Norway in Nutshell - Arrive in Bergen after dark

The train leg between Voss and Bergen is the least scenic part of NiN so you won't really miss a lot if it's dark for an hour.

There are direct trains between Oslo and Bergen if you don't want to do NiN. You buy tickets on www.vy.no which is the Norwegian railways website; sj train is the Swedish railways.

Thank you all for your advise. I decided to to the NiN and book it on our own, with options to stay overnight - looking at Gudvangen - to break up the trip. This will allow us to arrive in Bergen during the day.

I'm Norwegian living in Norway. If you are doing hurtigruten roundtrip then Norway in a Nutshell is a waste of time and money. Nutshell was designed 50 years ago for tourists who only had a day in western Norway to see the nature. It is no longer an accurate presentation of Norway. You will be in the middle of hundreds of tourists, even in September.

Doing hurtigruten roundtrip is the grand tour. There is nothing to see on Nutshell that you won't see 100 times better on hurtigruten.

For the best way between Oslo and Bergen, the Bergensbane train is the best way to go. But go in the day to enjoy all the scenary. Or if you are more adventurous, take the Haukeliekspress bus from Oslo to Bergen via Haukeliseter. This goes through the southern area of Hardangervidda. 10 hours on the bus, but they are comfortable with toilet facilities. About 80 dollars a person.

Just wanted to post we decided to do the train between Oslo and Bergen rather than the NiN tour. We look forward to the cruise on the ferry up the coast “grand tour”. That made sense to us. Thanks again.

Arrive in Bergen after dark

Make yourself familiar with steps of daylight for Bergen in September. It will not be so dark at time of arrival.

Sunset is about 9 pm in Bergen in late August, so lots of sunlight!

Hello, FjellGeit!

Thank you for your interesting post about skipping NiN if you're taking the coastal voyage! I would like to ask a follow-up question:

I'm on a Havila Voyage, late September into October, and we're cruising Hjørundfjorden instead of Geirangerfjord. Do you think I will regret not seeing the Nærøyfjord?

The interior fjords, with their very steep narrow passages, seem like a special thrill, as well as the ability to get a view from above, in the mountains, down into the valleys. Is there an excursion on the coastal route that gets you up into the mountains above the fjords?

I had been planning on overnighting at either Vatnahalsen or Gudvangen (or both?) to do a bit of hiking, and taking a side trip to Borgund Stave Church, as opposed to just hustling through, NiN-style, train to train to ferry to bus to train.

Thoughts?

Thank you in advance for your insight!

The train from Oslo to Bergen is stunning!

How are you planning to reach the Borgund stave church? You may need a rental car or a tour, and I'm hot sure there are any tours offered. During high summer there's a public bus from Flam that gives you an hour at the church if the bus is on time (mine was not). At other times of the year you have to make a connection and the trip either takes longer or allows less time at the church, or perhaps both.

acraven,

Thank you for your response and cautions!

As of now, the summer public bus (NW 162) to and from Borgund is listed as still running during the very end of September. I will keep checking.

The folks at Norway's Best are warning me that this route can be up to 1/2 hour late on it's return through Aurlandsvangen, where I had hoped to make a 20-minute connection to the Fjord Cruise to Gudvangen. And if I miss that connection, and take the next Fjord Cruise, no buses connect onwards to Voss and Bergen.

I realize I should probably slow down and try not to cram too much in.

Still, it is tempting. So much beauty, so little time!

Perhaps an unscheduled overnight in Gudvangen wouldn't be the end of the world.

As long as there is a room there if you have to stay ! It's a tiny place.

Yes. I would absolutely not count on finding last-minute room availability. Things are very tight in that area, though Gudvangen and Voss don't seem to fill as early as Flam.

I only dared to take the Borgund trip because I was spending that night in Flam, so it didn't matter if I got back to town late.