Norway is a country of astonishing beauty: mountains, seas, forest and fjords. It is easily the most popular travel destination in Scandinavia and enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world. All those accolades do, however, come with a price – Norway is also one of the most expensive countries in Europe to visit!

Oslo, the capital, has great public transportation, clean water, a low crime rate and excellent medical service, making it a great place to visit. The city is compact and easy to navigate so you can walk almost everywhere yet there are over 1500 miles of hiking and skiing trails within the city limits. The Gulf Stream warms the coastal waters, so winter weather is actually much like that of London and summers are warm with days lasting until 11pm.

Cruising is a popular way to visit Oslo and the dock is opposite Akershus Castle and a short walk to City Hall, two must-see sights. You will also want to visit Bygdoy, the peninsula opposite City Hall and home to the Norwegian Folk Museum, the Viking Ship Museum, the polar ship Fram and the Kon-Tiki Museum. Travel Maestro tip: Consider purchasing an Oslo Pass, which includes admission fees for many museums, as well as unlimited use of the public transportation system, among other perks. It’s a great way to save money in this very expensive city.

Rick Steves, the prolific author on European travel said, “If you go to Oslo and don’t get out to the fjords, you should have your passport revoked!” One of the best ways to see the spectacular scenery and make your way to the most impressive fjords is the Norway in a Nutshell® rail trip between Oslo and Bergen. The Bergen Railway will take you on a five-hour dazzling ride of camera-clicking beauty over the Hardangervidda, the highest mountainous plateau in Europe. The railway itself is an engineering marvel that travels through 182 hand-carved tunnels and over hundreds of bridges before arriving in the town of Myrdal.

From Myrdal, the Flam Railway makes a thrilling one hour decent of 2,800 feet over only 20 kilometers to the village of Flam. This spur line is one of the steepest railways in the world. The view is breathtaking with impressive waterfalls, steep mountainsides and deep ravines and the engineer may even make a photo stop.

Flam sits on the Sognefjord, the world’s largest and deepest fjord. From there, board a boat for a two-hour fjord tour on the Nærøyfjord, which is an arm of the Sognefjord. The Nærøyfjord, surrounded by towering mountains, is one of the narrowest fjords in Europe and is included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The dramatic scenery is simply mind-blowing.

The Norway in a Nutshell trip can be started from Oslo, Voss or Bergen and runs daily, year-round. You can also customize your itinerary to add hotels and activities along the way. Whether you are visiting Norway by land or cruise, be sure to make time for this jewel of a trip. Please contact Covington’s expert vacation advisors to tailor all of the arrangements so you can drink in the stunning scenery of Norway.