Norwegische Fjorde — Bergen, Flåm & Tagesausflüge von Oslo
Norway's fjords (the deep glacially carved inlets that are Norway's defining landscape feature and one of the great natural wonders of the world) are accessible from Oslo as day trips or short overnight excursions: Bergen (the gateway city of the Western Fjords, 6-7 hours by train from Oslo on the Bergen Railway (Bergensbanen — the highest mainline railway in Northern Europe, crossing the Hardangervidda mountain plateau at 1,301 metres), or 1 hour by plane) and Flåm (in the Aurlandsfjord branch of the Sognefjord, 5 hours from Oslo by train) are the primary fjord excursion destinations.
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Bergen — Gateway to the Fjords (6 Hours by Train)
Bergen (NSB train from Oslo, 6.5 hours, NOK 499–899, or 50 minutes by SAS/Norwegian flight) is Norway's second city and the starting point for fjord travel — the Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf (UNESCO, 14th-century wooden warehouses lining the inner harbour, the most photographed buildings in Norway) and the Fløibanen funicular (7 minutes to 320m viewpoint, NOK 90 return) are Bergen's two essential experiences; Bergen receives 3,000mm of rainfall per year (the wettest major city in Europe), so pack accordingly.
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Flåmsbana Railway — The World's Steepest Railway Line
The Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana, 20km from Myrdal to Flåm, 55 minutes, NOK 420 one-way, fully electric, 1942) descends 865m through the Flåm Valley using 20 tunnels and gradients up to 5.5% — the route is accessible as a day trip from Oslo via Bergen Railway (4 hours Oslo to Myrdal) or from Bergen (2 hours); the Kjosfossen waterfall stop (the train halts for 5 minutes while a Huldra dancer appears on the cliff — Norwegian mythology meets tourist spectacle) is the most anticipated moment; the route is included in the Norway in a Nutshell tourist package.
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Nærøyfjord — The World's Narrowest UNESCO Fjord
Nærøyfjord (Nærøyfjorden, UNESCO, branch of Sognefjord, 17km long, 250m wide at its narrowest, enclosed by 1,700m cliffs on both sides) is the most dramatic fjord landscape in Norway — boat tours from Gudvangen (Ferry from Flåm, 2 hours, the return of the Norway in a Nutshell package) navigate through the fjord's sheer walls; kayaking from Gudvangen through the fjord is the ultimate experience (NOK 600–1,200 with guide, 6 hours); the fjord receives 160,000+ visitors per year but remains overwhelmingly impressive.
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Geirangerfjord — Norway's Most Famous Fjord
Geirangerfjord (UNESCO, 15km long, branching from Sunnylvsfjord, accessible from Ålesund, 4 hours from Bergen or 6 hours from Oslo) is Norway's most photographed fjord — the Seven Sisters waterfall (7 parallel falls dropping 250m on the south shore) and the Suitor (on the north shore) are named as a romantic pair; the cruise ship anchorage at Geiranger village (population 250) receives 700+ cruise calls per year; the abandoned farms (Skagefla, clinging to the north shore cliff 400m above the water) are accessible by a marked hiking trail.
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Hardangerfjord — The Fruit Fjord in Bloom
Hardangerfjord (the second-longest fjord in Norway, 179km, accessible from Bergen by bus or boat) is surrounded by orchards — the apple, pear, and cherry blossoms of the Hardanger Fruit Region (Ullensvang, Lofthus, Eidfjord) bloom in May and draw tourists specifically for the pink-white blossom landscape against the snow-capped mountains; the Hardanger Cider (Hardanger Saft og Siderfabrikk) and Hardanger fiddle (the national instrument of Norway, a fiddle with 4 sympathetic strings under the playing strings) are regional products.
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Oslo to Bergen by Train — The Mountain Railway
The Bergen Railway (Bergensbanen, 496km, 6.5 hours, the highest mountain railway in Northern Europe, crossing the Hardangervidda plateau at 1,301m) is consistently rated among the world's greatest train journeys — the Finse section (the highest point, 1,222m, accessible in winter only by train and skis, the setting of the Hoth scenes in The Empire Strikes Back) and the Voss–Bergen mountain section (descending through 26 tunnels and multiple viaducts) are the scenic highlights; the train runs year-round regardless of weather.