Oslo - Bergen transportaion questions

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hpfl
hpfl

I appreciate everyone's patience with all of the questions like mine about navigating a new environment. I think (operative word) I know what I'm doing but it's all new. Here's the travel plan for mid-June with a number of questions:

We'll start on the 8.11 train from Oslo, change trains in Myrdal and go to Flam.

Question1: It looks like I can buy one ticket (Oslo to Flan) even though we change trains. Is that correct?
Question2: is Komfort class worth it?
Question 3: Is the 8:11 train or the connecting train to Flam really crowded? Should we take an earlier train (really early - 6:00 something) realizing we'd have a longer wait in Flan for our connection?

Next steps have us taking the 15.30 boat from Flan to Balestrand and spending three days there.

Once we continue to Bergen (Sunday 20 June), we can take the 11.50 boat back towards Flam, do the midfjord exchange and cruise on the Naroyfjord to Gudvangen. That's followed by a bus and a train into Bergen (feels like a lot of transferring with luggage)
OR
do Sognefjord in a Nutshell and continue to Bergen on the 16.55 express boat from Ballestrand. I don't think there's another choice on Sunday.

Question 4: Any thoughts/reactions between these two choices? Is one route really superior to the other and not to be missed? The first gets us into Bergen sooner but seems like quite a bit more hassle.
Question 5: Regardless of route, do we buy ferry/boat tickets ahead like the train or can one always walk on and find space?

OK - I guess I'm done. Lots of questions and really appreciate any thoughts or help you can offer.

Hans Peter

Edited by: hpfl

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yukinon
yukinon

1) Are you buying from www.nsb.no website? You can buy the tickets as one booking, but when you collect them at the station you will get two printed tickets.

2) In my opinion no. It is marginally more spacious, but regular class is more than good enough. And you get free coffee/tea/newspapers/power-outlet.

3) No reason to take an earlier train unless you want to be on the road earlier.. If you have a ticket you have your seat. And I've got no reason to think either trains are particularly crowded..

4) Both are probably good! I've only done the express boat myself. The boat on Nærøyfjorden to Gudvangen is the fjord that is on the UNESCO list, I guess some would say that is unmissable. You get a glance at the Nærøyfjord from the express boat, but you don't get to go through it.

5) It should be safe to just get the boat tickets on the same day. If you want tickets for the express boat can be bought here: https://booking.fjord1.no/FindStopArea.aspx

Have a nice trip!

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oldgoats
oldgoats

If you decide to take the earlier train and have some time in Flam, the souvenir shop at the train station has a map of short walks to do in and around the town which are well worth doing. It is a beautiful area and it deserves to be seen on foot for at least some of your time. The railway museum is also worth a look.
Enjoy your trip!

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vidarj
vidarj

Question2: is Komfort class worth it?
No, it's not worth it unless you need power outlet for your computer, but I imagine you will look at the landscape rather than working on your computer :)

You can also find pictures and seating plans of the trains on home.no/toget

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