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Norway in Nutshell - Arrive in Bergen after dark

Posted by (Northern California) on

Planning a trip for mid-September 2024 when sunset is appx 7:45 pm. A have several questions about the NiN route.

One Question is about arriving in the dark to Bergen - would we miss enough that we should overnight along the NiN route, or just keep going to get to Bergen and miss some scenery?
The NiN from Oslo to Bergen has Gudvangen to Voss at 5:25 - 6:55 pm; Then Voss to Bergen 7:13 - 8:40 pm. So we would be in the dark for about one hour.
Note also that we are taking the Hurtigruten Coast Tour round-trip Bergen-Kirkenes-Bergen so will be seeing alot of scenery! I just wanted to find the best route from Oslo to Bergen and NiN looked nice.

Also note if we go, that I would prefer to buy the 'package' NiN from Fjord Tour website (I don't feel up to piecing all the single tickets together). Is it recommended to buy tickets in advance for a mid-Sept 2024 tour?

As an alternative to the NiN from Oslo to Bergen, is there a more direct train between the two cities? Can tickets be bought on the sj train website.

I have reviewed the Fjord Tour website and am attempting to be able to understand buying point to point tickets but having the package looks easier.
Appreciate insight and tips.

Posted by
1006 posts

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.

Posted by
73 posts

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.

Posted by
5 posts

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.

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