Whether or not it is Athens, Paris, or discovering the one welcoming place in Spain these days, Europe is all the time calling our title once we’re able to money in our PTO.
However maintain off on making journey plans for a second! A brand new report claims there is a record-breaking practice that is undoubtedly Europe’s high summer season journey.
You could be stunned to find it isn’t France, Greece, Spain, or any of essentially the most notable names you’d consider; it is truly a shocking journey by way of Scandinavia’s gorgeous landscapes that noticed a document of passengers left gobsmacked in 2024.
I wasn’t certainly one of them final 12 months, however I’ve skilled it in earlier years, and I can attest: the Oslo-Bergen Railway has caught in my thoughts’s eye as certainly one of my high journey reminiscences, and it will likely be for you too.
Simply keep away from burritos in Norway…You will thank me later.
81.9 Million Journeys — However This One Is Norway’s Greatest!
Oslo. One among Europe’s most underrated capitals.
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting 3 instances and it has been a blast each time regardless of the bruised checking account afterward.
Whereas I needed to sacrifice $8 Crimson Bulls for caffeine headache withdrawals, total, Norway is really phenomenal from its welcoming locals, charming folklore, Hogwarts-esque practice stations, and most opulent fjords, one thing so lovely it does not appear potential to be actual; a real “pinch me” second.
Except you are already in Scandinavia, your best entry level can be Oslo, a metropolis with 3 direct connections from the U.S through highly-respected Scandinavian Airways or low-cost provider Norse Atlantic Airways, probably the largest bag police airline on Earth (make sure to pack properly!).
Having been to Oslo a handful of instances, as a lot as I benefit from the distinctive tradition, vibrant waterfronts, and world-renowned artwork displays, it is best served by a brief keep, which makes a visit throughout Norway’s astounding surroundings and postcard villages much more attractive.
A document 81.9 million rail journeys transpired throughout Norway in 2024, however there is no doubt the Oslo-Bergen Railway (additionally known as “Bergensbanen” if you wish to attempt your hand at Norse) is just not solely the preferred, however globally famend as the final word summertime thrill.
There are a complete of 12 stops between Oslo and Bergen, the gateway to Norway’s well-known fjords. Whereas it might be tempting to remain put in your window seat the entire journey, do not sleep on the in-between.
Norway’s Postcard Villages
After departing from Oslo, the primary cease is Drammen, a scenic riverside stopping level earlier than the true journey begins.
The subsequent stretch escapes town bustle of crowded plazas, line-out-the-door museums, and unending troll statues, traversing village after village for hours earlier than finally ending up in a what appears like a Lord of the Rings movie set.
Among the many many charming stops alongside the way in which, these 3 are notably notable:
Flå: Dwelling to Bjørneparken (Bear Park), this small village nestled within the inexperienced Hallingdal valley is the final word vacation spot for wildlife lovers who can stand up shut and private with foxes, bears, wolves, moose, and extra!
Finse: Reaching Finse is the head of the journey — actually. Sitting over 4,000 ft excessive, Finse gives a winter wonderland setting within the midst of summer season with snow-capped mountains in an unlimited expanse of uncooked, untouched wilderness.
Voss: Ever paid for overpriced glass bottles of water with “Voss” slapped on the label? Effectively, you have reached its namesake! Voss gives a treasure trove of actions for thrill-seekers, for which you’ll refuel with, you guessed it, Voss water. This tiny village is Norway’s “adrenaline capital” with towering waterfalls, white-water rapids, skydiving, snowboarding, and something that will get your blood pumping.
Bergen: Norway’s Heaven On Earth
There are practically 200 nations on our lovely planet. I’ve solely checked off about 40 so far, however when folks ask me for recommendation on the place to go in Europe, Bergen is all the time a high hidden gem I like to recommend, regardless of the season.
After I visited, it was throughout the throes of winter, and each aforementioned village and past was a Hallmark film with gleaming white snow blankets and winter wonderland magic.
Come summer season, Bergen and the encircling area tackle a complete new vibe, however much more vivid and luxurious.
In the event you’re not aware of fjords, Merriam-Webster defines them as “a slim inlet of the ocean between cliffs or steep slopes,” which sounds manner much less enthralling than it’s in actual life.
Whereas I am not a non secular man, it is exhausting to not query whether or not Bergen’s fjords weren’t meticulously designed. They’re a residing masterpiece carved by millennia of ice and water, forming awe-inspiring cliffs, valleys, and pristine waterways.
Nevertheless it’s not simply the fjords exterior of city, the townscape is an enthralling vacation spot itself with a picturesque major plaza that places life into perspective how small we’re amongst the staggering peaks.
Ticket costs range each day. Buy tickets for the roughly 6-hour journey here.
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Opinions expressed listed below are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, permitted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the publish.