Exploring Norway: A 9-Day Itinerary

Start your morning with a walk through the heart of the city—I prefer a guided walking tour, private or small group, but on your own works too. The Royal Palace, Parliament (Storting), and City Hall are all within a few blocks of each other. From there, visit the National Gallery for the original version of Munch's The Scream.

In the afternoon, head to the waterfront and walk up the roof of the Oslo Opera House for one of the best skyline views in the city, then stop next door at the Munch Museum, which holds more than 26,000 of his works across 13 floors. Refuel at W.B. Samson on Egertorget for fika, Norway's version of a coffee break, or at A.C. Perch's on Kirkegata for tea—grab a tin or two of loose leaf to bring home for yourself or a gift (not everyone wants a gnome!).

For dinner, try Engebret Café, which has served traditional Norwegian food since 1857; ask for Munch's table and (if you're adventurous) order the reindeer. Or head to the waterfront for Lofoten Fiskerestaurant, a standout on the Aker Brygge strip.

Start the day with a walk through Vigeland Sculpture Park in Frogner—it's a quick tram ride from the city center, and the park's more than 200 bronze and granite sculptures are unlike anything I've seen. From there, head to Mathallen, Oslo's indoor food hall in the Vulkan district. It's a great way to sample multiple Norwegian food purveyors (and doubles as lunch).

Spend the rest of the afternoon wandering Grunerlokka, Oslo's trendiest neighborhood for independent shops and vintage stores. Sostrene Grene is worth a stop for inexpensive, well-designed home goods.

Finish the day with dinner at Der Peppern Gror at Radhusplassen, a tribute to the Punjabi families who came to Norway as labor immigrants in the 1970s—try the tasting menu for a sampling of the highlights. If Indian is not your thing, head to the restaurant you didn't choose on Day 1.

Start the day with the train from Oslo to Myrdal on the Bergen Railway, about five hours through forests, farmland, and eventually the high mountain plateau of Hardangervidda, where the landscape turns stark and treeless even in summer. At Myrdal, transfer to the iconic Flam Railway for one of the most scenic train rides in the world—in under an hour, you'll drop nearly 3,000 feet through steep mountainsides, past waterfalls, and into the valley village of Flam.

Once you arrive, grab lunch before your ferry: Aegir Bryggeri, a Viking-themed microbrewery inside the Flamsbrygga Hotel, is the best option if you have time for a sit-down meal; Furukroa Kafe and the Flam Bakery are both good, faster choices right near the train station if you're on a tighter schedule.

From Flam, take the Norled ferry across the Sognefjord to Balestrand—the ride itself is one of the highlights of the day, as you travel past steep fjord walls and small waterside villages. After checking into your hotel, take a walk through the town center to see the statues of King Bele and Fridtjof the Bold, and St. Olaf's Church, a small wooden stave-church imitation that inspired the chapel in Elsa's coronation scene in “Frozen.” You'll have three options for dinner: The Cider House for a casual, local feel with Balestrand's own cider on tap, Baalee Restaurant for something a little more polished, or Balholm Bar & Bistro if you want a laid-back spot with fjord views.

Spend today on the water, with a round-trip boat excursion into the Fjaerlandsfjord to see the Norwegian Glacier Museum and the Boyabreen glacier. The boat departs from the Balestrand quay (dock) and takes about 90 minutes each way, cutting through a narrower, quieter branch of the Sognefjord than you'll have seen so far.

Once you dock in Fjaerland, a shuttle bus takes you first to the Glacier Museum, then on to Boyabreen itself, an arm of the Jostedalsbreen glacier that you can walk to. The full round trip runs about five hours, so you'll be back in Balestrand by mid-afternoon with time to relax before dinner at whichever of your three options—The Cider House, Baalee Restaurant, or Balholm Bar & Bistro—you didn't already try on arrival night.

Catch the Norled ferry across the Sognefjord to Aurland, another scenic ride through the fjords. Once you've dropped your bags at the hotel, drive, hike, or take a tour to the Stegastein Viewpoint, a striking steel-and-pine platform that extends 100 feet out from the cliffside, 2,100 feet above the fjord. It is one of the most photographed spots in Norway for good reason—it was one of our trip highlights, and I'd be willing to bet it will be for you too.

Back in the village, Aurland is also home to the Aurland Shoe Factory, which has hand-made the same leather moccasin since the 1930s and is the only place in the world that still makes them—worth a stop if you like to bring home something truly local.

For dinner, you have several good options: Vangsgaarden GastroPub for a nice meal, Hotel Aurlandsfjord if you want something easy and close to your room, Marianne Bakery & Cafe for something lighter, or head back toward Flam for Aegir Brewery & Pub at the Flamsbrygga Hotel or the Flam Bakery if you're in the mood for a change of scenery.

On paper, this looks like a travel day, but it's actually one of the most memorable days you'll spend in Norway. Start with the short bus or taxi ride from Aurland to Flam, then board the fjord cruise from Flam to Gudvangen—this is where the Naeroyfjord earns its UNESCO World Heritage status, narrowing between the mountains so it feels less like a fjord and more like a hidden passageway, with waterfalls on both sides. Dress warmly and stay out on deck; even in July, the wind coming through the narrows will surprise you.

In Gudvangen, board the bus to Voss, and from there take the Bergen Railway into the city. Head to your hotel to drop your bags, then spend the rest of the afternoon on foot around Bergen's harbor—walk the length of Bryggen, the old wharf's row of colorful wooden Hanseatic buildings, then wander the fish and flower market at Torget.

End the day with dinner at Bryggeriet, right on the historic waterfront with its own on-site brewery—ask for a window table for a gorgeous view while you eat!

Start the morning with the Floibanen funicular, which climbs from central Bergen to the top of Mount Floyen in about six minutes, offering a panoramic view of the city, harbor, and surrounding mountains. There's a café at the top if you want to linger over coffee before heading back down.

In the afternoon, head out to Lysoen, the island home of 19th-century violinist Ole Bull—the man who discovered Edvard Grieg. You'll take a short bus ride to Buena Quay, then a quick ferry crossing to the island itself, which Bull filled with about eight miles of walking paths, onion-domed architecture, and sweeping coastal views. Plan for a relaxed few hours of walking the trails and touring the villa, then head back to Bergen for the evening.

For dinner, try Fjellskål in the Fish Market hall, where you pick from a counter of 70-odd species and have it cooked to order (we loved the fish soup and halibut), or Pingvinen for a casual, less seafood-focused take on traditional Norwegian cooking.

Book a Bergen harbor sail in the morning for a different view of the city—sailing past the city's colorful buildings and into the surrounding fjord highlights how Bergen is wedged between water and mountains.

In the afternoon, make the short trip out to Troldhaugen, the lakeside home of composer Edvard Grieg. The villa and garden hut he composed in are open for guided tours, and there are often lunchtime piano concerts. If you'd rather relax, book the Heit Bergen Sauna for an authentic Norwegian sauna experience on the waterfront (cold plunge optional!).

Leave the rest of the day open for a last wander through the city center—stop by Bryggen Husflid to see their collection of authentic, hand-knitted Norwegian sweaters. Make your final night festive with dinner at Lysverket for a polished tasting menu from a Per Se alum, or Restaurant 1877 for classic fine dining.

If possible, make time for one last Norwegian hotel breakfast before heading to the airport—you won't see a spread of smoked salmon, herring, brunost, and fresh bread again until you return to Scandinavia.

Most departures from Bergen involve a connection, whether through Oslo or another European hub, so build in a comfortable buffer between flights. Bergen's weather can cause delays, so be extra cautious with connection timing.