Norway Days 4-5

Voss & Bergen

I was eagerly anticipating our upcoming Airbnb rental. Based on the pictures, it looked like a very relaxing place to stay. It was about 25 minutes away from our current location, and we could not check in until late afternoon so we decided to visit the town of Voss.

Voss is located on the edge of a lake and is surrounded by beautiful scenery. You can find restaurants, shops and access to the Voss Gondol cable car. The Gondola is a great option for anyone who wants to enjoy a nice panoramic view of the town. There is also a restaurant available and hiking trails for exploring. Unfortunately we could not fit this in to our schedule but it was recommended to visit if possible.

Parking lots were located in the center of town, near the lake. We did have to pay for parking, but it was worth it. After finding a spot, we strolled around town and discovered a cute cafe for coffee and treats. Kringlo offered a variety of beverages and desserts. After enjoying our delicious cappuccino and dessert, we wandered around town looking for souvenir shops. I noticed that there were more clothing stores than souvenir shops, but luckily we found a few items to bring back home.

A few blocks away, we found what looked like a little shopping mall with a liquor and grocery store all in one spot. We did a little shopping and then headed back to our car which was parked a few blocks away. At this, point we were ready to enjoy our packed lunches. With that being said, our suggestion is to pack a lunch when you can. This will help you save money and you will most likely always find a great view to enjoy your meal. Win-Win!

Once we were all done with our memorable yet simple lunch we headed toward our next stay. We enjoyed a short scenic drive and found that the last section of our drive was a bit narrow… maybe too narrow for anyone not used to this. There was only enough room for one car at a time so it was a little nerve-racking since we were not prepared for this.

Tip – Be prepared for narrow spaces when turning onto side roads. Honk if visibility is limited.

….. hello amazing Airbnb! Our host was very responsive which was great because we arrived a little early. It was really only thirty minutes but we were allowed to check in, which was nice since we had groceries in our car. We do suggest bringing, or purchasing a packable cooler to bring with you for cold items if you are going to do a lot of grocery shopping or even for your day trips.

We were absolutely impressed with both the inside and the outside property. It was absolutely beautiful. The property had an incredible woodsy backyard with a small deck at the bottom that opened up to a stunning view of the river and mountains in the background. We were originally going to book this location for 4 nights, but by the time we went online to reserve it, the first two nights were already booked.

We recommend if anyone visits this part of Norway, to book this rental for a few days or a full week if possible. The train station is close and you can take the train all the way to Bergen and back. The house had a pack-and-play crib and wooden high chair for families to use.

Another great perk was that there was a washer/dryer combo available. I had the hardest time getting it to work. Jason had to help me…. and of course, it didn’t take long to figure out that the door was not completely shut… oops.

Ahh! Just look at this view! We took full advantage of cooking on the fire pit out back.

We could have stayed here for the entire trip, but we also wanted to experience more of Norway, and what better way to try something new than to enjoy a train ride. There was a train station within walking distance so we decided to take a short train ride from Urdland train station to Myrdal train station. The ride was about 35 minutes each way and cost $40 round trip for both of us. You can buy tickets online, but we had difficulty paying with our cards, so we paid onboard without any problems.

The scenery on the ride was beautiful. It evolved into a beautiful winter wonderland that was truly picturesque.

Once we made it to Myrdal train station, we found a small cafe/restaurant so we grabbed a drink and bite to eat and sat outside to enjoy the snowy view. Our visit here only lasted about 40 minutes before we had to leave. There wasn’t anything else in the area to explore, but it was still a perfect amount of time.