Viking Vela In Search of the Northern Lights and British Isles Explorer Cruise Day 29/32 – Riding the Rails to Oslo
We were up early for our 7:00 departure from the Vela.
We grabbed a quick breakfast in the World Café before heading to deck 1 and departing the Vela for the final time. Our bus whisked us to Bergen's train station and...we waited.
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| Track 3 - empty |
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| Delayed - 15 minutes late |
Our train to Oslo was supposed to depart at 8:08 am, but it didn't arrive at the station until 8:08. We got going about 15 minutes late and began our train journey.
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| On the train and ready to roll |
There supposedly are 120 of us cruise passengers on this post-cruise extension. Rather than have 120 folks have to mess with luggage, a porter picked up all our bags at 5:00 this morning and drove them all to Oslo. It was certainly nice to not deal with bags. We haven't seen 120 guests, so we're sceptical of the number.
The following is a description of the trip and the stations we went through between Bergen and Oslo. It was provided as a pamphlet and a crossword game by our guide.
The Legendary Railway Across Norway
Imagine sitting by a train window as Norway's landscapes unfold around you - towering mountains, deep fiords, snowy plateaus, and charming villages. That's the experience of traveling on the Bergensbanen, one of the world's most scenic railway journeys.
Stretching 371 kilometers (231 miles) between Bergen and Hønefoss - or about 496 kilometers (308 miles) including the full route to Oslo - the railway offers a front-row seat to Norway's breathtaking nature. Along the way, the train crosses the Hardangervidda plateau, the highest railway crossing in Northern Europe, much of it within Hardangervidda National Park.
The Bergensbanen is also an impressive engineering achievement. The route includes 182 tunnels totaling about 73 kilometers (45 miles). Its highest point lies inside the Finse Tunnel at 1,237 meters (4,058 feet above sea level, while Finse Station, at 1,222 meters (4,010 feet), is Norway's highest railway station
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| If you look closely, you can see a small waterfall |
Dale - The Village that Dressed the World
Dale is a quiet village of 1,200 tucked between mountains, waterfalls, and fjords. It might look modest, but Dale of Norway knitwear has been made here since 1879, and those sweaters are recognized worldwide. If you see someone in a classic Norwegian wool jumper, Dale probably had something to do with it.
The river running through the valley is one of the few in Norway open for salmon fishing in summer. Permits run up to $600 for three hours, with no guarantee of a catch.
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| Passing a cable car |
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| Picking up snow as we climbed higher |
Voss - Norway's Extreme Sports Capital
Voss is where Norway's wilder side comes out to play. Every June, the town hosts Ekstremsportveko - the world's largest extreme sports festival. Think base jumping off cliffs, wingsuit flyers soaring overhead, mountain bikers bombing downhill trails, and kayakers wrestling rapid rivers. It's quite the week.
But Voss also has a deep history. Its stone church from 1277 survived the destruction of World War II bombings that wiped out much of the original town. And if you're feeling adventurous, you might even try smalahove, a traditional dish made from sheep's head- once a humble meal, now a Norwegian delicacy.
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| Snow fencing to prevent avalanches |
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| We arrived at Finse - Norway's highest rail station |
Myrdal & Finse - The High Mountain Station
These two stops are genuinely one-of-a-kind. Finse Station, at 1,222 meters, is the highest railway station in Norway, and the only way to get there is by train. No roads. No cars. Just mountains, a glacial lake, and total peace. It opened in 1908 and hasn't needed a motorway since.
Myrdal is equally unique, also road-free, and famous as the junction for the Flåm Line, one of the most spectacular railway branches in the world. Nearby, the Rallarvegen cycling route now attracts around 25,000 cyclists a year.
We were both getting hungry by 11:00, so we dug into the box lunches provided for us.
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| It certainly wasn't the World Café |
Geilo - Norway's First Ski Resort
Next, we arrive at Geilo, one of Norway's most famous mountain resorts. Home to about 2,300 people, Geilo is small but lively. The ski season here runs from late October until April, attracting visitors from across Europe. In fact, Geilo holds a special place in Norwegian ski history. It was Norway's first ski resort, made possible by the arrival of the Bergensbanen railway.
Even outside winter, the town remains popular. Surrounded by the spectacular Hallingskarvet and Hardangervidda National Parks, Geilo offers hiking, biking, and endless outdoor adventures. You'll also notice the many beautiful mountain cabins scattered around the area
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| Losing snow as we descended |
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| Skiers got on and off at several different stops |
Nesbyen - Adventure and Step Back in Time
Tucked between forests and rolling mountains, Nesbyen is an outdoor lover's kind of town. In winter, it's all alpine skiing, cross-country tracks, and snow kiting. In summer, the mountains swap their white coats for green, and hiking takes over.
At the center of town is Gamle Ne, the old historic district. 19th-century homes still line peaceful streets, giving you a proper sense of how life looked here a century ago. For travelers who enjoy both adventure and history, Nesbyen offers the best of both worlds.
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| Another waterfall |
Flå - Small Village, Big Wildlife
For years, Flå was the sort of place people passed through without stopping. These days, it's quietly becoming a destination. Norwegians are building holiday cabins here, and visitors are catching on, drawn in by the mountain scenery and a slower pace of life.
The star attraction is Bjørneparken, the Bear Park, where you can get up close to bears, lynx, red foxes, deer, and elk in a beautiful natural setting. It's a hit with families and anyone who's ever wanted to stare at a bear in the face from a safe distance.
Hønefoss - A Town Powered by Water and Rails
The name gives it away - Hønefoss is named after the Hønefosser waterfall that thunders through town along the Begna River. Long before trains arrived, that waterfall powered the sawmills that built this place up. Then the railway came in 1868, and a quiet village turned into a proper hub of trade and industry,
Today, railway enthusiasts love visiting Hønefoss because of the Norsk Museumstog (Norwegian Museum Trains). This group maintains and restores historic locomotives right at the station. Working alongside the Norwegian Railway Club, they preserve pieces of Norway's rail heritage so future generations can see these remarkable machines up close. For travelers, Hønefoss feels like a perfect mix of history, engineering, and scenic nature.
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| We passed Tyrifjorden |
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| It is a fjord lake that is the fifth largest in Norway |
Drammen - The River City Reinvented
Drammen, just outside Oslo - a lively city of 93,000 where the Drammenselva River meets the fjord. Norway's 6th-largest city used to be known as a gritty industrial town. But Drammen has had quite a glow-up. Today, it's one of Norway's most awarded cities for urban planning and environmental development.
The waterfront is the heart of it all, where the river meets the fjord- kayakers, riverside cafés, walking paths, and the buzz of a city that figured out how to grow without losing its connection to nature. It also happens to be Norway's main port for car and fruit imports.
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| A pair of ski jumps |
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| Aass Brewery, Norway's oldest brewery, was established in 1834 |
Oslo - End of the Line
Oslo: A quiet blend of forest and fjord, where modern life moves gently beside nature. Sleek architecture rises along the waterfront near the Oslo Opera House, while green hills cradle the city calmly. It's a place of soft light, clean air, and simple beauty-where the pulse of a capital feels effortlessly serene.
We arrived about 15 minutes late due to our late departure. But, there was nothing planned for the rest of the day, so the delay wasn't a big deal. It was roughly seven hours, end-to-end. We made a fairly long walk to our waiting buses for the ride to the hotel.
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| Our route |
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| Oslo Central Station |
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| Oslo Opera House |
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| "She Lies," a monumental floating sculpture created by artist Monica Bonvicini, is located in the harbor in front of the Oslo Opera House |
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| We arrived at Hotel Cristana Teater, our hotel for the next two nights |
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| A fun Do Not Disturb sign in our room |
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| The elevator was exceptionally slow, and it looks like they have accepted that |
After getting settled, we decided to go search for dinner. We met two other guests in the lobby with the same idea, so we walked around the corner to Amundsen Bryggeri & Spiseri.
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| It was only 150 yards from the hotel |
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| I had fish and chips - tasty |
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| Arlona did too, but with mushy peas - she didn't eat them |
After dinner, we wandered around the downtown area.
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| Oslo City Hall (Oslo rådhus) |
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| The opposite side of the city hall |
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| Akershus Fortress (Akershus Festning), 1300s |
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| Statue of Peter Tordenskjold |
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| "Dykkaren" (The Diver), the gull was just visiting |
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| National Museum of Norway (Nasjonalmuseet) |
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| The historic Station Master's House |
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| Nobel Peace Center |
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| Man Drinking Water |
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| National Theatre (Nationaltheatret), 1899 |
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| "Cecilie", the world's first statue representing a woman living with incurable metastatic breast cancer |
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| The Storting Building, the seat of Parliament |
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| Olav Thon Gruppen building |
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| Grand Hotel, 1874 |
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