Norway in a Nutshell: what the route is
Norway in a Nutshell is a product of Fjord Tours: a self-guided round trip that runs all year, starts at one day and begins and ends in Oslo or Bergen. Other starting points are Flåm, Voss and Geilo. You travel by train, boat and bus and plan the day around the connections you book.
This site is an independent guide. The round trips shown on the cards below are comparable rail, boat and bus trips from other providers. They are not the original product, so read each description for what it covers. If you want to know how the same ground works as "sognefjord in a nutshell", the sections below walk through it step by step.
Our picks: self-guided rail-and-boat trips
These are comparable self-guided tours from other providers, not an official Norway in a Nutshell product. The Bergen round trip is the shortest, while the Oslo options take longer and lean on the Bergen Railway.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Self-guided round trip from Oslo to the Sognefjord
- Scenic Bergen Railway from Oslo
- Fjord cruise on Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
- Bus trip
You get off the train at Myrdal and travel without a guide. A sleeping compartment on the night train is included only if you book that option, and the booking is not free to cancel.
Check availability →
Self-guided Bergen to Oslo day with Flåmsbana and cruise
- Fjord cruise on Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
- Scenic Bergen Railway, train to Oslo
- Breathtaking Flåm railway
There is no guide on this day. The Bergen–Voss train and a bus trip are part of the route.
Check availability →
Self-guided round trip from Bergen by rail and boat
- Bergen Railway, Myrdal - Bergen
- Fjord cruise on Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord
- Flåm Railway & Bus Trip
You travel without a guide, and your itinerary arrives by email after booking. It suits travellers who want to set their own pace.
Check availability →Self-guided round trips by train, boat and bus
Rail, boat and bus round trips through the Sognefjord area, with details on duration and what is included.
What the route consists of
Four building blocks, in the direction you choose.
The route is built from four legs: Bergen to Voss, Voss to Gudvangen, Gudvangen to Flåm and Flåm to Myrdal. The Bergen Railway links Oslo, Myrdal, Voss and Bergen. A bus runs through the Nærøy valley, and the boat crosses from Gudvangen to Flåm through the Nærøyfjord. The Flåm Railway climbs from Flåm to Myrdal over 20 km.
Which direction you take and how the connections fit decides the order of the day. Read the Flåm Railway page for the booking rules and the Nærøyfjord page for the boat. The Nærøyfjord is the only part of the area that is a World Heritage site.
Oslo to Flåm by train
The way is the Bergen Railway and then the Flåm Railway.
To reach Flåm from Oslo, take the Bergen Railway as far as Myrdal and change there to the Flåm Railway. Myrdal has no ticket counter or ticket machine, so buy your tickets beforehand.
One self-guided trip from Oslo takes 18 hours. It comes with a travel itinerary, a 2-hour boat trip from Gudvangen to Flåm, a bus ride and tickets for the Flåm Railway and the Bergen Railway. Lunch, drinks and a guide are not included. Another self-guided trip from Oslo takes about 22 hours. It includes a cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord, a bus trip (with Stalheimskleiva from May to September), the Bergen Railway from Oslo and a sleeping compartment on the night train if you book that option. Check the cancellation terms before you book.
Starting in Bergen, one trip includes the Bergen Railway from Myrdal to Bergen, a cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord on a classic boat, the Flåm Railway and a bus trip. A trip from Bergen to Oslo takes 12 to 16 hours. It combines the cruise, the Bergen Railway to Oslo, the train from Bergen to Voss, the bus (Stalheimskleiva from May to September) and the Flåm Railway. It has no guide and ends in Oslo.
Self-guided or guided
Two ways to see the same places.
On a self-guided trip you hold the tickets and watch the connections yourself. A guided day tour from Bergen goes by bus, and a guide looks after the day. Those tours are compared on the day trip from Bergen page. If you want to go by boat from Bergen, see the Sognefjord cruise page.
Luggage and tickets
What to sort out before the day.
A luggage transfer between Oslo and Bergen is an extra option and is not included automatically. On the boats, luggage racks are unattended and you leave bags at your own risk. Lockers are available at the customer centre in Flåm.
Rail tickets from Vy and boat tickets from the boat operator are separate contracts. You plan the connections yourself, and a saving is not guaranteed. On the Flåm Railway, an active Interrail or Eurail travel day gives 30 % off regular single tickets. Your own bike needs a bike ticket from Vy or Entur.
For other fjords and routes, see the wider Norway in a Nutshell overview. This page deals with the Sognefjord stages only.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs Norway in a Nutshell?
Fjord Tours runs it. This guide is independent, and the cards on this page are comparable round trips from other providers.
Can I do the route in one day?
Yes, it starts at one day, with Oslo or Bergen as the start and end. Extra nights can be added.
Is there a direct train from Oslo to Flåm?
Take the Bergen Railway to Myrdal, then the Flåm Railway down to Flåm.
Are the tickets cheaper when I buy them together?
Not necessarily. Separate tickets are separate contracts, and a saving is not guaranteed.