Oslo to Bergen and Back: Travel Across Norway

In my continuing efforts to get all the goodie out of my Eurail Pass, I spent a few days in Norway one year, training from Oslo to Bergen and back again on a scenic train ride called the Flåm Mountain Railway. Of course I relished the train travel and welcomed the solo travel time, but the destination cities were surprisingly easy to navigate and enjoy on my own.

Whether staying for one day or three, whether arriving by air, train, cruise ship, or car, this quick guide to Norway's capital city of Oslo and the fascinating, historic port town of Bergen, will lead you to top museums, scenic views, and historic sites. Don't miss a chance to explore these two friendly waterfront cities.

Note: Since the original 2015 visit, this post was most recently updated in March 2025.

Oslo, Norway

With just 24 – 36 hours, it's tough to cover even the top attractions. I'm combining here the highlights and museums I visited, along with top picks and places accessible with the Oslo Pass. You can buy the Pass online or in the Oslo app, or at tourist offices. The Oslo Pass now includes public transportation in the city, the public ferry to Drøbak, and transportation to Oslo Airport. (See airport notes below under Getting There.) Best of all, the Pass gives you free admission to 30 museums and sights. Read on!

Oslo Museums

I’ve never known much about the artist Edvard Munch, other than tiring of “The Scream.” But I was so lucky to see an amazing display of Van Gogh alongside Munch in a temporary exhibit at the Munch Museum. Though the two artists never met in person, their careers paralleled each other in many respects. I had just visited Van Gogh’s stomping grounds on our trip through southern France, but saw more of his work here than I’d ever seen in one place. Outstanding, and yes, I did gain newfound respect for Edvard Munch, too. If you are lucky, you may find a special exhibit in the Edvard Munch studio at Ekely.

The new National Museum, reopened in 2022, combines the collections from the former National Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Norwegian Museum of Decorative Arts and Design. It will be my first stop when I return to Oslo.

For more on the art scene, take some time to explore contemporary art at the Astrup Fearnley Museet, a modern architecture landmark right on the fjord's edge.

Akershus Fortress is the prime historic site in Oslo. Dating from 1299, the imposing medieval castle served as both fortress and Royal Palace.

More intriguing history comes to life in the Fram Museum, also known as the Polar Exploration Museum. It features Fram, the wooden ship that set records for sailing the farthest north and south of any ship of its kind, a distinction it still holds. Note the Viking Ship Museum is closed for renovation. It is expected to open in 2027 as the new Museum of the Viking Age. Meanwhile, on the waterfront is the Norwegian Maritime Museum featuring a reconstruction of a Viking boat.

For great views over the region, head up to the Holmenkollen Ski Museum. It's a great family destination with interactive play, ski simulator, the thrilling ski jump tower, and a large collection of downhill and cross-country skis and winter gear used locally and in polar regions over hundreds of years.

Various Oslo museums are dedicated to Norway's cultural history. Check out the Norsk Folkemuseum, a.k.a. the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, an open-air museum demonstrating Norwegian lifestyles from 16th Century to the present through more than 150 historic buildings. The Nobel Peace Center honors the establishment and winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. (The Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo; the other Nobel Prizes are presented in Stockholm.)

Outdoor attractions include the Vigeland Sculpture Park at Frogner Park. It's conveniently located near the Kafe Vigeland and the Vigeland Museum. Or the other way around. Gustav Vigeland was the design and architecture mind behind this spacious public area.

Oslo Walking Highlights

For pleasurable strolling and sightseeing, check out the Oslo Botanical Gardens of the Natural History Museum and the emerging new district around Oslo Opera House. You may want to pop into the Oslo City Hall. This is the Norwegian capital city, after all, and City Hall houses the largest carillon in Scandinavia. Pedestrians will find Oslo city center a bright and safe place to walk.

I visited at the tail end of Oslo’s Pride weekend, so just walking through town from the train station up Karl Johans Gate toward Slotssparken was plenty of fun. Note the statue of playwright Henrik Ibsen beside the National Theater at the upper end of the walk. Parallel to Karl Johans street is the quieter Grensen shopping street, with markets, restaurants, and tram line.

Oslo Restaurants

Mind you, I only had one day!

Nilsen Spiseri seemed like one of the more typical places to eat in my neighborhood, and reasonably priced. Despite the appealing sign for reindeer and whale meat, I settled for a green salad, not on the menu but made by request.

Mister India Nearby, open for business, and extraordinarily good Indian food.

Cafe Cathedral This funky space with a curved veranda overlooking Karl Johans Gate (the main street running through town from the train station) is an appealing place for resting, people-watching, and enjoying a beer or after dinner coffee. Closing time comes early, so don’t dawdle.

Oslo Hotels

CityBox My first time with this concept hotel featuring self-service check-in and checkout using a pre-assigned PIN number. Comfortable, efficient, and friendly, their tagline is “Oslo is full of bars. Do you need one in your room?” Vending machines, microwave ovens, TVs, and plenty of local information are available in the spacious lounge. Free wireless available throughout, with a code provided at check-in. Great place for budget and solo travelers.

Comfort Hotel Grand Central For a quick turnaround in Oslo, staying at this hotel adjacent to the central train station is easy and pleasant. The floor plan is a bit of a maze through new and old buildings, but once you find your room, it’s easy to take advantage of the downtown neighborhood (a short walk) and the train station's atrium restaurants and shops. I wish I’d spent more time over the plentiful breakfast buffet.

Bergen, Norway

An outstanding little town that is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a European Capital of Culture. Like Oslo, the city of Bergen offers a convenient pass, the Bergen Card, which can help you plan your visit, set priorities, and save money. Besides gaining admission to multiple museums, the Bergen Card provides free travel on light rail and buses in the city, and includes cool attractions at a discount. If you have only a day or 36 hours and plan to stay in the city center, visiting museums a la carte may be your best value. Ask at the Tourism Office near at the Fish Market. 2025 prices on the Bergen Card range from 420 to 780 Krone ($38 – $71) for 1, 2, 3, or 4-day passes. Big discounts for kids 15 and under.

Bergen Museums and Attractions

There’s so much to see, a visit to the tourist office is a sound idea. Take a number; many folks are consulting about boat trips to the outer islands.

The Hanseatic League Museum gives excellent insight into the importance of Bergen within the entire Hanseatic League, based on its fishing trade. It was a seasonal business run entirely by the German community. The wooden structures and fish oil were huge fire risks, so oil lamps weren't used, and desks were placed at windows for natural light. The rest of the shops, workplaces and sleeping quarters are dim, though decorated with paint and posters.

Bryggens Museum, dedicated to the old wharf section of Bergen, is housed in a modern building built over the remains of the medieval quarters. Start in the basement to see rune sticks, foundations, and charred remains of the village’s oldest tenements. Various “Visit Bergen” tours start here, and the upper floor shows changing, contemporary exhibits.

KODE 3 Art Museum is one of four art galleries along the central park of Bergen. This gallery surveys the work of national and regional artists, including J.C. Dahl, Christian Krohg, Harriet Backer, Nikolai Astrup, Erik Werenskiold, and Gerald Menthe, displayed in the expressly built 1924 mansion.

Leprosy Museum is the site of one of Bergen's three leprosy hospitals, and is a testament both to the isolation of the patients and the dedication of researchers.

On a museum roll, I also stopped into the School Museum (focus on Ludvig Holberg and his propensity for Latin, reading, and travel), and the Hordaland Art Center, a contemporary art gallery featuring, at the time, a disturbing installation by Victor Lind depicting the deportation of Norwegian Jews and the participation of police inspector Knut Rød, who led the round-up operations. Rød was tried and acquitted.

More generally, the Bergen Kunsthall represents contemporary art from international and Norwegian artists.

Museum goers will enjoy the Bergen Maritime Museum and the Bergen Aquarium. both depicting the city's important relationship with the sea

One of Bergen's newer museum is the Textile Industry Museum at the Museum Centre in Hordaland. Crafty-types won't be able to tear themselves away.

It's the outdoor attractions in and around Bergen, however, that might provide visitors the most memorable experiences. Check out a Fjord Cruise. Or take a trip up the Ffløibanen Funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen for spectacular views over Bergen and Norway's west coast.

Bergen Walking Highlights

If you are up for it, you can opt to walk to Foibanen (instead of the funicular) for spectacular views of the city and harbor, the estuary and islands, and the nearby mountains.

Stop in St. Mary’s Church, just reopened during my visit after renovations. It's known for the pulpit (1676) and altarpiece (15th century). The basilica-style church has been in continuous use since being built in the 12th Century, 1130-1170.

My visit also coincided with the annual Edvard Grieg in Bergen Festival, so I headed to Korskirken for a concert featuring Sonoko Miriam Welde (violin), and Tor Erik Seime Pettersen (piano). Korskirken, built in the mid 12th century and re-purposed as a cultural center, is the church where Ibsen was married in 1858 to Suzannah Thoresen, the daughter of the pastor.

Of course you'll want to walk and linger around the historic harbor area, and if you do nothing else, that's OK.

Bergen Food and Restaurants

Kitchen and Table – This was my splurge meal, without guilt. I was attracted by the location overlooking Bergen’s harbor, and by the chef, Marcus Samuelsson, known throughout the world, but in particular in my hometown of Minneapolis. The service, once I was seated (they didn’t appear to know how to handle a single diner) was excellent, and I was treated to a complimentary dessert (perhaps because they felt sorry for this single diner).

The Bergen Fish Market beside the harbor is a scene to behold. Visitors order piles of seafood, and find a seat at nearby picnic tables. I didn’t have the appetite but enjoyed the show. On a later stroll through the area, I grabbed a really good reindeer burger for 5 Euro. The testy grill master was in the middle of an argument with another vendor, and the Polish-born young woman working the counter was simultaneously apologizing for his behavior (“he's mentally ill”) and talking about all the Minnesotans she's met in Bergen.

An indoor market at the harbor is another good way to beat the pricier side of Norwegian cuisine. I picked up sushi to take back to my hotel room. At the time it came to under under $10 for 6 pieces.

Bergen Hotels

Hotel Norge A pretty big hotel that still felt fairly cozy. I liked that it's walking distance to the train station, close to pedestrian space and the museums along Festplassen park, and just a few blocks from the popular harbor markets.

Getting There

I traveled between Oslo and Bergen on the Flåm train, using a Eurail Global Pass back in 2015. It was a fantastic experience you can read about in this post. Remarkably, Harald, the gentleman on the train, and I have been in touch since then.

To and from North America, flights are usually using the primary international airport, Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL). Torp Sandefjord Airport, farther south form Oslo, serves many of the discount airlines.

When you catch the express train to the airport from central Oslo, be sure you are headed to the correct airport! When I visited, for example, I flew Ryanair from Spain into a now defunct airport, Moss Rygge, and a Delta Flight back to the U.S. from OSL.

Bergen's international airport is a great option for beginning or ending your trip in this lovely city.

Many visitors arrive by cruise ship. Bergen offers ferry service to the main European continent, too. The train stations in both cities are centrally located.

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