Norway by Rail: From London to the Arctic Circle via Fjords and Mountains

This is a journey I would happily repeat again and again. I loved everything about Norway, especially its deep connection to the outdoors lifestyle, which reminded me so much of home in New Zealand. I haven’t stopped talking about my Norwegian adventure since I got back, and I’ve already convinced a couple of friends that they should do it too.

My Norway by Rail Itinerary – At a Glance

🚄Day 1 – London to Hamburg (via Brussels)

• Eurostar from London to Hamburg (changing at Brussels)
• Overnight stay in Hamburg before heading out on an early train to Copenhagen

🛳️ Day 2 – Hamburg to Olso (via Copenhagen)

• Early morning start, making my way to Copenhagen to catch an overnight ferry to Oslo

For more details on how I planned and booked the London to Oslo leg:

🚄Day 3 – Oslo to Bergen

• Early arrival into Oslo, but no rest – straight onto the Bergen Line, one of, if not the most scenic railway in Norway

⛈️ Day 4 – Bergen

• A rainy day in Bergen – took the Fløibanen Funicular up Mount Fløyen for the views and hiking trails, until the torrential rain drove me back down the mountain and into my hotel for shelter

🛥️ Day 5 – Bergen to Flåm

• A fjord cruise to Flåm along the Sognefjord, pasting charming villages, dramatic waterfalls, beautiful green hills, and snow-capped mountains

🚞Day 6 – Flåm to Oslo

• All abroad the Flåmsbana, climbing one of the world’s steepest railways to the mountain station of Myrdal, before connecting back onto the Bergen line to Oslo

🏰 Day 7 – Oslo

• A walk along Oslo’s waterfront taking in the sights, culture, and cuisine – with a boller stop along the way.

🚞 Day 8 – Oslo to Åndalsnes

• Starting my journey on the Dovre Line, with a diversion onto the Rauma Line through the Romsdalen valley to Åndalsnes – the latter dubbed one of Norway’s ‘most beautiful and wildest railway lines’
• An afternoon in one of the most beautiful region of Norway, surrounded by fjords, mountains and perhaps trolls.

🚞 Day 9 – Andelsnes to Trondheim

• Back on the Dovre Line to Trondheim, passing through Norway’s beautiful national parks

⛩️ Days 10 & 11 – Trondheim

• Two days of hiking and exploring Trondheim, fully immersing myself in everything the city has to offer

🚞 Day 12 – Trondheim to Bodø

• Final train journey of the trip – a 729 km coastal stretch on the Nordland Line to Bodø, crossing into the Artic Circle

🛳️ Day 13 – Bodø to Lofoten Islands

• A visit to Saltstraumen before jumping on a ferry to the beautiful Lofoten Islands

⛰️Day 14 – 17 – Lofoten Islands

• A day relaxing in Reine, exploring by day, and watching the Northern Lights by night
• A bus journey from Reine to Svolvær, changing in Leknes
• Making the most of the well-connected Lofoten bus network with a day trip to Henningsvær
• Taking to the water twice in Svolvær, with a kayaking trip in the morning and a fjord tour in the afternoon

🛳️ Night 17 – Svolvær to Tromsø

• Joining the Havila as a port-to-port passenger, following the northern lights to Tromsø

⛰️Days 18 & 19 – Tromsø

• Making the most gorgeous, if unusually warm, Tromsø weather with both a mountain and a coastal hike

Stop-by-Stop Highlights: My Norway by Rail Journey

Bergen

A day in the ‘Gateway to the Fjords’ and Europe’s rainiest city.

Highlights

• Hiking in the rain on Mount Fløyen, which, despite the weather, offers the best views in Bergen
• Walking along Bryggen Wharf, taking in the sights, browsing the shops, and slurping on the best fish soup ever

A Fjord Cruise and Flåm

Cruising down the fjords, towards beer, pizza, and a railway museum.

Highlights

• A beautiful scenic fjord cruise along the Sognefjord, passing waterfalls, green yet snow-capped mountains, and quaint little fjord villages
• Being forced by yet more torrential rain to abandon my hiking plans for beer and pizza – an easy sacrifice to make
• Learning about Flåm’s rail history before taking the infamous Flåmbana up to Myrdal

Oslo

Along the waterfront for waffles, boller, beer, opera, royalty, and fortresses.

Highlights

• Discovering waffles and brown cheese!
• A day walking along the waterfront admiring the contrast between modern and traditional architecture

Åndalsnes

Peace and serenity in the troll mountains

Highlights

• Travelling on the Rauma Line through the Romsdalen Valley, past the Trollveggen rock face, and over the Kylling bridge
• Taking the Romsdalen gondola up Mount Nesaksla, I wasn’t quite brave enough to climb the Romsdalstrappa steps, spending most of the day walking the mountain paths and taking in the view.

Trondheim

Rainbows, fairy-tale houses, and woodland hikes.

Highlights

• Walking along the Nidelva after a heavy rainfall and spotting a rainbow over the colourful wooden storehouses
• Hiking the Ladestien on a lovely summer’s day beside the Trondheimsfjord and its beautiful beaches

Bodø and Saltstraumen

Crossing into the Artic Circle and chasing strong currents!

Highlights

• Getting ridiculously excited when the train crossed the Artic Circle
• Going on a day trip to Saltstraumen with fellow travellers I randomly met while waiting at the bus stop (I ended up travelling to Lofoten with them)
• Exploring Bodø at sunset, watching the sun set over the harbour.

Lofoten Islands

Northern lights, mountains, and adventures on the water.

Highlights

• Seeing the Northern Lights on my very first night in Reine.
• Reine! Beautiful peaceful Reine! The sunsets, the people, the scenery, and the food… all of it!
• Taking to the water in Svolvær; sea kayaking in the morning, followed by a fjord cruise through Trollfjord

Tromsø

Mountains, coastal walks, and Artic explorers!

Highlights

• Taking the Fjellheisen cable car up to Storsteinen, then hiking to the top of Mount Fløya despite promising myself I wouldn’t (it was worth it)
• Walking along the coast to Telegrafbukta, watching the colourful jellyfish bobbing alongside me in the water
• Feeling completely at home at Tromsø and never wanting to leave

Best Train Experiences of the Trip

Flåmsbana

The Flåmsbana is an hour-long tourist service that climbs steeply into the mountains between Flåm and Myrdal. You can travel as a round trip or book a one-way journey as part of a longer route. Travelling in vintage-style carriages, there are spectacular views no matter which side you sit on.

Highlight: The entire journey was the highlight, though the main attraction is the Kjosfossen waterfall, where the train stops to allow passengers to disembark and take in the scenery.

Top Tip: Make sure you pay a visit to the Flåmsbana museum!

Bergen Line

Running from Oslo to Bergen, the Bergen Line has been dubbed, by many, one of the most beautiful rail journeys in Europe. It absolutely lived up to that expectation. There is a popular route incorporating both the Bergen and Flåm lines called Norway in a Nutshell, and it truly is. This journey showcases every aspect of Norway’s breathtaking landscapes on a single railway line, crossing the Hardangervidda plateau, and passing fjords, mountains, and glaciers.

Operating multiple times daily, this seven-hour journey can be done during the day or overnight in a sleeper cabin.

Highlight: Arriving into Finse station, beside Lake Finsevatnet, with the Hardangerjøkulen glacier in the background rising in the background.

Top Tip: Like most Norwegian rail journeys, the views are spectacular on both sides. However, I found the right-hand side offered the best views, especially if you want to see the Hardangerjøkulen glacier.

Ruama Line

Lonely Planet declared this “the world’s most scenic train journey”, and they were right. While the Bergen Line offers expansive beauty, the Rauma Line delivers pure drama.

This 1.5-hour journey from Dombås and Åndalsnes takes you through unforgettable landscapes, including the Romsdalen valley and Romsdal fjord, past Trollveggen (the Troll Wall) – Europe’s highest vertical rock face, and through the Stavem Tunnel, a horseshoe-shaped tunnel that curves 180 degrees inside the mountain to help the train manage a steep change in elevation.

When I travelled this route, the train crew pointed out places of interest along the way, sharing facts we we passed them so nothing was missed.

Highlight: The entire journey. The scenery is constantly changing, and the train crew were both lovely and attentive.

Top Tip: Always have your camera ready and your phone fully charged, you won’t stop taking photos!

Final Thoughts & What’s Next

I’ll repeat what I said in my introduction; this journey made me fall in love with Norway.

I felt comfortable from start to finish, aways in safe hands while travelling, and genuinely welcomed in every destination. I never felt rushed; instead, I felt completely at peace … always – apart from the brief moment I had interlopers in my seat who refused to move. Even then, my zen-like state gave me the confidence to stand my ground.

Whenever anyone asks me where they should travel, I always recommend this trip. And it’s no exaggeration to say that two friends have already booked a similar journey, while another is trying to convince their partner to do it.

While this post is all about the experience, my next one is for the planners. I’ll be sharing exactly how I pieced it all together – routes, apps seat picks, timing, and the deep joy of watching it all come together in my beloved Excel travel planner.

Happy & safe travels

L x 🩴