by Celeste Lipford and Terry Lipford - last updated on 5/15/2025
A first-time visit to Norway promises an unforgettable journey into a land of extraordinary beauty, and there’s no better way to experience its highlights than with the iconic Norway in a Nutshell tour. This curated adventure takes you through Norway’s most stunning landscapes, combining the convenience of a well-organized itinerary with the awe-inspiring wonder of fjords, mountains, and charming villages.
Whether you’re marveling at the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord, riding the world-famous Flåm Railway through dramatic valleys, or exploring picturesque towns like Bergen & Oslo, the tour provides a seamless introduction to Norway’s natural and cultural treasures. Ideal for those short on time, it’s a stress-free way to see the best of the country while offering a taste of its adventure-filled spirit. From cascading waterfalls to serene fjords, the Norway in a Nutshell tour is the perfect gateway to discovering why Norway is celebrated as one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.
We have a good friend who grew up in Norway and he told us that seeing the Norwegian countryside and fjords by car is an amazing way to get a more immersive experience if you have the time and don’t mind driving. For our first trip to Norway which involved several other countries in three weeks time (click here to view our "Fjords, Windmills, Mountains & Lakes" trip overview page) we opted for the “touristy” option. We weren’t disappointed and it allowed us to see the beauty there and to consider additional trips in the future. We found Bergen to be a beautiful city and a nice surprise on our last few days in Norway.
NOTE 1: Please be aware that we did not have more time to stay in Norway, nor did we want to rent a vehicle. This meant that taking the "Norway in a Nutshell" tour was a good solution for the amount of time we had available, and it allowed us to not require a vehicle. If you have more time, and you want to adventure longer in Norway, then you should look into how to rent a vehicle and how to drive to the locations described on this page.
NOTE 2: Doing the Norway in a Nutshell in one day creates a very long day of travel. We departed Oslo early in the morning and it was in the early evening by the time we reached our hotel in Bergen. Yes, this was what we only had time for, but it is a long day and you should be aware that you have to be careful of the Flam connections in order to get to Bergen before midnight!
What is "Norway in a Nutshell"? It is a tour package that is operated by Fjord Tours. The tour can start in Oslo, Bergen, Voss or Flåm and end at one of its other destinations - check their website for more detailed information.
What kind of tour is "Norway in a Nutshell"? It is not a traditional guided tour; for a standard Norway in a Nutshell itinerary you will receive tickets for each part of your journey, and details of the itinerary you’ve chosen. It is up to you to get yourself to the right bus, train or boat at the right time. If you really wanted a guided tour, they are available via a Google Search.
How long is the Norway in a Nutshell tour? The Norway in a nutshell tour can be done in one long day or two days or more. The Norway in a Nutshell itinerary is flexible and allows you to book the transportation that will get you from place to place. Once you’ve booked transportation you are essentially executing the Norway in a Nutshell tour on your own. You should note that the longest train ride of the tour is from Oslo to Myrdal, approximately 4.85 hours.
Where does the Norway in a Nutshell tour start? You can start from Oslo or Bergen, Voss, Geilo or Flam. We started our tour in Oslo and ended in Bergen and opted to do it all in one day.
Where can you book the Norway in a Nutshell tour? We booked our tour in advance online. We would suggest that you do it online & in advance as well, if you wait to make reservations then you may find that the dates you prefer are not available.
Was Norway in a Nutshell worth it? Absolutely! The tour allowed us to see and experience the natural beauty of Norway all in a day. We spent the day with our jaws wide open in awe. We highly recommend it for first time visitors. In addition, we found both Oslo and Bergen to be delightful cities worth more in depth visits.
Could I drive from Oslo to Flam? Yes, it is a 313 kilometer drive and is mostly a two lane highway. We briefly considered driving, but the train allowed us to relax and watch the beautiful scenery go by. Besides which, Bergen is another 170 kilometers from Flam and that was our desired end-point.
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Click the video poster image to view our trip to Flam. If you only have a few days to spend in Norway, the "Norway in a Nutshell" tour can be a great way to pack in a lot of Norway in a short time. This Just Traveling Thru video describes our Norway 3 day trip and 3 day itinerary that describes how to take the “Norway in a Nutshell” tour offered by fjordtours.com. This Norway tour goes from Oslo to Bergen, taking the Flam railway, traversing two fjords with an entire day to explore Oslo's top sites and a day to explore Bergen's top sites as well. Norway has much more to offer but if you only have a short time consider this trip to see some of the best tourist places in Norway.
Norway in a Nutshell Route - Click to view a larger Google MapStep 1: Train from Oslo to Myrdal, nearly 5 hours in length and you get to see some beautiful geography. Click here to view our Oslo Page.
Step 2: In Myrdal, we switched trains to the Flam Railroad, AKA "Flamsbana Railway". The descent from Myrdal to Flam is steep, sometimes exceeding 5.5% grade. The train pauses at the Kjosfossen Waterfall, so that the passengers can get pictures and video. Click here to view our Kjosfossen Waterfall content.
Step 3: Once in Flam, we caught a ferry which took us across the Nærøyfjorden and Aurlandsfjorden Fjords and the Nærøydalen valley (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to Gudvangen. These fjords are very deep and narrow with the occasional waterfall descending from above. Click here to view our Flam Harbor content.
Step 4: In Gudvangen, we boarded a bus to Voss and transisted the Stalheimskleiva - the steepest Road in Northern Europe. This road twists and turns around 13 hairpin bends as it ascends 1.75 km (1.1 mi) from the Nærøy Valley to the village of Stalheim, with inclines as steep as 20%. Click here to view our Gudvangen content.
Step 5: In Voss, we boarded another train for the final portion of the tour (into Bergen), the direct express train can bring you to Bergen in less than an hour, the "local train" requires approximately a 2.5 hours ride. Click here to view our Bergen page.
In image # 1 the Train on the left was the one we rode from Oslo and the right-side tracks were where the Flam Train arrived. We only had to wait perhaps 10 minutes for the Flam Train. One big reason for the train change, is that Flam is at sea level and Myrdal is 2,844.5 feet above sea level. Flam is only 20 kilometers from Myrdal, however the route is one of the steepest standard gauge railway lines in the world, with 80% of the journey running on a gradient of 5.5%.
Myrdal Station, located at 867 meters (2,844 feet) above sea level in the mountains of western Norway, is a remote yet significant railway junction. It sits on the Bergen Line (Bergensbanen), which connects Oslo and Bergen, and is the starting point of the scenic Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana), one of the steepest railways in the world.
We were excited about going down the hill to the fjord below. There were hikers who rode with us to Myrdal, and they exited the train and started hiking down the hill to Flam. The hiking trail was slightly longer than the train route at 13 miles and is ranked as an easy route.
Our train ride from Myrdal to Flåm on the Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) is one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world, offering reathtaking views of Norway's rugged natural landscape. Here are some of the highlights of that train route;
There are a number of Cruise Companies that offer cruises that stop in Flam, including; Royal Caribbean, Viking, Cruise Norway, Princess Cruises, etc. This is not a complete list, but you get the idea use Google to read further - or click here to view the 2019 Cruises list.
The Aurlandsfjord is deep and narrow, reaching a depth of about 962 metres (3,156 ft) below sea level, and its width is generally less than 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide. About 11 kilometers (6.8 mi) south of the mouth of the Aurlandsfjord, the Nærøyfjord branches off from it to the west.
The Nærøyfjord's steep mountainsides are dotted with cascading waterfalls, lush greenery in summer, and snow-covered peaks in winter. The small, isolated farms and villages along its shores add to its charm, giving visitors a glimpse of traditional Norwegian fjord life.
The Nærøyfjord was also used as an inspiration for Arendelle in the Disney Movie "Frozen".
The Aurlandsfjord stretches about 29 kilometers (18 miles) from the Sognefjord and is known for its dramatic landscape of steep cliffs, deep blue waters, and quaint villages like Flåm and Aurland. It’s a peaceful fjord with scenic views of lush green mountains in summer and snow-capped peaks in winter, making it a year-round attraction. Visitors can explore the fjord by boat, kayak, or hiking, and experience the natural beauty of this tranquil waterway.
The Nærøyfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is narrower and more dramatic, with some parts as little as 250 meters (820 feet) wide, flanked by cliffs towering over 1,700 meters (5,600 feet) high. This fjord is about 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) long and is considered one of the most beautiful fjords in the world. Its steep mountainsides, cascading waterfalls, and remote farms create a breathtaking landscape. Popular for boat tours, the Nærøyfjord offers an immersive experience of Norway's rugged wilderness.
Note that both of these fjords are tributaries of the Sognefjord, which is the deepest fjord in Norway. It reaches a maximum depth of 1,308 meters (4,291 feet) beneath sea level. Located in western Norway, the Sognefjord is also the longest fjord in the country, stretching about 205 kilometers (127 miles) inland from the coast. Known as the "King of the Fjords," it offers dramatic landscapes of steep cliffs, deep waters, and picturesque villages, making it a popular destination for travelers.
This was the catamaran ferry that we used to travel from Flam to Gudvangen. It was a comfortable ride due to the twin hulls, and the interior was equipped with comfortable seats.
Because the catamaran had tall wide windows, the view inside of the areas we passed through was excellent.
In this picture, the ferry boat was in the Sognefjord which eventually connects to the North Atlantic. Our ferry took a left turn into the Nærøyfjord to reach Gudvangen. The Nærøyfjorden is one of the narrowest fjords in Europe and is included on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
When we arrived at Gudvangen, we boarded a tour bus that took us to the train station in Voss, Norway.
The village in the distance is Gudvangen, and this is what the view looks like as the ferry pulls in coming from Flam. The mountains the ferry boat passed as we motored through the Nærøyfjord are beautiful aren't they?
This fjord is a narrow fjord, and at Bakkasundet only 250 meters wide, while the mountains in the area stretch a full 1,761 meters above sea level. At Bakka on the narrow point, the greatest depth is only 7 fathoms (12 metres), while the fjord inside widens out and goes down to 75 meters (44 fathoms) deep so that the innermost part forms a stream. The fjord can freeze over in cold winters.
NOTE: This image is the property of mcxurxo via Wikivoyage
Our bus journey took us down the steep and spectacular hairpin bends of Stalheimskleiva (the steepest road in Northern Europe). The road has 13 steep (up to 20%) turns. During the bus trip we enjoyed the wonderful views of the Stalheimsfossen and Sivlefossen waterfalls before the journey continued to Voss, where got onboard a train to Bergen.
NOTE: This picture is the property of TommyG via Wikimedia Commons using the Public Domain license.
After completing the amazing bus ride down the Stalheimskleiva, we eventually arrived in Voss and we had to arrange for tickets to Bergen. Our original tickets were for a much later departure from Flam, and our goal was to reach Bergen in time for dinner.
The train station attendant took care of our switching tickets issue, and we boarded the next Bergen Train in just a few minutes.
NOTE: This picture is the property of Aresenikk via Wikimedia Commons using the Public Domain license.
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