My grandparents came over on the boat from Norway, so I’m partial to that corner of Europe. But even if you’re not from Viking stock, don’t miss the fjords. From Oslo, northern Europe’s most scenic train ride takes you up and over the country’s mountainous spine and into the land of shiplap dreams. The tourist board calls it “Norway in a Nutshell” and that’s just what it gives you.
Frankly, if you go to Oslo and don’t get out to the fjords, you should have your passport revoked. Norway’s greatest claim to scenic fame is its deep and lush saltwater inlets. Sognefjord, Norway’s longest (120 miles) and deepest (one mile), is tops. Sognefjord offers Norway’s best combination of scenic wonder and accessibility.
For the most efficient one-day look at fjords, follow the Nutshell’s series of well-organized train, ferry and bus connections that puts this beautiful fjord country on a scenic platter. Ambitious and energetic travelers can see the whole shebang in a day; with more time or less energy, consider an overnight along the fjord or in Bergen.
You can book the Nutshell route from Oslo to Bergen on your own or take a package tour for less hassle. July and August are the best months to go. Whether buying tickets on your own or taking a package tour, make your reservations at least four to five weeks in advance.
The Nutshell route starts with a spectacular train ride, leaving Oslo at about 6:30 a.m. for Bergen. As the train roars over Norway’s mountainous backbone, the barren, windswept heaths, glaciers, deep forests, countless lakes and a few rugged ski resorts create a harsh beauty. The railroad is an amazing engineering feat. Completed in 1909, it’s 300 miles long and peaks at 4,266 feet — which, at this Alaskan latitude, is far above the tree line. You’ll go under 18 miles of snow sheds, over 300 bridges and through 200 tunnels in just under seven hours.
At Myrdal, a 12-mile spur line drops you 2,800 breathtaking feet in 55 minutes to the village of Flåm on an arm of the Sognefjord. It’s party time on board, and the engineer even stops the train for photos at the best waterfall, Kjosfossen.
While most Norway in a Nutshell tourists zip immediately from the train onto the scenic fjord boat in Flåm, those with time enjoy an overnight stop on the fjord.
Flåm is a handy tourist depot with several simple hotels. Aurland, a few miles up the fjord from Flåm, is more of a town. It’s famous for producing some of Norway’s sweetest geitost – goat cheese. Aurland makes a good home base if you’re staying longer. Nearly every train arriving in Flåm connects with a bus or boat to Aurland. While nearby Bergen is famous for its rain – more than six feet a year – Sognefjord is a relative sun belt, with only two feet of rain a year.
The train from Myrdal to Flåm is quite scenic, but the ride doesn’t do the view justice. For the best single day’s activity from Flåm, take the train up to Myrdal and then hike or bike (rentable in Flåm) the half-gravel, half-paved road back down to Flåm. Bring a picnic and your camera.
From Flåm, “Nutshellers” catch the most scenic of fjord cruises. Sightseeing boats leave throughout the day. For two hours, photo-snapping tourists scurry on the drool-stained deck like nervous roosters, scratching fitfully for a shot that catches the magic. Waterfalls turn the black-rock cliffs into a bridal fair. You can nearly reach out and touch the sheer, towering walls. The ride is one of those fine times, like being high on the tip of an Alp, when a warm camaraderie spontaneously combusts among the strangers who came together for the experience. The boat takes you up one narrow arm (Aurlandsfjord) and down the next (Nærøyfjord) to the nothing-to-stop-for town of Gudvangen, where waiting buses shuttle you back to the main train line at Voss. From Voss, carry on into Bergen for a short evening visit (or skip Bergen and return to Oslo from here).
Bergen, Norway’s second city and historic capital, is an entertaining place. You can finish the day there by browsing the touristy but fun wharf area, or zipping up the funicular to the top of 1,000-foot-tall “Mount” Fløyen for city and fjord views. While Bergen certainly deserves more time, those making the Nutshell literally a day trip will catch the night train back to Oslo. Returning early the next morning to Oslo’s station, as you yawn and stretch and scout out a cup of coffee, it’ll hit you: You were gone for 24 hours, experienced the fjord wonder of Europe and sampled a scenic bit of Bergen to boot.
Edmonds resident Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio and organizes European tours. This column revisits some of Rick’s favorite places over the past two decades. You can email Rick at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.
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