The Best Way to Get from Bergen to Oslo

Before I moved to Bergen I lived for several years in Telemark, halfway between Bergen and Oslo. And while sometimes it was a pain to live so far from an airport, I did really love getting to choose between flying in and out of Bergen and Oslo. This also meant that I made the trip between the two cities very often, and I quickly learned my favorite routes.

And since you’ll be visiting both cities, you can read my guide to Bergen here and my Oslo guide here.

There are four main ways to get from Bergen to Oslo: you can travel by plane, train, bus, or car. Now that I live in Bergen I usually choose to fly to Oslo, because it’s the fastest and sometimes even cheapest option. I also really love taking the train, as it’s such a beautiful journey. But probably my favorite way to get between the cities is to drive, because then I can stop off as often as I like, and I can choose the most beautiful route, because I do really love a pretty road trip. I’ve shared my favorite road trips from Bergen here.

Taking the bus from Bergen to Oslo is probably my least favorite option, mostly because it takes the longest and I get very carsick, especially on large buses. But if you don’t get carsick, the bus can be a great option as well! Norwegian buses are very comfortable, they have wifi and power outlets at each seat, and a toilet.

Flight (Fastest & Easiest)

Norwegian and SAS have multiple daily flight connections between Bergen and Oslo, with prices usually starting at 549 kroner without luggage.

Most locals travel between Bergen and Oslo by plane because it’s the fastest option. Often when I travel abroad I have a layover in Oslo before heading to my final destination. So if you’ll be flying into or out of Bergen there’s a good chance you’ll fly through Oslo as well. The flight takes under an hour, and if you book your flights early you can often get quite cheap tickets. And if you book your flights last minute they can sometimes be shockingly expensive. So plan ahead!

Train (Beautiful & Often Cheapest)

The train journey between Bergen and Oslo has famously been called one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. Personally I think the most beautiful train journey in Norway is between Mosjøen and Bodø, but the journey from Bergen to Oslo is a close second!

Last summer my friends Bryce and Alicia flew into Oslo and then took the train to Bergen to visit me, and they couldn’t stop talking about how special the experience was. In the winter I think it’s worth getting the daytime train so that you can see the beautiful views as you cross over the mountains, while of course in the summer it is light all night long so you will always have views.

The train from Bergen to Oslo takes about seven hours, with about five departures a day (four daytime journeys and one night train). You can check the train schedule and prices on Vy.no.

You can book your train ticket up to 90 days in advance, and generally the earlier you book, the cheaper the ticket will be. Train tickets from Bergen to Oslo start at 299 kroner, but those tickets sell out quickly, so try to book as close to 90 days in advance as possible (set a reminder in your calendar to book 90 days before!).

Bus

The bus is definitely my least favorite way to get from Bergen to Oslo. It’s often more expensive than the train or even flying, it takes the longest, and I always get really carsick on the bus. Norwegian roads are winding, and many of my friends who don’t usually get carsick end up feeling a bit ill on Norwegian roads. This is especially uncomfortable when you’re on a bus and can’t pull over when you feel sick.

But otherwise Norwegian buses are very comfortable and have WiFi, individual power outlets, and a toilet. So as far as buses go, they’re pretty nice.

When I lived in Telemark I took the bus to Bergen and Oslo quite often, so I’ve done half of the bus journey between the two cities many times. And even half of the journey felt a bit too long for me, though the views out the window were certainly beautiful.

You can book the bus from Bergen to Oslo on Nor-way.no. There are usually five departures per day, with one night bus and the journey takes about 9.5 hours. Prices start at 371 kroner.

Rental Car (Most Beautiful)

My personal favorite way to get from Bergen to Oslo is to drive! The drive is so beautiful, and there are many different routes to take, depending on what you want.

The only downside to driving is that if you rent a car to pick up in Bergen and drop off in Oslo, you will have to pay a hefty one way fee (usually about $300 extra). Some people avoid this by flying in and out of Oslo and then renting a car in Oslo for their entire time in Norway.

And since there are several different routes from Oslo to Bergen, you could drive to Bergen one way and then return from Bergen to Oslo on another route. This would allow you to see even more of Norway on your trip.

Fastest route

The fastest way to drive from Bergen to Oslo is to take route 7 over Hardangervidda and through Geilo. This takes about seven hours in good weather. While I wouldn’t say this is the most beautiful drive you can do between the two cities, this route is incredibly beautiful. I love driving over Hardangervidda, and you’ll pass through some wonderful little towns and villages as well.

Most beautiful route

The mountains between Bergen and Oslo mean that whichever way you drive, you will have to cross over high mountain passes. This can be tricky in bad weather, but it also means that whichever way you drive, the views will be stunning.

But my favorite way to drive for the best views is definitely via Odda on Harangerfjord and then taking E134 over Haukeli through Morgedal, Seljord and Notodden. This route takes about 7 hours and 45 minutes in good weather.

If you wanted to extend this route even longer, you could drive via Kinsarvik instead of Jondal. This will add about 15 minutes to the journey and take you along the prettiest section of Hardangerfjord, through Ullensvang and down to Odda. This drive is especially beautiful in the spring when the fruit trees are in bloom. You can read more about visiting Hardangerfjord, the “orchard of Norway,” here.

And then shortly after passing through Odda, you’ll pass by the spectacular Låtefossen waterfall. Låtefossen is 165 meters tall and splits into two streams as it goes over the mountainside, before joining together at the bottom to run under a bridge.

After Låtefossen you’ll drive over Haukeli mountain, which even in the summer has large patches of snow.

And then eventually you’ll get to Morgedal, which is famous as the birthplace of the sport of downhill skiing! Morgedal was home to Sondre Norheim, who is considered the father of modern skiing as well as Telemark style skiing.

Then you’ll reach Seljord, which is famous for Selma the sea monster, distant relative of Loch Ness’s Nessie. After leaving Seljord you’ll drive along the large Seljord Lake where she lives.

And then right before you reach Notodden you’ll pass by the Heddal Stave Church, which I think is by far the most impressive stave church in all of Norway!

Best winter route

If you’re driving from Bergen to Oslo in the winter, the best route to take would be the E16. The drive takes 7.5 hours, and while it might take longer if there’s a lot of snow, this is typically the last road to close during winter conditions – in fact E16 is meant to stay open in all weather.

And this also happens to be a beautiful journey as well! If you’re looking to break up the trip, I absolutely adore the Scandic Valdres. The hotel is beautiful, in a lovely mountain town, and they’re dog friendly (my dog Alfie enjoyed his stay here too). Check current rates and availability here.

Boat

There is no direct boat service from Bergen to Oslo. If you really want to take a boat, you could take the boat to Stavanger and then train to Oslo.