12 days in Norway

We've been super busy the last couple of weeks, so we haven't been updating our blog. Now that we have some time in Stockholm (where we will be staying for almost a week), here are some updates & photos from Norway.....

12 days itinerary in Norway

Oslo, Norway

We first arrived in Oslo via Gothenburg (Sweden). The train ride was about 4 hours. The train left Gothenburg at 1pm and arrived in Oslo central at 4:52pm. Not a great weather on arrival, oh well. 

Oslo!

After arriving in Oslo, we went to look for a restaurant. Because everyone goes away in July for the summer break, a lot of the restaurants were closed (some for over a month. crazy!). 

Eventually, we stumbled across one spot that was actually open. Nothing special—just one of those generic places with a sign proudly declaring "Thai / Chinese / Japanese," which is international food code for “We serve confusion with a side of soy sauce.”

We went in anyway. Dinner was... let’s call it “pan-Asian improvisation.” A bowl of noodles of questionable heritage, a modest plate of sushi that had clearly seen better days, and two glasses of white wine that tasted like they came from a box. 

Total bill? Just shy of $100. I’ve never paid so much to be so unimpressed.

Some "Asian" noodles

"Sushi"

Not impressed :-(

....The next day, we packed our own lunch (at the hotel buffet ;p ).

Almost $2 for public toilet? Insane 

We spent two nights in Oslo, where we explored the striking Opera House, strolled around the Royal Palace grounds, and enjoyed a sunny picnic lunch. We also booked our train tickets to Stavanger and capped off our stay with a lovely anniversary dinner, savouring a delicious Norwegian meal to celebrate.

After two days in Oslo, we took a train to Stavanger, Frode's home town!! 

Off we go!

Stavanger, Norway 

Stavanger is a small, picturesque town on Norway’s west coast, and surprisingly, it’s the country’s fourth-largest city. Known as the “Oil Capital of Norway,” Stavanger rose to prominence after offshore oil was discovered in the 1960s. Today, much of the local economy still revolves around the energy industry. And yet, in a fascinating contrast, Norway boasts the highest adoption rate of electric vehicles in the world—thanks to forward-thinking government incentives.... Pretty Amazing. 

We spent three lovely days in Stavanger, meeting Frode's family (...for the first time in person!!), eating lots of cakes, visiting Old Town, and doing nice walks around the lake (.. and getting lost). 

Bergen, Norway

After leaving Stavanger, we made our way to Bergen for Frode’s grandmother’s 80th birthday—she’s 80 years young and full of life! 

The journey involved a bus ride and two scenic ferry crossings, taking about five hours in total.

Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, is a magnet for tourists—especially those heading out on fjord tours. 

Once we arrived, we spent the afternoon exploring the charming streets of the city, followed by drinks by the harbor.....

Later, we took the funicular up the hillside for sweeping views over Bergen, and ended the day with a lovely dinner by the water. A perfect welcome to this vibrant coastal city.

Voss, Norway

The next day started bright and early with a quick breakfast at the hotel before we set off on our next adventure. We walked to the train station and boarded a scenic train to Voss. 

From Voss, we hopped on a bus that wound its way through picturesque mountain roads, offering breathtaking views at every turn... (minus the motion sickness 😱)

We were then off to a fjord cruise!  

What an absolutely stunning country—everywhere you look is like a postcard. I couldn’t stop taking photos!

After a full day of exploring, we made our way back to Bergen by early evening, arriving around 6 p.m. We then headed into town to celebrate Frode’s grandma’s birthday with a special dinner. It was such a lovely way to end the day—great food and warm company!

Mor Mor's 80th Birthday!

After our time in Bergen, we were originally supposed to fly directly back to Stavanger with Norwegian Air (see more details). But travel plans had other ideas. Instead, we had to take a roundabout route—first flying to Oslo, then back west to Stavanger. If that sounds completely insane, just take a look at the map at the top of this page—you’ll see what I mean!