Norway: Cities by Train
Explore Oslo and its complex history then travel accross southern Norway by train to reach Bergen
Norway's two largest cities are located on opposite sides of the country, both in it's southern half: Oslo and Bergen.
Oslo's significance can be traced back to it's first mentions in Norse Sagas from 1045 when King Harald Hardrada, considered the last great viking ruler, procalaimed the area a trading post. In 1174 a monastery was built on Hovedøya island in the Oslofjord which can still be visited today. This marked the beginning of a strong christain influence in the area. It wasn't until 1299 that Oslo became the capital city after King Haakon V came to power and begin using Oslo has a base and point of protection against the Swedish by building the Akershus Fortress. The black plague hit Europe and spread to Norway in 1349, killing many and leading to Norway joining the Kalmar Union with Denmark and Sweden in 1397 through which Oslo lost it's capital status. In 1624 a fire struck the city, burning many buildings to the ground. The rebuilding process allowed the rich to move to nice brick buildings in the new city of Christiania, next to Oslo, while to poor remained in the wooden ones. Such an event amplified inequalities between economic classes. In 1814 Chrinstina became the capital once more and prominent buildings such as the Royal Palace were built. The city was officially named Oslo on January 1st, 1925.
Bergen is an old port city founded by King Olaf III Haraldsson in 1070. Here he built a castle in the Vågen harbour for himself, this harbor remains the most prominent port in Norway today. It was Norway's capital in the 12th-13th century during which the Bergenhus Fortress was made which still stands today. The city was taken over by the Germans thereafter and held onto their control until the 17th century. They played a role in the destruction of a few prominent buildings, such as the Håkonshallen which has been rebuilt and can be visited today. Today, it is the second largest city in Norway and still holds a large presence in the shipping industry.
Bergen's Habor and Fish Market
Bakery stand near Bergen Harbor
View of Havnelageret from Opera House
Day 1: Oslo
Walk to the Akershus Fortress and explore the area. From here, you can get a view of the sea. From there, you can stop by the theater on the water for more views of the city before making your way to the palace via the long road. Stop for lunch at Engebret, Oslo's oldest cafe or at Oslo Street Food, where you’ll be able to find an array of cuisines.
Day 2: Oslo → Bergen
Take the F4 train from Oslo to Bergen. It’s a 6-hour ride that will allow you to beat any car to your destination while you explore the scenic views of Norway’s lakes, glaciers, and small towns. The train often runs many times a day, so look into the schedule. If you’d like to get off at a stop (there are typically 15 stops) for 2 hours, plan accordingly and ensure you have a ride that will take you the rest of the way.
Recommended stops:
Hallingdal (great kids activities!)
Finse (town only accessible by train and bike!)
Myrdal (Come try Norwegian waffles here! From the station, you can take another train down to the Flam harbor, bike to Flam, or experience Norway’s longest zip line, which takes you down the mountain)
If it’s Winter, take the early train and get off at Hemsedal where you can spend the day skiing and take the overnight train to Bergen.
Day 3: Bergen.
Welcome to Norway’s second largest city! Explore the art-filled alleyways of Bergen and stop by Kaf Kafe Bryggen for some coffee. Explore the Bergenhus Fortress and shopping streets such as Strandgaten. During the warmer months, you should be sure to check out the fish market for lunch. The market features a large variety of fresh catches from all sorts of vendors. You can have both raw and cooked fish here.
Additionally, Bergen is surrounded by nature, if you'd like to explore this, take a hike to Brushytten, a cafe in the mountains. You'll pass by the small lake of Revurtjernet and get some views of Bergen and its surroudnings.
The Norwegian Opera and Ballet
Norwegian Royal Palace
Bredsgården Street
Kaigaten Street
View from Rosenkrantz Tower