Best Hidden Gems to Visit in Norway by Rail

Hidden Gems: The Best Places to Visit in Norway

Author: Paul, Owner Marvellous Escapes Aug 03, 2026 05 Minutes Read

Norway is known for its dramatic fjords, snow-dusted mountains and wonderfully scenic railway journeys. Oslo, Bergen and Flåm may feature on many itineraries, but some of the best places to visit in Norway are the smaller towns and fjordside communities found between these familiar destinations.

In our guide to the most scenic rail journeys in Norway, we explored the country’s most memorable railway routes. This time, we’re stepping beyond the best-known stops to discover peaceful villages, characterful coastal cities and spectacular landscapes that deserve a little more attention.

From the artistic village of Balestrand to the mountain town of Åndalsnes, these hidden gems in Norway can turn a scenic rail holiday into a much richer journey.

Why Explore Norway Beyond the Familiar Destinations?

Travelling beyond Norway’s headline attractions gives you more time to experience the country at its natural pace, making rail one of the most rewarding ways to embrace slow travel in Norway.

Rather than rushing between major cities, you can spend an afternoon strolling beside a fjord, explore a quiet waterfront or watch mountain scenery unfold from your train window. Smaller destinations also reveal a different side of Norway, shaped by fishing communities, local art, historic wooden buildings and a close connection to the surrounding landscape.

Rail journeys are ideal for this style of holiday. Norway’s trains link cities, mountain plateaus and remote valleys, while coordinated cruises and road transfers make it possible to continue into places without their own railway station.

Balestrand: An Artistic Village Beside the Sognefjord

Set on the shores of the Sognefjord, Balestrand is one of Norway’s most appealing fjordside villages. The Sognefjord is the country’s longest and deepest fjord, yet Balestrand feels peaceful and removed from the busier stops found elsewhere in the region.

The village has a longstanding connection with art and architecture. Colourful wooden villas sit against a backdrop of steep mountains, while galleries, cultural trails and local exhibitions celebrate the artists who were inspired by the area. It is a lovely place to slow down, walk beside the water and appreciate the stillness of the fjord.

Our Norway Rail & Fjord Escape includes two nights in Balestrand. You’ll travel from Oslo across the mountains by rail, descend towards Flåm aboard the famous Flåm Railway and then cruise through the Sognefjord to Balestrand. The journey continues by boat to Bergen, allowing the fjord itself to become part of your travel experience.

Ålesund: Art Nouveau Architecture by the Sea

Built across a collection of islands reaching towards the Atlantic, Ålesund offers an unusual combination of elegant architecture, coastal scenery and easy access to the mountains and fjords of the Sunnmøre region.

The city is best known for its Art Nouveau buildings. Wandering through the centre reveals decorative façades, turrets and colourful details that set Ålesund apart from Norway’s other coastal cities. For a wider view, head towards the town’s elevated viewpoints and look back across the rooftops, surrounding islands and distant mountains.

Ålesund also makes a natural starting point for exploring Geirangerfjord and the wider fjord region. It feels lively enough for an enjoyable city stay, but remains compact and easy to explore on foot.

The Geirangerfjord and the Wonders of Norway itinerary reaches Ålesund after a coastal cruise from Bergen to Måløy and an onward journey through Nordfjordeid. You’ll spend the night surrounded by sea views and distinctive architecture before continuing towards Geiranger.

Åndalsnes: A Small Town Surrounded by Mountains

Åndalsnes sits at the meeting point of the Romsdalsfjord and some of Norway’s most striking mountain scenery. Often described as a gateway to the mountains, it is an excellent destination for travellers who want dramatic views without the pace of a large city.

One of the easiest ways to appreciate the landscape is aboard the Romsdalen Gondola. It rises from the town towards Nesaksla, where wide views stretch across the fjord, the Rauma River and the surrounding peaks. Back at ground level, the waterfront and town centre are pleasant places for a relaxed walk before the next stage of your journey.

Åndalsnes is also the terminus of the Rauma Railway, making it an important stop on any scenic rail journey through this part of Norway. On our Geirangerfjord itinerary, you’ll reach the town after travelling through the landscapes between Geiranger and Åndalsnes, before continuing by train towards Dombås and Oslo.

Geiranger: More Than Its Famous Fjord

Geirangerfjord may be one of Norway’s most recognisable landscapes, but the small village of Geiranger is easy to overlook.

Located at the head of the fjord, the village is surrounded by steep mountains, lush vegetation and waterfalls flowing down the rock face. A cruise towards Geiranger offers views of famous natural landmarks including the Seven Sisters waterfalls, but it is worth allowing time to enjoy the village after arriving.

You can wander along the waterfront, stop for a drink overlooking the fjord or simply watch the boats moving across the water. Away from the busiest arrival times, Geiranger has a wonderfully peaceful setting that encourages you to pause and take in the scale of the surrounding scenery.

Our Geirangerfjord holiday includes an overnight stay here, giving you more than a passing glimpse of this remarkable hidden gem in Norway. The journey combines rail travel with a fjord cruise from Ålesund, allowing you to experience the landscape from the water before staying in the village itself.

Scenic Railways for Discovering Norway’s Hidden Gems

Norway’s famous Bergen and Flåm railways receive plenty of attention, but they are not the only routes worth experiencing. The Rauma, Dovre and Sørland railways provide very different views of the country and connect naturally with several of the destinations above.

The Rauma Railway

Running for approximately 115 kilometres between Åndalsnes and Dombås, the Rauma Railway passes through a landscape of steep mountains, rushing rivers and waterfalls.

The route follows the Rauma River through the Romsdalen valley, with memorable views towards the surrounding rock faces and peaks. Its relatively short journey time makes it easy to include within a wider holiday, but the scenery is every bit as impressive as that found on Norway’s longer railway lines.

Travellers on our Geirangerfjord and the Wonders of Norway holiday use the Rauma Railway to travel from Åndalsnes to Dombås before joining the Dovre Railway towards Oslo.

The Dovre Railway

The full Dovre Railway connects Oslo and Trondheim, crossing the Gudbrandsdalen valley and the Dovrefjell mountain plateau. Along the way, the scenery shifts from farmland and forest to broad, open mountain landscapes. On our Oslo to the Aurora itinerary, travellers hoping to experience the northern lights by train journey from Oslo to Trondheim on the Dovre Railway, before crossing the Arctic Circle on the Nordland Line and continuing to Bodø

Alternatively, when combined with the Rauma Railway, the Dovre route creates a particularly rewarding journey back towards Oslo. After the sharp peaks and waterfalls surrounding Åndalsnes, the landscape gradually opens into valleys, woodland and high plateaus.

It is a relaxed finale to a holiday through Fjord Norway and gives you the chance to see how dramatically the country changes from one region to the next.

The Sørland Railway

The Sørland Railway, known locally as Sørlandsbanen, travels between Stavanger and Oslo via southern Norway. The journey takes around eight hours and passes through forests, mountains, rural communities and sections of the country’s southern landscape before reaching the dramatic west coast.

This route is less famous internationally than the Bergen Railway, but that is part of its appeal. You can settle into your seat, watch lakes and forested hills pass the window and enjoy a comfortable journey between two very different Norwegian cities.

It also brings our Norway’s Natural Wonders itinerary to a satisfying close, connecting Stavanger with Oslo after several days of fjord cruises, coastal scenery and city exploration.

Discover a Different Side of Norway by Rail

Norway’s most memorable experiences are not always found at its biggest attractions. They may be waiting beside a quiet fjord in Balestrand, among Ålesund’s Art Nouveau streets or outside your window as the Rauma Railway follows a river through the mountains.

At Marvellous Escapes, our Norway rail holidays combine scenic trains with fjord cruises, comfortable accommodation and thoughtfully planned stays. Every itinerary can be tailored around your interests, preferred pace and the destinations you most want to experience.

Ready to uncover Norway’s hidden gems? Get in touch with our expert Travel Designers and start planning a tailor-made rail holiday through one of Europe’s most spectacular landscapes.