Nordic Fjords & Design Stays 8 Nights

When you arrive in Bergen, Norway, besides the classic sights like Bryggen and the Fløyen Mountain cable car, here are some more local, in-depth, and stylish experiences:

• Café Hopping – Visit Det Lille Kaffekompaniet (one of Bergen’s oldest cafés, hidden at the entrance of the Fløyen hiking trail) or Blom (third-wave coffee, minimalist Nordic style).
• Skostredet Creative Street – A hub of independent brands, vintage shops, handmade crafts, and record stores.
• Art & Culture – Bergen is Norway’s art hub. KODE Art Museums’ four branches feature everything from Edvard Munch to contemporary design. Don’t miss Lysverket inside KODE for Michelin-recommended New Nordic cuisine.
• Trendy Bars – Enjoy craft beer or natural wines at places like Apollon Platebar, combining vinyl records and a bar, a favorite for music lovers.

Short Trip Suggestion: Take the Fjord Line Ferry to Stavanger (5h30m).

With the Scandinavia Rail Pass, you can enjoy a 30% discount on the ferry.

Stavanger, Norway’s oil and energy capital, may not sound exciting at first. However, it is the gateway city for Norway’s famous rock formations: Preikestolen, Kjeragbolten, and Trolltunga. The old town preserves well-maintained wooden houses mainly built in the 18th and 19th centuries, reflecting the city’s historic prosperity.

“Norway in a Nutshell” is undoubtedly the classic way to explore Norway’s fjords. Depart from Oslo and take the scenic railway to Flåm along the Sognefjord branch, passing majestic valleys, waterfalls, and glacial rivers, considered one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world.

Most travelers complete it in a day, but we recommend staying in Flåm for one or more nights to fully immerse in the fjord experience. Activities include fjord cruises on Nærøyfjord, electric speedboats, floating saunas, kayaking, or cycling along the old postal road to experience the Nordic countryside rhythm.

Optional Sightseeing #1: Norway in a Nutshell One-Day Tour
Depart Bergen (leave luggage at hotel lobby by 6:30 am, delivered to destination by 9:00 pm), take a 1.5-hour train to Voss for an unforgettable fjord experience.

• Voss → Gudvangen – Scenic bus about 1 hour, passing Stalheimfossen waterfall, offering breathtaking views from every curve. (Closed Oct–Apr due to snow, but villages and forest scenery are still stunning.)
• Gudvangen → Flåm – Fjord ferry about 2 hours, cruising along Sogne Fjord with snow-capped peaks and cascading waterfalls.
• Flåm → Myrdal – Flåm Railway about 1 hour, the steepest standard-gauge railway in the world, descending from 866m to 2m. Don’t miss Kjosfossen waterfall with folklore dance performance in good weather.

For an extended Flåm experience, consult your travel advisor for fjord sauna, Stegastein viewpoint, and more. Return to Oslo by 45-minute train.

Optional Sightseeing #2: Norwegian Sleeper Train
Vy offers overnight trains from Bergen to Oslo, about 6.5–7.5 hours, ideal for saving accommodation costs and daytime travel or enjoying a slower pace. Typical departure at 22:59 from Bergen, arriving 06:50 in Oslo (season-dependent).

• Private sleeper cabins for 1–2 people with bedding, washbasin, power outlets, blackout curtains.
• Single cabins available for extra cost or PlussNatt (airline-business-class-like seating).
• Full-flat seats and privacy cabins with desk, reading lamp, USB, and quiet carriages.

Explore Contemporary Art & Architecture:

• Oslo Opera House: Walk on the roof.
• Astrup Fearnley Museum: Damien Hirst and contemporary art.
• Sørenga Seawater Pool, National Museum, and MUNCH Museum recommended for design lovers.

Third-wave Coffee Exploration:

• Tim Wendelboe: Champion barista.
• Supreme Roastworks: Minimalist pour-over.
• Fuglen Oslo: Coffee, cocktails, vintage goods.

Design Shops & Trendy Neighborhoods:

• Grünerløkka: Boutiques, galleries, street art.
• Kollekted By: Designer furniture & fragrances.
• F5 Concept Store: Local designer brands.

Short Trip Suggestions:

• Lillehammer Olympic Village – 1994 Winter Olympics site, Mjøsa Lake, Garmo Stave Church, Maihaugen Open-Air Museum.
• Karlstad – 2h45m train from Oslo, sunny lakeside town, hometown of writers and artists.

A sensory journey through design and art

• Fotografiska Museum of Contemporary Photography
  Not your typical museum—Fotografiska is always ahead of the curve in curating photography exhibitions. With a top-floor restaurant and bar overlooking Stockholm’s skyline and harbor, it’s a place where art and dining share the same bold attitude.
• ArkDes + Moderna Museet (on Skeppsholmen Island)
  A must-visit for Nordic design lovers. These museums blend architecture, design, and forward-looking exhibitions. We recommend renting a bike to explore the island’s creative atmosphere.

Coffee Culture Walk

• Drop Coffee (Södermalm) – Pioneer of Sweden’s third-wave coffee movement. Minimalist interiors and experimental hand-brewed single origins make it a coffee mecca.
• Café Pascal (Vasastan) – Scandinavian light meals meet specialty coffee. A favorite hangout for laptop workers and local designers.
• Kaffeverket (Kungsholmen) – Niche coffee roasters, natural wines, and brunch dishes merge into a stylish lifestyle café.

Shopping & Local Design Picks

• SoFo district (Södermalm) – Home to Stockholm’s coolest local brands, vintage boutiques, and indie galleries.
• Grandpa – Lifestyle store featuring Nordic brands and timeless essentials.
• Designtorget (Åhléns City basement) – Emerging Nordic design brands with a sharp focus on stationery, homeware, and unique gifts.

To step into the world of Kiki's Delivery Service, you must visit Stockholm! Do you remember Kiki flying over a city made up of various islands? The setting for Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece is in Sweden, and it's a bustling city that can't be missed.

Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is built on 14 islands. This charming city combines history, nature, and modern development, with over 100 municipal buildings and museums.

A must-see is Stockholm City Hall, made of 8 million red bricks. Its 106-meter tower offers amazing city views. You can tour the Blue and Golden Halls before climbing the tower to see the real-life setting of the anime! The panoramic view of the city under Sweden's beautiful blue sky is a postcard-perfect scene.

Optional Excursions by Ferry, discounted with a Scandinavian Rail Pass:

• Tallink Silja, 18 hrs, 20% off to Riga, Latvia
• Viking Line, 18 hrs, 50% off Helsinki, Finland
• Tallink Silja, 18 hrs, 20% off Tallinn, Estonia

Copenhagen, meaning “merchant’s harbor” in Danish, has grown from a medieval port into a modern European capital. Key sights include City Hall, Tivoli Gardens, Nyhavn harbor, Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Palace, The Little Mermaid statue, and Strøget shopping street.

Design & Culture Highlights

• Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek & Carlsberg Brewery Museum – Explore Rodin sculptures and Carlsberg’s brewing history.

Design Lover’s Paradise: Architecture × Art × Nordic Aesthetics

• Designmuseum Danmark – The ultimate shrine for Nordic design, showcasing iconic chairs, fashion, and everyday aesthetics.
• CopenHill – A Bjarke Ingels masterpiece: a waste-to-energy plant turned urban ski slope and outdoor gym.

Urban Outdoors & Nightlife

• Islands Brygge – Popular summer swimming spot with urban pools and harbor views.
• Cycling Experience – Rent a bike or cargo bike to explore Amager Strandpark or cross the Inderhavnsbroen Bridge.

Day Trips from Copenhagen

• Malmö, Sweden (40 min by train) – Cross the Øresund Bridge to Sweden’s 3rd largest city. 
• Frederiksborg Castle (46 min by train) – A Renaissance masterpiece on three islands surrounded by lakes and gardens.
• Kronborg Castle (46 min by train) – UNESCO site and the setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, complete with vast halls, dungeons, and rare woven tapestries.