Before hitting up the fjords of Norway, I spent time in Oslo and Bergen, and embarked on one of Europe’s most epic and scenic train rides!
Oslo
Oslo is a great starting point for a trip to Norway – a city with an interesting vibe. Our airbnb was in Grünerløkka, so I spent most of the time in this hip part of town.
I could easily spot the Scandinavian design influence and bright, fresh colours on every street.
Even the local church looked modern!
I walked over a long pedestrian bridge to check out The Barcode Project. This project is redeveloping an old industrial area of Oslo with a row of high rises. All the buildings are leading in global architectural design.
To check out some famous Norwegian art, I visited the Edward Munch museum. Nearby I stumbled upon a botanical garden with greenhouses filled to the rim – and there were cacti!
Train from Oslo to Bergen
Known as one of the greatest train trips in all of Europe, I took the NSB train from Oslo to Bergen. Sadly the gloomy weather spread across the country, so the amazing mountain views were covered in clouds and rain.
An interesting observation along the way was that everyone’s house is either yellow, red or black, and always painted fresh and bright.
Midway through the train ride, the trees disappeared and the hills turned orange. The landscape changed completely!
Next, I found myself looking out on glaciers!
From glaciers to waterfalls, summer to fall, and rain to rainbows, the train trip across Norway was truly beautiful. I could only imagine how diverse the rest of the country looks.
Bergen
Set on the coast and amongst mountains, Bergen is a lovely city that should definitely be part of your Norway itinerary. I spent the days exploring the many streets, and jumping in and out of coffee shops to stay dry from the rain!
Thankfully on the last day, the sun came out.
Bryggen, the main tourist strip along the water, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s colourful buildings provide a great central point for the town, and there is lots of history there.
A place not to miss is Fjellskål Fisketorget – the main local fish market & restaurant – that has some interesting characters to buy!
Bergen is a small town with a big heart, as it was evidently full of arts & culture.
I loved window shopping at local shops, and even brought home a small piece of art for memories.
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