Is Norway in a Nutshell Worth It? [2024]

Is Norway in a Nutshell Worth it? Let’s find out.

The Norway in a Nutshell experience has been a staple from those visiting Norway for years. With tours departing from Bergen, Voss and Oslo year-round, Norway in a Nutshell essentially gives travellers a taste of the best that the country has to offer. Featuring fjords, mountains, valleys and small towns – this trip is definitely a scenic one. But as with the rest of Norway, the prices don’t come cheap at all. So the question remains, is a Norway in a Nutshell Tour Worth It? Let’s discuss.

About Norway In A Nutshell

Image taken from the Norway in a Nutshell Fjord Cruise that I embarked on.

Norway In A Nutshell is a popular day trip experience taken from either Bergen, Voss, Geilo, Flåm and Oslo in Norway. During this trip, you will be get to experience many of the things that make Norway a popular travel destination. These include:

• A scenic trip on the Bergen Railway

• Train ride on the famous Flåm Railway

• A fjord cruise across the UNESCO-protected Nærøyfjord

• Stops in picturesque Norwegian small towns such as Flåm and Voss

About to ride the panoramic Flåm Railway train.

The reason why this tour is so popular is that it’s super convenient. While it’s possible to do all of the above independently, you’ll have to go through the hassle of organising each ticket separately, and finding your own transport between stops – which can be time consuming and costly.

A glimpse of the stunning Nærøyfjord, included in the Norway in a Nutshell itinerary.

It’s important to note that Norway in a Nutshell isn’t exactly a tour in the classic sense – unless you hire a guide to come with you separately, you won’t be getting guided information in all the stops, and you won’t have someone in particular to follow around.

About to depart on a fjord cruise, leaving from Flåm.

What Norway in a Nutshell does is give you a set of tickets that you need on the day, and then you’ll find your way through to the various train/fjord departures points. Although this may seem difficult, it’s actually still very easy to follow along as a lot of tourists will be doing the same experience as you, so you can always follow where the crowd is.

The gorgeous Stegastein Viewpoint – an add-on cost to the typical Norway in a Nutshell tour.

When you choose your Norway In a Nutshell Tour, there are some important questions to ask yourself:

• What is my starting point? - The trip can be completed in a lot of different ways, and you can chop and change the route, length and which activities suit your itinerary. Personally, I wouldn’t skip any of the experiences, and the simplest starting point would be from Oslo or Bergen. I did my trip from Bergen.

• Which activities would I like to add to my trip? – There are a variety of add-on activities that you can combine with your Norway in a Nutshell Tour, including hiking, a sailboat cruise, a gondola and kayak tours. The one I would highly recommend is taking an electric minibus to the Stegastein Viewpoint. To me, this is one of the most breathtaking views in Norway.

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Handpicked Tours

To visit the Stegastein Viewpoint, you’ll have to add this cost on to your trip. You can find a suitable tour that includes this below.

Norway in a Nutshell is a great experience, and there are also some amazing tours that you can go on. We know selecting a tour company to take you around Norway’s stunning nature can be slightly overwhelming, so we’ve handpicked these experiences just for you.

• Guided Full-Day Tour from Bergen to Nærøyfjorden, Flåm, and Stegastein which includes all the highlights you need to see around the Bergen area. On this tour, you’ll get to witness breathtaking waterfalls, lookouts, fjords and small towns. This is the tour I would most highly recommend if you’re starting from Bergen.

• Private Fjord Cruise by Speedboat Tour will allow you to explore Norway’s magical crowds away from the crowds. You will get picked up directly from your hotel, and can customize the tour so you only visit the places you want to see. This is actually Norway’s Highest Rated Private Tour.

• Round Trip Tour from Oslo to Sognefjord with Flåm Railway will be suitable from visitors departing from Oslo. This tour visits the majestic Sognefjord, which is easily one of Norway’s prettiest fjords. You will also cruise down Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord. This is probably the most ‘complete’ tour out of the three we’ve recommended.

We would also recommend this ‘Queen of the Fjords’ Private Guided Tour, as it takes you through most of Norway’s most beautiful fjords.

Looking for airport transportation from Bergen Airport? You can save time at the airport by Booking an Airport Shuttle.

Kjosfossen – a waterfall you’ll pass during the tour.

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Final Verdict – Is Norway in a Nutshell Worth it?

Scenes from my Norway in a Nutshell tour. This road can only be taken in the Summer.

Yes, the Norway in a Nutshell tour is completely worth it, but especially if you include the Stegastein Viewpoint add-on. Together, this made up for one of the most memorable days in all of my travels – Norway is truly exquisite, and this tour gives you a good highlight reel of that. You will not regret this experience, trust me! While it may have been a little expensive, the end result was absolutely worth it.

Bird’s eye view of the Stegastein Viewpoint.

Asher exploring the small town of Flåm.

Views of wildlife taken from the fjord cruise.

Out of all the experiences on the Norway in a Nutshell day tour, the Stegastein Viewpoint was my favourite one. Don’t get me wrong, the fjords, waterfalls and small towns were all wonderful, but the Stegastein Viewpoint was simply breathtaking, and one of the highlights of my entire Norway trip. So get ready for a spectacular day trip, as I couldn’t recommend this experience enough.

On the Norway in a Nutshell Tour, you’ll pass through the quaint town of Voss.

Sunset over Voss.

Asher on the Fjord cruise.

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Do you have plans to go on a Norway in a Nutshell tour? Let me know in the comments below!

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