Norway in a Nutshell: A 4-Day, 3-Night DIY Trip

Although the official website offers packages, my friends and I calculated that following their suggested route and booking everything ourselves would be cheaper. So, we decided to go for a DIY trip. After completing the journey, we found it quite manageable (in terms of preparation, navigation, etc.), so it’s definitely worth considering. While some people manage to visit all these places in just one or two days, we preferred a more relaxed pace, spreading it out over four days and three nights. Slowing down really made the trip more enjoyable. Our itinerary: oslo → myrdal (one night) → flam → gudvangen → voss (one night) → bergen (one night) → oslo Transportation: oslo → myrdal: train myrdal → flam: train (Spectacular views! The train even stops for a close-up view of a waterfall.) flam → gudvangen: cruise (Traveling through the fjords—absolutely stunning!) gudvangen → voss: bus (You can find the bus stop on Google Maps. Just hop on and pay with your card.) voss → bergen: train bergen → oslo: train Total transportation costs: approximately $2000-$2100. Accommodation: flam: Flåm Youth Hostel (good) voss: Scandic Voss (Highly recommended! Super convenient, right next to the train station, and the breakfast is delicious.) bergen: Citybox (good) Additional Information: 1. Voss has a cable car (Voss Gondol). Unfortunately, we didn’t do much research beforehand and found out it closes at 3 or 3:30 PM and opens at 9 AM the next day. We arrived too late and didn’t want to wake up early the next morning, so we missed it. There’s a swing at the top that looks pretty fun. 2. Bergen also has a cable car (Fløyen). It’s reasonably priced, around 200 NOK or less. While there isn’t much to explore at the top, the view is great—you can overlook the entire city. Definitely worth a visit! Many locals use this area for hiking. If you don’t want to pay for the cable car, you can hike up, but it will take longer. 3. Norwegian restaurants are honestly not recommended. Even for someone with low expectations for food, I found them overpriced and not tasty. One meal is enough for the experience. Instead, I recommend visiting local supermarkets, where you can find affordable and delicious salmon sashimi—highly recommended. 4. Weather significantly impacts the scenery and overall experience. Different weather conditions create different atmospheres, but if you’re particular about it, check the forecast before heading out (though weather can be unpredictable). Regardless, just enjoy the trip when you’re there! :>