How to Self Book Norway in a Nutshell: Famous Fjord Tour

If you have stumbled upon this page while planning a trip to beautiful Norway, get excited! You are about to enjoy one of the most amazing tours imaginable.

By bus, train, and boat ride, you’re in for an unforgettable journey of a lifetime when you embark on the Norway in a Nutshell self-guided tour. Awe-inspiring scenery of waterfalls (so many you will lose count), rivers, fjords, mountains, quaint villages, and more await.

But how is the most legendary fjord tour in Norway booked? Is it best to use a pre-built package or self book? How is self booking accomplished? I am here to help answer these questions.

I’ve crafted a detailed guide to booking the renowned Norway in a Nutshell tour on your own. I have used hours of research, trial and error, and personal tips. My goal was to simplify booking steps for the next traveler looking to save time and money with everything you need in this guide.

Those visiting near the starting points of Oslo or Bergen, this is THE TOUR you don’t want to miss. It is perfect for anyone eager to witness the most spectacular natural landscapes Norway has to offer, such as Nærøyfjord (included on the UNESCO World Heritage List) and Aurlandsfjord fjords.

Norway in a Nutshell is hands-down one of the best tours we have done in all of our travels…

Websites You Will Need For Norway in a Nutshell Booking

Norway in a Nutshell

Norway’s Best

Vy

→ Norway in a Nutshell is the official website for the original Norway in a Nutshell tour. They are the masterminds behind this beautiful journey. Booking through their website is convenient, while booking on your own could save money.

Browse through the website’s tour options and prices for your anticipated travel dates. During our trip, it saved around 30 USD/person to self book. Others have reported a savings of up to 70 USD/person—this adds up for large parties!

Remember, this is a collection of public transportation tickets either way you go about booking, not a guided tour.

You can book a one-day loop tour from Oslo or Bergen, or go slow and stretch this tour across several days. The website offers a few optional activity add-ons and accommodations in each town. I will share my tips for additional exploring below.

An important tool for those determined to self book the Norway in a Nutshell tour is the website’s itinerary. Start a dummy booking by entering your desired start and end destination. This gives you access to the exact itinerary and timeline needed when booking each leg of this tour individually.

Pay close attention to the standard departure times from each destination to avoid missing a train or spending too much time waiting around.

If you decide to do the exact route as we did in the mapped itinerary image below, no need to study the above website unless you you want a current price comparison. I already have this tour teed up for you to book yourself!

→Norway’s Best is the website used to book the fjord cruise tickets of Norway in a Nutshell tour. Book as far in advance as possible, keeping the weather forecast in mind.

→Vy is the website for booking the train rides of Norway in a Nutshell tour, including the famous Flåm Railway portion!

→What about the bus ride(s) mentioned? These are purchased on the bus whether you do a pre-built tour or self book.

Steps to Booking Norway in a Nutshell Tour

Here is the route we took for our one-day Norway in a Nutshell tour, starting in Bergen. Now, let’s get to booking!

Remember, this is a self-guided tour. Even when booking the official pre-built tour, you will be on your own utilizing public transport. There are “Norway in a Nutshell” signs you can follow along the way which is really useful!

Step 1. Book the train tickets.

Open up the Vy website or App.

Create an account so you can change or cancel tickets for unforeseen events.

Try to go in chronological order from your start to end location so not to miss any transfers.

Use the Norway in a Nutshell’s website for a checklist, or my above itinerary.

Type each destination route for your desired date, select one-way, and set the time to 0600 for all available tickets to be shown.

Select departure times exactly as Norway in a Nutshell has listed unless you intend to customize your own itinerary, but do not choose times that are SOONER than suggested.

Double check each destination and departure time.

Below are each one of my train tickets for the loop from Bergen and back with departure times. Click to enlarge these images.

Step 2. Book the cruise ticket.

Open up the Norway’s Best website.

Scroll down to the very bottom of the page and start by selecting your tour date.

Select a one-way ticket.

Enter the start and end destination as Flåm or Gudvangen (as applicable per your route).

Select your cruise time. (If you are doing the one-day tour, your time will be 1500.)

Below is an image of my exact ticket from Flåm to Gudvangen.

Step 3: Don’t forget the bus ticket is purchased in person.

The only bus journey of Norway in a Nutshell tour (between Gudvangen and Voss) is not included in the pre-purchased tickets or when self booking.

Tickets can be bought on the bus by credit card, or via this app. This ride is approximately 50 minutes long.

I was a little nervous about how this would work, but it was a breeze! Gudvangen is a very small village between the amazing Fjords. The buses are waiting right outside of the gift shop.

My Tips for Norway in a Nutshell Tour

• Flåm is hands-down the top location to explore and lodge for the night!
• Flåm and Voss are the largest towns to explore. Gudvangen is naturally beautiful, but tiny.
• Our loop from Bergen (seen above) allowed the most time to spend in Flåm. We had 3 hours to eat, shop, hike, and still wanted more!
• Everyone we encountered spoke English.
• Plan a multi-day itinerary if you want to explore each town extensively.
• There are directional “Norway in a Nutshell” signs at every stop to follow.
• A large crowd of people will be headed in the same direction as you at each stop.
• When traveling in the direction from Bergen to Myrdal, I recommend sitting on the left side of train for optimal viewing.
• The windows of the train can be opened for better photos.
• Train departure times can be tight. Transfer quickly but don’t stress, we had one train wait for us during a short delay due to the tour popularity!
• The train from Myrdal to Flåm stops for 5 minutes at Kjosfossen waterfall.
• The one-day loop means the last section of your trip may be in the dark. I recommend my itinerary above to save Voss to Bergen for the dark.
• We rescheduled our tour for a day with a better weather forecast last minute. It was worth EVERY PENNY. The train tickets were easily refundable. The cruise was not. Rainy, foggy days will hinder your views.
• Pack a rain jacket and/or dress in warm clothes. The boat ride was pretty chilly during our September trip and you will want to be outside.
• The inside of the ferry had several outlets for cell charging.
• There is a small cafe for coffee, beer, wine, hot cocoa, and snacks on board.
• There are nice, clean restrooms on board as well.
• Get in line for the cruise at least 30 minutes in advance to secure a good spot on the top, center deck for departure. Don’t stress if you miss out though. People ended up walking around to explore different viewing areas of the ferry.

My Norway in a Nutshell Itinerary: 1-Day Bergen Loop

Norway in a Nutshell Route	Departure-Arrival Times
🚂Bergen to Myrdal *Train*	08:29-10:36
🚂 Myrdal to Flåm *Train*	10:41-11:39
⛴️ Flåm to Gudvangen *Ferry*	15:00-17:00
🚌Gudvangen to Voss *Bus*	~17:20-18:20
🚂Voss to Bergen *Train*	19:13-20:40

Norway in a Nutshell Photos & Video Blog

As beautiful as my images are, they were shot with just an iPhone camera.

If you are on the fence about bringing a real camera with you on your Norwegian getaway—do it! I can’t imagine how amazing my shots would be with a professional camera, but c’est la vie… at least I have a good excuse to go back one day soon. 😉

Now that you may be convinced to book a Norwegian fjord trip, check out my blog about our time spent in Bergen. I discuss our favorite activities and can help you plan a flawless itinerary!

If you would like more information on booking details and tips for any European getaway, check out my blog on how we booked hours before takeoff and saved thousands!

-Amanda K. 💗

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