Scandinavia by train

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 7 min read

Scandinavia rewards train travel more generously than almost anywhere else in Europe: the trains are clean, punctual and comfortable, the scenery along several routes is genuinely spectacular, and the three main national networks connect into each other cleanly enough that a single trip can string together Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo and the Arctic north. It is not a cheap region to travel by any method, but rail is often the most enjoyable way to see it.

The three national operators

Each Scandinavian country has its own principal rail operator, and all three run comfortable, modern intercity and express trains on their core routes:

• SJ (Statens Järnvägar) is Sweden's main operator, running the fast SJ high-speed trains (X2000 and newer sets) between Stockholm and the major southern cities, plus long-distance and night services further north. SJ also operates some cross-border services into Denmark and Norway.
• Vy (formerly NSB) is Norway's principal operator, covering the country's dramatic long-distance lines as well as regional and commuter services around Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Stavanger — see our dedicated Norway by train guide for a country-by-country breakdown of its network.
• DSB (Danske Statsbaner) runs Denmark's InterCity and regional network, including the core Copenhagen–Aarhus–Aalborg corridor and connections toward the German border.

Booking is straightforward through each operator's own website, and advance fares on all three tend to undercut fares bought closer to departure — booking a few weeks ahead is worthwhile if your dates are fixed.

Connecting the Scandinavian capitals

The three capitals link together well by train, though the routes vary in speed and scenery:

• Copenhagen to Stockholm: around 5 hours direct via the Öresund Bridge and southern Sweden, with SJ operating the core service. This is a comfortable, largely flat journey through Swedish farmland.
• Copenhagen to Oslo: no single fast direct train exists; the journey typically involves a change, often via Gothenburg, and takes roughly 7–8 hours in total. Some travellers prefer the overnight ferry between the two capitals instead — see our guide to Baltic Sea ferries for how that compares.
• Stockholm to Oslo: around 6 hours, crossing the forested border region between the two countries, with a mix of SJ and Vy rolling stock depending on the exact service.

The Oslo–Bergen line

The Bergen Line (Bergensbanen) is Scandinavia's most celebrated railway journey and one of the great scenic train rides anywhere in the world. Running roughly 500 km between Oslo and Bergen, it climbs over the Hardangervidda plateau — Europe's largest mountain plateau — reaching an altitude of over 1,200 metres at Finse, well above the treeline and, for much of the year, through snow even in summer. The full journey takes around 6.5–7 hours.

Trains run several times daily and reservations are recommended, particularly in summer when demand from both tourists and Norwegians travelling between the two coasts is high. Vy operates modern rolling stock with large windows suited to the views; a window seat on either side rewards you at different points of the route, though the Hardangervidda crossing itself is dramatic from both.

The Flåm Railway

Branching off the Bergen Line at Myrdal, the Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) is a short but extraordinarily steep branch line descending around 900 metres in altitude over about 20 km to the village of Flåm on the Aurlandsfjord, an arm of the vast Sognefjord. It is one of the steepest standard-gauge railways in the world still operating on adhesion track (rather than a rack-and-pinion system), and the line includes hairpin tunnels, waterfalls close enough to feel the spray, and a stop at Kjosfossen waterfall for photographs.

The journey takes about an hour and is typically combined with the Bergen Line as part of the "Norway in a Nutshell" style itinerary: train from Oslo to Myrdal, the Flåm branch down to the fjord, a fjord cruise or ferry along the Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord, then onward transport to Bergen or back toward Oslo. Booking the Flåm Railway itself in summer is worth doing a little ahead, as it is a major tourist draw in its own right.

Into the Arctic Circle

Norway's Nordland Line (Nordlandsbanen) runs from Trondheim to Bodø, a journey of around 10 hours covering roughly 730 km — the longest train route in Norway and the one that crosses the Arctic Circle, marked by a small monument visible from the train partway through the journey. The landscape shifts from forest and farmland around Trondheim to increasingly bare, dramatic fell country as the train heads north, with reindeer a realistic sighting in season.

In Sweden, the equivalent experience is the Inlandsbanan, a slower, more rustic seasonal line running deep into Swedish Lapland, and the more heavily used main line north through Luleå toward the Norwegian border and on to Narvik, which also crosses the Arctic Circle and is popular with travellers heading for Abisko and the aurora season. Night trains operate on some of these northern routes, letting you sleep through part of the journey and wake up well inside the Arctic — see our broader guide to night trains in Europe for how sleeper bookings generally work.

Booking, passes and costs

Advance fares on SJ, Vy and DSB can be very reasonable if booked weeks ahead, but fares climb steadily as departure approaches and popular scenic trains sell out in summer. If you are combining Scandinavia with a wider European trip, an Interrail pass (for European residents) or Eurail pass (for everyone else) can be worthwhile, though most Scandinavian long-distance trains require a separate seat reservation on top of the pass, and reservation fees can add up on a short trip focused only on this region. For a Scandinavia-only trip of a week or two, comparing pass costs against point-to-point advance fares before committing is worth the ten minutes it takes.

Regional and commuter trains around Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen generally do not require reservations and run frequently, making day trips from any of the three capitals easy to arrange without advance planning. All three countries sit outside the EU's customs union in different ways (Norway is not an EU member; Denmark and Sweden are EU but outside the eurozone), though all are within the Schengen Area — see our Schengen Area guide if you're combining this trip with the rest of Europe.

Practical tips

• Bikes: most long-distance Scandinavian trains have limited bike space that must be reserved in advance; see our guide to taking bikes on trains for the general approach, which applies here too.
• Food on board: SJ, Vy and DSB long-distance trains typically have a bistro or trolley service; on remote Norwegian lines like the Nordland Line, bring your own food as stops are limited and isolated.
• Punctuality: all three networks are reliable by international standards, though Norway's mountain and Arctic lines can face winter weather disruption — build in slack if you have a tight onward connection, such as a flight from Bergen or Bodø.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to reserve seats on Scandinavian trains?

Long-distance and scenic trains — including the Bergen Line, the Flåm Railway and most cross-border services — require or strongly recommend a reservation, especially in summer. Regional and commuter trains around the capitals generally do not.

Is the Oslo–Bergen train worth it if I've already flown between the two cities?

Yes — most visitors treat it as a scenic journey in its own right rather than pure transport. The crossing of the Hardangervidda plateau is genuinely unlike anything else reachable by train in Europe, and the combination with the Flåm Railway makes it a full day's worthwhile excursion.

Is Interrail or Eurail worth it just for Scandinavia?

It depends on how much ground you cover. Reservation fees on Scandinavian long-distance trains apply on top of the pass, which narrows the savings on a short, focused trip. For a longer trip combining Scandinavia with the rest of Europe, or one with many separate journeys, a pass is usually worth comparing against point-to-point advance fares.

What's the best time of year to ride the Arctic Circle lines?

Summer (June–August) gives near-continuous daylight and the most reliable service, while winter offers a real chance of the northern lights after dark but with far shorter days and a higher chance of weather-related delays on the more exposed sections.