How many days in Norway? 9 days from Oslo to the fjords and the Arctic
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Norway is long, about 1,700 km from south to north, and the fjords are not near the capital. Give it nine days and move in one direction: two in Oslo, the scenic railway to Flåm and the fjords, two in Bergen, the coastal ship to Ålesund for Geiranger, then a flight north to Tromsø. Book trains and flights early: fares rise sharply in the last weeks.
Short answer
Seven days covers Oslo, the Flåm and Nærøyfjord route and Bergen with a day to spare. Nine adds the coastal voyage, Geiranger and the Arctic, where the season decides whether you see the midnight sun or the northern lights.
The 9-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Oslo: the harbour, the Opera and Munch
Morning. Walk up the sloping marble roof of the Oslo Opera House (free) for a view over the Oslofjord. Next door, the 13-floor MUNCH museum (about NOK 185) shows versions of *The Scream*.
Afternoon. Walk 20 minutes along the waterfront to Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle with free grounds. Continue to Aker Brygge and the Astrup Fearnley museum at Tjuvholmen.
Evening. Dine in Grünerløkka, the former workers' district on the Akerselva river. A main costs NOK 250-350 and a beer about NOK 110-130.
Buy the Ruter app ticket: one 24-hour pass (about NOK 130) covers metro, trams, buses and the harbour ferries.
Day 2: Oslo: Bygdøy museums and Vigeland Park
Morning. Take the ferry from pier 3 at the City Hall (summer) or bus 30 to Bygdøy. The Fram Museum holds the polar ship of Nansen and Amundsen, and the Norsk Folkemuseum has a 13th-century stave church. The Viking ships are closed for a new museum, due to reopen around 2027.
Afternoon. Ride to Vigeland Park (free, always open). It holds over 200 granite and bronze figures by Gustav Vigeland and the 14-metre Monolith.
Evening. Take metro line 1 for 30 minutes up to Holmenkollen ski jump for the sunset view. The metro runs back to the centre every 15 minutes.
Many Oslo museums close on Mondays outside summer; check before planning Day 2.
Day 3: Bergen Railway to Myrdal and the Flåm Railway
Morning. Take an early Vy train from Oslo S on the Bergen Line, about 4h45 to Myrdal (from about NOK 400-1,000 booked ahead). It climbs above the treeline to Finse, 1,222 metres high, with snow on the plateau into June.
Afternoon. Change at Myrdal to the Flåm Railway, 20 km and about 1 hour down 864 metres (about NOK 600-700 one way). The train stops at Kjosfossen waterfall.
Evening. Stay in Flåm or quieter Aurland, 10 minutes away. Try the local beers at Ægir brewery, in a timber hall built to look like a stave church.
Sit on the left side of the Flåm Railway going down for the best views of the valley and the waterfall.
Day 4: Nærøyfjord cruise to Gudvangen and on to Bergen
Morning. Board the fjord cruise from Flåm to Gudvangen (about 2 hours, roughly NOK 600-800). The Nærøyfjord, a UNESCO site, is barely 250 metres wide at its narrowest.
Afternoon. Take the bus down the steep Stalheimskleiva road to Voss (about 1 hour). From Voss the train reaches Bergen in about 1h15.
Evening. Walk from Bergen station to the harbour, about 10 minutes. A bowl of fish soup costs about NOK 200-250.
The combined Norway in a Nutshell ticket (roughly NOK 2,500-3,500 from Oslo) bundles Days 3 and 4 but is not cheaper than booking each leg yourself.
Day 5: Bergen: Bryggen, the fish market and Fløyen
Morning. Walk Bryggen, the UNESCO-listed row of wooden Hanseatic merchant houses on the harbour. The Hanseatic Museum behind it costs about NOK 180-200.
Afternoon. Take the Fløibanen funicular (about NOK 170 return) up Mount Fløyen, 320 metres. Walk the lake trails at the top, or the 45-minute path back down.
Evening. The Fish Market on the harbour sells king crab and shrimp at high prices. Cafés around Torgallmenningen are cheaper.
Bergen gets rain about 200 days a year. Pack a waterproof jacket.
Day 6: Bergen hike and the coastal ship north
Morning. Ride the Ulriken 643 cable car (about NOK 350 return) to Bergen's highest mountain. Fit walkers can hike the 4-hour Vidden ridge trail to Fløyen.
Afternoon. Visit the KODE art museums on Lille Lungegårdsvann for Munch and Norwegian landscape painting. Alternatively, take the light rail to the Fantoft Stave Church.
Evening. Board the Hurtigruten coastal ship, usually leaving Bergen at about 20:00, for the overnight voyage north to Ålesund. A cabin costs roughly NOK 1,500-3,000.
If the ship is full or expensive, Ålesund is a 1-hour flight from Bergen, or about 9 hours by bus.
Day 7: Ålesund and the Geirangerfjord
Morning. Arrive in Ålesund, rebuilt in Art Nouveau style after a fire in 1904. Climb the 418 steps to the Aksla viewpoint above the town.
Afternoon. From June to August, take a tour or the boat via Hellesylt into the Geirangerfjord (a UNESCO site) for the Seven Sisters waterfall. The round trip takes most of a day.
Evening. Eat bacalao, the local dried-cod stew, at the harbour. Ålesund was built on the salt-cod trade.
Geiranger's road over Dalsnibba (1,500 metres) is usually open only from late May to October.
Day 8: Fly north to Tromsø
Morning. Fly from Ålesund to Tromsø, usually via Oslo (about 4 hours, roughly NOK 1,200-2,500). Flybussen links the airport to the centre in 15 minutes.
Afternoon. Walk the compact centre and Polaria, the Arctic aquarium with bearded seals (about NOK 300). The Polar Museum covers trapping and expeditions.
Evening. Ride the Fjellheisen cable car (about NOK 500 return) to Storsteinen, 421 metres up. The city view is best under the midnight sun or the aurora.
From about 20 May to 22 July, the sun never sets in Tromsø; bring an eye mask.
Day 9: Tromsø: Arctic Cathedral and the fjords
Morning. Cross the bridge to the Arctic Cathedral (about NOK 80), a white triangular church from 1965. Its east wall is one huge stained-glass window.
Afternoon. From November to January, take a fjord tour to see whales. Otherwise, drive to Kvaløya and the white beaches of Sommarøy, about 1 hour away.
Evening. From September to March, book a northern-lights chase (roughly NOK 1,200-2,000). Guides drive inland, sometimes to Finland, toward clear skies.
Book husky sledding and aurora tours a few weeks ahead in winter, when demand peaks.
Only have 7 days?
With 7 days, cut Ålesund and Tromsø and add a day in Bergen or the Hardangerfjord. You lose Geiranger and the Arctic.
Got extra days?
Extra days suit the Lofoten Islands, with red fishing cabins and mountains over the sea (fly to Leknes or Svolvær, or the ferry from Bodø), or the Stavanger area for the Preikestolen hike, about 4 hours return.
Where to stay in Norway
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Hostels and cabins near stations | Oslo, Bergen and Tromsø have good hostels; campsite cabins (hytter) are cheaper in summer. | NOK 700-1,200 |
| Mid-range | Central chain hotels | Breakfast buffets are included and large, covering one meal a day. | NOK 1,500-2,500 |
| Mid-range | Fjord hotels (Flåm, Aurland, Geiranger) | Book months ahead; rooms on the water fill first. | NOK 1,800-3,000 |
| Comfort | Historic hotels and design hotels | Old wooden fjord hotels or harbour design hotels in Bergen and Oslo. | NOK 3,500-6,000 |
Getting around
Trains (Vy) link Oslo with Bergen, Trondheim and Stavanger; book early for 'Lowfare' tickets. Fjord areas use ferries and buses, timed to connect. For the north, fly: Norwegian and Widerøe cover the country, and Oslo–Tromsø takes about 1h50. Cities use ticket apps (Ruter in Oslo, Skyss in Bergen).
What to eat in Norway
Food is expensive, so eat a big hotel breakfast and a lunch of smørbrød (open sandwiches). Try fiskesuppe (creamy fish soup), brunost (sweet brown cheese) on waffles, kanelbolle (cinnamon buns) and reindeer in the north. Supermarkets such as Rema 1000 and Kiwi keep costs down. A main in a restaurant costs NOK 250-400 and a beer about NOK 120. Alcohol stronger than 4.7% is sold only at Vinmonopolet shops.
Best time to visit
June to August for long days, open mountain roads and full ferry timetables, with highs of 15-22°C; this is the peak season. May and September are quieter and cheaper. For the northern lights, go to Tromsø from late September to March; winter in the fjords means short days and fewer boats.
Month-by-month weather for Norway →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | NOK 450 | NOK 900 | NOK 1,800 |
| Food & drink | NOK 450 | NOK 800 | NOK 1,500 |
| Sights & tickets | NOK 250 | NOK 500 | NOK 900 |
| Local transport | NOK 300 | NOK 600 | NOK 1,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about NOK 1,450 | about NOK 2,800 | about NOK 5,200 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Norwegian kroner; from 2026, some municipalities may add a 3% visitor tax on overnight stays, so check your booking.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Norway in a Nutshell worth it?
The route is worth it: the Bergen Railway, the Flåm Railway and the Nærøyfjord are the most scenic single day in Norway. The packaged ticket mostly offers convenience. Booking each leg yourself is usually similar or cheaper and lets you stay a night in Flåm or Aurland, which makes the trip slower and less rushed.
When can I see the northern lights in Norway?
From roughly late September to late March, when nights are dark enough above the Arctic Circle. Tromsø, Lofoten and Alta are the usual bases. You need clear skies, so give yourself at least three nights and book a tour that drives to where the clouds break, sometimes into Finland.
How expensive is Norway?
It is one of the most expensive countries in Europe. A mid-range trip runs about NOK 2,800 per person per day. Save with hotel breakfasts, supermarket lunches, early train fares and free hikes. Alcohol is very expensive, so consider buying it duty-free on arrival.
Do I need a car in Norway?
Not for this route: trains, the coastal ship, ferries and flights cover it. A car helps for remote fjords, Lofoten and the mountain roads, but costs add up with tolls, ferries and fuel. If you rent, book early in summer and expect slow, narrow roads; distances take longer than maps suggest.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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