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Scenic train rides in Norway

The scenic Flåm railway rides through green valley, river and snowy peaks in view.
Travel through Norway by train
Norway has 7 scenic railways, together running more than 3000 kilometers of track.
Few other countries have as much diversity in views from a train window as Norway. You leave a narrow fjord, climb into snow-covered mountains, and a couple of hours later you ride along rivers down to a city. Or cross the Arctic Circle, where the summer nights never quite go dark.
This guide shows you how the lines connect, what each one is like, and which route fits the trip you are planning.

Get to know Norway’s railways

Explore our in-depth guides to the different railways.
The Bergen Railway - passing Voss - Norway
The Bergen Railway: Oslo to Bergen by train
The Bergen Railway (Bergensbanen) runs between Norway’s 2 largest cities, and for many people it’s the Norwegian train journey. In 7 hours, you go from the forests around Oslo up to the Hardangervidda mountain plateau and on to the West Coast and Bergen.
Flåm Railway train rides through sunny valley by winding river.
The Flåm Railway
The Flåm Railway takes you from a bare mountain station at Myrdal, 867 meters up, down to the fjord village of Flåm in under 1 hour. In between: 20 tunnels, a waterfall, and farms clinging to slopes. It’s one of the steepest railways in the world with normal passenger service, and it opened in 1940. In this guide, we cover the route, stops, the best side to sit on, how to get there, and when the trip is at its best.
Train on stone arch bridge over rocky gorge, forest in autumn colors and mountains behind.
The Rauma Railway
The Rauma Railway (Raumabanen) runs 114.2 kilometers from Dombås to Åndalsnes in about 1 hour and 40 minutes, past the steep Trollveggen mountain wall and Kylling Bridge. The stretch is one of Norway's wildest and most photographed train journeys, and is known far beyond Norway's borders, thanks to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It was also on this track that 50 tons of Norwegian gold were transported to avoid it falling into wrong hands during World War II. In this guide, we will tell you all about the route, the most famous destinations, and how to travel, including the Golden Train as a separate optional experience.
A red and white train travels along tracks through green hills and forests, crossing a bridge over a river.
The Dovre Railway
The Dovre Railway runs 548 kilometers from Oslo to Trondheim, over the Dovrefjell mountains and through the Gudbrandsdalen valley. The trip takes about 6.5 to 7 hours. Take a seat in Oslo and get off in Trondheim, with the whole of southern Norway behind you. See a diverse range of landscapes. From Lake Mjøsa's shimmering water, the Gudbrandsdalen valley's traditional farms, and the mighty Dovrefjell mountains with musk oxen and reindeer.
Passenger train through snowy plains and gentle hills under cloudy sky.
The Nordland Railway
The Nordland Railway (Nordlandsbanen) takes you from Trondheim to Bodø in 10 hours. The 729-kilometer line crosses the Arctic Circle on the Saltfjellet mountain plateau. The landscape gradually changes along the route, from fjord villages in the south to the Helgeland coast and mountains further north. It’s one of the few railways in the world that crosses the Arctic Circle. With the midnight sun or the northern lights.
A modern train travels through lush greenery and open fields under a cloudy sky, showcasing a peaceful rural setting.
The Sørlandet Line (Sørlandsbanen)
The Sørlandet Line takes you from Oslo to Stavanger in around 8 hours, through Norway's most summer-like region, often called 'the smiling south' (det blide Sørlandet in Norwegian). The journey is about 545 kilometers, was completed in 1944, and is now fully electric. From Norway's capital through Telemark's deep valleys, past a traditional silver mining town, and all the way out to Jæren's green and flat fields on the coast. One of the last stops on the way from Oslo to Stavanger is Bryne station, the town where Manchester City star Erling Braut Haaland grew up playing football.
A modern train travels along tracks through a scenic town with colorful houses, passing a church tower and autumn trees.
The Røros Railway
The Røros Railway runs between Hamar and Trondheim, through Østerdalen and past Røros, a journey of about 431 kilometers that takes around 6 hours. The line opened in 1877 and is Norway's oldest inter-regional railway line, and it takes you where no other train does: through the wilderness of Østerdalen to the mining town of Røros, with its beautiful wooden buildings.

Tours including scenic train rides

Travel through Norway by train with these bestselling tours, including scenic train rides.
Woman in yellow sweater leans from green train window, gazing at autumn forest landscape.
Flexible itinerary
The classic journey
Norway in a Nutshell®
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See the highlights: UNESCO Nærøyfjord, Flåm and Bergen Railway
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From 1 day · Add extra nights
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Start in Oslo or Bergen
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Available year-round
From 2698 NOK
Turquoise fjord with cruise ships, forested mountains and snow.
Flexible itinerary
With Norway in a Nutshell®
Fjords, coast & mountains
Geirangerfjord and Norway in a Nutshell®
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Geirangerfjord plus Norway’s most famous scenic route, Trollstigen
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From 3 days · Add extra nights
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Start in Oslo or Bergen
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Available June – September
From 9672 NOK
Hikers standing on Preikestolen plateau during a scenic hike, overlooking the Lysefjord far beneath in Norway.
Flexible itinerary
With Norway in a Nutshell®
Bookings for 2027 open soon
Active adventure
Preikestolen & Norway in a Nutshell®
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Adventure to Preikestolen plus Norway's iconic highlights
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From 3 days · Add extra nights
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Start in Oslo or Bergen
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Available May – September
From 7100 NOK
Havila coastal cruise ship sailing through scenic Norwegian fjords between Trondheim and Bergen
Flexible itinerary
With Norway in a Nutshell®
Cultural cities & scenic trains
Cities and Coastal Cruise
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Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim, linked by scenic trains and a coastal voyage
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From 4 days · Add extra nights
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Start in Oslo or Bergen · Round trip
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Available year-round
From 11931 NOK
Panoramic view of Åndalsnes, Romsdalen valley and Romsdalsfjord from the Nesaksla summit viewpoint
Fully planned
Fjords, glaciers & coast
Norway’s Great Fjords
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Discover 3 fjords, glaciers, mountains & a coastal voyage
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Hotels, transport, and activities included
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8 days · Fixed itinerary
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Start in Oslo · Round trip
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Available June – September
From 28950 NOK
View all tours
Summary

The railways at a glance

Norway has 7 scenic railways: the Bergen Railway, the Flåm Railway, the Rauma Railway, the Dovre Railway, the Nordland Railway, the Sørlandet Line, and the Røros Railway. They meet at a few fixed hubs so that you can combine several in one journey.

The 7 scenic railways

The Bergen Railway

The Bergen Railway (Bergensbanen) runs between Oslo and Bergen in about 6.5 to 7.5 hours. It crosses the Hardangervidda, the highest mountain plateau in Northern Europe, with Finse as its high point at over 1200 meters. The landscape shifts from forest to snow-covered mountains and back to fjord country, even in midsummer. It runs all year, but the Bergen Railway is one of the most popular routes in the summer, so book early if you want a window seat.
The railway was completed in 1909, after one of the largest ever construction projects in Norway. For decades, it proved the railway could cross even the highest and most exposed mountain stretches in Europe.

The Flåm Railway

The Flåm Railway drops about 20 kilometers from Myrdal, at 867 meters, down to the fjord at Flåm in roughly 1 hour, through 20 tunnels. The train stops at the Kjosfossen waterfall, where a Huldra — a figure from Norwegian folklore — dances in the spray. The train runs all year, but the Huldra is only there in the summer months. The waterfall freezes in the winter, a different experience across seasons. It costs a little more than most lines, for the short distance.

The Rauma Railway

The Rauma Railway runs from Dombås down to Åndalsnes through the Romsdalen valley. It passes the Kylling bridge, a hand-built stone bridge from 1921, and runs under Trollveggen, Europe’s tallest vertical rock face. Many train enthusiasts rate it one of the most dramatic lines in the world. You can also ride part of it on the Golden Train.

The Dovre Railway

The Dovre Railway crosses the Dovrefjell mountains between Oslo and Trondheim. It’s the link that ties the network together, meeting the Rauma Railway at Dombås and the Nordland Railway at Trondheim. The route passes Rondane and Dovrefjell national parks, where wild reindeer still roam. This route is more a way through the mountains than a destination, and it’s a natural first leg for a longer trip through the country.

The Nordland Railway

The Nordland Railway is the longest of the seven, running 729 kilometers from Trondheim to Bodø and crossing the Arctic Circle at Saltfjellet, according to Vy. In autumn and winter, it’s one of the best ways to watch the northern lights from a train, since much of the route sits far from any light. Night trains with sleeper cabins let you sleep through a stretch and wake to a completely different landscape.

The Sørlandet Line

The Sørlandet Line follows the coast from Oslo to Stavanger, via Kristiansand and the Setesdal valley, known for its silversmith tradition and old wooden houses. The mountains are lower and gentler here than on the western lines, and far fewer visitors know it. That makes it a quiet choice in high season, and an easy one to break with a stop in Kristiansand.

The Røros Railway

The Røros Railway is a historic inland line through Østerdalen to Røros, a mining town on the UNESCO World Heritage list for its wooden houses and copper history going back to the 1600s. Choose it if you are drawn to culture and history rather than fjords and high peaks. It pairs well with the Dovre Railway as part of a longer loop, and it is rarely sold out, even in summer.
Illustrated map of the7 railway lines in Norway, including Bergen Railway

A railway map of Norway: How the lines connect

From Oslo, the network runs in 3 directions.
  • West: The Bergen Railway crosses the Hardangervidda plateau to Bergen, with the Flåm Railway dropping down to the fjord from Myrdal.
  • North: The Dovre Railway climbs over Dovrefjell to Trondheim, with the Rauma Railway branching to Åndalsnes from Dombås. From Trondheim, the Nordland Railway carries across the Arctic Circle to Bodø. The Røros Railway runs through Østerdalen between Trondheim and Hamar, with a stop at the old mining town of Røros.
  • South: The Sørlandet Line follows the coast past Kristiansand to Stavanger.

Which train ride is right for you?

All 7 railways are different in what you get. To help you choose, here are our recommendations.
  • In general, we recommend combining the Bergen Railway and the Flåm Railway to see the fjords in the shortest time. Norway in a Nutshell® combines these 2 railways into one smooth journey.
  • If you’re looking for a trip from valleys and lakes to mountains, consider the Dovre Railway and the Rauma Railway. Geirangerfjord in a Nutshell™ combines them with a bus ride over Trollstigen and a cruise on the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord.
  • For the far north and a chance to spot the northern lights from your seat: the Nordland Railway.
  • If you have more time and want to get a taste of the coast: the Sørlandet Line. It’s quieter and cheaper than western rail journeys.
  • Choose the Røros Railway if you want more culture than fjord scenery.
Traveling with children? The Bergen Railway has family carriages with a play area, and the journey is long enough to feel like an adventure but short enough to manage. Want fewer people by the window for photos? The Rauma and Nordland railways are quieter than the busy western lines.
Woman serving passengers coffee on train

Tickets and rail passes

You can buy your train rides, combined with fjord cruises and other experiences, directly from Fjord Tours. Instead of planning the train connections yourself, we’ll do it for you, so you can travel through Norway using public transport without the stress.

Practical tips

The time of year changes the experience of your train trip here more than anywhere, and depending on the railway, it’s a completely different experience.
Summer, from June to August, brings the longest daylight but also the busiest trains. Spring and autumn are quieter and often cheaper. Winter is low season on most lines. If you can travel in May or September, you often get the best mix of weather, seats, and prices. For more advice on weather, daylight, crowds, and seasonal experiences, see our guide to when to visit Norway.
A few things worth knowing before you go:
  • Most longer trains have a bistro car with coffee, hot food, and big windows.
  • Mobile coverage can drop out in the mountains and in tunnels.
  • The trains have room for luggage by the doors.
Passengers smile from windows of scenic train winding through mountains.

The train is a sustainable way of traveling

Traveling by train rather than car or plane is also a good choice if you want to reduce your journey's climate footprint, as the Norwegian railway network mainly runs on renewable electricity.
Fjord Tours has been working with train travel in Norway for over 40 years and is Eco-Lighthouse certified. Learn more about responsible travel in Norway.

Start planning your journey

Whichever route you choose, the 7 lines show you a Norway you don't see from the road: fjords, mountains, coast and the Arctic Circle, all from a train window.
For a closer look at each one, see our guides to the Bergen Railway, Flåm Railway, Rauma Railway, Dovre Railway, Nordland Railway, Sørlandet Line and Røros Railway.

Questions about train travel in Norway?

Find answers to common questions about the scenic railways.