Short answer: For a first Norway trip, combine Oslo and Bergen on the Bergen Railway and add the fjords around Flåm in between. In winter, add Tromsø or Lofoten in the far north for snow and the northern lights. In December, Oslo and Bergen both have big Christmas markets.
Norway is long and mountainous, and the north is a flight away from the south. So it pays to pick a route rather than trying to see everything. Here’s how I’d think about each region.
Oslo
The capital sits at the top of the Oslofjord. In the run-up to Christmas, Jul i Vinterland fills Spikersuppa, the long square in the city center, with market stalls and an ice rink. On two Advent weekends, the Norwegian Folk Museum (Norsk Folkemuseum) on Bygdøy holds a large traditional Christmas market among its old farm buildings. Dates for both are in Christmas in Norway 2026. When there’s snow, ride metro line 1 up to Frognerseteren for sledding in Oslo on Korketrekkeren.
Bergen
Bergen is on the west coast, about 6.5 to 7.5 hours from Oslo on Vy’s Bergen Railway. Its old wharf, Bryggen, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At Christmas, Bergen has the Gingerbread Town, a Christmas market on Festplassen and a Festival of Lights. See Bergen Gingerbread Town 2026.
Pack a rain jacket. Bergen is famous for its rain.
The fjords
The easiest fjords to reach without a car are around Flåm. The Bergen Railway takes you to Myrdal, the Flåm Railway runs down to Flåm in about 55 minutes, and an electric boat sails through the Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen. The Nærøyfjord and the Geirangerfjord have been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List together since 2005. This route is the classic Norway in a Nutshell, and you can book it as a package or piece by piece. See Norway in a Nutshell: DIY or tour?
Lofoten
Lofoten is a chain of islands in the Arctic, with steep mountains rising out of the sea and red fishing cabins. There’s no railway. You reach it by plane, by the car ferry from Bodø to Moskenes, by the express boat from Bodø to Svolvær, or on the coastal ships. The Lofotekspressen bus (route 300) links Å, Leknes and Svolvær. See Lofoten in winter without a car.
Tromsø
Tromsø is the biggest city in northern Norway. Visit Tromsø says the northern lights can appear here from late August to early April, and the city has the cable car, the Polaria Arctic aquarium and many northern lights tours. From late November to mid-January the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon. See Tromsø northern lights with kids.
Røros and Trondheim
Trondheim has a Christmas market on its main square, Torvet, in December. Røros, an old copper-mining town and World Heritage Site in the mountains, holds one of Norway’s best-known Christmas markets on the second weekend of Advent. Both are in Christmas in Norway 2026.
Questions about where to go in Norway
How many days do I need for a first Norway trip?
For Oslo, the fjords and Bergen, plan about five to seven days. Add three or four nights if you want to fly north to Tromsø or Lofoten.
Can I see Norway without a car?
Yes. Trains connect Oslo, the Flåm Railway and Bergen, and fjord boats and buses fill the gaps. In Lofoten, buses and boats run all year, though less often in winter.
Where should I go in Norway in December?
Oslo and Bergen for Christmas markets, Røros for its famous market on the second Advent weekend, and Tromsø if you want the polar night and the northern lights.
Sources (checked 21 October 2026)
- Bergen Railway journey time and departures: vy.no (The Bergen Line)
- Flåm Railway journey time: flamsbana.no (FAQ)
- Nærøyfjord boat and UNESCO listing: norwaysbest.com (Fjord Cruise Nærøyfjord)
- Bryggen and Bergen Christmas events: visitbergen.com (Christmas in Bergen)
- Lofoten transport: visitlofoten.com (Travel within Lofoten)
- Northern lights season in Tromsø: visittromso.no (When and where)
- Oslo, Røros and Trondheim markets: julivinterland.no, norskfolkemuseum.no, julemarkedroros.no, julemarkedet-trondheim.no