Norway in A Nutshell: My Itinerary & Guide
Last Updated on July 4, 2024
Norway in a Nutshell is a scenic journey into the backcountry of Norway, along the stunning fjords and steep mountain roads via different kinds of transport (train, bus and fjord cruise). Here’s my experience.
Frozen lakes, dark green pines, and white-and-red Scandinavian farmhouses flank both sides of the railway as we swoosh through the white snow on our modern-day polar express. We’re climbing higher and higher into the mountains and the slopes are plunging into the endless depth. As I peer down and look beneath the tracks, my head spins slightly. It’s easy to get vertigo at this lofty height aboard one of the world’s steepest railway lines.
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Norway in A Nutshell Itinerary
One of the highlights of our Norway itinerary was the ‘Norway in A Nutshell’ trip. As its name implies, the trip gives a glimpse into the best that Norway can offer in just one day – perfect for those with short on time. Lauded as one of the best day-trips in Norway, the journey brought us through the most picturesque part of Norway traveling on train, bus, and boat. By the end of the day, we felt that we’d seen Norway from several perspectives.
Bergen Railway: from Oslo to Myrdal
We started our “Norway in the Nutshell” journey from the capital city of Oslo, where we hopped onto the famous Bergen Railway. Instead of taking the railway all the way to Bergen, we would be doing a detour at Myrdal. The 500 km railway line was voted one of the 20 best railway experiences in the world in 1999. Trains in Norway are excellent – they’re comfortable, punctual and even offer WiFi on board. No other train ride between two cities in Europe goes at higher altitude than the Bergen Railway. One of the most spectacular stretch was when it crossed over the Hardangervidda, Europe’s highest mountainous plateau.
Flåm Railway: Myrdal to Flåm
The next part of this Norway in a nutshell journey was our favorite, as the Flåm Railway brought us through steep gorges and waterfalls to the village of Flåm. Aboard an old-style vintage train, we snaked through deep ravines and frozen waterfalls, clinging tightly to the steep mountain sides. It offered an experience like no other, whisking us through time, back to the days when engineers worked day and night to become pioneers in the industry. Indeed, this railway line is a masterpiece of Norwegian engineering and a must for any rail enthusiast.
Fjord cruise: Flåm to Gudvangen
At Flåm station, we then hopped onto the fjord cruise to explore the Aurlandsfjord, a 17-kilometer arm of the world’s second longest fjord, the Sognefjord. This is known as one of the most picturesque fjords in the world and is part of the World Heritage area. As we sailed off into the fjord, we could see the towering mountains closing in, leaving a narrow gap for us to sail through. These mountains reach heights of over 1,400 meters, flanking both sides of the fjord all the way to our destination Gudvangen.
Along the way, the boat made a few stops at the tiny villages of Aurland and Undredal where Nordic huts are stacked atop cobblestoned streets. We visited during winter so it was dark by the time we arrived at Gudvangen, thankfully we managed to take in the views before the sun set.
Scenic Bus: Gudvangen to Voss
Continuing on our journey to Voss, we boarded the bus from Fjord Tours that took us through the Stalheimskleiva. This 1-5 kilometer-long winding road weaves its way up the slopes of the mountains hrough 13 sharp hairpin bends from the end of the Nærøydalen valley to the top at Stalheim. The steepest gradient is almost 1 to 5 (20%) and we even though we couldn’t see where we were going, we felt the bends and curves. It was such a pity that daylight had already eluded us and we were missing the views that this road was famous for.
Flickr image by Ard van der Leuw
Back on Bergen Railway: Voss to Bergen
For the last part of my Norway in a nutshell trip, we hopped back onto the Bergen Railway for a short and simple train ride to the city of Bergen. By the time, we pulled in to Bergen, it was 9pm and it felt like we had crossed continents. It was definitely an unforgettable journey, a journey that definitely ranks high as one of our favorite in the world.
[Read my full 7-day Norway itinerary for details of where to go and what to see at each stop.]
Want to Read More about Norway?
That’s a wrap! Thank you for reading all the way to the end. If you have any question, feel free to leave me a comment below!
Read my articles on Norway below:
- Norway in a Nutshell
- Bergen Travel Guide
- 11 Fun Things to Do in Lapland in Winter
- Arctic Circle Train: Traveling Lapland by Train
- Svalbard Landscapes: Icebergs and Glaciers
- Riding the Glacier Express
- 15 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Europe
- Best Winter Destinations in Europe
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The Comments
Jeremy Branham
Beautiful photos! I have a much greater appreciation for places in winter now. Love the scenery and snow!
Cacinda Maloney
I am taking almost this same route in August 2013, I wonder what it will look like during the summer? thanks for sharing.
@WildJunket
Cacinda MaloneyWe've been to Norway in summer as well, and it looks completely different: emerald green pastures and bright blue lakes, a different kind of gorgeous! It still doesn't get that warm, so I'd recommend bringing a light jacket just in case. :)
andiperullo
Sure does look cold, but absolutely gorgeous!!!!!
Lucille Hutton
I've taken this journey and its spectacular. We stopped off at a lodge but I can't remember exactly where., perhaps Myrdal.
@WildJunket
Lucille HuttonYes there are a few B&Bs in Myrdal that look gorgeous! The next time we do this trip we'll make sure to stop somewhere during the journey too.
@WildJunket
Thanks Ele! Glad this post is useful to you. :) Norway in a Nutshell is definitely a daytrip that's worth your while. It'll be much better in summer because daylight's longer and you'll then get a chance to see the fjord clearly on the cruise and also the winding road during your bus ride.
Ann
Does anyone know if the Nushell is safe for someone who has mobility issues (no wheelchair, but uses a cane and is at high risk for falls) to take at this time of year?
@WildJunket
Annhey Ann, when you say 'at this time of the year', are you referring to now – April 2013 – or do you mean winter when we visited? Either way, the Norway in a Nutshell journey is quite easy and doesn't require much walking or movement so I'd say that it's safe for people with mobility issues. Most trains have ramps that help facilitate movement and there are also plenty of conductors around to assist. For the fjord cruise, it's also easy to hop on and off. I'd only advise you to be careful if visiting in winter as there's plenty of snow and ice around and that may be an issue for someone at high risk of falling. Let us know if you have anymore questions!
Amanda@AAA
Wow! I've been meaning to go to Norway for years, and am finally planning to get up there this year to chase the Northern Lights. Loving your photos… I'm feeling even more inspired now.
Adra Gesza
Amazing photos! I’m planning to go there this May. I heard this year Europe has extremely long winter. Guess I need to put extra layers of shirts. I was wondering is it possible if I want to hop off at Gudvangen and have 1 night then hop on again and continue the Norway in a nutshell tour? Also is it possible to do thebl tour carrying big luggage?
Nellie
Adra GeszaI think it\’s possible to stop over at Gudvangen, but I\’m not sure. It\’s best to check with the folks from Fjord Tours. You can definitely do the trip with heavy luggage, that\’s what we did and most of the other travelers. Hope this helps!
Nellie
We used to hate the cold too, but somehow have overcome our fear after going to places like Arctic and Antarctica. Norway is one of the most beautiful places in Europe and we cannot recommend it enough.
Kassie
Too amazing!! I plan to visit this route in winter too but wasnt too sure about the amount of scenery we can see becos of the short daylight hours. Can i find out which month did u visit? :)
Nellie Huang
Kassiehey Kassie, thanks for dropping in! Norway is absolutely stunning in winter – as long as you dress well, the cold is really quite tolerable. :) The short daylight hours weren’t all that bad either – we got to see a lot even though the sun set around 4pm. We were there in December and even spent Christmas in Oslo. Hope you enjoy your trip! Let me know if you have any more questions, I’m happy to share some tips!