Norway
September 3 - 6 (4D3N): 3rd stop of my Scandinavian journey: Copenhagen-Gothenburg-Norway-Stockholm, which included the two most visited spots in Norway: Oslo and Bergen. While describing Norway In A Nutshell journey to anyone was a mouthful, it was truly a wonderful way to enjoy the beautiful sights of the fjords.
*Highly recommended for food & drinks
Day 1 (Oslo):
Noon: Bus arrival from Gothenburg, Sweden (~3.5 hrs bus ride)
Check-in @ Airbnb
Oslo Domkirke (Cathedral)
1-2:30pm: Free Tour Oslo
Borsen (stock exchange)
Akershus Fortress (ground is free to visit; 6am-9pm; suggested duration 1 hr)
Aker Brygge (grab a hot dog from a convenience store and sit by the water)
Royal Palace/Palace Park (garden and ground are free to visit)
Waterfront/SALT art & music (great view of the Opera House)
The Opera House (check out the lobby and the roof)
Dinner @ Fiskeriet*
Cocktail @ HIMKOK*
Day 2 (Oslo)
Pastry & coffee from Stockfleths*
Bus to Bygdoy:
Viking Ship Museum (suggested duration < 1 hr)
Fram Museum (suggested duration 2 hrs):
Lunch @ Cafe Fram*
Vigeland Sculpture Park (suggested duration 1-2 hrs)
The Historical Museum (free with The Viking Ship Museum ticket)
Coffee @ Fuglen
Grunerlooka District:
Birkelunde Park
Drink @ Bar Boca*
Stroll through Seilduksgata street
Dinner @ Mathallen Oslo*
Artwork/graffiti @ Bla/Ingensteds
Drinks @ HIMKOK*
Day 3 (Norway In A Nutshell from Oslo to Bergen):
8:25am-12:58pm: Bergen Railway from Oslo to Myrdal
1:27-2:25pm: Flam Railway from Myrdal to Flam (stops at the Kjosfossen Waterfall; sit on the left side of the train)
Flam:
Flamsbane Museum (free)
Pick up lunch/snacks @ Coop Marked
4-6pm: Fjords Cruise from Flam to Gudvangen
6:05-7:20pm: Bus from Gudvangen to Voss (look out for Staheim Waterfall)
7:37-8:59pm: Bergen Railway from Voss to Bergen
Check-in @ Magic Hotel Bergen
Dinner @ Colonialen Litteraturhuset*
Drink @ Vinyl*
Day 4 (Bergen):
Breakfast @ hotel
Take the funicular up (NOK45 OW)
Observation
Hike to Lake Revurtjern (a must! ~20 mins hike)
Lake Skomakerdiket (skip if you are short on time)
Troll Garden
Hike down the mountain to Bryggen (~40 mins leisure walk)
Tedragen Bryggen (sample some teas)
Lunch @ Hildegunn Pa Torget* at the Fish Market
Nordnes:
Walk up Ytre Markeveien towards the aquarium
Nordnesparken
Walk down Klostergaten
Lille Lungegardsvannet (petite lake)
Cocktail @ No Stress*
6:30pm: Flybussen to Bergen Airport (NOK115; 30 mins)
Other points of interest & food
Oslo:
Day trip to Hovedoya
Holmenkollen (skip the pricy museum and go there for the view on a sunny day)
Oslo Public Library
Galleries in Grunerlooka
Munch Museum (Scream painting)
Burger @ Døgnvill Burger Vulkan or Illegal Burger
Bergen:
Dine @ Bryggen Tracteursted or Bergen Brunsj
Tips
Oslo:
Get the unlimited transportation pass at the Oslo Visitor Center inside the Oslo Central Station upon your arrival. The card won’t be activated until you do so with your first ride. See the prices here.
Purchase the Oslo Pass if you plan on visiting more museums. Since I only paid for two museums, it was cheaper for me to skip the card.
Bergen:
The city is fairly compact, so an 18-hour visit is sufficient if you are short on time. However, a longer stay is always encouraged to experience such a cute and charming city.
Do not miss out on going to the top of Mt. Floyd - it offered the best view of the city. Also, take some time to stroll the neighborhood of Nordnes, it was off the beaten path.
