Mr NordicBy rail along vast plains, winding rivers, beautiful fjords and high mountain peaks. Traveling with the Norwegian Railways is a special experience. The trains are comfortably furnished and the routes lead through a varied fjord and mountain landscape with lovely valleys, endless high plains, crystal clear mountain lakes, high mountain peaks, turbulent waterfalls and tunnels through the mountains.
Norway has a well-developed rail network that runs from Kristiansand in the south to Bodø above the Arctic Circle.
The most famous of these rail journeys is the Bergensbanen, which even made Lonely Planet’s list of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. The route runs between Oslo and Bergen through Hardangervidda, Europe’s highest mountain plateau. A side track of the route, the Flåm Railway, is one of the steepest railways in the world.
Travel to the fjords by train
The Bergen Railway is perhaps the most popular of the panoramic Norwegian train journeys and this is certainly justified. The train travels through beautiful mountain scenery, from Oslo to Gol and Geilo, up through the Hallingdal Valley towards Finnish and past the beautiful Hardangerjøkulen Glacier before descending again to its final destination.
Not only does the Bergen Railway connect the two main cities of the country, Bergen and Oslo, it also shows you a beautiful overview of different Norwegian landscapes along the way. Fields, fjords, forests, and mountains are all part of the seven-hour drive. The fact that the railway passes the highest point in Norway is also interesting.
The view during a train journey is one of the main attractions of Norway.
Myrdal has a train connection with the city of Bergen as well as with Oslo, so you can easily find a connection if you want to do everything by train. The train runs all year round, including in winter. Which produces wonderfully beautiful images.
A railway worth mentioning is the Dovre line. It runs between Oslo and Trondheim and has a side track, the Rauma line, which runs between Dombås and Åndalsnes – the pretty mountain town close to the fjord.
Åndalsnes train station and the Romsdalsfjorden
This is the best place to get to the famous fjords by train. In Åndalsnes there are several viewpoints where you can look out over the beautiful Romsdalsfjorden. After the steep climb to the viewpoint, take your comfortable train seat and continue your journey through the Norwegian landscape.
The Raumabanen is a 114-kilometer train journey along and over the Rauma River. This river winds from Åndalsnes to Dombås through multiple rapids, waterfalls, vast lakes and deep gorges.
If you want to discover Norway from top to bottom, you should definitely travel by train from Bodø to Trondheim.
The most beautiful train route in Europe is located between Oslo and Bergen. The track goes through vast forests and slowly climbs to the Hardanger plateau, also known as the roof of Norway. Then the train descends back to sea level, where you are surrounded by high mountain peaks and deep fjords. Oslo is the capital of Norway and also the largest city.
How much does a train trip in Norway cost?
It is often thought that a train journey through Norway is very expensive, but in practice this is not so bad. For example, a round trip from Oslo to Bergen including fjord cruise and 5 nights costs from € 600 per person. A 10-day tour including a rental car costs an average of € 1,250 per person. There is nothing to say for a completely arranged trip through the most beautiful nature in Europe: the experience is priceless.
Last Updated on June 17, 2020
