Oslo Travel Forum

Hi- I'm coming to Oslo in May and want to do the Norway in a Nutshell thing, but I will be traveling with a 4 year old and elderly parents. A couple of questions:
1)the Oslo roundtrip package costs almost K2000, and includes a night train back to Oslo. Could we book a day train on our own and get back at almost the same cost?
2) If we have have 1-2 days to spend somewhere, what are the advantages of spending that time in Flam vs. Bergen (esp. w a little one). Any recommendations of lodging at either place?
3) any recommendations for vegetarian food in either location or while traveling greatly appreciated, thanks!

1) You could book just one way Oslo - Bergen (NOK 1240), and fly back (www.norwegian.no almost always cheaper than www.sas.no), another option would be to book a one way NIN, and try and get a "Minipris" ticket on the train back to Oslo. (Limited number available, price 199 or 299 per ticket - more info on www.nsb.no) A normal price train ticket Oslo - Bergen (without any discounts) costs 739, so you aren't saving money by booking the return ticket with NIN.

2) I'd go for Bergen, if you can handle doing the entire trip Oslo-Bergen in one day... Flåm is a small place, and there's not much to do there unless you enjoy hiking etc. (And I doubt the 4-year-old does:o) Bergen has more child-friendly activities, such as the Aquarium, the funicular...

3) I'm a vegetarian (and from Bergen) - veggie food isn't that hard to find in Bergen, most places have at least *ONE* option on the menu. {Avoid places that serve old-fashioned, traditional Norwegian food...) It is a lot worse in smaller, rural places - like Flåm. I doubt you'll have many veggie options on the train either - I'd bring a packed lunch and some "emergency foods" such as nuts etc.. :o) There is a menu to be found on the nsb website.

I have a blog where I write about veggie food in Norway (and the places I travel to!) - I write in both Norwegian and English. (You'll find the link on my homepage, it's listed as my "external page"=) I have only just started that blog, not that many restaurant reviews there yet but I'm pretty sure I will have added more Bergen reviews by the time you get there.. ;o) There are also restaurant reviews on my Bergen page here on VT - I usually mention what the place is like for vegetarians.

...and of course: Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian places are usually safe choices when it comes to veggie food! Harbour Cafe (by the fish market in Bergen) has got a veggie burger which is supposed to be very good (haven't tried it yet!). Most places will be able (and willing!) to make you something vegetarian if you ask.

Hahaha I'm talking to myself here.. ;o) I forgot to mention that I have a tip about "surviving in Norway as a vegetarian" on my Norway page (you'll find it among the restaurant tips) Right then, I'll shut up now!!;o)

I'll just click on the thumbs up FletteMette ;o)

Haha! ;o) Well, thanks for that!! :o)

I have found this forum interesting as I am going to Bergen in June. We are staying at a friend´s house and will have their car. Will it be easy for us to drive to all the great places along the fjords? Or is it easier to take cruises? I found an overnight cruise that does a Norway in a Nutshell roundtrip Bergen-Bergen but I´m not sure if we shouldn´t just do it ourselves. Or maybe just take the cruise and then visit other sights around Bergen by car? Any opinions?
Thanks for your help!

You certainly can do it by car. I for one have been to all the places, but never in one trip. That said, it is easier and I suspect faster to do the Bergen-Bergen trip. Remember, it's not exactly a cruise. It's a trip set together using existing public transportation. But driving on the other hand gives you the choice of driving the Hardanger fjord.
Have a great time!

Of course you can drive to the fjords - but with the Nutshell, you'll also do a boat trip on the fjord, and that's (in my opinion) more interesting than just driving... There's also the Flåm railway, which is rather nice (but you can of course drive to Flåm and take the railway up & down). Maybe you could do the Bergen-Bergen Nutshell, and then drive to the Hardangerfjord on another daytrip? :o)