On the train journey between Oslo and Bergen

Oslo to Bergen by train

How to take the stunning rail journey from Oslo to Bergen

No regular European railway route used by express trains ascends the heights achieved on this Oslo to Bergen route.
So travelling by daylight is highly recommended as a magical experience awaits you.

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Routes

From Oslo S to Bergen

Travel Information

The number of daytime trains has been pleasingly increased in recent years.
These train, which are operated by Vy, are usually scheduled to depart from Oslo daily at 06:25; 08:25; 10:25 14;25 and 16:25.

There is also an overnight train from Oslo to Bergen which is usually timetabled to depart from Oslo at 23:25 and arrive in Bergen at 06:45.

Final Destination: Bergen

All trains also call at: Myrdal (connect for the Flaamsbana) and Voss

5 x Regiontog trains per day
1 x Sove train per night

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 90 days ahead of the travel date.

The three types of Flex tickets will typically be offered for sale, which are:

1: Non Flexible tickets - They live up to their name as they can't be refunded or exchanged, hence they are the cheapest type of ticket, when first placed on sale they are typically less than half then price of Flexible tickets.
Seats will be assigned when booking these tickets, but you cannot choose specific seats from the seating plan.
Also note because they cannot be exchanged or refunded, once purchased, you can only travel by the specific departure you chose when making a booking.
Non-Flexible tickets for travel in Standard (second) class can sell out before the travel date.

2: Semi Flexible tickets - These tickets can't be refunded if you want to cancel your travel plans, but they can be exchanged to an alternative departure and they also allow the purchaser to select specific seats on a seating plan.

3: Flexible tickets - They are most expensive because unlike Semi-Flexible tickets, they can be refunded, in addition to being exchanged to an alternative departure.
They also allow the purchaser to select specific seats on a seating plan.

Travelling in Plus (first / premium) Class

Vy tends to take a flexible approach for the sale of tickets to travel in Plus Class, particularly when looking up a journey more than a couple of weeks ahead when the Non-Flexible tickets may not be an option.

Conversely closer to the travel dates, the Non-Flexible tickets can be sold out for travel in Standard Class, but will be still be available for travel in Plus*.

*= when booking with Entur it refers to Vy's Plus Class as Premium Class.

Resting compartments

These are six seat compartments which can be block booked for use by family groups or any travelling party of up to six people.
Though Non-Flexible tickets may not be made available for journeys in a resting compartments.

Sleeper trains

Vy's sleeper trains on the Oslo to Bergen route offer four types of accommodation:

  • Standard Class seats, of the type available on the daytime trains
  • Reclining seats
  • Sleeping compartments with two single beds (solo travellers will have sole occupancy of the compartment)
  • Resting compartments, which have 6 beds
    When travelling in groups of 3 to 6 adults whether 1 x resting compartment will be cheaper than more than one sleeping compartment can depend on how far ahead you will be booking; tickets will be released up to 90 days ahead of the travel date.

Non-Flexible tickets don't tend to be made available for travel in the sleeping compartments.

Booking on the Vy website instead of with Entur

Entur is the national transport booking service for Norway, but tickets for travel by Vy trains can also be booked on the Vy website.

Some ticket options on the long-distance trains are only available on the Vy website, namely;

  • you can choose seat in the family carriage, which is available on the Bergen line,
  • you can specifically choose to sit in a part of a train in which pets aren't allowed.

Also when booking on Vy, tickets to sit in Plus (first) Class are available as an added extra to the Standard Class price; if you can't find Plus Class availability when choosing Non-Flexible tickets, check Semi-Flexible and Flexible tickets.

Using Rail Passes on this journey:

Reservations are required, but as all those travelling with journey tickets will have had their seats assigned, reserving as soon as possible is particularly recommended.
Seat and bed reservations are usually available up to 90 days in advance

You can book reservations online by using the Eurail reservation service or the InterRail reservation service though you will be charged a €2 booking fee per reservation, per person.

Though this €2 fee can now be avoided by using the Entur rail pass reservation service.
Reservations can be arranged at the Entur ticket desks in stations

On day trains the terms differ depending on whether you have a first class or second class rail pass.
Second class passes = the costs per seat in the Standard (second class) seating areas is NOK 50, but holders of second class passes can also opt to to travel in the equivalent of first class seats at a cost of NOK 200/300.
First class passes you can either;

  • opt to reserve prior to arrival in Norway and pay the reservation fee NOK 200/300 (plus the admin fees),charge
  • or avoid the fees, if you wait until you are in Norway and book at an Entur travel desk in the major stations.

For travel on the Sove night trains, regardless of operator, the reservation fees are the same for both first and second class pass users.
The rail pass reservation fee for the sleeping cabins is a flat rate of NOK 1000 (approx €100) so if you are travelling solo you will have the cabin to yourself, but couples /pairs can pay the one fee, but then double occupancy.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Vy *
Entur *

Entur Guide

Norway has a national public transport ticketing service, named Entur which sells all rail tickets, regardless of whether the train service will be operated by Vy, SJ NORD or Go Ahead.
It also sells tickets for buses so it can handle tickets requests for journeys which involve a combination of trains and buses.

When using it to book journeys, you will be offered the full range of tickets per route and can access the core terms and conditions for how each type of ticket can be used.

Though something to look out for on Entur is that when booking rail tickets from and to Oslo, you need to select Oslo S, the city's main station, as a location in the From and To search boxes.

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - YesLandscape (Hills / Mountains)Lake viewsCoastal views

Good to Know

Travelling with Bikes:

Bike spaces can be reserved on the trains used on this route; the 06:25 departure from Oslo usually has a dedicated wagon for bikes.

These bike reservations can be added to an online booking.

Between Honefoss and Gol #1 Between Honefoss and Gol #1
Between Gol and Geilo Between Gol and Geilo
Between Geilo and Finse #1 Between Geilo and Finse #1
Between Geilo and Finse #2 Between Geilo and Finse #2
Between Finse and Myrdal #1 Between Finse and Myrdal #1
Between Myrdal and Voss #1 Between Myrdal and Voss #1
Between Myrdal and Voss #2 Between Myrdal and Voss #2
As the train approaches the Sorfjorden, the views are initially on the left As the train approaches the Sorfjorden, the views are initially on the left
But when the train reaches the fjord the best of the views are on the right But when the train reaches the fjord the best of the views are on the right

Step on board for one of Europe's most epic train journeys - that guide to taking this journey includes details of when the best of the views are from the left and right of the train as it heads west.

In summary the best of the views are from the left of the train, when facing the direction of travel.

The only sections of the journey on which the best of the views are on the right are between Drammen and Honefoss, Gol and Geilo, Finse and Myrdal and the final part of the journey between Voss and Bergen.

Time your trip so that you're travelling on one of the first three trains of the day, to make the most of the jaw-dropping spectacle.

What gives this route its wow factor is the epic journey across the Hardangervidda plateau, the highest altitude travelled by European main line trains.

As can be seen in these two videos that ShowMeTheJourney filmed from the train:

Longer video:

Shorter version; filmed further west towards Finse:

You will be crossing the plateau between Haugastøl and Mjølfjell with views stretching across a landscape above the tree line, studded with lakes and mountains.
The best views are from the left of the train on this part of the journey.

Don’t expect the high peaks that can be seen from Alpine routes, this route’s spectacle comes from a sense of other-worldliness.

More similar to a typical Alpine route, with jagged peaks and a raging river is the passage between Myrdal and Voss; arguably the most spectacular section of the journey!

Though the must-see views aren’t over once the train descends to and departs from Voss.

For the final part of the journey from there on to Bergen, the railway line passes a series of coastal fjords.

This journey is so fabulous that it's also included on:

Take the stress out of your journey Everything planned to your specification, so sit back and relax… Try Concierge
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