Norway is situated in the western part of the Scandinavian peninsula. It extends about 1,100 mi (1,770 km) from the North Sea along the Norwegian Sea to more than 300 mi (483 km) above the Arctic Circle, the farthest north of any European country. Norwegians, like the Danes and Swedes, are of Teutonic origin. The Norsemen, also known as Vikings, ravaged the coasts of northwest Europe from the 8th to the 11th century and were ruled by local chieftains.
Norway in a nutshell
Bergen to Oslo - Norway in a nutshell
1 day trip
Visiting: Bergen, Voss, Gudvangen, Flam, Myrdal, Oslo
Geirangerfjord & Norway in nutshell
Oslo to Oslo
3 nights / 4 days
Visiting: Oslo, Dombas, Andalsnes, Alesund, Geirangerfjord, Bergen, Gudvangen, Flam, Mydral, Oslo
Norway’s most scenic train rides
Flåm Railway: A must for any rail enthusiast, the Flåm Railway, one of the world's steepest railways on normal gauge, is one of Norway’s most popular attractions, and a masterpiece of Norwegian engineering. This takes you through spectacular scenery all the way from Myrdal down to the Aurlandsfjord. On the 12-mile-long stretch you will go through 20 tunnels and past countless waterfalls.
In their March 2014 issue, Lonely Planet Traveler included the Flåm Railway in a list of "The World's most incredible train journeys 2014" and named it "The world's best train ride".
Rauma Line: Not as well known, but arguably just as beautiful as the Flåm Railway, the Rauma Line, which runs between Åndalsnes and Dombås, was completed in 1924. The line is very popular with tourists - especially with cruise passengers. Highlights along the way include Trollveggen, the tunnel at Verma, the waterfall at Mongefossen and the distinctive stone-arched Kylling Bridge. Parts of the film Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince were shot here.
Bergen Line: Linking the country’s two main cities, Oslo and Bergen, this line takes in some beautiful scenery, with the most spectacular stretch as the train goes over the Hardangervidda, Europe's highest mountainous plateau. Finse, at 4.000 feet above sea level, is the highest point on the line and perhaps better known internationally as the ice-planet Hoth in "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back". Building work on the Bergen Line started in 1875, took 34 years to complete, and employed a workforce of some 15,000 men. The 182 tunnels were carved by hand. The Bergen Line, or "Bergensbanen", as it is known in Norwegian, celebrated its centenary in 2009. The trip between Oslo and Bergen takes about 7.5 hours.
