The fjords near Oslo

Which fjord is closest to Oslo?

The Oslofjord. Oslo sits at its head, and the sightseeing boats and island ferries leave from the city centre.

Store norske leksikon counts the fjord about 100 km from Færder to Oslo. The inner part, north of the 1 km wide sound at Drøbak, is 3 to 5 km wide; the innermost arm, south-east of the city, is Bunnefjorden. It is a broad, island-studded fjord with low wooded shores.

The easy ways onto it: a 1.5 to 2-hour sightseeing cruise from the centre, or Ruter's island ferries from Rådhusbrygge 4, explained in the island ferry guide. For a longer day, the Ruter summer boat B22 runs from Aker Brygge to Drøbak, daily from June to early September and on spring and autumn weekends. From Drøbak, a separate ferry crosses to Oscarsborg fortress, where the cruiser Blücher was sunk on 9 April 1940. Ruter tickets are not valid on that ferry.

How far is Oslo from the famous fjords?

Several hours. The Nærøyfjord, the nearest UNESCO fjord, is roughly six hours or more by train. Geiranger is around 420 km by road.

The two fjords on the UNESCO list, Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, are 120 km apart on the west coast. The Nærøyfjord is an arm of the Sognefjord, which runs 205 km inland and reaches 1,303 m deep.

Train times come from Visit Bergen and Vy, which gives 6.5 to 7.5 hours to Bergen depending on the train. Road distances to Flåm and Geiranger come from route planners and are approximate.

Can you do a day trip from Oslo to the fjords?

Yes, but it is a very long day. A private car-and-train trip to Flåm and the Sognefjord takes about 15 hours.

The geography does not bend. Oslo to Myrdal is a long train ride, the Flåm Railway takes about an hour down to the fjord, and the boat between Flåm and Gudvangen about two. Then you have to get back across the mountains the same evening.

The private day trip to Flåm is the most practical way to do it in one go. A driver-guide picks you up at Storgata 28B, you ride the Bergen Line and the Flåm Railway, sail about two hours on the Nærøyfjord, and drive back over the Hardangervidda plateau with a stop in Geilo. It is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Our honest advice: if you have two days, do not do it as a day trip. Go one way to Bergen, or sleep in Flåm.

The cliffs from the postcards in one long private day: Bergen Line, Flåm Railway and two hours on the Sognefjord.

★ 4.9 · 15 hours

Explore the private day trip to Flåm → Tour details

What is Norway in a Nutshell from Oslo?

A self-guided ticket package from Fjord Tours: Bergen Line, Flåm Railway, a Nærøyfjord boat and a bus, starting in Oslo or Bergen. It runs all year.

Fjord Tours sells it with a trip length from one day. From Oslo the classic version is one way: train to Myrdal, Flåm Railway down, the electric boat along the Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen, bus through Nærøydalen to Voss and train on to Bergen. Third-party guides put the whole one-way day at about 11 to 12 hours.

Times are typical, not official; Fjord Tours does not publish leg timings on its page. No guide travels with you. Fjord Tours also sells a Geirangerfjord add-on, June to September only.

Is the train from Oslo to Bergen worth it?

Yes. It is one of the great rail trips in Europe, crossing the Hardangervidda plateau above the tree line.

The Bergen Line opened in 1909 and runs about 483 km. Its highest point is 1,237 m, inside the Finse tunnel, and Finse station sits at 1,222 m. Vy says to sit on the left from Oslo for the plateau views, and on the right for the fjords and valleys further west. A Flex ticket lets you pick your seat.

There are several day trains and a night train with sleeper compartments. The night train saves a hotel night but misses the scenery, which is the point. Take a day train at least one way.

Which fjords are best to visit from Oslo?

The Nærøyfjord via Flåm is the most practical. Geiranger is spectacular but needs at least one night away.

The Nærøyfjord is part of the UNESCO site. Because the Flåm Railway connects it to the Bergen Line, it is the easiest steep fjord to reach from Oslo without a car. The Sognefjord around it is Norway's longest.

Geiranger sits further north. By road it is too far for a day; the Fjord Tours add-on and most Geiranger trips involve nights on the way. If you only have three days in Norway, Oslo plus Flåm plus Bergen is a better fit than chasing Geiranger.

How many days do you need for the fjords from Oslo?

Two days at a minimum, three or four to enjoy them. One day is possible only as a very long round trip.

Here is how we would plan it, with Oslo as the start:

Keep a half-day in Oslo for its own fjord: the islands and the Opera House from the water are a fine start or end to the trip. See whether the Oslofjord cruise is worth it.

What can you do on the Oslofjord in half a day?

A 1.5 to 2-hour cruise, an island ferry to Hovedøya, or the summer boat to Drøbak.

Three options from the city centre, none needing a car:

• Sightseeing cruise: 1.5 hours on the Opera House cruise or 2 hours on the guided silent boat. Which boat is best compares them.
• Island ferry: Ruter's B1 from Rådhusbrygge 4 to Hovedøya's monastery ruins, on an ordinary ticket.
• Drøbak: the B22 summer boat, then the Oscarsborg ferry to the fortress museum. Allow most of a day.

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