The Bergensbanen: Complete Guide to Norway's Greatest Train Journey

The Bergensbanen covers 496km between Bergen and Oslo, climbing from sea level to 1,237m at Finse — the highest point on Norway's main-line network.

Bergen → Voss (1h20): The railway leaves Bergen's wooden-house waterfront and climbs immediately through a series of tunnels and viaducts. Voss is the adventure sports capital of western Norway — rafting, paragliding, and skydiving — and makes a worthwhile overnight stop.

Voss → Myrdal (45min): The line follows the Raundalen valley upward, with the scenery becoming more dramatic and the vegetation gradually thinning to moorland. Myrdal is the junction for the Flåmsbana — if you're doing the Fjord detour, leave the train here.

Myrdal → Finse (30min): The most extraordinary section begins. Above the treeline, the train enters the Hardangervidda — Europe's largest mountain plateau, shared with wild reindeer herds. Finse (1,222m) is the base for glacier hikes on the Hardangerjøkulen ice cap and the start of the historic Norway on Skis route.

Finse → Geilo (30min): Through the heart of the plateau. In winter, this section is often buried under metres of snow — the railway runs through wooden snow galleries to stay open year-round.

Geilo → Oslo (3h): The descent begins through Numedal and Hallingdal, forests replacing tundra as the altitude drops. Drammen and the Oslo fjord suburbs signal the approach to Oslo Central.

The Flåmsbana (Flåm Railway) branches from the Bergensbanen at Myrdal and descends 866m in just 20km — an average gradient of 5.5%, making it one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world. The 55-minute descent drops through 20 tunnels and past the Kjosfossen waterfall (where the train stops) to Flåm village at the head of the Aurlandsfjord.

From Flåm, fjord ferries run to Gudvangen and Aurland — combining rail and boat into a classic Norwegian fjord circuit. The most popular version: Bergensbanen to Myrdal → Flåmsbana to Flåm → ferry to Gudvangen → bus to Voss → Bergensbanen back to Bergen or east to Oslo.

Booking: The Flåmsbana is operated by Vy but is extremely popular in summer — book in advance at vy.no. The Nærøyfjord ferry from Flåm is a separate ticket (Fjord Tours or Norled).

Pass coverage: The Flåmsbana is covered by Eurail/Interrail Global Pass but with a supplement in summer (NOK 100–200). Check current terms at the Eurail website.

With Eurail/Interrail Global Pass: Norway is covered by the Global Pass. The Bergensbanen (Bergen–Oslo main line) requires no mandatory seat reservation for pass holders — you can board without booking, though reservations are recommended in summer peak (July–August).

Point-to-point tickets: Book at vy.no (Norwegian). Bergen to Oslo one-way starts at NOK 299 booked early, rising to NOK 700–900 at full price. Tickets go on sale 90 days before departure.

Where to buy: The Vy app (formerly NSB) is the simplest option. It accepts international credit cards and sends e-tickets directly.

Which class: 2nd class (Komfort) on Vy trains is perfectly comfortable for a 7.5-hour journey — wide seats, good legroom, and a café trolley service. 1st class adds a guaranteed quiet zone but little else.

Night train option: There is no overnight Bergensbanen service — the journey must be done in daylight, which is ideal since the scenery is the whole point.

Voss (1h20 from Bergen): If you're breaking the journey, Voss is the place. The Voss Adventure centre runs rafting, kayaking, and via ferrata routes. The medieval Vangskyrkja church (1277) is in the town centre.

Myrdal (junction for Flåm): A functional mountain junction with no town to speak of — but the view from the platform as the Flåmsbana descends into the valley is one of the best on the whole journey.

Finse (1,222m): A station with no road access — the only way in is by train, ski, or bike in summer. The Finse 1222 hotel is a famous end-of-the-world refuge. A 2-hour guided walk onto the Hardangerjøkulen glacier departs from the station in summer.

Geilo: Norway's most accessible ski resort — 60 minutes from Finse, 3 hours from Oslo. Worth a night in winter if you want to ski without the Hemsedal or Trysil crowds.

Oslo (terminus): Arrive at Oslo Central (Oslo S) — the hub for onward connections to Stockholm, Copenhagen, and southern Norway.

Summer (June–August): The plateau is snow-free, the Flåmsbana is packed with tourists, and the light lasts until midnight in June. Reindeer are visible on the Hardangervidda in July and August. Book well in advance.

Spring (May): Snow still covers Finse in May — the plateau is white and dramatic, and the light is extraordinary. The Flåmsbana is open but less crowded than summer.

Autumn (September–October): The colours of the birch forests in Hallingdal and Numedal turn gold and red. Fewer tourists, excellent light, and still warm enough to walk in Flåm.

Winter (November–March): The journey through the snow galleries above Finse is unlike anything in summer — a true Arctic atmosphere. The Flåmsbana is quieter, the fjord is still, and accommodation in Flåm and Geilo is cheaper.

The classic Norway circuit (7 days): Oslo (2 nights) → Bergensbanen to Myrdal → Flåmsbana to Flåm (1 night) → fjord ferry to Gudvangen → bus to Voss → Bergen (2 nights). One of the great week-long trips in Europe.

Scandinavia by train (12–14 days): Bergen → Oslo (Bergensbanen) → Stockholm (SJ X2, 5h50) → Gothenburg → Copenhagen. This is the full Nordic arc — fjords, forests, and the Øresund Bridge in two weeks.

Bergen to Malmö (5–8 days): The Bergensbanen to Oslo, then south through Gothenburg to Malmö. See the full [Bergensbanen to Skåne route](/trains/bergensbanen-to-malmo) for a detailed itinerary.

Combining with the Bergen city: Bergen earns 2 nights minimum — the UNESCO-listed Bryggen wharves, the fish market, the Fløibanen funicular to the hilltop viewpoint, and the best seafood in Norway.