7 days · ages 4+ · nature, road trip
The one trip on the catalog where the transport is the attraction. Mountain railways, fjord ferries and a funicular do all the work, which makes scenery of this scale unusually accessible with young children — nobody has to hike, and nobody has to drive. Long summer daylight takes the pressure off the schedule entirely.
Families on a tight budget. Norway is among the most expensive countries in Europe, and there is no version of this trip that is cheap.
1Day 1 · Bergen & the Fjords
Harbour, fish market and the funicular.
Fløibanen funicular
From the centre to a viewpoint 320 m above the harbour, with forest trails and a playground at the top.
Good to know. Bergen rains on roughly two days in three. Waterproofs are essential, not precautionary.
Day 2 · Bergen & the Fjords
Bryggen, the aquarium and the cable car.
Bryggen wharf
The UNESCO-listed wooden warehouses along the harbour, walkable in an hour.
Bergen aquarium
The reliable wet-weather option, and there will be wet weather.
Day 3 · Bergen & the Fjords
The Bergen Railway, then the Flåm Line descent.
Bergen to Myrdal
About two hours across the mountain plateau.
Flåm Railway
865 m of descent in 20 km past waterfalls, with a photo stop where everyone gets out.
Good to know. Book advance fares. Same-day tickets cost several times as much and summer departures fill.
Day 4 · Bergen & the Fjords
A ferry through the narrowest arm of the Sognefjord.
Flåm to Gudvangen
UNESCO-listed, between cliffs rising over a kilometre from the water.
Good to know. Open decks are cold and windy even in July. A warm layer for each child is needed.
Day 5 · Bergen & the Fjords
A viewpoint, a short walk and a slow day.
Stegastein viewpoint
A platform projecting 30 m out over the fjord, 650 m above the water, reached by bus from Flåm.
Day 6 · Bergen & the Fjords
The return rail journey, then a final evening.
Flåm to Bergen
The same route in reverse, or via bus and ferry for a different view.
Day 7 · Bergen & the Fjords
Airport transfer.
Bergen airport
The light rail runs from the centre to the terminal.
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Where to stay
Cabins are how families make Norway affordable: they sleep four to six, include a kitchen, and sit in better locations than the hotels.
Fitting a family in
Cabins and campsite huts routinely sleep four to six and cost well under two hotel rooms.
Watch out. Some campsite huts do not include bed linen or a private bathroom. Check both before booking.
A kitchen and a central location together solve Norway's two problems at once: food cost and wet weather with children.
Fitting a family in
Two-bedroom apartments are common and considerably cheaper than two hotel rooms.
Watch out. Cruise-ship days make the harbour area very crowded; check the port schedule if that matters.
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Bergen & the Fjords
One of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world, descending 865 m in 20 km past waterfalls and mountain farms, with a photo stop en route.
Good to know. Summer departures sell out. Sit on the left going down for the best views.
Bergen & the Fjords
A ferry through the narrowest arm of the Sognefjord, UNESCO-listed, between cliffs that rise over a kilometre from the water.
Good to know. Open decks are cold and windy even in July. A warm layer for each child is needed.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through one, the price is the same for you and we may earn a commission. How this works.
Money & costs
The Bergen Railway and the Flåm Line release cheaper advance tickets that disappear as departures fill. Same-day fares cost several times as much.
Money & costs
Restaurant prices are the sharpest cost shock in Norway. Cabins and apartments with kitchens are how families keep the week affordable.
Packing
Fjord weather changes quickly even in July, and open ferry decks are cold. Waterproofs and a warm layer per child.
4 people · 7 days · EUR
€4,850
≈ €173 per person per day
| Category | Estimate |
|---|---|
| FlightsFour return fares from within Europe. | €800 |
| Accommodation6 nights split between a Bergen apartment and a fjord cabin. | €1,700 |
| TransportRail, the Flåm Line, fjord ferries and local buses, booked in advance. | €1,100 |
| FoodAssumes self-catering for at least one meal a day. | €950 |
| Activities & ticketsFunicular and aquarium. | €180 |
| ExtrasIncidentals. | €120 |
| Total | €4,850 |
How to read this figure. Indicative planning figures for a family of four in summer, based on published prices at the time of writing. Advance rail fares make a substantial difference to the transport line.
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