Whether or not it is Athens, Paris, or discovering the one welcoming place in Spain these days, Europe is at all times calling our title after 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 prime summer time journey.
You is likely to be stunned to find it is not France, Greece, Spain, or any of essentially the most notable names you’d consider; it is truly a surprising journey by means of Scandinavia’s beautiful landscapes that noticed a report of passengers left gobsmacked in 2024.
I wasn’t one in every of them final yr, however I’ve skilled it in earlier years, and I can attest: the Oslo-Bergen Railway has caught in my thoughts’s eye as one in every of my prime 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 in all 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 Pink Bulls for caffeine headache withdrawals, general, Norway is really phenomenal from its welcoming locals, fascinating folklore, Hogwarts-esque practice stations, and most opulent fjords, one thing so lovely it would not appear potential to be actual; a real “pinch me” second.
Until you are already in Scandinavia, your best entry level might be Oslo, a metropolis with 3 direct connections from the U.S through highly-respected Scandinavian Airways or low-cost service Norse Atlantic Airways, presumably the most important bag police airline on Earth (make sure you 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 report 81.9 million rail journeys transpired throughout Norway in 2024, however there isn’t any doubt the Oslo-Bergen Railway (additionally known as “Bergensbanen” if you wish to strive 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 could 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 actual journey begins.
The subsequent stretch escapes the town bustle of crowded plazas, line-out-the-door museums, and endless troll statues, traversing village after village for hours earlier than finally ending up in a what looks like a Lord of the Rings movie set.
Among the many many charming stops alongside the best way, these 3 are significantly 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 time with snow-capped mountains in an enormous expanse of uncooked, untouched wilderness.
Voss: Ever paid for overpriced glass bottles of water with “Voss” slapped on the label? Properly, you’ve got reached its namesake! Voss gives a treasure trove of actions for thrill-seekers, for which you’ll be able to 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 almost 200 international locations on our lovely planet. I’ve solely checked off about 40 up to now, however when folks ask me for recommendation on the place to go in Europe, Bergen is at all times a prime 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 time, Bergen and the encircling area tackle a complete new vibe, however much more vivid and luxurious.
Should you’re not accustomed to fjords, Merriam-Webster defines them as “a slender 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 spiritual man, it is exhausting to not query whether or not Bergen’s fjords weren’t meticulously designed. They’re a dwelling masterpiece carved by millennia of ice and water, forming awe-inspiring cliffs, valleys, and pristine waterways.
Nevertheless it’s not simply the fjords outdoors of city, the townscape is an enthralling vacation spot itself with a picturesque primary plaza that places life into perspective how small we’re amongst the staggering peaks.
Ticket costs range everyday. Buy tickets for the roughly 6-hour journey here.
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