Self-Guided Tours in Norway: 15 That Earn the Trip North

1.Self-Guided Round-Trip Full-Day Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 158 reviews · 10 hours · from $493Our pick

Travel from Bergen to Voss, Gudvangen, Flåm, and Myrdal by train, bus, boat, and the famous Flåm Railway. You’ll cruise Aurlandsfjord and narrow Nærøyfjord, with clear email instructions but no guide. The full day costs $493 per person and requires good timing, comfortable shoes, and a charged phone.

“Transport arrangements were clear and we had no issues with getting on the various buses, trains and boat. We experienced sights we would not have seen otherwise, and thoroughly enjoyed the trip from start to finish. Expect some stops along the way that really enhance the day! Highly recommended, and although it may seem pricey, believe me, it was worth every penny.”

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2.Ålesund and Surrounding Islands Audio Guide Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 116 reviews · 3 hours · from $136

Take a three-hour minibus tour from Ålesund to Godøya, Alnes fishing island, Alnes Lighthouse, and Aksla viewpoint. An audio guide is available in five languages, while the driver handles the roads and tunnels. You get lighthouse entry, Atlantic views, and a useful ride back to town, but bring warm waterproof clothing and comfortable shoes.

“De rit met de kleine touringbus was geweldig en we hebben een heerlijk genoten van de stops. De chauffeur was goed en hielp ook daar waar nodig. 's avonds op het schip zagen we de bezochte vuurtoren ook nog staan. Uitzichtpunt Alska was fantastisch.”

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3.Self-Guided Full Day Round-trip From Bergen

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 76 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $410

From Bergen, travel by train to Voss, bus to Gudvangen, boat through Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord to Flåm, then ride the Flåm Railway and return by train. You manage the day yourself with tickets and directions supplied by Easy Travel. Expect about 10 hours, changing transport several times.

“My wife and I signed up for this tour with another couple for the same day and start time but their tickets went clockwise on the train, cruise and bus whereas our party went counterclockwise so even though there was no problem getting the tickets and using them we were not together during the tour. Also they got back about 2 hr later than us. Other than that I would recommend this tour.”

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4.Oslo To Bergen Self-Guided Full Day Trip with Flåm Railway And Fjord Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 69 reviews · from $454

Travel independently from Oslo to Bergen by Bergen Railway, Flåm Railway, fjord boat, bus, and train. You’ll change at Myrdal, descend to Flåm, cruise the Aurlandsfjord and narrow Nærøyfjord to Gudvangen, then continue through Voss. No guide accompanies you, so careful timing and light luggage matter.

“Generally it was an OK trip, the scenery was very good. However, it’s quite tiring to be lugging luggages around from train to train. Especially the train to Flåm, it was very packed and everyone was fighting their way up the train. There wasn’t enough space for luggage storage anymore and I had to hold on to it. The tickets were a little confusing (we thought the cruise ride was a round-trip ticket), my friend and I needed to stay over at Stalheim for the night as we left our luggages at Flåm. We needed to give up our train tickets from Voss to Bergen in the end. Nevertheless, it…”

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5.Self-Guided 22-Hour Round Trip From Oslo To Sognefjord With Flåm Railway

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 54 reviews · from $537

Travel independently from Oslo to Myrdal, Flåm, Gudvangen, Voss, Bergen, and back by train, boat, bus, and optional sleeper train. You’ll ride the scenic Flåm Railway, cruise the UNESCO-protected Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord, and cross Norway’s countryside with tickets and connections arranged for you. The pace is brisk, but the scenery is superb.

“Easy to navigate but left no/little time to look around the smaller vilages on the stops. Otherwise very enjoyable. Despite being an raining, overcast day the scenery was still stunning”

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6.Self-Guided Day Trip to Oslo

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 46 reviews · 16 hours · from $628

Set out from Bergen on a self-guided 16-hour journey by train, bus, boat, and railway. You will cross the Bergen Railway, cruise Aurlandsfjord and narrow Nærøyfjord, ride the steep Flåm Railway, and continue by train to Oslo. No guide joins you, and food, drinks, and the return trip to Bergen are not included.

“This package included a fantastic itinerary of Norway fjords and trains. The scenery is stunning. The weather on our trip day, however, was rainy and cloudy, so just consider that you might not see the sights in the same way as in the advertised photos! No fault of the company.”

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7.Molde and Atlantic Ocean Road Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 35 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $83

Travel from Molde through fjord country to the 8-kilometer Atlantic Ocean Road. You’ll see Molde’s landmarks, stop at Eldhusøya, visit Varden viewpoint, and hear about marble mining, clipfish, Håholmen, and local history through the GuideToGo app. Bring your own headphones and download the audio before departure.

“The viator tour did not start at the cruise terminal and required a taxi ride to another terminal. Viator did not provide any transportation.”

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8.Norwegian Coastal Cities: Smartphone Audio Guide App

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 27 reviews · 365 days · from $35

Use your smartphone to explore Norwegian coastal ports including Ålesund, Trondheim, Bodø, Tromsø, Kirkenes, Hammerfest, and Svolvær. GPS audio in English or German guides you between sights, or you can choose stops from a map. The app is self-guided, flexible, and valid for a long travel period.

“It is a very nice idea. I have to say beforehand, that we wanted to use it just for the city Tromsø so not for all the coastal cities. The main part of the audio was rather to get us to the next tour point as to tell us about the city (the audios were often times pretty short) so we haven‘t learned so much about the city or the monuments through this city tour but despite of that it was fun to walk through the city.”

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9.Bergen in Your Pocket: Landmarks and Lore Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 22 reviews · 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $8

Follow a self-guided English audio walk from King Olav Kyrre’s sculpture to Ludvig Holberg’s statue. In 45 to 75 minutes, you’ll pass Bergen Cathedral, the National Theatre, city parks, famous statues, the Sailor’s Monument, Skotstredet, and the Gestapomuseet. Offline maps let you walk at your own pace.

“It was easy to understand the guide, follow along on the map, and go at my own pace. User friendly app”

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10.Oslo Viking Quest: Exploration Game and Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $7Best value

Explore central Oslo at your own pace with a mobile Viking-themed quest from Questo. Solve 11 puzzles in English while visiting the Nobel Peace Center, City Hall, Royal Palace, Storting, Oslo Cathedral, and Akershus Fortress. There is no guide or fixed start time, so you can pause for cafés, museums, and photo stops.

“Passer på den dag det ikke regner eller er veldig kaldt. Må være litt tolmodige, noen av hintene var vanskelig å skjønne.”

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11.Self-Guided Full Day: Bergen To Oslo with Sognefjord cruise (5h)

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 13 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $439

Travel from Bergen to Oslo by Norled express boat, the Flåm Railway, and train. You will cruise the Sognefjord for about 5.5 hours, have roughly three hours in Flåm, then ride to Myrdal and continue to Oslo. Tickets arrive by email, but you must manage every transfer yourself.

“The most beautiful scenery, waterfalls and breathtaking views. Memories made, I so want to go back!!!!”

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12.Oslo Self Guided Walking Tour with an APP

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 12 reviews · 3 hours · from $15

Use the Trippy Tour Guide app to explore Oslo for about three hours, following automatic audio stories through the waterfront, cultural sights, parks, and city streets. You get more than 20 narration points in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, or Chinese, with no in-person guide and no attraction tickets included.

“Hakelig zu Anfang mit der App, dann nett als roter Faden”

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13.Walk with a Witch in 16th Century Bergen: A Self-Guided Fictional Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · 1 hour 10 minutes (approx.) · from $8

Use the VoiceMap app to follow a fictional 16th-century witch through Bergen for about 70 minutes. You’ll walk from Bergenhus 4 to Nordnesbakken 1, passing Bryggen, Korskirken, and old shoemakers’ street. Download the audio, maps, and route in advance, then explore at your own pace without WiFi.

“A really interesting experience whilst walking around Bergen. It really added to the exploring and takes you to areas you might have otherwise missed!”

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14.Self-Guided Fjord Tour to Senja and Local Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 11 reviews · from $195

Travel from Tromsø to Senja on bus 930, cross the sea by ferry, stop at Ersfjord Beach, and eat fish soup with two tastings at Hamn i Senja. You guide yourself with the Voice of Norway app in English. The day lasts 11.5 hours, with no live guide and no vegetarian meal option.

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15.Downtown Oslo: Self-Guided Highlights and History Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 10 reviews · 40 minutes (approx.) · from $9

Walk through central Oslo at your own pace with a VoiceMap audio tour in English. Hear stories at Aker Brygge, the Nobel Peace Center, the Royal Palace park, Karl Johan Avenue, and Østbanehallen. Your $9.99 purchase includes lifetime access and offline maps, but museum entry, food, transport, and a smartphone are not included.

“The best part was turning of your completely out of date information and just walking and reading the signs. Waste of time and money.”

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