Nutshell- oslo to Balestrand And three days later onto Bergen

Posted by shoshana (westlake village, ca, us) on 04/10/19 04:18 AM

I read the posts about Norway in a nutshell. There is so much information and it is somewhat confusing.
I am traveling on Sunday, May 19, from Oslo to Balstrand, hoping to use the transportation that affords the beautiful views. Then I will spend three nights in Balestrand , Leaving on May 22 to go to Bergen.

I have not made my transportation reservations for that part of my trip yet. I hope someone can be helpful in Identifying the different modes of transportation and the times of travel in order to make the connections. Then I have to decide whether I should go ahead and make those travel reservations now or wait till I get into Oslo on May 14 where I thought I would get help at the visitors center

I am eager to hear any and all suggestions.

Posted by Southern Lights

Atlanta, Georgia

04/10/19 09:52 PM

60 posts

Here's one possible itinerary (I did it in reverse last year) for May 19:
8:25 AM: Depart Oslo S via NSB train; arrive Myrdal 12:58.
1:27 PM: Depart Myrdal via local train (the famous Flåm Railway train; you won't miss it with but the single track); arrive Flåm 2:25. (More about Flåm here: https://www.visitflam.com.)
3:30 PM: Depart Flåm via Norled express boat ("hurtigbåt")(a mail boat that doubles as a ferry); arrive Balestrand 4:55.

The train tickets can be purchased on the NSB website: https://www.nsb.no/en/. The ferry tickets: https://www.norled.no/en/expressboat/. (You'll want the Bergen-Sogn-Flåm-Bergen timetable/route.) From/to when purchasing: Flåm "kai" ("quay" or "pier") to Balestrand kai.

Side note: Life in tiny Balestrand is sloooow and quiet. That was perfect for me and my 24-hour stay last May. Had a beautiful view of the Sognefjord from my big room balcony in the old part of the historic Kviknes Hotel. Nothing like admiring that view with a glass of wine in hand. All that said... you sure you want to spend two days+ there? Do you have day trips planned from there?

Posted by jabrlb9472

Colorado

04/11/19 03:32 AM

13 posts

Will be traveling at the same time. Instead of Norway in a Nutshell, booked Sognefjord n a Nutshell from Bergen to Oslo with two nights in Balestrand. Ferry goes to Balestrand from Bergen, then ferry and train to Flam and on to Oslo.

Posted by Eric

San Francisco

04/12/19 11:56 PM

17 posts

I agree with Southern Lights... 3 nights is one too many. I would suggest staying the night in Flam, which is a equally beautiful. The Fretheim Hotel there makes for a very enjoyable stay.

Posted by dcornford

04/23/19 11:52 PM

15 posts

I am doing the exact same as you stopping over in Balestrand before going on to Bergen. A major decision was whether to continue on NiN or get a ferry from Balestrand to Bergen. After consulting with my hoist in Bal. I decided to get a Norled ferry from Bal. to Bergen. My Bal. host felt that I would have seen the best of the NiN already; that it would be more complex to resume NiN, and that it is a lovely ferry ride from Bal. to Bergen.

There is a ferry from Bal. to Bergen at 7.50 AM and 4.55 PM Mon-Sat and the ferry ride is about four hours.

I have some doubt about taking the 8.25 AM NiN train from Oslo as if it were late there is a chance to could miss the last ferry from Flam to Bal which is at 3.30 PM (You have, of course, to get the train from Myrdal to Flam) Much as I hate to get up early I think we will take the 6.25 AM train from Oslo to be on the safe side.