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Norway itinerary for end of April

Posted by on

Hi Norway travel experts. We are 2 adults staying in Copenhagen for 3 nights and then flying to Oslo. We want to spend 5 nights seeing villages and fjords of Norway. We hike, like to travel away from crowds (and cruise ships!), and enjoy nature and local cuisine. We were considering using the train almost exclusively, but wonder if its too restrictive. Can you comment on:

  1. Best towns/villages to stop and see at this time of year. (will it be cold?) from Oslo to Bergen
  2. Best stops along the way to overnight (ie. can we get off train, stay a night along the way and then resume our journey toward Bergen?)
  3. Villages not worth seeing this time of year
  4. Villages a must see given our preferences.
  5. Is renting a car a good idea given our time frame (5 nights). Is driving challenging in late April re: weather conditions etc?

thank you for your suggestions!

Posted by
7081 posts

Where do you live and what kind of weather are you used to? Without knowing that, it's difficult to comment on if it will be too cold or if driving is challenging. In April it can still be winter at higher altitudes and many mountain roads will still be closed.

Also consider the overnight ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo.

Posted by
3 posts

We live in Boston, so used to the cold, but hoping its not too cold or muddy time of year...and want to know how to pack!

Posted by
3 posts

also, after doing some more research it seems the train will stop to see sites, but it may be too brief. Might be better to stay overnight at some location. Just not sure which one.

Posted by
7081 posts

The weather will probably be very varied in late April so layers is the key. It can be nice and sunny, but it can also be well below zero and blizzards. Of course the train stops in many places along the way so there are many options for places to visit. Does it have to be between Oslo and Bergen? Røros is a charming place north of Oslo that is worth a stop.

Posted by
28290 posts

To me the stretch of Norway between Oslo and Bergen is a place one goes primarily to view scenery and pursue outdoor activities, not so much to see villages and towns. With good weather (not exactly guaranteed even in mid-summer, because western Norway is extremely wet), I think you'll be happiest focusing on scenery. The Norway-in-a-Nutshell route gives you a look at some of the best. The most convenient place to stay along that route is probably Flam if you don't have a car, but I think some of the hotels there may be closed in April, so I don't know how easy it will be to find lodging at this point. Flam is an ordinary-looking town in a great setting (as long as there's not a monster cruise ship in port). The town of Voss, also on the Nutshell route, isn't located on a fjord, but it's known for outdoor-sport activities--though I don't know what will be available in April. Lodging in Voss doesn't seem to book up as early as it does in Flam.

Since you have only five days, I'd say to spend your extra time in Oslo and/or Bergen. Both are attractive and have some indoor sightseeing opportunities as well as some nearby hiking possibilities.

I have never driven in Europe, much less in Norway in the early spring, so I have no information to offer on the topic of driving vs. using public transportation.

Bergen has a good number of flights to European destinations, so you wouldn't necessarily have to return to Oslo at the end of your trip.

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