R I P... The DFDS ferry to Norway was sadly withdrawn for good in September 2008, ending over 120 years of direct ferry links between the UK & Norway... Photo courtesy of DFDS

UK to Norway without flying...

The last ferry between the UK & Norway (DFDS from Newcastle to Bergen) was sadly withdrawn in September 2008, but there's no need to fly.  It's easy to travel from London to Norway by train, taking an evening Eurostar to Brussels, going from Brussels to Copenhagen by train next day, then from Copenhagen to Oslo the day after that.  Or take Eurostar to Amsterdam, stay overnight, then use the comfortable overnight ferry from Eemshaven in the north of the Netherlands to Norway.  Or take a train from London to Kiel in Germany then the luxurious Color Line ferry to Oslo, sailing up Oslo Fjord over breakfast.

Train times, fares & tickets

On this page you'll find a step-by-step guide to planning, booking & making a journey from the UK to Norway by train, with train times, approximate fares, and the best way to buy tickets.

  London to Oslo by train all the way

  London to Oslo via DFDS Denmark-Oslo ferry

  London to Oslo via Color Line Kiel-Oslo ferry

  London to Kristiansand & Stavanger via Hirtshals

  Trains in Norway: Oslo to Bergen, Stavanger...

  How to buy Norwegian train tickets

  Coastal ferries Bergen-Trondheim-Kirkenes

  Trains from Norway to other European cities

  Trains to Oslo from other European cities

  Useful country information: dial code, currency...

  Hotels in Oslo, Bergen & Norway

  The Norway in a Nutshell tour

  General European train travel information

  Luggage   Taking a bike   Taking a dog

Interactive map:  London to Scandinavia by train & ferry

...click on a route for times, fares & how to buy tickets.

Useful country information

Option 1, London to Oslo by train

In this option you travel from London to Oslo by train all the way, with an overnight stop in Brussels & Copenhagen in the outward direction, and just one overnight stop at Hamburg in the inwards direction.

London ► Oslo with overnight stops in Brussels & Copenhagen

• Day 1, travel from London to Brussels on any evening Eurostar you like...

  The last Eurostar usually leaves London St Pancras at 19:34 arriving Brussels Midi at 22:38, but by all means travel earlier for a pleasant evening in Brussels.  Check times at www.eurostar.com.

• Stay overnight in Brussels.  I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.

• Day 2, travel from Brussels to Copenhagen by train...

  For most of the year you can leave Brussels Midi at 08:23 weekdays or 08:25 weekends by ICE3, changing at Cologne Hbf (arrive 10:15, depart 12:11) onto another ICE and at Hamburg Hbf (arrive 16:14, depart 16:54) onto a Danish intercity train arriving Copenhagen 21:34.

  This is a straightforward journey all on one ticket booked at www.bahn.de.  The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  The Danish intercity train has free WiFi when in Denmark, although no catering car.

  From 17 June to 20 August 2023 an increased Hamburg-Copenhagen timetable operates, giving a choice in this period:

  Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change at Cologne Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:34.

  Leave Brussels Midi 10:25, change at Cologne Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 23:34.

• Stay overnight in Copenhagen...

  The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here.  Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).

• Day 3, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train...

  You leave Copenhagen at 09:27 (08:27 on Saturdays) by Öresund train arriving Gothenburg Central 13:20 (12:20 Saturdays).  The train crosses from Denmark to Sweden on the Öresund fixed link tunnel+bridge, an interesting experience as the train appears to 'fly' across the water just feet above it.

  Change onto a Norwegian train, leaving Gothenburg Central at 14:15 and arriving Oslo Sentral at 17:43. 

  If you prefer, spend a morning in Copenhagen and take the 13:27 from Copenhagen, change at Gothenburg, arriving Oslo Sentral at 21:42.  You can check times from Copenhagen to Oslo at www.sj.se.

Oslo ► London with an overnight stop in Hamburg

• Step 1, travel from Oslo to Gothenburg by Norwegian train, leaving Oslo Sentral 06:08, arriving Gothenburg Central 09:45, Monday-Friday only.

• Step 2, travel from Gothenburg to Copenhagen by Öresund train, leaving Gothenburg Central at 10:40 arriving Copenhagen 14:29.

• Step 3, travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg by Danish IC3 train leaving Copenhagen at 15:26 and arriving Hamburg Hbf 20:02.

  Unless you plan to stop off, all of this can be done on day 1.  Check times for your specific date using www.sj.se or www.vy.no for Oslo S to Gothenburg (= Göteborg, Gøteborg) then use www.bahn.de to check Gothenburg to Hamburg.  See photos, tips & information for the Copenhagen to Hamburg journey.  On certain dates the 15:26 Copenhagen-Hamburg leaves at 15:17.  From 17 June to 20 August 2023 an altered timetable operates and you'll need to leave Copenhagen at 17:26 and arriving Hamburg Hbf at 21:58.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg...

  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews.  Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to London by train...

  For example, the first departure leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:45, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi to arrive London St Pancras at 16:57.

  Or you can leave Hamburg at 08:45 arriving London at 19:10.  Or leave Hamburg at 12:50 arriving London at 21:57 (21:27 on Saturdays), see the Hamburg to London timetable on the London to Germany page.

Oslo ► London with overnight stops in Copenhagen & Brussels

• Day 1, travel from Oslo to Copenhagen by train...

  You leave Oslo Sentral at 14:10 every day by Norwegian train, arriving Gothenburg Central at 17:40.

  You leave Gothenburg Central at 18:53 by Öresund train arriving Copenhagen at 22:29.

  Earlier departures are available if you'd like an evening in Copenhagen, see the Oslo to Copenhagen timetable here.

• Stay overnight in Copenhagen...

  The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here.  Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).

• Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Brussels by train...

  For most of the year you leave Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train at 07:26, arriving Hamburg Hbf at 12:04.  Then leave Hamburg Hbf by ICE at 13:46 arriving Cologne Hbf at 17:46.  Change onto an ICE3 train leaving Cologne Hbf at 19:42 arriving Brussels Midi at 21:35.

  This can all be done all on one ticket.  The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  You've time for an early dinner in Cologne between trains, perhaps at the excellent Brauhaus Sion, 5 minutes walk from the station. 

  From 17 June to 20 August 2023 an increased Copenhagen-Hamburg timetable operates, giving a choice of two departures:

  Leave Copenhagen at 05:26, change at Hamburg Hbf & Cologne Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 17:35.

  Leave Copenhagen at 09:26, change at Hamburg Hbf & Cologne Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 21:35.

• Stay overnight in Brussels.  I recommend the excellent Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi which is an integral part of Brussels Midi station itself, or the inexpensive Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road.

• Day 3, travel from, Brussels to London on any morning Eurostar you like...

  The first train currently leaves Brussels Midi at 08:52, arriving London St Pancras 09:57, check times at www.eurostar.com.

How much does it cost?

• London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Brussels to Gothenburg starts at €69.90 in 2nd class or €129.90 in 1st class each way with a Sparpreis fare.  German Railways' Sparpreis fares work like air fares, rising as departure date approaches.  So book early and avoid busy dates for the cheapest prices.

• Gothenburg to Oslo starts at 299 Krona (around €33) with an advance-purchase fare, full-price is 601 Kr (€66).

How to buy tickets

• Booking for Eurostar & onward trains to Copenhagen opens up to 6 months ahead.  Copenhagen-Oslo opens up to 90 days in advance.  You book in 3 stages, so do a dry run for all steps before booking for real, and make sure you get your dates right for each stage!  In all cases you print your own tickets.

• Step 1, book from London to Brussels at www.eurostar.com.  Book this as a round trip (if returning), as with Eurostar a return ticket is significantly cheaper than two one-ways.  You print your own ticket or can load it into the Eurostar app on your phone.  All other tickets can be booked as one-ways, it makes not difference to the price.

• Step 2, book from Brussels to Gothenburg at German Railways www.bahn.de, but to get the overnight stop in Copenhagen click Stopover and enter Copenhagen with a stopover duration of 11 hours.  You'll find it easier to book this as a one-way, and if returning book the return leg as another one-way.

• Step 3, book from Gothenburg (= Goteborg Central) to Oslo at Norwegian Railways www.vy.no.  You can choose to load your ticket into the Vy app, or download it in PDF format which you can either print out or simply show on your phone or laptop.

• If you have any problems, you can book London-Brussels at www.eurostar.com, Brussels-Copenhagen at www.bahn.de, and Copenhagen-Oslo at www.sj.se.

Have your trip arranged as a package

• Railbookers are a train travel specialist who can put together a UK-Norway trip for you as a package, including rail travel, hotels & transfers.  You'll find a range of suggested tours & holidays on their website which can be varied or customised to your requirements.  As you're booking a package, they'll take care of you if anything happens to one part of the itinerary such as a strike or delay.

    UK 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk

    US 1-888-829-4775, see website

    Canada 1-855-882-2910, see website

    Australia 1300 971 526, see website

    New Zealand 0800 000 554 or see website

• Byway (Byway.travel) is a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.  If you're nervous about booking train travel yourself, book a one-way or return UK-Norway train trip through Byway as a package, including hotels and starting from any British station you like.  Byway includes package protection, a 100% Covid refund guarantee, free disruption and re-planning and on-demand WhatsApp support while you're away.  They can build a trip to your requirements if you email them or use this contact form.  When you book, please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online to avoid additional phone booking fees and so you can see for yourself which departures are cheapest for each stage of the journey.  Most ticketing agencies only work office hours on weekdays, but online booking is possible 24/7.  However, if you want to book by phone, see my list of UK ticketing agencies with phone numbers & opening hours.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Brussels by Eurostar...

Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels.

A Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		Standard Premier/Business Premier.  Larger photo.

Standard class seats.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3...

Germany's superb ICEs have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat.  50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava.  As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station.  More information about ICE3.  Brussels Midi station guide.  Cologne Hbf station guide.

An ICE3M to Cologne at Brussels Midi.  More information about ICE.  Advice on changing trains in Brussels.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Proper china & metal cutlery.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See  current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant on an ICE3M...  Larger photo.

3. Cologne to Hamburg by Intercity train...

Germany Intercity trains travel at up to 200km/h (120mph), with power sockets at all seats and a bistro car serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, snacks and hot dishes.  On the Cologne to Hamburg route you'll find some departures are operated by high-speed ICEs (usually ICE1) rather than Intercity trains, although the ICEs are no faster than ICs on this section of line.  Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, the train crosses the Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine, then passes through the industrial Ruhr.  More information about Intercity trains.  Hamburg Hbf station guide.

A German Intercity train.  More information about Intercity trains.

Dinner in the bistro.  The beef ribs were delicious...		Bistro car.  See current month's menu...

2nd class seating is usually in open-plan saloons like this, most seats unidirectional, but with some tables for 4.  Sometimes you'll find 2nd class compartment cars with side corridor and ten 6-seat compartments  Larger photo.

4. Hamburg to Copenhagen by Intercity train

Hamburg-Copenhagen trains are operated by Danish IC3 trains like this, shown in the timetable as IC for Intercity.  See more photos, tips & information about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.

An IC3 Intercity train at Copenhagen.  More information about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

Boarding a Danish IC3 train at Hamburg Hbf...		1st class seats on an IC3 train.  Larger photo.

2nd class seats on a IC3 train.  Larger photo.		An IC3 train to Copenhagen at Hamburg.

5. Copenhagen to Oslo by train...

Copenhagen to Gothenburg by Öresund train.

1st class seats. Larger photo.		2nd class seats.  Larger photo.

These Öresund trains cross the impressive Öresund bridge from Denmark to Sweden...

Gothenburg to Oslo by Norwegian train seen here arrived at Oslo Sentral.		Standard class seats on the train to Oslo.  Photos courtesy of @Simply_Railway.

Scenery between Gothenburg & Oslo. Photo courtesy of @Simply_Railway.

Option 2, London to Oslo via Frederikshavn

In this option, you travel by train from London to Denmark, then use the luxurious DFDS overnight cruise ferry between Copenhagen, Frederikshavn & Oslo.  It's faster than the previous option using train all the way.  In the outward direction, you pick up the ferry in Frederikshavn (as it now leaves Copenhagen too early to connect with the first train of the day from Hamburg), in the return direction you can sail all the way from Oslo to Copenhagen, then take a late morning train to Hamburg.

London ► Oslo

• Day 1, travel from London to Hamburg by train...

  Leave London St Pancras at 11:04 by Eurostar to Brussels Midi, ICE3 train to Cologne, & EuroCity to Hamburg Hbf arriving 21:14.

  Or leave London St Pancras at 12:58 by Eurostar to Brussels Midi, ICE3 train to Cologne & InterCity train to Hamburg Hbf arriving 23:16.

  By all means travel earlier for more of an evening in Hamburg, see the London-Hamburg timetable on the London to Germany page.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg...

  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews.  Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Frederikshavn by train...

  Leave Hamburg Hbf at 10:53 by Danish IC3 intercity train, change at Fredericia & Lindholm, arriving Frederikshavn 18:26.

  From 17 June to 20 August 2023 you leave Hamburg Hbf at 10:53 by Danish IC3 intercity train, change at Odense & Lindholm, arriving Frederikshavn 19:25.

  Fares start at €28.90 in 2nd class or €49.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.

  Book at the German Railways website www.bahn.de. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.

  In Frederikshavn it's a 1.3 km 16 minute walk from station to ferry terminal, see walking route map.

  Have dinner in Frederikshavn, one correspondent has suggested the Moby Dick restaurant, not far from the DFDS terminal, see www.mobydick-frederikshavn.dk.

• Day 2, sail from Frederikshavn to Oslo by overnight ferry...

  The luxurious DFDS Seaways ferry sails from Frederikshavn ferry terminal at 23:45 and arrives in Oslo at 09:15 next day (day 3).

  Check times, prices & buy tickets at www.dfds.co.uk or using the Direct Ferries website.

  All passengers travel in comfortable private cabins with en suite toilet & shower and satellite TV.  To travel in luxury, treat yourself to DFDS's famous Commodore Class, some suites with private balconies with sea view..  The ship has bars & restaurants for breakfast on board, you can pre-book breakfast with your ticket.  There's also a sauna.  The ships on this route are the Crown Seaways or Pearl Seaways.

  Make sure you're on deck in the morning when the ferry sails up the scenic Oslo Fjord, a stunning way to arrive in Norway.  You'll see coast on either side of the ship from about 06:30 and she enters the narrow part of the fjord by about 07:00.

  At the DFDS ferry terminal, you can check yourself in at the self-service check-in machines just inside the entrance.  You enter your booking reference, scan your passport, and it produces your boarding pass/cabin key.  You then pass through a fairly nominal customs check and walk onto the ferry.

  In Oslo you can walk from the ferry terminal the city centre in 15-20 minutes, or you can take a taxi.  I'd allow at least 90 minutes between the ferry's arrival and any onward train from Oslo Sentral.  See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.

• Alternative route with stopover in Copenhagen:  In this direction it's no longer possible to pick up the ferry in Copenhagen where it starts, as it now leaves too early for a robust connection with the first train of the day from Hamburg.  However, if you don't mind taking an extra day and spending a pleasant 24h in Copenhagen, take a direct train from Hamburg to Copenhagen on day 2, stay overnight, enjoy a morning in Copenhagen on day 3 before sailing from Copenhagen to Oslo on the DFDS overnight cruise ferry, it leaves Copenhagen at 14:15 and arrives Oslo at 09:15 next morning (day 4 from London), more details here.

Oslo ► London

• Day 1, sail from Oslo to Copenhagen by overnight ferry...

  DFDS Seaways' daily cruise ferry leaves Oslo Vippetangen terminal at 14:15 and arrives Copenhagen DFDS terminal at 09:15 next morning.

  All passengers travel in comfortable private cabins with en suite toilet & shower.  To travel in luxury, treat yourself to one of DFDS's famous Commodore Class cabins, some with private balconies with sea view.  The ship has bars & restaurants for dinner & breakfast on board, you can pre-book dinner & breakfast with your ticket. 

  In Oslo you can walk from the city centre to the ferry terminal in 15-20 minutes or take a taxi.  See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.

  In Copenhagen it's a 50-minute walk from the ferry terminal through Copenhagen city centre to the main station, or you can take a taxi, or you can walk 10 minutes to Nordhavn station and take an 8-minute suburban train ride to Copenhagen main station.  See map of Copenhagen showing DFDS ferry terminal.

• Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg by train...

  For most of the year you can leave Copenhagen by Danish IC3 intercity train at 15:26, arriving Hamburg Hbf at 20:02.  By all means book the earlier 11:26 departure & spend some time in Hamburg.

  An increased timetable applies from 17 June to 20 August 2023, see the timetable here & check times at www.bahn.de.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg...

  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews.  Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 3, travel from Hamburg to London by train...

  For example, the first departure leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:45, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi to arrive London St Pancras at 16:57.

  Or you can leave Hamburg at 08:45 arriving London at 19:10.  Or leave Hamburg at 12:50 arriving London at 21:57 (21:27 on Saturdays), see the Hamburg to London timetable on the London to Germany page.

How much does it cost?

• London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Brussels to Hamburg starts at €39.90 each way in 2nd class or €69.90 each way in 1st class.

• Hamburg to Frederikshavn by train starts at €28.90 in 2nd class or €37.90 in 1st class each way with a Sparpreis fare booked well in advance. 

• Frederikshavn to Oslo or Oslo to Copenhagen by DFDS overnight cruise ferry starts at £47 one-way per person for two people travelling together, £94 each way for a solo passenger, including private en suite cabin.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, buy train tickets from London to Hamburg (& back, if returning), then Hamburg to Frederikshavn, and (if returning) Copenhagen to Hamburg at www.raileurope.com, see the tips below.

• Step 2, book the ferry from Frederikshavn to Oslo and (if returning) Oslo to Copenhagen at www.dfds.co.uk.  A wide range of private cabins is available, and you can also add dinner & breakfast in the restaurant, which saves money over buying meals separately on board.

• Tips for booking London-Hamburg-Denmark at www.raileurope.com:

  Anyone from any country can use www.raileurope.com, it allows you to book all your train tickets together in one place, in plain English, international credit cards accepted and fares shown in multiple currencies. There's a small booking fee.

  First book your ticket from London to Hamburg.  Book this as a round trip if you're returning, because Eurostar return fares are significantly cheaper than two one-ways.  Add this to your basket.

  Then book your train from Hamburg to Frederikshavn one-way for the following day, add to basket, and (if returning) book from Copenhagen to Hamburg one-way, add this to your basket and check out.

  Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.

  You print your own tickets, or you can load the Eurostar ticket into the Eurostar app, and show the DB ticket on your laptop or phone.

  After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.

• When does booking open?

  Booking for Eurostar & onward trains to Germany opens up to 180 days ahead, but significantly less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes.  Booking for trains between Berlin & Poland only opens 60 days ahead.  More about when booking opens.

• Is it a through ticket?

  No, as there are no through tickets from London to Germany any more, DB's Sparpreis London fares were discontinued in March 2020.  But www.raileurope.com will seamlessly sell you a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels plus an onward German Railways ticket from Brussels to Hamburg, then it'll sell you a ticket from Hamburg to Copenhagen for the following day.

• Seat reservations...

  A seat reservation is automatically included with every ticket on Eurostar.  However, seat reservations on German trains are usually optional, if you want a reserved seat it can be added during the booking process for fee of around €4.50 each way.  A reserved seat is a good idea, especially at busy periods, so I'd add one when prompted.

• About those tight 20-minute connections at Brussels Midi...

  The slick 20-minute connection in Brussels between Eurostar and an onward ICE, sometimes less than this, is usually a recognised connection which lots of people make.  It's not usually a problem, especially if you use the Brussels Midi short cut between platforms.

  Even though the system sells you separate tickets either side of Brussels, you are protected by the Railteam Promise/HOTNAT so if there's a delay and you miss the connection you will be allowed to travel on later onwards trains at no extra charge.  Just make sure that if you did miss that 20 minute connection in Brussels, there are later trains that would still get you to Hamburg by close of play that day.

  Alternatively, nothing stops you booking an earlier Eurostar than the one which directly connects with your chosen onward ICE, if it has cheaper fares or if you want a more robust connection.  To do this using www.raileurope.com, click More options, then enter Brussels (any station) as a via station with a stopover duration of (say) 1 or 2 hours.  There are plenty of places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains in Brussels!

• How to buy a connecting ticket from other UK towns & cities:  See the advice on special add-on tickets here.

Another way to buy tickets

• This is more work as it involves three websites, but it can be slightly cheaper for two reasons:  First, you don't pay any booking fee.  Second, you can use the Stopover feature at www.bahn.de to book a Brussels to Copenhagen through ticket with an overnight stop in Hamburg programmed in.  This is cheaper than buying separate Brussels to Hamburg & Hamburg to Copenhagen tickets from Raileurope.

  Obviously, do a dry run on each site first to check availability & prices.  I'd also check that your outward Eurostar and ICE are indeed a recognised connection by checking that they appear together when you run a London to Cologne enquiry at www.bahn.de - read the paragraph in the previous section about the 20-minute connection in Brussels.

• Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels (& back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com and print your own ticket, or load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone.  Eurostar return fares are significantly less than two one-ways, so if you're coming back, make sure you book this as a round trip.  After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.

• Step 2, book from Brussels to Frederikshavn at the German Railways website www.bahn.de, but click Stopover, enter Hamburg Hbf and a stopover duration of (say) 11-13 hours.  You'll need to fiddle with the departure time and stopover duration to get the trains you want either side of Hamburg, it takes a bit of trial & error.

  This will get you a through ticket from Brussels to Frederikshavn with an overnight stop in Hamburg included, which is what you want.  If you have problems, by all means just book Brussels-Hamburg and Hamburg-Frederikshavn separately.

  If you're returning, now book Copenhagen to Brussels with an overnight stop in Hamburg using the same technique.

  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  An advantage of booking direct with www.bahn.de is that you can select an exact seat on many German trains from a seating plan.

• Step 3, book the Frederikshavn-Oslo and (if returning) Oslo-Copenhagen overnight ferry at www.dfds.co.uk.  A wide range of private cabins is available, and you can also add dinner & breakfast in the restaurant, which saves money over buying meals separately on board.

How to buy tickets by phone

• It's better to book online.  But to buy tickets by phone, call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3, lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.  Overseas callers call +44 844 2482483.  International Rail are equipped with both the French and German rail ticketing systems, so can offer the best prices all the trains between London and Copenhagen.  They charge a £10 booking fee for bookings under £100, £20 for £100-£300, £30 above £300.

• Alternatively, call Deutsche Bahn's English-speaking telesales line on 00 49 (0)30 311 68 29 04, lines open 08:30-20:00 Monday-Friday, 09:00-13:00 Saturday & Sunday UK time, 1.5% fee for phone bookings.  Click here for a list of agencies and more info on how to buy European train tickets.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Brussels by Eurostar...

Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels.

A Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		Standard Premier/Business Premier.  Larger photo.

Standard class seats.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3...

Germany's superb ICEs have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat.  50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava.  As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station.  More information about ICE3.  Brussels Midi station guide.  Cologne Hbf station guide.

An ICE3M to Cologne at Brussels Midi.  More information about ICE.  Advice on changing trains in Brussels.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Proper china & metal cutlery.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See  current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant on an ICE3M...  Larger photo.

3. Cologne to Hamburg by Intercity train...

Germany Intercity trains travel at up to 200km/h (120mph), with power sockets at all seats and a bistro car serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, snacks and hot dishes.  On the Cologne to Hamburg route you'll find some departures are operated by high-speed ICEs (usually ICE1) rather than Intercity trains, although the ICEs are no faster than ICs on this section of line.  Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, the train crosses the Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine, then passes through the industrial Ruhr.  More information about Intercity trains.  Hamburg Hbf station guide.

A German Intercity train.  More information about Intercity trains.

Dinner in the bistro.  The beef ribs were delicious...		Bistro car.  See current month's menu...

2nd class seating is usually in open-plan saloons like this, most seats unidirectional, but with some tables for 4.  Sometimes you'll find 2nd class compartment cars with side corridor and ten 6-seat compartments  Larger photo.

4. Hamburg to Denmark by Intercity train

Hamburg-Denmark trains are operated by Danish IC3 trains like this, shown in the timetable as IC for Intercity.  See more photos, tips & information about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.

A Hamburg-Denmark IC3 at platform 5 at Hamburg Hbf on a busy summer day.  The yellow stripe above the windows indicates first class, located at one end of both 3-car units.  More information about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.

Boarding a Danish IC3 train at Hamburg Hbf...		1st class seats on an IC3 train.  Larger photo.

2nd class seats on a IC3 train.  Larger photo.		An IC3 train to Copenhagen at Hamburg.

5. Frederikshavn to Oslo overnight by DFDS cruise ferry...

The huge DFDS luxury overnight cruise ferry Crown Seaways berthed at Oslo...  Courtesy of Ivor Morgan.

The ferry is a floating hotel, with cabins, suites, restaurants, bars and entertainment.  The Pearl Seaways even features an outdoor jacuzzi but reportedly her sister ship Crown Seaways lacks this.  Courtesy of Andrew Leo.		1, 2, 3 or 4 berth standard cabin on the Crown Seaways with shower & toilet and satellite TV.  Larger photo.  Courtesy of Ivor Morgan.

Commodore Class suite with double bed on board the DFDS superferry to Oslo.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

Scenery in Oslo Fjord on the voyage to Norway...  Courtesy of Ivor Morgan.

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Option 3, London to Oslo via Kiel

OK, so this takes a bit longer, but with comfortable daytime trains, a night in a hotel in Kiel or Hamburg then a mini-cruise on a luxurious Color line cruise ferry.  In many ways the most luxurious way to Norway!

London ► Oslo

• Day 1, travel from London to Kiel by train...

  There are various options with easy changes of train in Brussels, Cologne & Hamburg.  The 08:52 from London St Pancras arrives Kiel Hbf at 21:41.  The 11:04 arrives Kiel Hbf 22:34.

  See the London to Hamburg timetable on the Germany page.  Regional trains run from Hamburg Hbf to Kiel Hbf every hour in just 1h16.  In Kiel, the Color Line ferry terminal is just a 5-6 minute walk from Kiel Hbf.

• Stay overnight in Kiel...

  The InterCity Hotel Kiel gets good reviews, is relatively inexpensive and is right next to the station and a few minutes walk from the ferry.  The B&B Hotel Kiel City is also next to the station with good reviews and is even cheaper.  For something upmarket, the Atlantic Hotel Kiel gets great reviews and is in Bahnhofsplatz in front of the station.

  Alternatively, you could stay in Hamburg if you prefer and take the hourly regional train to Kiel Hbf next day.  Hotels next to Hamburg Hbf with good reviews include the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, private rooms with en suite shower & toilet in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hauptbahnhof start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo by Color Line cruise ferry

  The luxurious m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy sails from Kiel daily at 14:00 arriving Oslo at 10:00 next morning, day 3 from London.

  Make sure you're on deck next morning as the ship sails through spectacular scenery up Oslo Fjord.  The ship docks at the modern Color Line terminal about 2 km from the city centre.  Color Line provide transfer buses to Oslo Sentral station costing 55 krone, or there are plenty of taxis.  If you have little luggage it's possible to walk.  See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.

Oslo ► London

• Day 1, sail from Oslo to Kiel by Color Line cruise ferry...

  The luxurious m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy sails from Oslo daily at 14:00 arriving Kiel at 10:00 next morning (day2).  See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.  In Kiel, it's just a 5-6 minute walk from the Color Line ferry terminal to Kiel Hbf.

• Day 2, stay overnight in Kiel or Hamburg...

  In Kiel, the InterCity Hotel Kiel gets good reviews, is relatively inexpensive and is right next to the station and a few minutes walk from the ferry.  The B&B Hotel Kiel City is also next to the station with good reviews and is even cheaper.  For something upmarket, the Atlantic Hotel Kiel gets great reviews and is in Bahnhofsplatz in front of the station.

  Or catch the hourly regional train to Hamburg Hbf and stay the night there, trains leave every hour, journey time 1h16. 

  In Hamburg, suggested hotels next to Hamburg Hbf with good reviews include the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, private rooms with en suite shower & toilet in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hauptbahnhof start at around £33 for one person or £49 for two people booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 3, travel from Kiel or Hamburg to London by train...

  For example, the first departure leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:45, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi to arrive London St Pancras at 16:57.

  Or you can leave Hamburg at 08:45 arriving London at 19:10.  Or leave Hamburg at 12:50 arriving London at 21:57 (21:27 on Saturdays), see the Hamburg to London timetable on the London to Germany page.

How much does it cost?

• London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £115 one-way, £199 return standard premier (1st class).

• Brussels to Kiel starts at €37.90 each way in 2nd class or €69.90 each way  in 1st class.

• Kiel to Oslo varies by date, cabin choice and number of passengers sharing.  For two passengers travelling together, the price starts at around €258 (€129 each) including a double-bed en suite cabin, although prices on busier dates can be much higher.  You need to go online to check prices for your specific dates.

• The train fares work like air fares, rising as departure date approaches.  So book as early as the booking horizon allows and shop around for the cheapest date & departure.

How to buy tickets

• Step 1, buy train tickets from London to Hamburg & Hamburg to Copenhagen at www.raileurope.com, see the tips below.

• Step 2, book the Kiel to Oslo ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.colorline.com.

• Tips for booking London-Hamburg-Copenhagen at www.raileurope.com:

  Anyone from any country can use www.raileurope.com, it allows you to book all your train tickets together in one place, in plain English, international credit cards accepted and fares shown in multiple currencies. There's a small booking fee.

  Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book early for the cheapest prices and avoid busy days such as Fridays or Sunday afternoons.

  It can help to specify Brussels as a via station if you want to see journeys with an easy same-station change in Brussels, rather than also seeing journeys via Paris.  At www.raileurope.com, click More options and enter Brussels (any station).

  You print your own ticket, or you can load the Eurostar ticket into the Eurostar app, and show the DB ticket on your laptop or phone.

  After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.

• When does booking open?

  Booking for Eurostar and onward trains to Kiel opens up to 180 days ahead, but often significantly less than this when the mid-December timetable change intervenes.  Journeys involving a Brussels-Cologne Thalys only open 120 days ahead.  More about when booking opens.

• Is it a through ticket?

  No, as there are no through tickets between the UK & Germany any more, DB's Sparpreis London fares were discontinued in March 2020.  But www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com will seamlessly sell you a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels plus onward tickets from Brussels to Kiel.

• One-way or round trip?

  With Eurostar, a return ticket costs significantly less than two one-ways.  With ICE & Thalys, a return is normally two one-ways.  So for a round trip you should book London to Kiel & back as a return journey, or for more control over the booking, book London-Brussels as a return journey to benefit from the round trip discount, add to basket, then book Brussels to Kiel one way, add to basket, then Kiel to Brussels one-way, add to basket & check out.

• Seat reservations

  A seat reservation on Eurostar is automatically included with every Eurostar ticket.  It's the same with Thalys.  However, seat reservations on ICE trains are optional, if you want a reserved seat it can be added during the booking process for fee of around €4.50 each way.  A reserved seat is a good idea, especially at busy periods, so I'd add one when prompted.

• About the 20-minute connections (sometimes less) between Eurostar & ICEs at Brussels Midi

  The slick 20-minute connection in Brussels between Eurostar and an onward ICE, sometimes less than this, is usually a recognised connection which lots of people make.  It's not usually a problem, especially if you use the Brussels Midi short cut between platforms.

  Even though the system sells you separate tickets either side of Brussels, you are protected by the Railteam Promise/HOTNAT so if there's a delay and you miss the connection you will be allowed to travel on later onwards trains at no extra charge.

  The system is programmed to know which connections are recognised/acceptable and which are too tight - if you intend booking your Eurostar and ICE tickets separately (which I often do to check prices for Eurostar and onwards trains separately, and to retain more control over the booking) it's wise to run a London-Cologne enquiry first just to check that the system does indeed recognise that specific Eurostar as connecting with that specific onward ICE, on that specific date.

  Tip:  Nothing stops you booking an earlier Eurostar than the one which directly connects with your chosen onward ICE, if it has cheaper fares or if you want a more robust connection.  There are plenty of places for a meal, coffee or beer between trains in Brussels!

• How to buy a connecting ticket from other UK towns & cities:  See the advice on special add-on tickets here.

Another way to buy tickets

• This is more work, but there's no booking fee.  Obviously, do a dry run on each site first to check availability & prices.  Also check that your outward Eurostar and ICE are indeed a recognised connection by checking that they appear together when you run a London to Cologne enquiry at www.bahn.de, as explained in the paragraph about the 20-minute connections in Brussels in the previous section.

• Step 1, book the Eurostar from London to Brussels (and back, if returning) at www.eurostar.com and print your own ticket, or load it into the Eurostar app to show on your phone.  Eurostar return fares are significantly less than two one-ways, so if you're coming back, make sure you book this as a round trip.  After booking you can use the Eurostar Manage Booking system to select an exact seat on Eurostar.

• Step 2, book from Brussels to Kiel at the German Railways site www.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your laptop or phone.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in and check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time.  An advantage of booking direct with www.bahn.de is that you can select an exact seat on ICE & IC trains from a seating plan.  A round trip is ticketed as two one-ways, so feel free to book one way at a time if it's easier.

• Step 3, book the Kiel to Oslo ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.colorline.com.

What's the journey like?

1. London to Brussels by Eurostar...

Eurostar trains link London & Brussels in just 2 hours, travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph).  There are two bar cars, power sockets at all seats and free WiFi.  Standard Premier and Business Premier fares include a light meal with wine (or breakfast, on departures before 11:00).  There's a 30-minute minimum check-in at London St Pancras (45-minute minimum in Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam) as all border formalities are carried out before you board the train.  More information about Eurostar including check-in procedure.  St Pancras station guide.  Brussels Midi station guide & short cut for changing trains in Brussels.

A Eurostar e320 at St Pancras.  More about Eurostar.		Standard Premier/Business Premier.  Larger photo.

Standard class seats.  Larger photo.		One of two cafe-bars, in cars 8 & 9.  Larger photo.

2. Brussels to Cologne by ICE3...

Germany's superb ICEs have a bistro-restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, bistro orders are taken at your seat.  50 minutes after leaving Brussels the ICE calls at Liège, where you can admire the impressive station designed by celebrity architect Santiago Calatrava.  As you approach Cologne Hbf you'll see the twin towers of Cologne Cathedral on the right, next to the station.  More information about ICE3.  Brussels Midi station guide.  Cologne Hbf station guide.

An ICE3M to Cologne at Brussels Midi.  More information about ICE.  Advice on changing trains in Brussels.

2nd class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.		1st class seats on an ICE3M.  Larger photo.

Proper china & metal cutlery.  I recommend the Erdinger Weissbier! See  current month's menu.		Restaurant car:  This is the small 12-seat restaurant on an ICE3M...  Larger photo.

3. Cologne to Hamburg by Intercity train & on to Kiel by regional train...

Germany Intercity trains travel at up to 200km/h (120mph), with power sockets at all seats and a bistro car serving tea, coffee, wine, beer, snacks and hot dishes.  On the Cologne to Hamburg route you'll find some departures are operated by high-speed ICEs (usually ICE1) rather than Intercity trains, although the ICEs are no faster than ICs on this section of line.  Immediately after leaving Cologne Hbf, the train crosses the Hohenzollern bridge over the Rhine, then passes through the industrial Ruhr.  More information about Intercity trains.  Hamburg Hbf station guide.

A German Intercity train.  More information about Intercity trains.

Dinner in the bistro.  The beef ribs were delicious...		Bistro car.  See current month's menu...

2nd class seating is usually in open-plan saloons like this, most seats unidirectional, but with some tables for 4.  Sometimes you'll find 2nd class compartment cars with side corridor and ten 6-seat compartments  Larger photo.

4. Kiel to Oslo overnight by Color Line cruise ferry...

This photo is taken from the exit of Kiel station, so you can see how close the ferry is.  It's a 5-6 minute walk across the harbour, with a street lift up to a connecting walkway which takes you to the ferry terminal. If you have reserved one of what Color Line call their 5 star suites, check in at the desk rather than the machines and you'll be directed to a special lounge to wait with free tea, coffee, juice, snacks & WiFi.  You'll also have priority boarding of the ship & free access to the on-board spa.  Photos courtesy of Andrew Leo.

Boarding the Color Line ferry to Oslo in Kiel...

A 5 Star Suite on the ferry...		More cruise liner than ferry!  The restaurant.

Shopping street in Oslo?  No, just the main mall on board the Color Line ship...

Wake up to lovely scenery sailing up Oslo Fjord....

The Color Fantasy, arrived at Oslo Color Line terminal...		Transfer bus to Oslo Sentral...

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Option 4, London to Norway via Hirtshals

You can of course travel by train to Oslo, then take a train from Oslo to Bergen (a very scenic route), or from Oslo to Kristiansand & Stavanger.  Click here for advice on booking onward trains within Norway.

But as you can see on the route map above, the most direct route is to head up to Hirtshals in northern Denmark and take a Color Line or Fjord Line ferry direct to Kristiansand, Stavanger or Bergen, by-passing Copenhagen, Sweden & Oslo.

London ► Kristiansand, Stavanger & Bergen

• Day 1, travel from London to Hamburg by train...

  For example, leave London St Pancras 11:04 by Eurostar to Brussels Midi, ICE3 train to Cologne, EuroCity to Hamburg Hbf arriving 21:14.

  By all means travel earlier for more of an evening in Hamburg, see the London-Hamburg timetable on the London to Germany page.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg...

  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews.  Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Hirtshals by train...

  Check train times & fares from Hamburg to Hirtshals in northern Denmark at the German Railways website www.bahn.de.

  A morning train will get you there by late afternoon or early evening.  In Hirtshals, it's a few minutes walk from the station to the Color Line ferry terminal, a longer 2km walk or taxi ride to the Fjord Line terminal, or you may find a number 480 bus available.  Remember to allow for the 1 hour ferry check-in!

• For Kristiansand, sail from Hirtshals to Kristiansand by Color Line ferry, see www.colorline.com.

  There's usually a sailing at 20:45 arriving in Kristiansand at 23:59, still on day 2 from London.  There's a 1 hour check-in for the ferry.  You can stay overnight in Kristiansand and take a train on to Stavanger next day, see here for advice on finding and booking a train.

• For Stavanger & Bergen, sail from Hirtshals to Stavanger & Bergen by Fjord Line ferry, see www.fjordline.com.

  The ship normally sails on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays at 20:00 (day 2 from London), arriving Stavanger next day at 07:00 and Bergen around 14:00 (day 3 from London), but always check sailing times and dates at www.fjordline.com.  A range of comfortable en suite cabins is available.

  Important update 2023:  There will be no Fjord ferry service between Hirtshals, Stavanger & Bergen from 9 February to 25 May 2023 while the ferry is re-engined to run on natural gas.

Bergen, Stavanger & Kristiansand ► London

• Coming from Bergen or Stavanger, sail from Bergen or Stavanger to Hirtshals by Fjord Line ferry, see www.fjordline.com.

  The ship normally sails from Bergen on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays at 15:00 and Stavanger at 23:00 (we'll call this day 1), arriving Hirtshals next day at 10:55 (day 2), but check sailing times and dates at www.fjordline.com.  A range of comfortable en suite cabins is available.  On arrival in Hirtshals, it's a 2km walk or short taxi ride from the Fjord Line ferry terminal to the station, or you may find a number 480 bus available.

  Important update 2023:  There will be no Fjord ferry service between Hirtshals, Stavanger & Bergen from 9 February to 25 May 2023 while the ferry is re-engined to run on natural gas.

• Coming from Kristiansand, sail from Kristiansand to Hirtshals by Color Line ferry, see www.colorline.com.

  There's a sailing from Kristiansand at 08:00 arriving in Hirtshals at 11:15.  There's a 1 hour check-in for the ferry, so be at the port by 07:00.  On arrival in Hirtshals, it's a fairly short walk from the Color Line ferry terminal to the station.

• Day 2 if starting from Bergen or Stavanger, Day 1 if coming from Kristiansand, travel from Hirtshals to Hamburg by train using any departure you like.  You can check times & prices at www.bahn.de.  I'd allow at least 2 hours between scheduled ferry arrival and train departure.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg...

  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews.  Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 3 if starting from Bergen or Stavanger, Day 2 if coming from Kristiansand, travel from Hamburg to London by train...

  For example, the first departure leaves Hamburg Hbf at 06:45, change at Cologne Hbf & Brussels Midi to arrive London St Pancras at 16:57.

  Or you can leave Hamburg at 08:45 arriving London at 19:10.  Or leave Hamburg at 12:50 arriving London at 21:57 (21:27 on Saturdays), see the Hamburg to London timetable on the London to Germany page.

Fares & how to buy tickets

• See the London to Germany page for fares & how to buy tickets from London to Hamburg.  Fares vary depending how early you book and how popular that date or combination of trains is.

• Hamburg to Hirtshals starts at €29.90 each way booked at www.bahn.de.  Fares vary depending how early you book and how popular that date or combination of trains is.  You print your own ticket.

• Hirtshals to Kristiansand by ferry costs from €19 booked in advance, €29 full-price.  Book online at www.colorline.com, or you can buy a ticket at the port.

• Check Fjord Line ferry fares & buy tickets at www.fjordline.com.  Fares vary by season, by how far ahead you book, and by what cabin accommodation you choose.

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Train travel in Norway

Oslo to Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, Bodo

• Modern air-conditioned trains link Oslo with Bergen, one of Europe's most scenic train routes, a journey worth doing for its own sake.  Similar trains link Oslo with Stavanger, Kristiansand, Trondheim and other Norwegian cities.

• Norway's train services have been outsourced route by route to three private operators:

  www.vy.no (rebranded from NSB Norwegian State Railways in 2019), routes include Oslo-Bergen, Oslo-Gothenburg.

  www.sj.no (a Norwegian subsidiary of Swedish Railways), routes include Oslo-Trondheim-Bodo.

  go-aheadnordic.no, routes include Oslo-Kristiansand-Stavanger.

• To find train times and fares on any route with any operator, go to entur.no (Norway's government-owned public transport website) or Vy's website, www.vy.no.

  Both sites sell tickets for all the privatised Norwegian operators.  Entur.no charges no booking fee, www.vy.no charges no fee for Vy tickets, but adds a booking fee for other operators.  However, you may get better seat choice functionality if you book the Oslo-Bergen route direct with Vy.

  At www.vy.no, the English button is top right.  You can choose to load your ticket into the Vy app, or download it in PDF format which you can either print out or simply show on your phone or laptop.

• Oslo-Bergen costs from 249 Kr £28 each way with a limited-availability Lowfare fare or over 900 Kr (£90) each way full fare.  Oslo-Stavanger also costs from 249 Kr each way with a Lowfare fare or 900+ Kr (£90) one-way full fare.  Return fares are twice the one-way.

• Anyone over 67 (or married couples where one partner is over 67) get a 50% discount on full-fare but not off Lowfare fares.  Children under 4 free, children 4-15 (inclusive) half price.

• First class is known as Plus, Komfort or Premium depending on the operator.  The complimentary tea & coffee can justify the extra cost!  Plus/Komfort/Premium class is available on most mainline routes including Oslo to Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim & Bodo, Gothenburg.

How to buy Norwegian train tickets

Option 1, buy at entur.no

• You can check train times and buy tickets for all Norwegian operators at the official government-owned public transport website entur.no.  This charges no booking fee.  Only downside?  You may get more seat choice functionality if you use the specific operator's site.

Option 2, at www.vy.no

• You can buy Norwegian tickets online at www.vy.no, this sells tickets for trains operated by Vy and (with a small booking fee) trains operated by the other Norwegian operators.

  Cheap advance-purchase Lowfare fares are often available, saving a lot of money over the regular fare that you'll be charged on the day of travel.  Lowfare tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable.

• To switch it to English, scroll down and click In English right at the bottom of the page.

• Useful words:  Voksen means adult.  'Barn' means child aged 4 to 15 inclusive (under 4's go free).  Honnør means senior citizen over 67 years old (anyone aged over 67 gets gets a 50% reduction on standard fares, although no reduction on Lowfare fares).

• When you see the fares page, you'll see both Standard fares (Ordinær) which are flexible and refundable, and Lowest fares which are cheap limited-availability Lowfare fares, non-changeable and non-refundable.  Lowfare fares cost from 249 Kr upwards depending on availability.

• Useful words:  Okonomi means standard class, any fare including the word Plus (formerly Komfort until April 2020) means first class with larger seats, more space, laptop power points and complimentary tea and coffee.

• Tick the box to say you don't have a Norwegian phone number.

• You may need to make up a postcode.  If it doesn't accept UK-style postcodes simply make up random digits such as '1234'.  No-one will send anything to you, so it doesn't matter!

• Acceptance of UK and other foreign credit cards...

  www.vy.no (or nsb.no as it was before rebranding in 2019) has always struggled with some UK-issued credit cards and many overseas ones, but they now accept PayPal as well as credit cards.  Many UK credit & debit cards certainly do work, and most people report success buying tickets at vy.no, but a few travellers report that their UK-issued card didn't work (and were even told by NSB (now Vy) telesales that the site only accepts Norwegian cards).  So try using www.vy.no as your card may well work fine.  If it doesn't, try another card.  If none of your cards work, use PayPal.  If all else fails, call their telesales by phone on (+47) 61 05 19 10 and buy tickets that way.  Vy definitely accept UK cards by phone, and you may well find the price three times cheaper than buying from a UK agency, or waiting till the date of travel when all the cheap advance-purchase lowfare fares will have sold out.

• Ticket delivery:  You can choose to load your ticket into the Vy app, or download it in PDF format which you can either print out or simply show on your phone or laptop.

• Oslo to Copenhagen:  www.sj.se can book tickets from Oslo to Copenhagen with 1 easy change in Gothenburg, from around 425 SEK (€46).  Tickets can be printed at home or there is an SJ ticket collection machine installed at Oslo Sentral.

• Oslo to Stockholm:  It won't book tickets between Oslo and Stockholm, as these trains are provided by Swedish train company SJ.  Oslo to Stockholm tickets should be booked online at www.sj.se.  Tickets can be printed at home or there is an SJ ticket collection machine installed at Oslo Sentral.

• Oslo to Gothenburg:  www.vy.no can book train tickets between Oslo and Gothenburg (Goteborg) in either direction.  Tickets can be collected at Oslo or Gothenburg stations or on board the train.

• Feedback from booking this way and using these trains would be very welcome!

The scenic Flåm Railway

A scenic tourist line worth mentioning is the famous Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) from Myrdal (on the Oslo-Bergen line) 900m above sea level to Flåm on the Fjord below.  Train run daily all year round, 4 departures a day in winter, 10 or so in summer.  It can be done as a day trip from Oslo, as the Myrdal-Flåm journey itself only takes 40-50 minutes each way.  See www.visitflam.com/flamsbana, then see www.vy.no for connections from Oslo or Bergen to Myrdal.

Sleeper trains from Oslo to Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim

You can't beat a daytime journey on the scenic Oslo to Bergen line, but on the way back you can save time by travelling on the sleeper.  Unlike most other European sleeper trains where you can book individual berths in shared compartments, in Norway you pay a fixed supplement and get a whole 2-berth compartment to yourself, whether there are two of you or only one.  When you board, you must first check in at the cafe car to have your ticket checked and receive the plastic card-key to your sleeper compartment.

The sleeper train from Oslo to Bergen...  Photos courtesy of Tom Gigo

Cafe car...		Sleeper corridor...		2-berth sleeper...

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Hurtigruten coastal ferries

Bergen to the Arctic Circle:  www.hurtigruten.com & www.havilavoyages.com

Bergen - Trondheim - Bodo - Tromso - Kirkenes

Every day, an express coastal steamer service sails from Bergen on an all-points trip north to Kirkenes in the Arctic Circle close to the Russian border, a 6-night one-way voyage or a 11 or 12-night round trip.  It's an essential transport service for the communities along the route which also offers cruises for visitors wanting an unrivalled boat ride along the beautiful Norwegian Fjords up to the land of the Midnight Sun. 

Until 2021, all sailings were operated by Hurtigruten (www.hurtigruten.com - the word hurtigruten simply means express route.  However, the Norwegian government has split the route into 3 contracts, two won by Hurtigruten and one by Havila Kystruten (www.havilavoyages.com).  From December 2021, 2 out of 3 sailings will be operated by Hurtigruten  and one by Havila Kystruten.

To check sailing times & buy tickets see www.hurtigruten.com and www.havilavoyages.com.  You'll need to check both, as each website only shows that company's sailings.  For more information on the service and its history, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurtigruten.

Hurtigruten ferry.  Photo courtesy of Sue Smith...		Standard outside cabin...

Seating area of a suite...		The M.S. Nordnorge

Norwegian Fjord, seen from a Hurtigruten ship.  Photo courtesy of Sue Smith...

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Norway in a Nutshell tour

Oslo - Bergen - Flam - Oslo over 5 days

The popular 'Norway in a Nutshell' circular tour takes you from Oslo to Bergen to Flam and back to Oslo over 5 days.  Train-based tour specialist Railbookers can sort this for you with train reservations & hotels.

  UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk

  US call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com

  Canada call 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com

  Australia call 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au

  New Zealand call 0800 000 554 or see website

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European Rail Timetable & map

The European Rail Timetable (formerly the Thomas Cook European Timetable) has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus currency & climate information.  It is essential for regular European train travellers and an inspiration for armchair travellers.  Published since 1873, it had just celebrated 140 years of publication when Thomas Cook decided to pull the plug on their entire publishing department, but the dedicated ex-Thomas Cook team set up a private venture and resumed publication of the famous European Rail Timetable in March 2014.  You can buy it online at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses) or www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide).  More information on what the European Rail Timetable contains.

Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south.  Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted.  See an extract from the map.  Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).

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Make sure you take a good guidebook.  For independent travel, I think this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.  Both guidebooks provide the same excellent level of practical information and cultural and historical background.  You won't regret buying one!

Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk

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Hotels in Oslo, Bergen & Norway

Other hotel sites worth trying...

www.tripadvisor.com is the place to find independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels.

Backpacker hostels: www.hostelworld.com...

www.hostelworld.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

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Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance

You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer.  It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit.  These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here.  Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.

  www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection and gets 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

  www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.

  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package for Europe

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for Europe and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list.  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.  And you can get a Curve card for free.

How it works:  1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  VPNs & why you need one explained

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained.  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Always carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com.

Touring cities & museums?  Use hill walking shoes!

One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa.  They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities.  My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!

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