Norway in a Nutshell in November 2025

The principal hotel in Blaestrand, The Kviknes, appears to be closed in November. Random November dates on Booking.com revealed two possible places to stay within walking distance of the ferry terminal. They may be self-catering and I don't know how easy it would be to find groceries within walking distance of those locations.

Thank you. If places might not be open, might it be best to take the ferry and return to Bergen the same day? Any idea how often the ferries leave in November? I'm just not sure how to fit in the Norway in a Nutshell train ride between Flam and Myrdal if we did that. We want to see tBergen, the Sognefjord and the Norway in a Nutshell train ride between Flam and Myrdal, and end up in Oslo somehow.

After your stay in Bergen, why don't you do the traditional Norway in a Nutshell route to Oslo via Flåm?

You can book a package with FjordTours or DIY. You take the train from Bergen to Voss, the scenic bus from Voss to Gudvangen via Stalheim, the ferry to Flåm, the Flåmsbana train to Myrdal and , finally, the train to Oslo. You can overnight along the way, perhaps in Flåm. This would give you time to visit the Stegastein Viewpoint or do some other activity, all during daylight hours.

The ferry from Gudvangen to Flåm takes you through the Naeyorfjord and the Aurlandsfjord, the most scenic branches of the Sognefjord.

Keep in mind that November is winter with short hours of daylight. Sunrise November 15 is 8:30ish and sunset is around 4 pm.

Can't you stay in Flam?

Staying on the north side of the Sognefjord (such,as in Balestrand) is logistically inconvenient if you want to see the highly scenic Naeroyfjord, take the Flamsbana train, and take the scenicmbus ride between Gudvangen and Voss. It will almost certainly not work unless you have some extra time. I'd look for lodging in Flam. If there's nothing there, check Urland. If still nothing, check Gudvangen. I assume something would be available in Voss, but that's pretty close to Bergen, nowhere near the middle of the trip.

Since you want to see Bergen and Oslo as well the scenic area around the Sognefjord, the Nutshell route is the best choice when limited time is available. However, if you just cannot find lodging along the way, you can probably do a Bergen-Myrdal round trip that includes all the Nutshell components except the (scenic) mainline train ride between Mydal and Oslo. Mydal and Flam are much closer to Bergen than to Oslo. You could then fly from Bergen to Oslo. That wouldn't save any transportation time, overall, but I do not know what the schedules for the Nutshell components look like in November.

It is going to be dark early and late, most likely chilly, and quite possibly rainy. Bergen gets, on average, almost 11 inches of rain in the month of November, spread over about 18 days. You could spend a lot money on the Nutshell transportation components and not see a great deal because of bad weather and the short daylight hours.

From Balestrand to Oslo it is easy to fit in the Myrdal to Flam railway.
Morning ferry from Balestrand to Flam, then the train to Myrdal and Oslo.

That morning ferry should also connect with the afternoon Flam to Gudvangen ferry, but on its way has taken you up the scenic Lustrafjord and part way down the Naeroyford.

In November it'll be dark most of the way from Mrydal to Oslo, but light for the ride up from Flam.

Bergen to Balestrand is twice daily year round. It is essential public transport.

It is true to say I'm not sure of the attraction of Balestrand for one night in November, when there is no fjord/glacier cruise to be had.
Just maybe for you two, but for the children it could well be a bit of a switch off.
On that basis Flam or Gudvangen are probably better, and Flam over Gudvangen unless the Viking Museum is open at Gudvangen.