🙂 Scenery!
We were up bright and early for breakfast and walked to the tram line to travel to Oslo station to join the 08h25 Oslo train arriving in Bergen at 15h05. It was gorgeous weather!
The trains between Bergen and Oslo are very comfortable and has a carriage with a cafe and refreshments. The train also has wifi, however sometimes a bit unstable perhaps due to all the tunnels..! You can purchase tickets on Rail Ninja – we opted for standard class which was perfectly comfortable.
The scenery was spectacular with colourful lupins lining the railway tracks and stunning vistas. This is truly one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world – Breathtaking views on every side of the train had me pressing my nose against the windows in complete awe for hours!!
The manager in the food car kindly gave us this map of the route which travelled through diverse climate zones and vegetation. We ordered hot dogs on rollers with onions and sauces and Paul sampled the beer which is only served on this particular line. I had the best waffle I have ever tasted in my life! DELICIOUS!
The tour offers fantastic views ranging from low lands leaving Oslo continuing through forests and past lakes and up towards the mountains to the highest point … After careening through the mountainous landscapes for a few hours, the train will stop for 10-15 minutes at Finse; the highest station along the Bergensbanen train journey at about 1222 meters above sea level. There is no public road access to the station, so the station and surrounding area can only reached via the Bergensbanen or by skiing in! The large glacier chunk at the top of Hardangerjøkulen was the area that they chose to portray the ice planet, Hoth in the movie Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Exciting!!
Once over the top and heading downhill the climate changes astonishingly. Myrdal is clearly on the maritime coast of Norway, milder and damper than what’s come before. The only branch line on the route, the Flåmsbana to, er, Flåm leaves from here. It is one of several stations on the line where no roads lead.
Then the tour continues with views of fjords, waterfalls and rivers. The train between Oslo and Bergen operates the whole year – it really is a MUST do!
We arrived in a timely manner at Bergen – just stunning!
We had checked the distance to the hotel and it looked like a ten minute walk – unfortunately 45mins later after walking up a hill to the wrong hotel lugging our heavy luggage we arrived! LOL! Unfortunately there was a lot of graffiti in what is an otherwise very picturesque place.
The good news was that our Clarion Hotel Admiral Bergen was absolutely lovely with great views.
We headed out to explore and stop off for a drink at the Flying Dutchman – they played 80s music all the way – we were loving it!
The fish market is famous but we could not help feeling so very sorry for the huge crabs and lobsters awaiting their fate in crowded tanks…very sad.
Whale meat is on sale everywhere.
The wooden houses make for captivating photographs.
We then took the Fløibanen Funicular up Fløyen Mountain for spectacular views!
We were so pleased that we did this excursion! I bought some lovely fluffy mittens and a Christmas tree deoration.
We then searched for a place to eat – I wasn’t really in the mood for anything and felt quite exhausted. Paul was in his element and ordered all his favourite dishes.
Afterwards we bought some street food waffles with the works before heading to bed and falling asleep immediately at 9.30pm while it was still light!
Nessy took this lovely photo in the early morning hours.
Go Back to: Oslo
Go To: Aurlandsfjord & Flam Railway
