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Tailor Made Rail · Self-guided rail holiday

Travelzoo: Norway in a Nutshell

London to Norway via overnight ferry, Bergen Line, and Flåm Railway.

Illustration of Travelzoo: Norway in a Nutshell

Tailor Made Rail's Norway in a Nutshell is an eight-day self-guided rail and ferry holiday from London to the Norwegian fjords. You depart from London via Eurostar and continental trains, crossing into Germany and traveling to the Baltic port city of Kiel. Day 3 brings an overnight Color Line cruise ferry across the North Sea to Oslo, arriving by morning in the heart of the Norwegian capital. You have two days to explore Oslo at your own pace, including options to visit the Munch Museum or Akershus Fortress. On Day 6, you ride the scenic Bergen Line across the interior of Norway to Bergen, the UNESCO-listed Hanseatic city on the west coast. The finale is the Norway in a Nutshell day trip: the famous Flåm Railway down to the village of Flåm, a fjord cruise through the Aurlandsfjord, a scenic bus segment to Voss, and the train back to Bergen. The package includes seven nights' accommodation with breakfast, all rail travel in standard class, the overnight ferry cabin, and easy-to-follow documentation. This trip suits first-time rail travelers drawn to the classic Norway route, couples seeking a mix of travel and leisure time, and independent explorers who prefer to discover cities on their own schedule.

What to know before you look closer

  • Hotels are listed as 'or similar'; the final property in each city depends on availability and the tier you select.
  • Day 8 involves a flight home from Bergen; the flight is not included in the standard price. A train return to the UK is available as an optional extra for £500 per person.
  • The Norway in a Nutshell excursion on Day 7 is a full-day round trip from Bergen; it requires an early start and a full day of combined rail, ferry, and bus travel.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Amersfoort (NH Hotel Amersfoort or similar)

    London to Amersfoort

    Eurostar through the Channel and Brussels into the Netherlands, with an easy platform change in Rotterdam or Amsterdam to reach the small town of Amersfoort.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Kiel (IntercityHotel Kiel or similar)

    Amersfoort to Kiel

    InterCity through the Netherlands into Germany, changing in Osnabrück onto a high-speed ICE train to the Baltic port city of Kiel.

  3. Day 3overnight: Overnight ferry (ensuite 2-berth inside cabin)

    Kiel overnight to Oslo

    Free morning in Kiel before boarding the Color Line cruise ferry from midday for the overnight voyage to Norway.

  4. Day 4overnight: Oslo (Home Hotel Folketeateret or similar)

    Oslo

    Cruise through the Oslofjord past fishing villages and islands, docking around 10am; explore the Munch Museum or Akershus Fortress.

  5. Day 5overnight: Oslo (Home Hotel Folketeateret or similar)

    Oslo

    Second day at leisure in Norway's capital.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Bergen (Thon Hotel Bristol or similar)

    Oslo to Bergen

    The scenic Bergen Line rail journey across the country to the west coast, arriving in the UNESCO-listed Hanseatic city of Bergen.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Bergen (Thon Hotel Bristol or similar)

    Day trip - Norway in a Nutshell

    Rail back to Myrdal on the Bergen Line, then the world-famous Flåm Railway down to Flåm, a boat cruise through the Aurlandsfjord to Gudvangen, a scenic bus to Voss, and the train back to Bergen.

  8. Day 8

    Bergen to London

    Last-minute souvenirs in Bergen before the flight home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Overnight Color Line cruise ferry from the Baltic port of Kiel across the North Sea to Oslo, arriving by morning in an ensuite 2-berth inside cabin.
  • Day 4Arrival in Oslo via the Oslofjord, sailing past fishing villages and islands before docking around 10am.
  • Day 6The scenic Bergen Line rail journey across Norway from Oslo to the UNESCO-listed Hanseatic city of Bergen on the west coast.
  • Day 7The Norway in a Nutshell day trip: the Flåm Railway descent from Myrdal to Flåm, a boat cruise through the Aurlandsfjord, a scenic bus to Voss, and the train back to Bergen.

Included

  • Standard class rail travel with seat reservations
  • 7 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Overnight journey from Kiel to Oslo in an ensuite 2-berth inside cabin
  • Norway in a Nutshell excursion from Bergen
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Departures every Thursday from 25 September 2025 to 23 April 2026 (excluding 25 December)

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included in the price?
Yes. Standard class rail from London through Europe and within Norway is included, along with seat reservations. The overnight ferry cabin from Kiel to Oslo is also included.
Is this an escorted or self-guided tour?
Tailor Made Rail markets this as a self-guided rail holiday. You travel independently with easy-to-follow documentation; there is no daily guide or group escort.
Which trains and routes are included?
Eurostar from London to Brussels, trains through the Netherlands and Germany, the ICE to Kiel, the Color Line overnight ferry to Oslo, the Bergen Line to Bergen, and the Flåm Railway and connecting services for the Norway in a Nutshell day trip.
What accommodation is included?
Seven nights in three-star hotels: one night in Amersfoort, one in Kiel, two in Oslo, and two in Bergen. All rooms are twin or double, and breakfast is included daily. The overnight ferry cabin is an ensuite 2-berth inside cabin.
When does this package run?
Departures every Thursday from 25 September 2025 to 23 April 2026, excluding 25 December. Prices vary by season: £1,399 in winter and early spring, £1,499 in shoulder months.
How much walking is required?
The itinerary is mostly rail and ferry travel with minimal walking beyond stations and hotels. Days 4 and 5 in Oslo are at leisure; activity level depends on your own exploration.

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