Enjoy some of the world’s best train journeys

The Nordland Railway is the only Norwegian railway that crosses the Arctic Circle, and you can enjoy it all year round. You can choose between two daily departures from Trondheim and Bodø, and the night train journey is named one of the world’s most beautiful by Lonely Planet. Book early if you want a sleeping cabin.

The Bergen Railway is maybe the most famous of the scenic Norwegian train journeys – and with good reason. The train passes through beautiful mountain scenery from Oslo to Gol and Geilo, up through the Hallingdal valley towards Finse, and along the gorgeous Hardangerjøkulen glacier, before it descends towards its final stop.

“Not only does The Bergen Railway connect two of our most important cities, Bergen and Oslo, it also travels through a stunning cross-section of Norwegian landscapes along the way. Fields, fjords, forest and mountains are all part of the seven-hour ride. The fact that it passes Norway’s highest point for a railway line is also interesting”, says Østlund.

Since The Norwegian Broadcasting Cooperation (NRK) televised the entirety of The Bergen Railway minute by minute, the journey has become especially popular among tourists. Many take the opportunity to transfer at Myrdal station to experience the world-famous Flåm Railway, an hour-long (plus) trip through what might be one of Norway’s most breathtaking stretches.

The fact that it is one of the most popular railways in the world despite its brief duration of about one hour, says a lot about The Flåm Railway and the views it offers along the way. Yearly, more than half a million travellers are spellbound by the steep journey downwards from Myrdal station to the village of Flåm, located in the innermost part of the Aurlandsfjord.

“The Flåm Railway has gorgeous views in fair weather. With dramatic waterfalls, rivers, valleys and mountains, this stretch is for many the very definition of Norwegian nature”, says Østlund.

As a lifelong lover of trains, Østlund especially appreciates the technical aspects of The Flåm Railway.

In Flåm, you can participate in a huge range of activities and eco-friendly fjord sightseeing all year round. The Flåm Railway has also become a great attraction in the wintertime when it doubles as a ski lift.

The Dovre Railway is undoubtedly an unforgettable way to journey from Oslo to Trondheim, says train expert Østlund. During the seven-hour ride through Gudbrandsdalen, Rondane, Jotunheimen and Dovrefjell, you pass through some of Norway’s famous national parks.

“The Dovre Railway constitutes a fine day of travelling. On route along Lake Mjøsa and towards Hamar and Lillehammer, there are many gorgeous things to see. You also travel past Eidsvoll, the birthplace of the Norwegian constitution, and although the scenery won’t be quite as dramatic as on our more famous railway lines, there is still plenty to see along the way. Among other species, the musk ox is a frequent sight on this journey”, Østlund says.

If you want, you can do a stopover midway in the mountains of Dovrefjell. Here, you can go on a musk ox safari, and even get the large animal served on a plate at Kongsvold Fjeldstue, which is one of the most unique hotels and eateries in Norway and is located only a short distance from Kongsvoll station.

A popular stop if you’re travelling with kids, is the Hunderfossen Family Park in Lillehammer.

At Bjorli station, you can change for the famous Rauma Railway.

“From Bjorli and down to Åndalsnes you will experience some of the most jaw-dropping scenery this side of Switzerland. For me it might be the most beautiful stretch of land this country has to offer”, he says.

The ride lasts about 1 hour and 40 minutes and includes highlights like the Romsdalen valley, the Trollveggen rock face, and the unique Kylling bridge. If you travel with The Dovre Railway, you will have easy access to The Rauma Railway via Dombås station. The train is especially adapted for tourism, with panoramic windows and guides in the summer.

From the fjord village Åndalsnes, also called “the mountaineering capital”, you can hike the famous Romsdalseggen ridge, go ski touring, or experience the famous Norwegian Scenic Route Geiranger-Trollstigen.

The eight-hour-long train journey between Oslo and Stavanger may not have the “wild” reputation of its northern equivalents, but it is still a considerably more pleasant and picturesque alternative to driving if you are going to the “happy south”.

The train passes many popular family-friendly destinations, like the largest waterpark in Scandinavia, Bø Sommarland in Telemark, and Kristiansand, known as the summer capital of the south with its many great beaches and family attractions such as Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park.

“Many picture a train track right along the water’s edge, but large parts of the Sørland Railway was built inland to avoid wartime bombardment. It’s actually not until close to Egersund that you can see the ocean. Before that, there is mostly valleys and forests. From Nelaug, a sideline heads for Arendal, with beautiful areas along the way”, Østlund says.

The Sørland Railway also provides easy access to Southern Norway’s beautiful coastal scenery and small white-painted wooden house towns like Risør, Grimstad, Mandal, Flekkefjord and Egersund.

The Røros Railway opened in 1877 and is as Norway’s oldest main& line. The five-hour long ride connects Hamar (one hour by train from Oslo) and Trondheim through the beautiful wilderness and mysterious forests of Østerdalen before it continues to the UNESCO listed unique mining town Røros and all the way to Støren.

“Many consider The Røros Railway to be a bit boring, but there’s actually plenty of action to witness if you take the time to look. In the vast swathes of forest – with a bit of luck – you can spot both moose, wolverine, lynx, wolf and bear”, says Østlund.

Once called “the eighth wonder of the world”, The Ofoten Railway is Norway’s northernmost train line and takes you from Narvik by the Ofotfjord on the old iron ore railway. The train glides through a historical, beautiful and wild landscape with fantastic views of the fjord, jagged mountain peaks, and cascading waterfalls. The trip to the Swedish border takes about an hour, and you can continue south through Sweden to Stockholm, Gothenburg or other destinations in Europe if you want to.

On this journey, it’s not only the scenery that is awe-inspiring. Traces of the navvies that built the railway in the 19th century create a captivating backdrop for the journey, as do the marks from the Second World War – a large part of the warfare during the Battle of Narvik took place close to the railway, which was the export route for Europe’s largest and most important iron ore deposits.

Hop off at Bjørnfjell, Katterat or Rombaksbotn station to walk back to town on the Navvy Road or just to admire the beautiful red-painted station buildings designed by the railway’s own architects. Katterat is even surrounded by houses – employees of the railway used to live here before the points system that allows the trains to change tracks were automated. And if you love skiing, the three large ski resorts Narvikfjellet, Riksgränsen and Björkliden are all located close to the railway line.