A Bergen Line train with red coaches reflected in still water under a blue sky on Hardangervidda between Haugastøl and Finse.

TrainWinterSummer

Oslo to Bergen by train, over the roof of Norway

Seven hours from fjord city to fjord city, with a snowfield 1,222 metres up in the middle.

The short answer

The train from Oslo to Bergen takes between 6 h 35 min and about 7 h 20 min, with no change, and Vy runs it all year. In autumn 2026 there are four day trains and a night train on weekdays; from 14 December 2026 a fifth day train is added on weekdays and Sundays, and the night train runs every night except Saturday. On 19 October 2026 Vy listed Bergen Line fares from NOK 359, a seat on this line is included in the ticket, and the cheapest Lowfare tickets are limited in number and cannot be changed or refunded, so book early.

The Bergen Line leaves Oslo among suburbs and salmon rivers, climbs through the forests of Hallingdal and then runs for about an hour above the tree line, across Hardangervidda, where three of the stations have no road at all. At Finse the platform stands 1,222 metres above the sea. Then the line drops, through snow sheds and long tunnels, to Voss and the fjords, and ends in the middle of Bergen.

From

Oslo

Bergen

Norway

Journey time: 6 h 35 min to 7 h 20 min
Distance: 471 km
Highest station: Finse, 1,222 m
Trains a day: Up to 5 by day, 1 by night
Fare from: from NOK 359, October 2026
Best season: Winter snow, summer light

Why the Bergen Line is one of Europe's great train journeys

It took about fifteen years, from 1894 to 1909, to push a railway over the mountains between Norway's two largest cities. The engineers had to cross Hardangervidda, Northern Europe's largest mountain plateau, and they did it with 182 tunnels and a line that is still Northern Europe's highest railway. Bergen had had a railway to Voss since 1883; the mountain crossing tied it to Oslo, and Bergen's station, opened in 1913, four years after the line, still stands at the end of it.

What makes the journey is the order in which the country is shown to you. For more than three hours the train follows rivers and lakes through the farms and forests of Buskerud and Hallingdal. After Geilo the trees thin and give out, and on the highest stretch the railway is the only way in: Finse, Hallingskeid and Myrdal have no road at all. The navvies' supply track across the plateau, the Rallarvegen, survives as a cycle route, and in summer people step off the train with bikes to ride it.

Finse is the high point at 1,222 metres, a hotel and a few buildings beside the platform with the Hardangerjøkulen glacier beyond. The film crew of The Empire Strikes Back stayed at the hotel in 1979 and used the snow outside as the ice planet Hoth. West of Finse the line goes into the 10.3 km Finse tunnel, where the track reaches its true summit at 1,237 metres, and comes out on the long fall to the west: snow sheds, the junction for the Flåm Railway at Myrdal, then Voss and the fjords.

Along the way

Oslo
after Vikersund, about 1 h 10 min from Oslo
Tyrifjorden
The train runs along Norway's fifth-largest lake, 330 metres deep, before turning north into the valleys. Soon after come the first mountains: Norefjell above Krøderfjorden.
Flå to Geilo, about 2 h 20 min to 3 h 35 min from Oslo
Hallingdal and the climb from Ål
Forest, river and the odd low mountain through Flå, Nesbyen and Gol. After Ål the line starts to climb in earnest, reaching Geilo's ski slopes at 794 metres, roughly halfway to Bergen.
Ustaoset (990 m) and Haugastøl (988 m)
Above the tree line
Ustaoset is the first station of the high mountain section. From here the birches shrink and vanish, and the train runs out across the open plateau. Hardangervidda National Park, 3,422 km², is home to more than 9,000 wild reindeer, Norway's largest herd.
302 km from Oslo, about 4 h 10 min to 4 h 30 min
Finse
Norway's highest station, 1,222 metres up, with no road. The hotel on the platform, restored to its original state in 2020, faces the Hardangerjøkulen glacier, Norway's sixth-largest. In 1979 the snow around Finse stood in for the ice planet Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, and the film crew stayed at the hotel.
after the Finse tunnel
Hallingskeid and the snow sheds
The 10.3 km Finse tunnel carries the line through its highest point, 1,237 metres. Beyond it Hallingskeid station, at 1,110 metres, sits entirely inside a snow shed, and the descent to the west begins in a sequence of galleries and short tunnels.
336 km from Oslo, about 4 h 40 min to 5 h
Myrdal and the Gravhals tunnel
A road-less junction at 867 metres where the Flåm Railway drops 865 metres to the fjord. Just west of Myrdal the train enters the Gravhals tunnel, 5,311 metres long, which took ten years to cut.
the last hour
Voss to Bergen
From Voss the line never rises above 57 metres, but it threads tall mountains, deep valleys and narrow fjords, then runs into Bergen station, opened in 1913, four metres above the sea.
Bergen

Which side to sit on the Oslo to Bergen train

From Oslo, sit on the left, facing the direction of travel, for Hardangervidda: the open plateau, the lakes and the glacier side at Finse. The fjords and valleys of the west, after Myrdal and on to Bergen, are on the right. From Bergen it is the other way round: right for the plateau, left for the fjords. The plateau is the part people come for, so if you can choose only one side, choose the plateau side. A Lowfare ticket comes with a seat allocated for you; a Flex or Plus ticket lets you pick your own. On the Flåm Railway the train stops for about five minutes at the Kjosfossen waterfall and everyone can get off, so the side matters less there.

Ways to do it

The day train, Lowfare
FromNOK 359 (Vy, 19 October 2026)
Five departures a day on weekdays in winter, with a café carriage and a family carriage with a playroom. The cheapest tickets are Lowfare: a limited number, a seat allocated for you, no changes or refunds.
The day train, Plus
A separate carriage with extra space, comfier seats, work tables, your own power socket, a free seat reservation and free tea and coffee. Worth it for a seven-hour ride if the price gap on your date is small.
The night train
Leaves Oslo at 23:03 and reaches Bergen at 06:23, every night except Saturday in the current timetable. Choose a fully reclining PlusNight seat in its own privacy pod, a two-bed Sleeper compartment with 75 cm berths, duvets and a wake-up call, or a six-berth Rest compartment; Sleeper and Rest passengers get a reduced-price breakfast at the Grand Hotel Terminus in Bergen. You sleep through the plateau, so it is the way to travel, not the way to see it.
Via Flåm
FromFlåm Railway NOK 399 one way; Norway in a Nutshell NOK 2,698 (both October 2026)
Get off at Myrdal and take the Flåm Railway 20 km down to the Aurlandsfjord, about an hour each way, all year. Fjord Tours sells the classic version, Norway in a Nutshell, which adds a cruise on the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord and runs year-round between Oslo and Bergen.

When to go

WinterAt its best
The reason to go. Snow buries the plateau, Finse looks like the ice planet it played in the film, and Geilo and Voss are ski towns. The days are short: on Hardangervidda there is light from about 09:00 to 15:00, so take the 06:25 or 08:25 from Oslo (the 08:08 from Bergen) to cross it in daylight.
Spring
The light comes back while the plateau is still white. Haugastøl, by the line, is one of the world's best places for snowkiting, with courses for beginners, and Finse is a starting point for tours on Hardangervidda all year round.
SummerAt its best
Long light late into the evening, and the plateau green, grey and full of water. It is the season for the Rallarvegen bike ride from Haugastøl, Finse or Myrdal, with bike hire at Finse. It is also when Flåm is busiest, and Flåm Railway departures can sell out.
Autumn
Autumn colour in the valleys and the first snow on the high ground: the Flåm Railway sells October as the month of both. The days shorten fast, so favour the morning trains from late October.

Tickets, fares and seat reservations

How much is the Oslo to Bergen train, and do I need a reservation?

Vy prices the Bergen Line like an airline: the fare depends on the day, the departure and how early you book. On 19 October 2026 its own site listed the line from NOK 359. The cheapest tickets are Lowfare, sold in limited numbers; they cannot be changed, upgraded or refunded, and cannot be combined with student or senior discounts. Flex tickets cost more and can be changed. Plus adds the quieter carriage, a free reservation and hot drinks.

You do not have to buy a reservation separately: on the Bergen Line a seat comes with the ticket. Lowfare passengers are allocated one before travel; with Flex or Plus you choose your own, which is how to make sure of the left-hand side from Oslo. Tickets go on sale 115 days ahead, and a Lowfare ticket can still be cancelled within four hours of buying it. Interrail and Eurail holders must reserve a seat before boarding, through Entur customer service or at a staffed station. Buying on the train costs NOK 40 extra if you boarded where there was a ticket machine. Bikes need their own reserved space, and some departures have only a few.

Fare from: NOK 359 (Vy, 19 October 2026)
Seat reservation: Included in the ticket on the Bergen Line
Cheapest ticket: Lowfare: limited, no changes or refunds
Comfort: Plus: more space, free tea and coffee
On sale: 115 days ahead (Flåm Railway 120)
Rail passes: Seat reservation compulsory on this line
Overnight: PlusNight seat, Sleeper (2 berths) or Rest (6 berths)

Departures and journey time

How long is the train from Oslo to Bergen, and when does it leave?

Every train is line F4 and runs the whole way without a change. The fastest, the 08:25 from Oslo S, reaches Bergen at 15:00, in 6 h 35 min; the night train takes 7 h 20 min. From 14 December 2026 the winter timetable adds a 14:25 from Oslo on weekdays and Sundays. There is no 06:25 from Oslo on Sundays and no night train on Saturdays. In some weeks departures move by a minute or two, so check the time on your ticket. Vy says the line has six or seven departures a day across the year.

From Bergen the day trains leave at 08:08, 11:49, 15:38 and 16:48 in autumn 2026, with a 06:19 added in winter, and the night train leaves at 23:01.

Oslo S, autumn 2026: 06:25, 08:25, 12:03, 16:23, night 23:03
Oslo S, winter 2026 to 2027: 06:25, 08:25, 12:03, 14:25, 16:23, night 23:03
Bergen, winter 2026 to 2027: 06:19, 08:08, 11:49, 15:38, 16:48, night 23:01
Fastest: 08:25 from Oslo, 6 h 35 min
Oslo to Finse: 4 h 10 min to 4 h 30 min
Oslo to Myrdal: 4 h 40 min to 5 h

Adding the Flåm Railway at Myrdal

Can I take the Flåm Railway on the way from Oslo to Bergen?

Yes. Get off the Bergen Line at Myrdal, take the Flåm Railway down to Flåm, and come back up later to carry on to Bergen, or leave Flåm by boat through the Nærøyfjord. The Flåm line is 20 km long, falls from 867 metres to 2 metres with a gradient of 1 in 18 for most of the way, and has 20 tunnels, 18 of them dug by hand. It was built between 1923 and 1940. The ride takes about an hour and the train stops for five minutes at the Kjosfossen waterfall, 225 metres high.

Buy every ticket before you travel: Myrdal has neither a ticket office nor a machine, and no road. Flåm Railway tickets are valid only on the departure printed on them, go on sale up to 120 days ahead, and there is no waiting list if one sells out. Interrail and Eurail holders get 30 per cent off an ordinary single.

Flåm Railway fare: from NOK 399 one way, children 6 to 17 half (Vy, October 2026)
Winter link: 08:25 from Oslo reaches Myrdal at 13:03; Flåm train 13:15, in Flåm at 14:05 (February 2027)
Flåm trains from Myrdal: 6 a day in October 2026, 4 in winter
Luggage in Flåm: Self-service lockers by the station, up to three days

Luggage, food and stations

Is there food on the Oslo to Bergen train, and what about luggage?

The day trains have a café carriage serving hot and cold dishes, pastries and drinks, which you can eat there or take back to your seat. There is room for luggage and bikes, and a family carriage with a playroom. Oslo S has left-luggage boxes, including ones for skis, in the Flytoget terminal towards Østbanehallen; Bergen station has lockers in three sizes and the Grand Hotel Terminus close by. Finse and Myrdal have waiting rooms, and Myrdal's Café Rallaren opens in summer, but there is no road to either, so anything you need for a stop there comes with you on the train. There is no food on the Flåm Railway.

On board: Café carriage, family carriage, bike spaces
Left luggage: Lockers at Oslo S and Bergen station
Finse waiting room: 09:30 to 20:30

Worth knowing before you go

Winter daylight is short
In midwinter there is light on Hardangervidda only from about 09:00 to 15:00. The afternoon trains and the night train cross the plateau in the dark, and the view you came for is lost.
What to do. From Oslo take the 06:25 or 08:25, which reach Finse at 10:46 and about 12:35. From Bergen take the 08:08, at Finse at 10:29.
Mountain weather can stop the line
The high section between Finse and Myrdal has no road, and no replacement bus runs from Finse, Hallingskeid or Myrdal when trains are cancelled. A fire in a snow shed at Hallingskeid closed the stretch for several days in October 2024, and snow slides closed it again in January and March 2025.
What to do. In winter leave a spare day before a flight out of Bergen or Oslo, and check Vy's traffic updates on the morning you travel.
Cheap seats and Flåm trains go first
Lowfare tickets are limited and cannot be refunded, and Flåm Railway departures can sell out with no waiting list.
What to do. Book as soon as your dates are fixed, and buy the Flåm leg with the main ticket rather than at Myrdal, where there is nowhere to buy one.

The journey in pictures

A Vy train crosses the snowy plateau above the tree line between Haugastøl and Finse, beside a half frozen lake.

The red wooden station building at Finse in deep winter snow.

A train to Oslo runs beside a mountain lake between Hallingskeid and Finse, with the snow sheds of the old line on the far shore.

An Oslo to Bergen train passes the lake Nedre Storurdevatnet on Hardangervidda under a clear sky.

Red trains under the arched glass roof of the train hall at Bergen station.

A compartment with green seats and a fold out table in a Vy night train couchette car used on the Bergen Line.

Questions people ask

Good questions about The Bergen Line

How long is the train from Oslo to Bergen?

Between 6 h 35 min and 7 h 20 min. The fastest day train, the 08:25 from Oslo S in autumn 2026, reaches Bergen at 15:00; the night train leaves at 23:03 and arrives at 06:23. There is no change of train: every departure runs straight through, with up to 19 stops between, among them Geilo, Finse, Myrdal and Voss.

Which side of the train should I sit on from Oslo to Bergen?

The left, facing the direction of travel, for the Hardangervidda plateau and Finse; the right for the fjords and valleys after Myrdal. From Bergen to Oslo, swap: right for the plateau, left for the fjords. The plateau is the highlight, so take that side if you have to choose. Lowfare tickets come with an allocated seat; Flex and Plus let you choose one.

How much does the Oslo to Bergen train cost?

Fares vary by date, departure and how early you book. On 19 October 2026 Vy listed the Bergen Line from NOK 359. That is a Lowfare ticket, sold in limited numbers and not changeable or refundable. A seat is included on this line. Flex costs more and lets you pick your seat; Plus adds extra space and free tea and coffee. The night train has seats, berths and private compartments at extra cost.

Is the Oslo to Bergen train worth it in winter?

Yes, as long as you travel by day. Winter is when the plateau is at its most extraordinary: snow to the horizon, a frozen lake at Finse and the glacier behind it. Light on Hardangervidda lasts only from about 09:00 to 15:00, so take the 06:25 or 08:25 from Oslo, or the 08:08 from Bergen, and allow a spare day in case storms close the mountain section.

Is there a night train from Oslo to Bergen?

Yes. It leaves Oslo S at 23:03 and reaches Bergen at 06:23, every night except Saturday, in the 2026 to 2027 timetable. You can sit, take a lie-flat PlusNight seat, or book a bed in a two-berth Sleeper or a six-berth Rest compartment. It saves a hotel night, but it crosses the plateau between about 03:00 and 04:30, in the dark.

Can I visit Flåm on the train from Oslo to Bergen?

Yes. Change at Myrdal, about 4 h 40 min to 5 h from Oslo, for the Flåm Railway, an hour's descent of 865 metres to the Aurlandsfjord, from NOK 399 one way in October 2026. Buy all tickets in advance, because Myrdal has no ticket office or machine. You can then return to Myrdal and continue to Bergen, or follow the Norway in a Nutshell route on by boat through the Nærøyfjord.

What is the highest point of the Bergen Line?

Finse station, 1,222 metres above sea level, is Norway's highest railway station. The track itself climbs a little higher, to 1,237 metres, inside the 10.3 km Finse tunnel just west of the station. Finse has no road; the only ways in are by train, by bike or on foot.

The Bergen Line

Seven hours from fjord city to fjord city, with a snowfield 1,222 metres up in the middle.

Oslo → Bergen

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