Travel? Why Not! Norway

This is not a tour of Major Norway sights, but a cruise down the coast stopping at a few small villages and spending a few days at either end. It is more of a voyage, so pick out a few books or load up the kindle.

Travel

• 7.5 hours non-stop NYC to Oslo Gardenmoen Airport
• Airport to Oslo City Station, 20 minutes by Airport Express,  Norwegian State Railways 30 minutes, less frequently
• 2.5 hour flight between Oslo and Kirkenes, Northern Norway
• 6 or 7 Day Cruise between Bergen and Kirkenes on a Hurtigruten ship
• The Bergen Railway from Bergen to Oslo Station, 6.5 to 7.5 hours, 4-5 per day
• Side trip to Flåm via the Flåm Railway, 40 minutes one way

Sights and Highlights
Oslo

Royal Palace in Oslo

Oslo has a visitor pass that includes free entrance to museums and free public transportation in zones 1 and 2.

•  Hop On/Off Bus tour, stops near all the sites listed below

City Center

• Akershus Castle and Fortress
• Viking Ship Museum
• Botanical Garden 
• Royal Palace Tours (summer only)   
• National Gallery
• Norwegian Museum of Veterinary History

 Bygdøy peninsula (20 minutes from city center)

• Norwegian Maritime Museum
• Arctic Exploration Ship Fram museum
• Kon-tiki Expeditions Museum ()

Life On Board Ship

The cabins are available in Bergen from 6PM and the ship departs just after 11:30 PM and arrives in Kirkenes after 9:45AM 7 days later. Once in Kirkenes there are several flights to Oslo before the day is out. The northbound schedule is here. Meals are included with the cabin and food is also available most of the day.

Alternatively, the southbound trip takes 6 days, leaves Kirkenes at 12:45 (2 Oslo-Kirkenes flights would work)  and arrives at Bergen at 2:30 PM 6 days later. This schedule is here.
Shorter cruises are possible, just jump ship and fly back to Oslo.

• Northern light sightings are a possibility in autumn and winter
• Rugged Fjords
• Crossing the Arctic Circle
• Visit Trondheim, the former Capital
• Glaciers and icebergs
• Time for contemplation and reading

Bergen

Sights in Bergen include;

• Fjord tours
• Bergenhus Fortress
• Bergen Maritime Museum
• Edvard Grieg Museum, 20 minutes outside Bergen
• Cable car to Mount Elriken (2110 feet)
• Funicular to Mount Fløyen (1400 feet)

Some sights would be free with the Bergen Card, as is public transportation and discounts at some restaurants.


Flåm
A visit to Flåm could just be a day excursion or an overnight.

Photos from Hurtigruten website, except for the Royal Palace which is from the royal website.