A road trip from Oslo to Bergen or Bergen to Oslo is by far one of the most scenic routes I have experienced. Surrounded by mountains, snow, and breathtaking views, the tour can be done in either direction or as a round trip. It all depends on the time you have. There are multiple stops you can stop and stay along the way! Read on to know more about planning your next Norweigan adventure!
We did this trip during a snowy and white Christmas but this is completely doable in the summer. The activities and things you do along the way will vary by season. However, the beauty of the Norweigan Fjords is admirable and jaw-dropping all year round!
Note: We have covered details of a round trip from Oslo to Bergen. However, this itinerary can be tailored to cover the Bergen to Oslo or one-way journey from either city as well. Contact us to customise this itinerary to your prefereances!
Road Trip from Oslo to Bergen: Start your journey from Oslo
We arrived in Oslo on an evening flight so decided to stay by the airport and pick up the car the next morning to start our journey into the mountains.
Pro Tip: Depending on where you are flying from, we would recommend you start your journey the following day to get over jet lag and travel fatigue
Choosing the right car
It is important to know that as of 2023, in Norway over 80% of new cars sold are electric. Norway has an extensive electric charging network with over 3000 public charging stations, and 7753 fast chargers, all over the country. Hence, albeit accounting for a little bit of extra journey time to your travel, you shouldn’t worry about finding a place to charge.
Most of the rental cars in Norway that are available to rent would be electric. We got a brand new Audi Q4 e-tron for rent and we never had issues charging (once we figured how to charge it!). Although some stations were crowded (depending on the time of the day), people respected the queue and got going with the minimum charge they needed.
I would recommend renting an EV car in Norway as it would cost you about the same as fuel and you will always find chargers along the way.
Pro Tip: If you rent in the winter, ensure the car has winter tyres (snow chains are not allowed) for a good grip on the single-lane highways and curvy bends!
How long should you plan your trip for?
I would recommend to not rush and enjoy the drive along the way (assuming you do a round trip) to plan this trip for at least a week (7 nights/8 days) with the breakdown as follows. Depending on the time you have, this can be customised to meet your needs.
Starting the road trip from Oslo to Bergen :
Oslo (1 night) > Geilo (2 nights) > Bergen (2 nights) > Flam (1 night) > Oslo (1 night)
Starting the road trip from Bergen to Oslo:
Bergen (2 nights) > Geilo (2 nights) > Oslo (1 night) > Flam (1 night) > Bergen (1 night)
Road Trip from Oslo to Bergen: Drive from Oslo to Geilo
We drove right out of Oslo Airport towards Geilo. As you drive out of Oslo, the highways will become single lanes with a lot of bends. In the winter this can be especially tricky! The total trip from Oslo to Geilo without stops would be ~3.5-4 hrs. With charging and food stop, I would account for ~ 5 hrs. The drive to Geilo is very scenic with mountains all along the way.
We stayed in an Airbnb cabin just outside of Geilo but you have the choice of staying in Geilo town and doing activities there.
Stops along the way from Geilo to Oslo
Depending on time, you can stop in the town of Gol town along the way and Flå for food and charging.
Spend a day in Geilo
Geilo is a very popular ski town for both locals and internationals. However, it has many activities depending on the time of the year. At the time we visited, the winter activities were in full swing. We hiked around the snow-capped town and did husky sledding (and froze my fingers). However, the summer activities are completely different with kayaking, canyoning etc. The Geilo tourist centre was very helpful to guide us on the hikes we could do!
Along with a tonne of activities to do, Geilo has a lot of cozy cafes, restaurants and shops to wander about. This is perfect to sit back and enjoy a hot beverage! On our winter trip in deep snow, we ended up doing husky sledging and much needed pizza at Peppe’s Pizza!
Road Trip from Oslo to Bergen: Drive to Voss
A drive from Geilo to Voss is ~2.5-3 hrs either through Highway Route 7 (the shorter option!). You can also use Highway Route 50, which is slightly longer in distance and time but MORE scenic. As you drive towards Voss, you’ll get glimpses of the scenic Norweigan Fjords. We took route 7 on the way to Voss and on the way back from Flam we took the more scenic Route 50. Continue reading…
Explore Voss Town
Voss (Vossevangen) is another popular ski town (and no this is not where the famous Voss water brand comes from!). It is known as an ‘extreme sports village’. In the winter they have the gondola running to the top of the mountain where you can ski or hike. When we visited, snow reached our knees so hiking was not an option. In the off-peak ski season, that would be a great choice to admire the landscape and hike along the mountain.
Pro Tip: The Voss gondola does not run throughout the year, so it is best to check the official website for the latest opening times.
The town centre is called “Vangen”. Vangen has a selection of shops, cozy cafes, restaurants, and various niche shops. Due to a lot of snow, we ended up staying at the popular hotel, Scandic Voss right by Voss station. We didn’t make it to Bergen due to constraints but had planned few things to do in Bergen!
Road Trip from Oslo to Bergen: Continue your drive to Bergen
Voss to Bergen is just over an hour’s drive. Hopefully, you do not encounter the snow that we did and make it to Bergen.
Bergen is a beautiful city located on the southwest coast of Norway. It is surrounded by mountains and fjords, including Sognefjord, the country’s longest and deepest.
Explore Bergen
I would recommend spending at least two days in Bergen to really get the essence of the city. Bergen has a number of tourist attractions that are not to be missed.
Bryggen
Bryggen features colorful wooden houses on the old wharf, once a center of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire. It is the iconic landmark of Bergen. Do spend time enjoying cinnamon buns and local delicacies in the area.
Ulriken Cable Car
The Ulriken Cable Car is one of the top attractions of Bergen. It transports you to the highest of Bergen’s seven mountains, Mount Ulriken. If you do not want to take the cable car up the mountains, you have the option of hiking up the Oppstemtem Steps which is about 750 meters long. There are approx 1400 steps in total.
Tickets for the Cable Car can be purchased directly from the website. A round-trip adult ticket costs 395 kr (~£29/$36) and a one-way ticket costs 230 kr (~£17/$21).
Visit Mount Fløyen
Fløyen is one of the “city mountains” in Bergen rising over 400 meters above sea level. The best way to get there is using the Fløibanen Funicular. The funicular brings you up the hillside, from Bergen city center to the top of the mountain in ~7-8 minutes.
Tickets to the Funicular can be purchased directly on the website. A round-trip adult ticket costs 180 kr (~£14/$16) and a one-way ticket costs 90 kr (~£7/$8) as of April 2024.
There are multiple options to hike at the top of Mount Fløyen. This is one of the must-visit places in Bergen.
Begin your journey back towards Flam
Due to the snow, we ended up turning back from Voss. However, the original plan was to visit Bergen and spend a day there! Driving back from Bergen to Flam. Flam in our opinion was the highlight of the trip. We took the Route 50 route with the option of multiple stops along the way. I would recommend spending at least a night in Flam to make the most of the town.
Stops along the way to Flam
There are several scenic stops along the way between Geilo and Voss that you could stop by if you take Highway Route 50:
- Money Drop Waterfall
- Stegastein Viewpoint
- Waterval Grimsetelevi
Explore Flam
Flam was the highlight of our trip! We recommend staying at least one night in Flam to make the most of the activities there and admire the beauty of the Fjords.
Flambasana Railway
The Flåmbasana Railway Line is a ~20 kms railway line between Myrdal and Flåm. Over one hour, the train takes you from sea level at the Aurlandsfjord in Flåm to Myrdal mountain station, situated 867 metres above sea level. The National Geographic Traveler Magazine calls the Flåm Railway one of the top 10 train journeys in Europe. This is one of the best things to do along your road trip between Oslo and Bergen.
A round-trip of the railway journey costs 730 kr (~£54/$68) per person and takes 2 hours back. In the summer, however, you can combine a one-way train journey with a zipline adventure (below) and a bike ride back to Flam on the Rallarvegen trail!
Zipline (only in summer)
A rather more fun activity can be done in the summer is to zipline from Vatnahalsen (one stop before Myrdal) and get a Zipline across the mountain to Kårdal summer farm from where you can pick up the bikes back to Flam town.
Tickets for the full package including a one-way train journey, zipline, and bike hire costs 1685 kr (~£124/$155) per person. These can be purchased directly from the official website.
Road Trip from Oslo to Bergen: Head back to Oslo
Finally, after a fun-filled day exploring Flam, you continue your way back to Oslo. The total trip from Flam to Oslo without stops would be ~5 hrs. I would account for ~ 6-7 hrs with charging and food stops.
Explore Oslo
Oslo, like any other major capital city is massive. You can spend as much time to explore attractions that suit your interest. From museums to restaurants and shopping, there’s something for everyone. The city centre has lots of options for shopping and food!
If you are short on time, best to do a city tour to cover the major points. Here’s some places to visit in the city:
The Vigeland Park
Famous for its sculptures by Gustav Vigeland, this park is one of the top attractions of the city! The park houses over 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and cast iron and is open all year round. Entry to the park is free.
Opera House
Located just outside Oslo Station, the Oslo Opera House is the home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the national opera house in Norway. It has a stunning architecture and is another top attraction of the city.
Planning your next road trip in Norway?
Are you planning your next road trip from Oslo to Bergen or Bergen and Oslo?
If you wish to do a similar road trip and have specific requirements, please fill out your details, and we will get back to you!