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 prepare that is undoubtedly Europe’s prime summer time journey.
You may be stunned to find it isn’t France, Greece, Spain, or any of probably the most notable names you’d consider; it is really a shocking journey via Scandinavia’s gorgeous landscapes that noticed a file 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 recollections, and it will likely be for you too.
Simply keep away from burritos in Norway…You may thank me later.
81.9 Million Journeys — However This One Is Norway’s Greatest!
Oslo. One in every of Europe’s most underrated capitals.
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting 3 occasions 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, general, Norway is actually phenomenal from its welcoming locals, fascinating folklore, Hogwarts-esque prepare stations, and most opulent fjords, one thing so stunning it would not appear attainable 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 provider Norse Atlantic Airways, presumably the most important bag police airline on Earth (make sure to pack properly!).
Having been to Oslo a handful of occasions, as a lot as I benefit from the distinctive tradition, vibrant waterfronts, and world-renowned artwork reveals, it is best served by a brief keep, which makes a visit throughout Norway’s astounding surroundings and postcard villages much more attractive.
A file 81.9 million rail journeys transpired throughout Norway in 2024, however there is not any doubt the Oslo-Bergen Railway (additionally known as “Bergensbanen” if you wish to strive your hand at Norse) shouldn’t be 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 actual journey begins.
The subsequent stretch escapes the town bustle of crowded plazas, line-out-the-door museums, and unending troll statues, traversing village after village for hours earlier than in the end ending up in a what looks 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: House to Bjørneparken (Bear Park), this small village nestled within the inexperienced Hallingdal valley is the final word vacation spot for wildlife lovers who can rise up shut and private with foxes, bears, wolves, moose, and extra!
Finse: Reaching Finse is the top of the journey — actually. Sitting over 4,000 ft excessive, Finse affords a winter wonderland setting within the midst of summer time 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? Nicely, you’ve got reached its namesake! Voss affords 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 almost 200 nations on our stunning planet. I’ve solely checked off about 40 to this point, however when individuals ask me for recommendation on the place to go in Europe, Bergen is all the time a prime hidden gem I like to recommend, irrespective of the season.
Once I visited, it was through 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 encompassing area tackle a complete new vibe, however much more vivid and luxurious.
Should you’re not aware of fjords, Merriam-Webster defines them as “a slender inlet of the ocean between cliffs or steep slopes,” which sounds approach much less enthralling than it’s in actual life.
Whereas I am not a spiritual man, it is onerous 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.
However it’s not simply the fjords exterior of city, the townscape is a captivating vacation spot itself with a picturesque predominant plaza that places life into perspective how small we’re amongst the staggering peaks.
Ticket costs range daily. Buy tickets for the roughly 6-hour journey here.
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