Taking the Train to Bergen

Bergen is a harbor town on the western coast of Norway. It has a long and colorful history as a shipping port and fishing center, and now as a tourist draw as well. The regional train trip from Oslo to Bergen is considered one of the most beautiful train rides in Europe (some argue it is the most scenic!). Just after Easter we were able to take the whole family out on the train and spent a couple of days enjoying Bergen's sights.

The train took us from the city center of Oslo, through the farm fields in the surrounding area, along lakes and reservoirs in the valleys of the middle of Norway, and up into the highest of Norway's mountains before coming down again to the harbor city of Bergen. Because we were traveling on Easter Monday, we left Oslo with just a few passengers, but along the way we picked up many Norwegians who had been up in the mountains skiing for the Easter holiday.

It is about a seven hour train trip, but there was never a dull moment, either inside the car or with the scenery outside. It is impossible to really capture the experience, but here are a few photo highlights.

The city of Drammen, on the far outskirts of Oslo

Note all the holiday cabins in the mountains--for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer

Even though Easter was quite late this year, there was still quite a bit of snow in the highest mountains.