Norway Rail Tours

Norway’s railways run through some of the most dramatic landscape in Europe. Railtrail’s Norway rail holidays are built to make the most of them. The Bergen Railway climbs from Oslo across the Hardangervidda plateau before descending to the west coast. The Flåm Railway does something more dramatic still, dropping over 800 metres in twenty kilometres, one of the steepest stretches of standard-gauge track anywhere in the world.

Roads here climb slowly and switch back on themselves. The railway tunnels straight through. That difference is why the train, not the coach, is at the centre of every Railtrail itinerary in Norway.

A European rail holiday itinerary built around Norway typically threads together Oslo, Bergen, and often Trondheim. Several journeys extend further into Scandinavia, connecting on to Swedish rail holidays or Danish rail holidays for travellers who want to see more of the region in a single trip.

What’s Included on a Norway Rail Holiday

Every Railtrail tour is fully escorted, with a dedicated Tour Manager travelling with the group throughout. Norway tours typically include hotel accommodation, rail travel between key destinations, selected meals, and guided excursions at each stop. Luggage handling between hotels is arranged as standard, so there is nothing to carry beyond a day bag.

Fare structures vary by tour. Flight-inclusive itineraries are protected under ATOL (licence 9056). Ground-only and non-flight packages fall under ABTOT (member 5577). Both schemes protect the money you have paid.

Railtrail has been operating escorted rail holidays for over 45 years, family run from the start, and that experience shows in the detail: which side of the train to sit for the best view of the fjords, when to book the window seat on the Flåm Railway, how to time a Bergen connection without a rushed transfer. Tour Managers bring that knowledge to every Norway departure.

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Railway Journeys and Scenery in Norway

The Bergen Railway is the highest mainline in northern Europe, crossing the Hardangervidda plateau at over 1,200 metres before the descent into Bergen begins. Snow can lie on this stretch well into summer. From Myrdal, the Flåm Railway branches off and drops through twenty tunnels on its way down to the Aurlandsfjord, an arm of the Sognefjord, one of the longest and deepest fjords in the world.

Further north, the Rauma Line runs from Åndalsnes up through the Romsdal valley, past the Trollveggen rock face and over the Kylling Bridge, a curved stone viaduct built without a single straight section. The Dovre Line connects Oslo to Trondheim, climbing over the Dovrefjell mountain plateau, historically the route reindeer herds crossed between summer and winter pasture.

Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim anchor most Norway rail holidays. Oslo sits on its fjord with the Viking Ship Museum a short journey from the centre. Bergen’s harbour, Bryggen, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of wooden merchant houses dating back to the Hanseatic era. Trondheim was Norway’s medieval capital, and its Nidaros Cathedral remains the country’s most important pilgrimage site.

For train journey holidays that combine several of these routes with river cruising, our luxury rail holidays programme covers Norway alongside other premium European destinations.

Norway Rail Holidays for UK Travellers

Most Railtrail European tours begin at London St Pancras, where your Tour Manager meets the group at the Railtrail meeting point before departure on the Eurostar service to the continent. Travellers who prefer to make their own way can join the tour later, at the hotel, on a Tour Base Fare. Given Norway’s distance from the UK, some Norway itineraries may combine rail travel with a flight for part of the journey. Fare and routing details vary by tour, so it is worth confirming the specific arrangement before booking.

Travelling with a group takes the planning off your hands. Connections, seat reservations, and hotel transfers are arranged before you leave home, and your Tour Manager handles any disruption along the way. This matters more in Norway than in many European destinations: some of the scenic lines run once or twice a day, and a missed connection can mean a very different afternoon.

Not sure what an escorted rail holiday actually involves? Our guide to what is an escorted train holiday explains how Railtrail organises every stage of the trip, from the first station to the last.

Register your interest in Norway rail holidays and we will let you know as soon as new departures are confirmed.