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)

• 1-2:30 pm: Free Tour Oslo

  • Tiger

  • The Opera House (pic only)

  • Borsen (stock exchange)

  • Christiania Torv

  • City Hall

  • Spikersuppa

  • Parliament

• Grand Hotel

• Akershus Fortress (ground is free to visit; 6 am-9 pm; 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)

• Karl Johans Gate

• Waterfront/SALT art & music (great view of the Opera House)

• The Opera House (check out the lobby and the roof)

• Deichman Bjørvika, Oslo Public Library (a very cool library)

• 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*

• Frogner Park:

  • 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

  • Akerselva River

  • 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

• Mt. Floyen:

  • 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)

• Bryggen:

  • Gunvor Handmade Illustration

  • Tedragen Bryggen (sample some teas)

• Bergwnhus Fortress

• Lunch @ Hildegunn Pa Torget* at the Fish Market

• Nordnes:

  • Walk up Ytre Markeveien towards the aquarium

  • Nordnesparken

  • USF Verftet

  • Old Birgen House for walking

  • Walk down Klostergaten

• Ole Bulls Plass

• Edvard Grieg Statue

• Musikkpaviljongen

• Lille Lungegardsvannet (petite lake)

• Cocktail @ No Stress*

• 6:30pm: Flybussen to Bergen Airport (NOK115; 30 mins)

Other points of interest & food

Oslo:

• Sauna experience @ KOK Oslo Sauna, Langkaia

• Munch Museum (Scream painting)

• Day trip to Hovedoya

• Holmenkollen (skip the pricy museum and go there for the view on a sunny day)

• Galleries in Grunerlooka

• Burger @ Døgnvill Burger Vulkan or Illegal Burger

Bergen:

• Dine @ Bryggen Tracteursted or Bergen Brunsj

• Rosenkrantz Tower

• Gamle Bergen Museum - Bymuseet i Bergen

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.