THE BERGEN RAILWAY
The best stops
Holiday on rails!
Cities, theme parks, outdoor activities, mountains, fjords.... You don´t need a car to explore Norway, just hop on and off at the stations along the Bergen Railway.
New and exciting adventures await on all of them.
Let the 'queens of the railway', famous train-driving twins Halldis and Gudrun Folkedal, be your guides to...
...one of the most scenic train journeys in the world!
Our journey begins
… at Oslo Central Station …
... the train then heads west through the suburbs of Asker, Bærum, and Drammen, before entering the countryside.
1. Hallingdal valley
After traveling for about two hours, you reach Flå Station in breath-taking Hallingdal, a destination full of activities for the whole family!
Say hello to the bears at Bjørneparken bear park, about 2 kilometres from the station. Here, you can also see rare Amur leopards as well as moose, lynxes, crocodiles, and more ...
... Hemsedal (30 minutes away), one of Norway’s best ski destinations in winter, and a hikers' paradise in summer.
Try the cool via ferrata or do some downhill mountain biking!
The Hallingdal area is a mountain biking mecca, and you can rent bikes near most stations.
Ål, the next station on the line, also has accommodation that's perfect for cyclists, as well as pump tracks, slopes, and tracks.
Hallingdal Feriepark is also within walking distance of Ål station ...
... this holiday park is packed with fun activities for the whole family, including a climbing park, ziplines, a big indoor playland, a farm, and much more.
The park is located in one of the best campsites in Norway.
"We are now climbing up the mountain to Geilo, a very popular ski destination in winter ..."
"... in the summer, you can go mountain biking and hiking there."
Gudrun Folkedal
2. Geilo
The mountain village of Geilo, located midway between Oslo and Bergen (about a 3.5-hour train ride from either city), is perfect for outdoor activities.
Geilo is one of Norway's most popular ski resorts in winter, while in summer, you can …
... climb the scenic Prestholtstien stair trail to the top of Hallingskarvet mountain.
Or race down one of Northern Europe's longest ziplines in Geilo Summer Park, where you also can try downhill mountain biking and lots of other activities.
You can also go fishing, horseback riding, or rafting: there is so much to choose from!
Indulge with a visit to one of Geilo´s spa hotels afterwards!
3. Hardangervidda
After Geilo, the train climbs up to the Hardangervidda mountain plateau.
The route runs past Ustaoset and Haugastøl stations, located in stunning natural surroundings high up in the mountains, before arriving at Gudrun’s favourite stop ...
"Finse is located at the highest point on the Bergen Railway ..."
"... the view is always spectacular here, even when it’s raining."
Gudrun Folkedal
Finse is a tiny mountain village that is only accessible by train.
From here, you can embark on one of Norway's most scenic cycle routes, Rallarvegen, in the summer (you can also start at Haugastøl), or learn to snowkite in the winter.
Spend the night at the cosy hotel Finse 1222, where you can also rent skis, kites, and bicycles, and join guided tours.
The train now starts heading back down the mountains again.
Fjords, here we come!
"Myrdal is the station where the Bergen Railway and the Flåm Railway connect."
Gudrun Folkedal
The journey is part of the Norway in a nutshell round trip, which can also include a sightseeing cruise on the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord.
During winter, it's a true train adventure!
5. Voss
Back on the Bergen Railway line, we are now approaching one of the last major stops before arriving in Bergen:
Voss, the adrenaline capital of Norway, where you can go rafting, skydiving, cycling, hiking, and ...
... ride the Voss Gondol gondola directly from the train station ...
... to the 820-metre top of Mount Hanguren, where you can enjoy spectacular views.
Don’t forget to bring ski boots in winter!
Welcome to Bergen!
About an hour's ride from Voss, you'll arrive at the end station: Bergen.
… or is Bergen maybe your starting point? In any case...
Enjoy your journey!