Experience the Nordland Railway

Travelling through Northern Norway

When the train reaches Nordland county, get ready for mountain areas and more tunnels. Remember to keep your camera to hand! You have a good chance of spotting reindeer and other wild animals, especially when the train crosses the Saltfjellet mountain range.

Majavatn station: Børgefjell National Park

"After travelling for about four hours on the Nordland railway, the train runs through Børgefjell National Park, which stretches across the two counties Nord-Trøndelag and Nordland," Benny explains.

Børgefjell National Park offers high summits and deep valleys, as well as fantastic hunting and fishing. The area is also known for its population of Arctic fox.

"The train makes a stop at Majavatn, where you'll have excellent fishing opportunities," says Benny.

If you're planning on fishing in the national park, remember to buy a local fishing permit, called Børgefjellkortet.

Mosjøen station: A quaint town and the Helgeland coast

After leaving Majavatn, the train ride continues for an hour before arriving at Mosjøen. You're now in the geographic centre of Norway, and you should definitely spend the night here. The small town offers plenty to experience. Benny recommends stopping by a café in the historic Sjøgata area. Here, you'll also find well-preserved 19th century buildings, cosy shops, galleries and more – a perfect area for a stroll.

Or get your pulse racing with a walk up a total of 4,000 steps on the longest stone stairway trail in the world made by Sherpas from Nepal: the famous Helgeland steps (opening in 2023)! Fly down Northern Norway's most spectacular zipline and enjoy a cold drink in the cosy Fru Haugan Hotel garden at the bottom. You can also climb the Mosjøen via ferrata.

Mosjøen is also a good starting point for a round trip in Northern Norway. Take the bus to Sandnessjøen, with excellent express boat connections to the islands and small communities along the spectacular Helgeland coast.

Mo i Rana station: Science and history

"Now, get ready for lots of tunnels, before the train takes us to Mo i Rana, my town," says Benny.

When the train stops at the station, a 1-hour and 10-minute long trip from Mosjøen, Benny recommends a visit to what he calls ’a paradise of experiences’, the Helgeland Museum and the science centre Vitensenteret Nordland.

"The museum and the science centre are both located in the same building, which is visible from the train station. This is a good place for the whole family," Benny explains.

Mo i Rana is the third-largest city in Northern Norway, with lots of cafés, shopping opportunities, and cultural events. There are also many caves to explore in the nearby area.

Crossing Saltfjellet: Svartisen National Park

Sit back and relax, as the train follows the Ranaelv river up Dunderlandsdalen valley into Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park, where you'll find the second-largest glacier on mainland Norway, Svartisen.

The Polar Circle

"Now we're heading up the Saltfjellet mountain range. There are fewer trees the higher we go, and large areas of barren landscape will start to appear. This is definitely a great place for hiking and biking," says Benny.

You will now hear a message over the loudspeakers as the train crosses the magical Arctic Circle. You're officially entering the kingdom of the midnight sun. Get your camera ready if you want to take pictures of the stone pyramids beside the railway that mark the Arctic Circle. You can also see the visitor centre, the Arctic Circle Center, from the right side of the train.

"Did you know that the Polar Circle actually moves 14 meters each year?" says Benny as the train crosses it.

You might as well keep your camera to hand, as you'll have a great chance of glimpsing reindeer in the area as well.

Lønsdal station: Hiking in Saltfjellet

The first station north of the Polar Circle is Lønsdal, which is located at 511 metres above sea level.

"The train schedules are perfect if you want to go hiking here. You can take the night train to Lønsdal, which will arrive in the morning, and then take the day train in the afternoon when you're done hiking," Benny explains.

If you would like to spend some more time exploring the mountain, The Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) has cabins you can rent.

Valnesfjord station: The children's national park

Now, as the train is getting closer to the end station, mountains are slowly being replaced by views of the fjord. After one hour and twenty minutes, the train makes a stop at Valnesfjord, a great access point for hiking in Sjunkhatten National Park.

"The national park is called the children's national park, and you'll find hikes here suitable for all ages. In Øvre Valnesfjord, there are also trails accessible for wheelchair users," explains Benny.

The Valnesfjord area is also a popular place to go cross-country skiing during winter.

Plan your train journey

You can also start your epic train adventure in Oslo, or the train station at Oslo Airport, and travel with the Dovre Railway to Trondheim, before switching trains to the Nordland line. The end station in Bodø has an international airport. From Bodø, you can also take the ferry or express boat to explore the Lofoten Island, Salten, and the Helgeland coast.

Find the best route for your round trip in Northern Norway:

And, get ready for your train journey in Norway with tips from our Norwegian train expert!