Norway sits high on the list of our favorite countries, and we’ve barely scratched the surface. We can’t wait to go back and explore more of this beautiful Nordic country and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a laid-back trip full of nature and history. We traveled here in the summer of 2019 but would love to explore in the winter where we could potentially have a chance at seeing the ‘Northern Lights’.
How to Get Here
The easiest way to Norway is obviously by air and it’s likely that flying into Oslo is going to be the most practical in terms of flexibility and cost. From Seattle, we traveled on Norwegian Air through London Gatwick to Oslo. It was about an 18-hour journey one-way for us but fairly painless as there are no visa requirements for US citizens staying 90 days or less. We grabbed a train from the airport to downtown Oslo. On the way home we took a Norwegian/Iceland Air flight through Reykjavik but unfortunately didn’t have time to take advantage of their appealing layover packages.
Trip Length
Our trip lasted a short eight days. We would definitely recommend at least two weeks, if possible, in order to be able to venture out to a few more spots and do a lot more hiking. We spent two days in Oslo at the start of the trip then headed west spending two non-consecutive nights in Sogndal, and one night in Loen, Bergen and Stavanger.
Where to Stay
We found Norway similar to Iceland in the fact that accommodations are fairly pricey especially in the summer months. As you can probably tell by now, we do not place a lot of importance on lodging when it comes to our trips. We spend so little time in the room, sometimes just long enough to sleep and shower that as long as it is clean and safe we’re happy. Below is the list of places we stayed (ranging from $52-$270/night in 2019) and would happily do so again.
Oslo – Cochs Pensjonat which was conveniently located but a bit loud at night as it was on the street with some restaurants and bars. Keep in mind, air conditioning is not a given in many of the Nordic countries so sleeping with the windows open was a must.
Sogndal – Best Western Laegreid was a quick walk from the central bus station in Sogndal. We stayed here one night and then headed to Loen for a night before coming back for our second night. The hotel staff was very accommodating and allowed us to leave our laundry and retrieve it upon our second check-in. Continental breakfast was also served as part of our room charge.
Loen – Hotel Loenfjord was a cheerful bed and breakfast situated beside a beautiful river and surrounded by mountains. The only downside of this hotel was the massive number of guests from multiple tour buses. It was by far the most expensive but also the nicest of our accommodations on the trip. The hotel was within walking distance of the Loen Skylift which takes you up the mountain for amazing views of the fjords. Continental breakfast was also served as part of our room charge.
Bergen – Magic Hotel Korskirken was a trendy spot near the center of the old historical district in Bergen. Continental breakfast was also served as part of our room charge.
Stavanger – Comfort Hotel Square was another trendy spot within walking distance of the bus station. Continental breakfast was also served as part of our room charge.
Oslo – Comfort Hotel Runway as the name implies is a hotel airport. Continental breakfast was also served as part of our room charge. One thing to note is that even though this hotel was very close to the runway of the main airport in Oslo, we had a very peaceful night of sleep. The windows are very thick and blocked out all the air traffic noise.
What to Do
Oslo
We started our trip in Oslo since it was the most logical starting point for our trip. Oslo is a great city. Clean and walkable with lots of green spaces, cafes, etc. We picked up the Oslo Pass since it included free entry to quite a few places on our list as well as free public transportation. This ended up being a great deal for us based on how many attractions we managed to squeeze in including: Akershus Castle, Fram Museum, Historical Museum, Nobel Peace Center, Norsk Folkemuseum, Norway’s Resistance Museum, Norwegian Maritime Museum, and the Kon-Tiki Museum.
We really enjoyed learning about Nordic culture and the history of the Vikings. As some of you may know, Amanda is a Disney fan and one of her favorite spots in Epcot was Norway in the World Showcase. She was very excited to get to see a real Stave church in person and she was not disappointed. The Norsk Folkemuseum provided an interesting way to see history throughout different regions and time periods.
Norway in a Nutshell
We then took the Norway in a Nutshell train/bus tour from Oslo to Bergen. While it does restrict what you can see and do, it was a great way to see the country without having to drive ourselves. In Myrdal we changed trains and took the Flåm Railway down to Flåm. There is a great stop at a beautiful waterfall and the scenery overall is really great. From Flåm we caught a boat and traveled on the Aurlandsfjord to Leikanger. From Leikanger, we transferred to a bus and headed to Sogndal where we stayed overnight. From Sogndal you take the UNESCO Fjord Bus tour towards Geiranger. We did another overnight stay in Loen and took the Loen Skylift. At the top we enjoyed a very scenic hike along with lunch in the restaurant.
From Loen we traveled by bus to Geiranger, a quaint village at the end of Geirangerfjord. The drive into the fjord was breathtaking. The bus stops at the viewpoint Flydalsjuvet for a fantastic view of the fjord. This is a popular spot on the cruise ship route so it can be quite busy, but we highly recommend it.
We spent some time relaxing and grabbed some pizza and a beer in Geiranger before hopping on a fjord cruise. This fjord is beautiful with lots of waterfalls and dramatic cliffs. After the cruise, we boarded the bus and headed back to Sogndal.
The next day we rented a car and drove to the Nigard Glacier. A short hike allowed us to get up close to this glacier that has quick moving stream flowing to the lake below. After the glacier, we drove to Solvorn where we hopped on a quick boat ride over to Ornes to see another stave church. We then headed back, returned the rental car and traveled by bus to Leikanger for our last leg of Norway in a Nutshell via boat on the Sognefjord to Bergen ferry. The express boat trip takes about five hours, and the boat stops at several villages along the route. The great news is that the views are beautiful, and they serve a variety of food and beverages on the boat.
Upon arriving in Bergen, we found a nice dinner spot and spent the evening relaxing. The next day, we explored the UNESCO World Heritage site Bryggen, took the tram up to Mt. Floyen, and walked around the city on our quick one-night stay.
We ended our trip with a bus/boat tour to Lysefjord and a hike to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock). To say it was a popular hike would be an understatement, but it was definitely worth it.
We are glad we went the tour route on our first visit as it reduces a lot of planning and stress. Next time we would definitely rent a car, so we have more flexibility to go out hiking more in the beautiful fjords and mountains. We only scratched the surface of this wonderful country, and we can’t wait to return!