What is the train journey like from Oslo to Bergen, Norway – 11/08/2023 – Tourism

Lakes, mountains, bridges, tunnels, pine trees, little houses… It’s no surprise that the railway that connects Oslo to Bergen, the second largest city in Norway, is often highlighted by specialized vehicles as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world .

The trip lasts seven hours and passes through impressive bucolic scenery. If it’s winter, everything becomes even more exotic for the Brazilian traveler, as many lakes turn into ice plains and snow takes over the pine trees and mountains.

Bergen serves as a base for travelers looking to explore the fjords, as it is close to the largest geographic formations of this type in Norway. Fjords are sea entrances bordered by high mountains, something like a sinuous and deep gulf. In addition to Norway, they occur in countries such as Denmark and New Zealand.

The largest of them, in Norway, is Sognefjord. It has a section, called Nærøyfjord, considered a world heritage site by UNESCO. To get there, you need to take an approximately two-hour train and bus journey from Bergen. There, it is possible to sail through the fjord aboard modern and grand electric boats.

A full-day itinerary from Bergen usually includes, in addition to the Nærøyfjord cruise, a train ride along the tourist route that connects Flåm to Mydral. The 20 km journey takes approximately one hour, as it is a steep climb. The train leaves from sea level to an altitude of 867 meters.

Built between 1923 and 1940, the route has 20 tunnels, 18 of which were excavated manually. The train makes a brief 5-minute stop so passengers can take photos at a waterfall – which is completely frozen in winter.

All tickets for the Bergen-Nærøyfjord-Flåm-Mydral-Bergen route can be purchased directly from the train and bus companies that operate regularly. If you prefer the convenience of purchasing the complete package, the receptive Norway in a Nutshell offers a kit with all tickets for a higher price.

But Bergen is not just a starting point. The city offers interesting attractions, such as the village of Bryggen. They are small buildings on the seafront that refer to the occupation of merchants in the region since the 14th century. Although they have been affected by fires over the centuries, the architectural style was preserved in the reconstructions.

Another tour worth visiting is the climb to Mount Fløyen, from where you have a wide view of Bergen and the North Sea. A funicular takes visitors to the site, where there is a cafe, a restaurant and a park with picnic tables and a playground.