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The fastest way from Oslo to Bergen is a one-hour flight; the classic way is the direct Bergen Railway, about seven hours across the mountains. To see the fjords on the way, Norway in a Nutshell adds the Flåm Railway and a Nærøyfjord cruise in one long day.
For more time on the water, break the journey with a night or two by Aurlandsfjord, as on our Private Oslo to Bergen Fjord Tour.
The right way to travel between Oslo and Bergen depends less on speed than on what you want from the day in between. The route crosses some of Norway's best mountain and fjord scenery, so the real decision is whether to watch it from a train window, see it in one long day of connections, or slow down with a night or two in the fjord region.
Below we compare the five realistic options, with journey times, who each one suits and where each one gets difficult, from luggage and connections to winter roads.
What is the best way to get from Oslo to Bergen?
It depends on how much time you have and what you want from the journey itself.
- Direct train: about 7 hours, no changes. Best if you want the mountain scenery without organising anything.
- Norway in a Nutshell: a self-guided ticket combination via Myrdal, the Flåm Railway, a Nærøyfjord cruise, a bus to Voss and a train to Bergen. You see the fjords in one long day.
- A private route with a night in the fjords: the same landscapes over two or three days, with transfers arranged and no rushing for connections.
- Driving: about 7 to 8.5 hours depending on the route, best in summer and with time for stops.
- Flying: about an hour in the air, best if Bergen is simply the next stop and the scenery is not the point.
If you are unsure which fits your trip, tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we will suggest the route that suits your pace.
The Bergen Railway: the direct train
The Bergen Railway, run by Vy, is a direct line between Oslo and Bergen. Vy and Visit Bergen give the journey as about seven hours, and Visit Bergen lists five departures a day, four in winter. The line crosses the Hardangervidda mountain plateau and passes Finse at 1,222 metres, the highest station on the route.
It is a comfortable way to travel. Vy runs a café car for the whole journey, and there is a night train for those who prefer to sleep through and arrive in the morning, with options from a reclining seat in a private pod to a sleeper compartment.
Which side should you sit on?
There is no official answer. Visit Bergen notes that the left side, travelling from Oslo, is often thought best over Hardangervidda, while the right side may be better between Voss and Bergen, and it admits that opinions vary. On a quieter train you can simply move.
Is Plus worth it?
Vy's upgraded class on this route is called Plus. It gives you more space, seats with headrests, a power outlet and a table, free coffee and tea, and free seat reservation. Vy notes that some older trains on the Bergen Line have no internet, so do not count on working the whole way. For a seven-hour journey, the extra space is usually worth it for couples and families.
Norway in a Nutshell: the fjords in one day
Norway in a Nutshell is not a guided tour. It is a self-guided package of tickets, sold by Fjord Tours, that combines several journeys into one route. From Oslo you take the train to Myrdal, change to the Flåm Railway down to Flåm, cruise the Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen, take a bus to Voss and finish on the train to Bergen. Fjord Tours prices it from NOK 2,698 and offers a luggage transfer between Oslo and Bergen as an extra.
The Flåm Railway alone is worth the detour: about an hour and 20 kilometres, dropping 864 metres from the mountain station at Myrdal to the fjord. The Nærøyfjord cruise runs on fully electric boats and takes about two hours.
The trade-off is the day itself. Done in one go, it is a long day with four changes and tight connections, and in summer the trains and boats are busy. It suits independent travellers who travel light. For families, guests with luggage or anyone who wants time at the water's edge, a night in the fjord region makes a big difference.
A private route with a night on the fjord
This is how we usually plan the journey for our guests. Instead of passing through the fjords in a few hours, we break the route with two nights beside Aurlandsfjord, a short drive from Flåm.
Our Private Oslo to Bergen Fjord Tour follows this pattern over seven days. After two nights in Oslo, a private transfer takes you to the station, the train crosses the mountains to Myrdal, and the Flåm Railway brings you down to Flåm, where a driver meets you for the short transfer to Aurland. The next day starts later, with a private RIB trip through Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord and a free afternoon. On the fifth day you continue to Bergen by boat and rail or by private road transfer, depending on the date, for two nights before departure.
The route runs from May to September and starts from €4,200 per person, based on two guests sharing. It is a starting point: we adjust the hotels, the pace and the activities to the people travelling.
Driving from Oslo to Bergen
Visit Bergen gives three main routes: over Hardangervidda via Geilo and Eidfjord, about 7 hours; via Lærdal, Aurland and Gudvangen, about 7.5 hours; and via Haukeli, about 8 hours. All three are scenic, and in summer a driver gives you the freedom to stop at viewpoints and waterfalls on the way.
In winter the picture changes. Mountain roads can close in bad weather or open only for convoy driving behind a snowplough, and Visit Bergen does not recommend the drive in winter. If you want a road journey in the colder months, travel with an experienced local driver and keep the timing flexible. Our private transfers cover long-distance routes like this one.
Flying from Oslo to Bergen
SAS and Norwegian fly between Oslo and Bergen many times a day, with about an hour in the air. Bergen Airport is about 16 kilometres from the centre, and Avinor and Visit Bergen give about 20 to 30 minutes by airport bus or about 45 minutes on the Bybanen light rail.
Flying makes sense when Bergen is one stop on a longer route, or when you have already seen the mountains. Once you add airport time, the door-to-door saving over the train is smaller than it looks, and you miss the landscape that makes this journey famous.
Oslo to Bergen in winter
The train and the fjord route both run all year. The Flåm Railway runs daily through the winter, with six departures each way from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027 and fewer trains on 24, 25 and 31 December. The Nærøyfjord cruise also runs all year, but the winter route can change at short notice: if the inner fjord freezes, the boat turns at Undredal and a bus continues to Gudvangen.
Winter brings snow on the plateau, quiet fjord villages and very few other visitors, but less daylight and less room for error. Our guide to Norway in March covers the late-winter months, when the days are already long. Our seven-day route runs in summer, and for winter we plan the fjords differently: our Private Norway Winter Tour includes a guided fjord day through the Nærøyfjord, Flåm and Stegastein from Bergen.
Which option suits you?
Choose the direct train if you want the mountain scenery with no planning and are happy to arrive in Bergen the same afternoon.
Choose Norway in a Nutshell if you travel light, are comfortable managing connections yourself and have one day to give to the fjords.
Choose a private route with a fjord stay if you are travelling as a couple, a family or a small group, want time on the water rather than a glimpse from a boat, and would rather someone else handled the luggage, transfers and timing.
Choose driving for summer road trips with time to stop, and flying when speed matters more than the journey.
When to plan it yourself, and when private help is worth it
The direct train is easy to book on your own, and many travellers do Norway in a Nutshell without any help. If you are two people with light bags and a flexible day, you do not need us for this part of the trip.
Private coordination earns its place when the journey is part of a longer trip, when you travel with children or several suitcases, or when you want to stay in the fjords rather than pass through. That is where the details add up: station transfers, the right train for the Flåm connection, a hotel on the water, a private boat at a sensible hour and a plan B for weather. We handle that as one team, from Oslo to Bergen.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Oslo to Bergen?
About seven hours on the direct Bergen Railway, according to Vy and Visit Bergen. With Norway in a Nutshell the journey takes a full day, because it adds the Flåm Railway, a fjord cruise and a bus.
Can you do Oslo to Bergen in one day with the fjords?
Yes. Norway in a Nutshell is designed for it and runs all year. It is a long day with four changes, so for families or guests with luggage we recommend at least one night in the fjord region.
Is it better to start in Oslo or in Bergen?
Both work, and the route is the same in reverse. Oslo is Norway's main international gateway, so starting there and leaving from Bergen is often the simplest choice.
Plan your Oslo to Bergen journey
For a quick connection, take the train or fly. For the fjords, give them at least one night. Tell us your dates, who is travelling and what matters most, and we will propose a private route between Oslo and Bergen, using our seven-day fjord tour as a starting point. Request a private Oslo to Bergen itinerary.
Continue planning
At a glance
- Oslo, Aurlandsfjord and Bergen in one private journey
- Scenic rail to Myrdal and the Flåm Railway
- Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord by private RIB
- Bryggen and Hanseatic Bergen
This seven-day private Norway journey connects the country’s two principal gateway cities through one of its strongest scenic routes. Three bases keep the programme clear: two nights in Oslo, two beside Aurlandsfjord and two in Bergen. Airport transfers, station connections and the movement between each base are arranged as part of the journey.
Oslo provides a measured introduction through waterfront architecture, contemporary design and one museum selected around the guests’ interests. The guided programme remains compact, leaving a free afternoon and avoiding an overloaded start after the arrival day.
The landscape changes on the journey west. Guests travel across the mountains by rail to Myrdal before descending towards Flåm on the Flåm Railway. A short private transfer completes the journey to Aurland, where a two-night stay removes the pressure of passing straight through the fjord region. The signature day begins later and explores Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord by private RIB, with photography stops, local context and an open afternoon afterwards.
The final section continues to Bergen using the most suitable confirmed connection for the travel date. Bergen adds Bryggen, Hanseatic history and an optional food element without turning the final full day into a checklist. With two hotel changes across six nights, the route balances Norway’s cities, railways and fjords while preserving free time in every destination.
