How I Planned My Norway by Rail Trip

Last Updated on 26th April 2026

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One day, a random thought popped into my head: could I travel the length of Norway by rail?. The answer is yes, you almost can.

Most of mainland Norway is well serviced by railway lines, and the scenery the trains pass through is some of the most stunning in the world.

For me, this trip was all about the rail journey and the landscapes along the way. The places I stopped at weren’t chosen as destinations in themselves, they were simply where the tracks ended. That was, at least, until I reached Nordland, where the railway gives way to ferries and buses if you want to continue further north.

My original plan was carry on all the way to Narvik to travel the Ofoten Line, but time wasn’t on my side. Instead, I travelled as far as Tromsø, with every intention of returning one day to finish what I started.

Mapping the Route

Planning a multi-stop journey can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming, especially when you keep stumbling across even more magical possibilities than you originally imagined.

I wish I could say that I had a genius method for mapping out my route, but I didn’t. I simply looked at the railway lines across Norway and sought advice from a friend who used to live there. It was his recommendation that led me to the Bergen – Flåm ferry, and when he heard I was considering a bus through Lofoten to Tromsø, he suggested the port-to-port journeys on the Havila and Hurtigurten coastal ships.

I did have to drop a couple of routes; the Sørland and Ofoten lines – as I couldn’t fit them into my schedule. The Røros Line, Norway’s oldest railway, was also closed for engineering works.

Next, I needed to figure out how to get to Norway from London. With the help of The Man in Seat 61, I discovered a great route via Germany, followed by an overnight ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo. You can do this entirely by rail, but I liked the idea of adding some variety, and I’d never taken an overnight ferry before.

With my route mapped out, it was time to fit everything into the three weeks I had available. I started by checking the Eurostar prices, midweek is usually cheaper, then planned the rest of the journey around that.

Then came the real puzzle: days, routes, timings, and of course, budget. I turned to my trusty Excel travel planner to track everything; stop durations, train times, accommodation costs, and total spend. A few tweaks later and I finally had an itinerary that worked.

Booking the Trains & Ferries

Before booking check if your journey is possible, lines can be closed for a long period of time due to landslides. While the Norwegian landscape is beautiful, combined with the Norwegian weather it can be vicious.

Date	Depart	Arrive	Route/Stop	Booking Site(s)
21st Aug	09:04	12:38	London – Brussels	Rail Europe (Eurostar)
	14:25	21:14	Brussels – Cologne – Hamburg	Rail Europe (Deutsche Bahn)
22th Aug	06:31	11:49	Hamburg – Copenhagen	Rail Europe (Deutsche Bahn)
	16:30	10:00	Copenhagen – Oslo (overnight ferry)	Go Nordic Cruiseline
23rd Aug	12:03	19:10	Oslo – Bergen	Vy
25th Aug	08:00	13:40	Bergen – Flåm (ferry)	Norled Ferries
26th Aug	08:25	15:05	Flåm – Myrdal – Oslo	Vy
28th Aug	08:02	13:29	Oslo – Dombås – Åndalsnes	Entur (SJ Nord)
29th Aug	09:25	14:40	Åndalsnes – Dombås – Trondheim	Entur (SJ Nord)
1st Sep	07:49	17:44	Trondheim – Bodø	Entur (SJ Nord)
2nd Sep	16:00	19:15	Bodø – Moskenes – Reine	Ferry to Lofoten – Torghatten Bus to Reine – Reis
4th Sep	11:28	14:57	Reine – Leknes – Svolvær (bus)	Reis App
6th Sep	22:15	14:15	Svolvær – Tromsø (overnight ferry)	Havila
10th Sep	10:10	14:25	Tromsø – London Gatwick (via Oslo)	Norwegian

Booking Tickets

Trains

I booked the bulk of my travel through Entur, Norway’s state-owned booking system for most public transport. It’s also an excellent planning tool, providing complete routes and directing you to the appropriate ticket seller if it can’t sell a particular leg of your journey.

Both the website and the app are reliable, easy to use, and stores all your tickets one place. The only downside was having to purchase tickets individually; it doesn’t allow you to add multiple journeys to a basket and check out in one go.

If you’re travelling to the Lofoten Islands, the Reis app is a must. It became my constant travel companion; not only is it an easy way to buy bus tickets, but it also provides real-time updates on services.

For my journey from London to Copenhagen, Rail Europe was the most convenient option. There is a small booking fee, but I could simply enter my start and end destinations and travel dates, and it handled the rest.

If you’re planning a stopover (for example, in Hamburg), select “More options” in the search box. This allows you to add a ‘via’ destination and specify the duration of your stop.

Ferries

I booked all ferry journeys directly with the operators.

Copenhagen → Oslo

Operated by Go Nordic Cruiseline, this route includes a standard cabin as part of the ticket. You can select a different cabin for an additional cost, with options ranging from a standard inside cabin to a Commodore Deluxe cabin with sea views and jacuzzis. I chose a standard seaview cabin, which turned out to be the perfect choice. I woke in the middle of the night to the moon shimmering along the ocean.

Bergen → Flåm

Norled runs a twice-daily express service between Bergen and Flåm from 1st April to 30th October. There is no service during winter.

Bodø → Moskenes, Lofoten
This ferry is free, and there’s no need to book in advance. You can reserve a guaranteed place for 65 NOK via Torghatten. I travelled towards the end of the tourist season so turning up and boarding was perfectly fine.

Important point to note: all passengers must register before boarding – there are QR codes at the port which will take you to this registration page.

Svolvær, Lofoten → Tromsø
In addition to operating cruise voyages, both Havila Voyages and Hurtigruten run port-to-port passenger services. I chose Havila as it was the cheapest option at the time. You can book either a comfortable reclining seat or an inside cabin, depending on your budget and preference.

Picking the Best Seats

If view matters to you (and let’s be honest, it usually does on scenic rail journeys), I always recommend doing a quick search of your route. There are plenty of generous travellers who’ve shared their best seat picks.

Before I share my own tips, here’s the single most important one: reserve your seats in advance. Ideally, do this months ahead. Not only you will secure cheaper fares, but you’ll also have your pick of the best seats.

And if someone happens to be sitting in your reserved seat, don’t be afraid to politely, but firmly, ask them to move. This happened to me on this trip with a German couple who refused at first. I stood my ground, explained that I’d reserved the seat months in advance (for a very good reason), and it definitely helped that the guard was standing behind me, ready to step in if needed. You’ve paid for that seat, and the guard will back you up.

Here are my top seats picks for each journey (all assuming you’re facing direction of travel):

• Bergen Line: towards Bergen, sit on the left-hand side for the best glacier and fjord views
• Flåmsbana: it honestly doesn’t matter, there are spectacular views on both sides. If you’re doing a return trip, you can always swap sides on the way back
• Ruama Line: the Trollveggen is on your left towards Åndalsnes

• Dovre Line: towards Trondheim, sit on the left-hand side for views of the Gudbrandsdalen, Lake Mjøsa, and the Dovrefjell mountains
• Nordland Line: towards Bodø, sit on the right-hand side for a view of the Artic Circle marker. You won’t miss it, the train driver toots the horn when the train passes over it

When to Book (and Why Timing Matters)

It’s quite common in most countries for train fares to be cheaper the earlier you book, and Norway is no exception. I’d highly recommend booking in advance as Norwegian rail and ferry travel can be expensive (though still cheaper than the UK).

I booked around two months ahead. Most of my tickets were standard class, but I did manage to score great-value premium fares on SJ Nord along the Dovre Line – Oslo to Dombås for £25 (319 NOK/€29) and Dombås to Trondheim £24 (299 NOK/€27).

And what did premium get me? A comfortable seat with extra legroom, bottled water, unlimited hot drinks, and chocolate (I’m a sucker for free chocolate); all included.

Booking Accommodation

What I Looked For

As with my travel costs, my accommodation choices were guided first by price, then location, and finally by reviews. Ideally, I wanted to stay within walking distance to the train station, especially when catching early departures, but that wasn’t always possible.

As a solo female traveller, safety is key. Before clicking the “book now” button, I always take a quick Google Street View walkaround. Would I feel comfortable arriving late at night? Would I be happy walking around the neighbourhood during the day? These small checks helped me feel more confident about where I was staying.

Where I Stayed

My booking habits have changed a lot. Where I once considered Airbnb my first option, I now almost exclusively book hotels, with Airbnb as a last resort. It’s partly an ethnical decision, but also because I’m finding Airbnb prices are often on par with, or even higher than, hotel rooms.

To save money, I join the hotels membership scheme, and I’ve noticed I subconsciously favour those chains when booking. I also check deals on Booking.com, though more often than not it’s cheaper to book directly through the hotel’s own membership programme. Always do a quick comparison before booking.

Accommodation in Norway is expensive, so those membership schemes came really came in handy. If I’m honest, I probably couldn’t afford the same hotels now, even with discounts. My circumstances have changed (redundancy, a tough job market, and lower salaries in the UK), and travel has become more expensive overall. For this trip, I focused on hotels that were within walking distance of the train station or ferry port, and boutique style were possible – quirky but comfortable.

Hotel Fürst Bismark, Hamburg
Directly opposite Hamburg Hbf, this was the perfect place to catch a few hours of sleep before continuing my journey (my planned 9:15pm arrival from Brussels turned into 1:00am). The hotel is a little run down, and the single room I booked was basic, but that’s all I needed. Staff were very pleasant, and my stay felt safe and comfortable.

Scandic Bergen City
Don’t even think about booking this hotel. I’ve had much better experiences with Scandic since, but all take the negative reviews for this one seriously, mine included. Unless they’ve renovated or closed that near-derelict ‘satellite’ building, I’d avoid it.

Flåm Camping and Youth Hostel
A mix of private rooms (with or without bathrooms), dorms, and cabins. It’s very basic but far more affordable than the other options in Flåm. Despite booking months in advance, most accommodation was full due to a cruise ship in port, but I manage to secure a single room with shared facilities. I enjoyed my stay and would happily return.

Bob W, Oslo Sentralen

I’m a big fan of Bob W, having stayed in several of their properties. I booked a compact single room, and it really was compact, but it was also cosy, modern, and thoughtfully designed.

There’s a washateria and luggage storage on site, both free for guests and secured behind coded doors. During my stay, there was Bob W branded grounded coffee, fancy teas, complimentary snacks, and even a Fujifilm Instax camera to use (I’ve stayed other locations since where there were no extras, so they may have stopped this).

Service is fully contactless, which may not suit everyone. Communication is via WhatsApp, and access is through keyless smartphone entry. And no, there isn’t an actually Bob, it’s stands for “Best of Both Worlds”.

Grand Hotel, Åndalsnes
This historic hotel was a great find. I booked a single room but was upgraded to a double with views of the Romsdalsfjorden and Isfjorden. It’s a popular hotel; the restaurant was fully booked for dinner when I arrived at 13:30, and there were queues at check-out the next morning. Book dinner in advance and aim to check-out early.

Thon Hotel, Trondheim
There are two Thon Hotels in Trondheim; Nidaros and the budget Trondheim. I stayed at the latter. My single room was small, basic, and affordable, but cosy. The staff were incredibly friendly and eager to help in any way they could. It may not be five star luxury, but the service absolutely was.

Radisson Blu, Bodø
My membership discount made this stay affordable. Radisson Blu has always treated me well, and this was no exception. Staff were very happy to store my luggage while I visited Saltstraumen before catching the 4pm ferry to Lofoten.

Catogården, Reine
I loved this boutique hotel! It’s expensive, but all accommodation in Lofoten generally is. With just 10 rooms, it feels more like a shared space than a hotel; sauna, yoga sessions, kayaking, and a communal kitchen.

View from room – day and night.

The atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and inclusive. I booked a sea-view room with a shared bathroom. On my first night, someone shouted “Northern Lights, everyone!”; and there they were dancing across the sky above the harbour.

Scandic Svolvær
This stay changed my mind about Scandic, for the better. A lovely hotel, though my room was cheap for a reason; ground floor, directly facing the carpark. The lack of privacy meant curtains stayed closed, but thankfully there was no noise at night.

Scandic Ishavshotel, Tromsø
I could only afford this through their Friends membership scheme, and I decided my final stay would be pure luxury. It delivered.

Admittedly, I lived supermarket sandwiches while I was there, but my room was gorgeous. Every room has a harbour view, and mine also came with nightly Northern Lights displays (not guaranteed, but I got lucky). Breakfast was excellent, as with all Scandic hotels. The brown cheese and waffles, absolutely divine!

Key Tips for Booking a Multi-Stop Train Trip Through Norway

• Check routes before you book – Railway lines can close due to landslides or engineering works, so always double-check your route is running.
• Booking early to save money – Norwegian trains and ferries can be expensive, booking a few months in advance helps secure better prices and seat availability.
• Reserve your seats – Especially on scenic routes. You’ll get the best views and avoid awkward seat negotiations.
• Use Entur as your main planning tool – It’s the easiest way to map routes and book most train journeys in Norway.
• Download the Reis app for local transport in Nordland – Essential for buses, especially in places like Lofoten, with the ability to book your tickets and real-time updates.
• Don’t be afraid to mix transport types– Trains won’t take you everywhere; be ready to switch to ferries and buses, especially in Northern Norway.
• Consider adding a ferry for variety – Routes like Copenhagen to Oslo and Bergen to Flåm, break up long rail journeys and add a completely different experience.
• Be flexible with your itinerary – You may need to drop routes due to time or closures; prioritise what matters most to you.
• Stay near local transport hub where possible – It makes early departures and tight connections more affordable.
• Use hotel membership schemes – They can make expensive Norwegian accommodation more affordable.
• Compare prices before booking accommodation – Sometimes it’s cheaper to book directly with the hotel rather than through third-party sites.
• Use a planner (yes, even Excel) – Tracking timings, costs, and routes in one place makes a complex trip much easier to manage.

Where you stay and how you get there can shape how your whole adventure feels, and for me, booking this trip was when the excitement really started to build. In my next posts, I’ll be diving into what it was actually like riding those trains, from fjords and snow-capped mountains to the tundra landscapes of the Artic Circle. Hope you’ll jump on aboard for the ride!

Happy & safe travels

L x 🩴