One of the questions I am often asked is “what is on your own holiday wish list?” While there are many places I would happily revisit, Norway has been calling me back ever since a brief but unforgettable fjord cruise.
Norway may be small, but its landscapes are vast. Towering mountains, glaciers and fjords contrast with walkable cities full of green spaces, museums and harbours. Linked by an efficient transport network, the country lends itself perfectly to flexible journeys.
This May, I returned for a six-day adventure by train and boat. Sunshine, fjords and national celebrations combined to make it one of my favourite holidays yet.
Our route: two nights in Oslo, an overnight in Balestrand, and a finale in Bergen, all tied together by the excellent “Norway in a Nutshell” concept.
Oslo
A quick train from the airport brought us to central Oslo and our hotel, the Thon Opera. The city is wonderfully walkable, with trams making longer hops easy.
We strolled past the Royal Palace to the lively Aker Brygge waterfront, buzzing with bars, galleries and floating saunas. That evening, we joined locals atop the Opera House roof for sunset views.
The next day was spent exploring Vigeland Sculpture Park, riverside trails and cosy cafés – before sending our luggage ahead to Bergen to travel light.
Rail to the Fjords
The scenic four-hour train to Myrdal was unforgettable: glaciers, valleys and forests rolling past the window. From there, the historic Flåm Railway took us through 20 tunnels and past tumbling waterfalls on its steep descent.
Balestrand: Peace by the Fjord
Flåm was beautiful, yet crowded with cruise passengers, so we quickly escaped on a ferry bound for Balestrand.
Unlike Flåm, Balestrand has no cruise ships – just fjord views and calming charm. We stayed at the simple Hotel Balestrand, with coffee on tap and fresh croissants for breakfast overlooking the water, where a sauna on the fjord caught our eye. Between this and the seemingly never-ending Norwegian twilight the previous night, we were already hugely impressed by the peaceful, active and yet laid back atmosphere.
A walk through the village led us to the grand Kviknes Hotel for lunch on the terrace, perfectly timed to see locals in traditional dress celebrating Constitution Day. That afternoon, we boarded another ferry, gliding for four hours past islands and villages waving flags from the shore towards beautiful Bergen.
Bergen
We arrived in Bergen to join the Constitution Day festivities and found our luggage already waiting, typically Norwegian in its efficiency.
The city’s old town was a delight: colourful houses, harbour views and artisan workshops. But the highlight was the funicular to Mount Fløyen. In just eight minutes we were among panoramic views, playful goats and forest trails. A short walk took us beyond the crowds into complete tranquillity, and we opted to descend on foot down the winding path back to the city.
Our final morning was spent with coffee and cake at a Godt Brød bakery before a seamless tram ride to the airport.
In Summary
Travelling in mid-May, we were lucky with sunshine throughout – although Norway’s weather is famously changeable. Overall, with its fjords, mountains and easy travel connections, Norway provided a beautiful trip filled with delicious food, stunning views, and incredible experiences. It more than lived up to my memories, and has become a comparable rival to two of my other favourites: New Zealand and Canada.
