to see both ends without long drives |
| Tromsø | The city center on Tromsøya | Tour pickups, restaurants and the airport bus |
Rooms in Flåm, Geiranger and Lofoten are limited and go fast in summer; in Tromsø, book well ahead for February and March. Fishermen’s cabins (rorbuer) on Lofoten are a memorable place to stay. Costs and money tips are in our Norway guide.
Alternatives by interest
Hikers
Come between late June and early September, when high routes and DNT mountain huts are open. Add Stavanger for Preikestolen (about 8 km round trip, about 4 hours) and Kjerag, give Lofoten four nights for Reinebringen, Ryten and Festvågtind, and walk from Ulriken to Fløyen above Bergen (five to six hours). Lofoten’s peaks are low but steep, often wet and foggy. See our hiking guide.
Road trippers
Hire a car in Bergen and drive north through the fjords to Geiranger, Trollstigen and Ålesund, with ferries on the way; allow more time than the map suggests, as roads are narrow and winding. Tolls are collected automatically through AutoPASS, and hire cars carry a tag. Mountain roads open from about mid-May to June and close in the fall.
Families
Stick to the 7-day train route, which children love: the Flåm Railway, a fjord boat and the Fløibanen funicular, with play areas and canoes at the top of Mount Fløyen in summer. Oslo’s Bygdøy museums, with a polar ship and the Kon-Tiki raft, are a hit. Children aged 6 to 17 pay half price on the Flåm Railway.
Slow travelers and cruisers
The coastal ships of Hurtigruten and Havila sail daily from Bergen to Kirkenes, calling at 34 ports, and you can book port to port. Use them as transport for one or two legs, as in the plans above, or sail the seven days north for the whole coast. Our boat trips guide covers more scenic cruises.
Tips for planning your route
- Choose your season first. June to August is for the fjords, hiking and the midnight sun; late September to March is for the Northern Lights. May and September are quieter and cheaper, with some summer boats stopping from mid-September.
- Book trains early. Vy’s cheapest Minipris fares sell out, and Flåm Railway tickets go on sale 120 days ahead.
- Allow for distance. Norway is long: Oslo to Tromsø is a flight of about two hours, and there is no railway to Tromsø or Lofoten.
- Check road openings. Trollstigen, Dalsnibba and other mountain roads are seasonal and can close at short notice for snow.
- Book the Lofoten ferry. The Bodø–Moskenes ferry is busy in summer; reserve car space, and register everyone traveling in the car.
- Leave buffers in winter. Snow and wind can delay flights, ferries and coastal ships in the north, so don’t plan a tight connection on your last day.
Norway itinerary FAQ
Is 7 days enough for Norway?
Yes for Oslo, the Flåm Railway, the Nærøyfjord and Bergen, all by train, boat and bus. Adding Geiranger needs about 10 days, and Lofoten or Tromsø two weeks.
Should I start in Oslo or Bergen?
Either works, as the Nutshell route runs in both directions. Starting in Oslo and ending in Bergen puts the fjords at the end of your trip and lets you continue north by coastal ship or by air.
How long is the train from Oslo to Bergen?
About 6 hours 30 minutes to 7 hours 30 minutes on the Bergen Line, with six or seven departures a day, according to Vy. It crosses the Hardangervidda plateau, reaching 1,237 m (4,058 ft) at Finse.
Do I need a car in Norway?
Not for Oslo, Flåm and Bergen, which trains, boats and buses link well. A car makes Geiranger, Trollstigen and summer Lofoten much easier; in winter, guided tours are safer than driving icy northern roads.
Can I see the fjords and the Northern Lights on the same trip?
Yes, from late September to March: the Nutshell route runs all year, and Tromsø and Lofoten are a flight or coastal-ship ride away. In September and March you get both decent daylight for the fjords and dark nights in the north.
Is Norway in a Nutshell worth it?
It is the easiest way to see the Flåm Railway and the Nærøyfjord without planning each connection, and you can split it over several days. Booking the same trains, boat and bus separately gives you more freedom to choose times and stay overnight in Flåm.
What is the best month for a Norway itinerary?
June, for long days, full waterfalls and open roads, with fewer visitors than July. For the Northern Lights with some daylight, late February and March.
Sources
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 8 October 2026. Bergen Line and Flåm Railway times come from Vy; Norway in a Nutshell, the Gudvangen–Voss bus and its price from Fjord Tours; the Bergen–Flåm express boat from Norled; the Flytoget time from the airport operator; Bybanen and the Bergen Card from Visit Bergen; the coastal ships’ daily departures and 34 ports from Hurtigruten and Havila; Dalsnibba from its operator; Fjellheisen from its operator; Lofoten camping rules and Reinebringen from Visit Lofoten; Preikestolen from Region Stavanger; the Entry/Exit System from the EU; midnight sun, polar night and seasons from our best-time guide. The Bergen–Ålesund and Svolvær–Tromsø sailing times, the Lofoten ferry crossing, Oslo–Myrdal and Voss–Bergen train times, drive times and flight times are typical figures and approximate. Timetables and road openings change, so check with the operator before you travel.
Data: Natural Earth (PUBLIC DOMAIN) · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODBL) · Wikidata (CC0)