Norway by Rail: Taking the Train Between Oslo and Bergen

In a country known for picturesque train rides, the route between Oslo and Bergen is one of the most beautiful. The views along the journey are an impressive reminder of why Norway is so famous for its nature. Even though the journey takes a bit longer by train than it would by air, the train trip is an experience in itself, and I highly recommend booking it for your transportation between the two cities.

A view from the train between Oslo and Bergen
A sample of the expansive track-side views you can see from the train between Oslo and Bergen

The journey from Oslo to Bergen

Starting off from Oslo

The journey starts at Oslo Central Station. Don’t forget to arrive early and give yourself some time to get settled in before the train leaves!

Once the train leaves the station, it will travel through a semi-urban area for a while before it reaches some of the farmland on the outskirts of Oslo.

The train passes through the rural area outside Oslo

Geilo

After a few hours, the train arrives in Geilo.

The train stop at Geilo

Geilo is well-known for its beautiful nature and is a hotspot for outdoor activities. It is one of Norway’s top skiing destinations and a gateway to two national parks.

Finse

Another scenic segment is the area around Finse, a mountain village located on the shore of lake Finsevatnet.

The area around Finse looks like a winter wonderland in the snow

Myrdal

One of the more popular stops is Myrdal. From Myrdal, you can take the Flåmsbana, or the train to Flåm, which is another one of the most famous and scenic trains in Norway. If you enjoyed this ride, the Flåmsbana offers even more gorgeous mountain and waterfall views!

After Myrdal, you will continue your journey through the mountains.

Mountains rise up along the trackside

Voss

Before your journey ends, keep an eye out for the beautiful scenes of Vangsvatnet lake in Voss.

Vangsvatnet lake in Voss as seen from the train between Oslo and Bergen
Vangsvatnet lake in Voss

Arrival in Bergen!

At the end of your journey, you will arrive at Bergen Station.

Bergen Station is centrally located and just a short walk from the Fish Market and many of the other attractions you can visit in Bergen.

Bryggen, Bergen
Once you’ve arrived in Bergen, you can check out attractions like the traditional buildings at Bryggen

Train details

Booking train tickets

You can book tickets up to 90 days in advance on the Vy website or app. There are several options for booking – you can get refundable tickets if you’re not sure about your journey.

You pick your seats when you book tickets, so make sure to choose a window seat! Don’t worry too much about which side you’re on – there are great views on both sides of the train!

Since trains are a more sustainable form of travel than flying, I try to take them when I can, but this one is worth it for the view alone!

Food and beverages on the train

The train includes a cafe car where you can get food and drinks along your journey. The cafe car also has seating, so you can sit there to eat and continue to watch the view go by. The food is not too expensive (by Norwegian standards), and there are options for vegetarians.

Don’t forget to check out this post for some of the top things to do once you arrive in Bergen!

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