Do it yourself "Norway in a Nutshell"

Do It Yourself “Norway in a Nutshell” Tour: A Day Trip Itinerary

ByJulia

One of the things I personally love about Europe is the efficient transportation systems. Norway is no exception! To get from Oslo over to Bergen, you can take a direct train, the Bergensbanen, take an epic road trip, or you can do what I did and hop a train to another train, a ferry, a bus, and back to the train again. Why would one do so? Well, this is what is called “Norway in a Nutshell“.

“Norway in a Nutshell” is an actual tour you can book, but, like many things in Norway, it is expensive. If you’re traveling Norway on a budget, you can book it all yourself. The only benefit of booking it as a tour is the ease of booking. The tour takes all of the same transportation that you can book yourself, and it has no “guide”. Therefore, I recommend the “Do It Yourself Norway in a Nutshell” tour, starting in Oslo.

Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase.

Step 1: Oslo to Myrdal by Train

The train from Oslo to Myrdal takes about 4.5 hours from Oslo Central Station. It has reserved seats, which you can buy and select in advance on the Norway train website. Good news – you can switch the site to English to make it easy to use.

When I did this journey, it was late March, and it was truly beautiful as there was a lot of snow. And when I say lots of snow, I mean I have never seen snow like this. White as far as the eye can see with houses completely swallowed by snow drifts.

I could just see the roofs of houses with people using cross country skiing to actually get around. Was I supposed to realize cross country skiing was a mode of transportation and not just a recreational sport?!

Cost: 249+ NOK

Duration: 4.5 hours

Snow and traditional Norwegian houses
Snow and traditional Norwegian houses

Tips for Booking Your Train Ticket

Here are some tips to book your Norwegian train ticket to get your adventure started!

  • Take an early train as you have a long, busy day ahead of you!
  • Check the timetables and align your train from Oslo to Myrdal to arrive close to when the Myrdal to Flam train will leave.
  • Book your Norway train tickets ahead of time online. The earlier the better. You might even get cheaper “Mini-pri” tickets. If you book tickets more than 60 days in advance you may need to reverify the time of your train closer to departure.
  • You can reserve a seat: Get a window seat!
Snow, snow and even more snow on the way across Norway as part of the Do It Yourself Norway in a Nutshell tour
Snow up to the roof tops!

Step 2: Myrdal to Flåm on the Flam Railway

The Flåm Railway, Flåmsbana, is known for being “the world’s most beautiful train journey”, and it does not disappoint. You’ll start your journey 867 meters above sea level in Myrdal and head down to sea level to Aurlandsfjord, a branch of Sognefjord, the world’s largest fjord, and end in the tiny town of Flåm.

What makes the Flam Railway so popular? Well, the Flåm Railway is 20km long and is among the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world, with 80% of its route following a 5.5% gradient. The journey takes you through breathtaking landscapes, tracing the path of the Rallar Road, past towering mountainsides, cascading waterfalls, tiny towns nestled into valleys between the mountains, and through 20 tunnels.

It’s a trip you won’t soon forget.

Cost: 370+ NOK one way / 530+ NOK round trip for an adult

Duration: 1 hour

Distance: 20km

Tips for Booking Your Flam Railway Ticket

Don’t leave your ticket to chance. Book it in advance!

  • Check the timetables and align your train from Oslo to Myrdal to arrive close to when the Myrdal to Flam train will leave.
  • Book your Flam Railway ticket online ahead of time as they can sell out. You can do this on the Norwegian train website.
  • Seats are not assigned. People will be getting up to look out the windows on both sides of the car.
  • If you want to continue on the do it yourself “Norway in a Nutshell” journey, you want a one way ticket to disembark in Flam. If you’re doing the Flam Railway as a one way trip from Oslo or Bergen, make sure to buy a round trip ticket.
Views of towns along the Flåm Railway
The Flåm Railway

Step 3: Flåm to Gudvangen by Fjord Cruise Naeroyfjord

The Naeroyfjord Cruise takes you on a two hour journey through a UNESCO World Heritage fjord. You’ll start the journey in Aurlandsfjord and continue through Naeroyfjord to Gudvangen which sits in the innermost part of Naeroyfjord. It is absolutely gorgeous.

In fact, the West Norwegian Fjords, including Nærøyfjord and Geirangerfjord, have been UNESCO World Heritage sites since 2005. Recognized by UNESCO as archetypal fjord landscapes, these natural wonders remain largely untouched by modern development and are considered among the most breathtaking in the world.

With no direct road access, the best way to explore these fjords is by boat. A fjord cruise offers unparalleled views of the dramatic landscapes, dotted with historic farms and villages that have preserved their timeless character for centuries.

Having only seen a few other fjords in my day, such as the ones in Oman, these fjords are quite different and picturesque. Perhaps that’s because of the snow capped mountain tops versus being in the desert, but I do certainly enjoy a good fjord, and I bet you’ll be impressed too.

Cost: ~595 NOK

Duration: 2 hours

Tips for Booking Your Naeroyfjord Cruise

Here’s what you need to know to book your cruise through the fjord.

  • Check the timetables and align your cruise time with when your Flam Railway train will arrive in Flam.
  • Book in advance online. They do sell out and you would hate to miss the fjord cruise portion of the DIY Norway in a Nutshell tour.
The Fjords of Norway
Fjords of Norway

Step 4: Gudvangen to Voss by Local Bus

When you exit the cruise, you will need to get on the local bus (bus 950) headed to Voss. Yes, as in Voss water. (Bonus: You can drink the tap water in Norway…. unlike Fiji which lied to me with Fiji water!)

As you will be taking the local city bus, you do not need to buy your tickets in advance, but you can check the bus schedules online. Just purchase a ticket for the next bus headed to Voss and wait patiently. They operate regularly so you won’t be waiting long.

This leg of the journey continues with stunning scenery out of every window. You’ll be riding for more than 50 stops in just about an hour, but enjoy the ride and try to grab a window seat.

Cost: 72 NOK

Duration: 1 hour

Step 5, The Final Step: Voss to Bergen by Train

Your bus journey will drop you right at the Voss train station. If you have a few minutes, its a nice little town to wander around before boarding your last leg of the do it yourself “Norway in a Nutshell”.

Alternatively, if you’re into extreme sports, you may want to spend some time in Voss. It is considered the adrenaline capital of Norway. If that’s not for you, continue on to the train to Bergen from Voss.

This train is actually the same train line you took from Oslo to Myrdal, the Bergensbanen. It will take you through more mountains, valleys, and fjords before depositing you at the train station right in the center of Bergen.

Cost: 257 NOK

Duration: 1 hour 20 min

Tips for Booking Your Train Ticket

This is a pretty standard journey, but there is one key tip to abide by:

  • Book your ticket online in advance. As with other trains, ticket prices can increase or even sell out. To make your day flow smoothly, book all of your travel in advance – except the local bus from Gudvangen to Voss.

Heading to Bergen for a few days??
Check out the Best Places to Stay in Bergen.

Final Thoughts on the Do It Yourself “Norway in a Nutshell”

Total Cost: 1,543+ NOK as compared to the official “Norway in a Nutshell” tour.

The official Norway in a Nutshell tour varies in price depending on date. While it states it starts at 1,600 NOK, I’ve only seen prices from 2,880 NOK. As booking it yourself does come with some additional hassle, I highly recommend checking the official price before booking everything yourself. This will tell you if its worthwhile. To me… it definitely was!

  • Oslo to Myrdal by Train: ~249
  • Myrdal to Flåm on the Flam Railway: ~370
  • Flåm to Gudvangen by Fjord Cruise Naeroyfjord: ~595
  • Gudvangen to Voss by Local Bus: ~72
  • Voss to Bergen by Train: ~257

By going the “Do It Yourself” route for “Norway in a Nutshell”, you could easily save 1,280 NOK or $114.77 USD per person. So is it worth booking the Norway in a Nutshell yourself? That’s up to you.

Is the Norway in a Nutshell route worth doing?

Now, if you’re reframing the question and wondering if all of these modes of transportation are worthwhile for the views. Don’t hesitate. The “Norway in a Nutshell” journey is completely worthwhile, especially if you want to experience the best of Norway’s natural beauty in a short time.

I personally would consider it a big miss to skip these world renown views, train journeys, and fjords when in Norway. If you simply can’t fit it into your Norway itinerary, make sure to take a fjord cruise from Bergen to at least get a sample of the scenery you’re missing out on.

Planning a trip to Norway?

While the “Norway in a Nutshell” DIY trip is one of my favorite parts of Norway, there are tons of other amazing things to do in Norway! Check out these posts to help you plan your trip!

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Julia is the founder of The Cure for Curiosity, a North Carolina-based traveler with experience across 100+ countries, from the pyramids of Egypt to Everest Base Camp to the Blue Hole in Belize. After years of fast travel and slow travel, solo journeys and road trips, she now helps curious travelers understand how to choose destinations wisely, pace trips intentionally, and experience places beyond the surface.

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