Travel route in Norway: Oslo – Trondheim – Bodø – Tromsø
Want to experience Norway from south to north? The Oslo - Trondheim - Bodø - Tromsø route takes you through some of the country’s most popular destinations. Along the way, you experience cities, mountain landscapes and coastal nature.
Norway has one of the world’s longest coastlines and a landscape with everything from rock formations and beaches to deep woods and snow-covered mountains. Along this route, you experience lots of contrasts in a relatively short time.
You can fly between the cities, but many visitors take the train for parts of the trip. The Oslo-Trondheim and Trondheim-Bodø routes offer fantastic nature experiences. From Bodø, you can continue with Hurtigruten to Tromsø, a boat trip that takes around a day.
From Oslo to Trondheim
Oslo is a natural starting point for a holiday in Norway. Here you'll find city life, woods and swimming beaches, and much of this is only a short trip from the city centre by metro, tram or boat. The city is also compact enough to easily explore on foot or by bike.
In Bjørvika, you can visit the Deichman public library, Oslo Opera House and MUNCH Museum. The area also has lots of restaurants and bars. Other popular sites in the city are the National Museum, Akershus Fortress, Vigeland Park and walking trails along the river Akerselva.
If you are spending the night in the capital, you'll find several Thon hotels centrally located in Oslo, offering an excellent base for exploring the city.
Once you're ready to move on, the journey continues to Trondheim. The train journey from Oslo to Trondheim takes around seven hours. An alternative is a night bus, which is often a double-decker.
In Trondheim, a nice place to spend the day is Bakklandet, an area known for its wooden houses, small shops and cafés. Nearby is Nidaros Cathedral, Norway’s national shrine and one of the country’s most famous churches. Thon Hotels also has hotels in the Trondheim city centre, close to attractions and eateries.
From Trondheim to Bodø
From Trondheim, you can take the Nordland line to Bodø, one of the longest train journeys in Norway. The train travels through varied landscapes with mountains, woods and coastal areas.
The Nordland line is around 726 kilometres long and connects Trondheim with Bodø via the Dovre line and Meråker line.
Once you reach Bodø, you are north of the Arctic Circle. The city has a population of around 55,000 and an active cultural scene, with festivals, museums and modern architecture.
If you want to spend the night in the city, Thon Hotel Nordlys is located down by the harbour overlooking the sea. Nearby, you'll also find Thon Hotel Skagen, which is centrally located in Bodø.
From Bodø to Tromsø
There are several ways to travel from Bodø to Tromsø. Many people choose to take Hurtigruten, which travels along the coast and stops at such places as Lofoten, Sortland, Harstad and Finnsnes before arriving in Tromsø.
You can also go by car. A scenic route is through Lofoten, Andøya and Senja, with a ferry between Andenes and Gryllefjord. The fastest route takes around eight and a half hours via Narvik and Setermoen.
Things to do in Tromsø
In Tromsø, you'll find both city life and nature experiences. Among the most famous attractions are the Arctic Cathedral, Polar Museum and Mack Brewery, the world’s northernmost brewery.
If you want to enjoy views of the city, you can take the Fjellheisen cable car up to Storsteinen. For longer hikes in the mountains, Tromsdalstinden is a popular destination.
If you're spending the night, Thon Hotel Polar and Thon Hotel Tromsø are located in the city centre, close to restaurants and attractions.
Returning to Oslo from Tromsø
The easiest way to get back to Oslo is to fly from Tromsø Airport. The airport bus stops near the hotels in the city centre and takes around 15 minutes to the airport. The actual flight to Oslo takes around two hours.
If you’re driving, the fastest route is through Sweden and takes around 22 hours. If you have more time, you can take the national and county roads along the Norwegian coast and experience even more of the beautiful Norwegian landscape along the way.
Have a nice trip - and experience Norway from south to north