Oslo and Bergen are Norway’s two largest cities, and the trip between them is one of the most common journeys visitors make. It is also one of the few where every option makes sense for someone.
The flight is quick and frequent. The train is famous for its mountain scenery. There is an overnight bus, and there is the long drive over the mountains. Which one suits you depends on how much time you have and how much of the country you want to see on the way.
The short answer
If you want to get there fast, fly. The flight from Oslo Airport Gardermoen (OSL) to Bergen Airport Flesland (BGO) takes about 55 minutes, and there are departures through most of the day.
If you have a full day and want to see Norway’s high mountain plateau, take the train. Vy’s Bergen Line runs from Oslo Central Station to Bergen in roughly 6.5 to 7.5 hours.
If you want to save a hotel night or travel cheaply, look at the night train or the overnight express bus. And if you plan to stop at fjords along the way, a car gives you the most freedom, as long as you respect mountain roads in winter.
Flying from Oslo to Bergen
Oslo to Bergen is one of the busiest domestic routes in the country. SAS and Norwegian fly it many times a day with jets, and Widerøe adds a smaller number of departures with turboprop aircraft.
In a typical week of the current schedule, the first flights leave Gardermoen around 07:00 and the last ones go out late in the evening. That frequency is the real strength of flying. If one flight is delayed or cancelled, there is usually another one within an hour or two.
The catch is that the 55 minutes in the air is only part of the trip. Gardermoen is about 50 kilometres north of Oslo city centre, and Flesland is south-west of Bergen.
From central Oslo, the Flytoget airport express train reaches the airport in around 20 minutes, and regular Vy trains also run there. Our guide to getting between Oslo Airport and the city centre compares the options in detail.
At the other end, the Bybanen light rail takes roughly 40 to 45 minutes from Flesland into central Bergen. The airport bus and taxis are the alternatives, and Bergen Airport to the city walks through each of them.
Add the time you need at the airport before departure, and a realistic city centre to city centre trip by plane is about three and a half to four hours. That is still the fastest way to do it by a wide margin.
If you are not sure which airline to pick, schedule usually matters more than the brand. SAS, Norwegian and Widerøe: who flies where explains how the three carriers split the domestic map.
Taking the train: the Bergen Line
The Bergen Line, or Bergensbanen, opened in 1909 and is one of the best-known railway journeys in Europe. Vy operates the trains, and the line runs about 470 kilometres between Oslo Central Station and Bergen station.
Vy says the trip takes about 6.5 to 7.5 hours, depending on whether you take a day train or the night train. There are several daytime departures each day plus a night train, though the exact pattern varies through the year.
The reason people choose it is the scenery. After the forests and valleys of Hallingdal, the line climbs onto Hardangervidda, the large mountain plateau that stays snowy for much of the year.
Finse, at 1,222 metres, is the highest railway station in Norway, and the highest point on the whole line is 1,237 metres above sea level inside the Finse tunnel. You cannot drive to Finse at all; the station is reached by train, bicycle or on foot.
Both stations are central. Oslo Central Station sits in the middle of the city, and Bergen station is a short walk from the harbour and Bryggen. That means no transfer to or from an airport at either end.
Seat reservations are compulsory on the Bergen Line, so buy your ticket in advance on vy.no or in the Vy app. Cheaper fares are released for early buyers and tend to go first on popular days.
It is also worth checking for planned engineering work before you book. Like other Norwegian lines, the Bergen Line sometimes has buses replacing trains on certain departures or weekends, and that changes the experience entirely.
The night train
The night train leaves Oslo late in the evening and arrives in Bergen early the next morning. You can travel in a regular seat or book a sleeper compartment.
It is a practical choice if you would rather not lose a daytime sightseeing day. The trade-off is obvious: you will miss the mountain views in the dark, especially in autumn and winter.
Combining the train with Flåm
Many travellers split the trip at Myrdal and ride the Flåm Railway down to the fjord. From Flåm, a boat runs through the Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen, and from there a bus and train take you on to Bergen via Voss.
This combination is sold as a package called Norway in a Nutshell, but you can also book the parts yourself. It turns a single travel day into a full day of sightseeing, so plan to arrive in Bergen in the evening.
Going by bus
Vy also runs express buses between the two cities. The mountain route, Vy express VY450, travels over the E16 via Fagernes, Lærdal, Flåm and Voss, with a daytime departure and an overnight one in each direction.
The night departure from Oslo leaves at 22:40 and calls at Oslo Airport Gardermoen on its way west. That makes it a handy option if you land late at OSL and want to reach Bergen by morning without paying for a hotel.
There is also a coastal route, VY190, via Kristiansand, Stavanger and Haugesund. It takes around 13.5 hours, so it is only worth it if you want to stop in the towns along the south coast.
The buses are double-deckers with toilets, Wi-Fi and charging points at the seats. Vy notes that many stops along the route are only served if you have bought a ticket in advance, so do not plan to flag one down on the road.
Driving between Oslo and Bergen
The drive is roughly 460 to 500 kilometres depending on the route, and it usually takes seven to eight hours without long stops. In practice, most people turn it into a day or two with breaks at viewpoints, stave churches and fjords.
There are three main ways across the mountains. The E16 via Valdres and the Lærdal Tunnel is the most stable all-year route. Route 7 crosses Hardangervidda, and route 52 goes through Hemsedal.
In winter, the high mountain passes can close at short notice because of wind and snow, and convoy driving behind a snowplough is common. Check the Norwegian Public Roads Administration’s road reports before you leave, and allow plenty of extra time.
Renting a car one way between Oslo and Bergen often adds a drop-off fee, so compare the total cost against flying or taking the train. Tolls, ferries and fuel all add up in Norway.
How to choose
A quick way to decide is to look at what you want from the travel day itself.
- Short trip or business travel: fly. Nothing else gets you there in a morning.
- First visit to Norway: take the day train, or the train via Flåm if you have time.
- Tight budget or late arrival at OSL: look at the night bus or the night train.
- Fjord road trip: drive, and treat the journey as part of the holiday.
Weather is worth a thought too. Western Norway sees a lot of wind and low cloud in autumn and winter, which can delay flights, while heavy snow on the mountain plateau can affect both trains and roads.
If you fly, keep an eye on OSL departures and BGO arrivals on the live flight board on the day you travel. It shows status changes from Avinor as they happen, so you will know early if your plans need to shift.
A few practical tips
Book early whichever way you go. The cheapest flight fares, low train fares and advance bus tickets all sell out on Fridays, Sundays and around Norwegian holidays.
Pack a layer you can reach easily. Bergen is famously wet, and the train crosses terrain where it can snow even in early summer.
Finally, give yourself a buffer if you have something fixed on arrival, such as a fjord cruise or a connecting flight. Between Oslo and Bergen, the fastest option is rarely the only one, so a backup plan is usually easy to find.
