FIP free coupons, Norway.

[Rab Smith]

Hello,
Would anyone like to share their recent experience on using FIP free coupons on the Norwegian rail network? Especially so after Swedish Rail pulled out of the FIP scheme. I am planning a trip there in the future and would love to hear how you did it all. Where you went, ease of use, booking reservations, accommodation and food cost etc.
I've see some YouTube videos and it looks like an amazing but expensive place to visit so having the free rail option could definitely help the budget go a bit further!
Cheers!

 

[Mike395]

Entur (the Government-run retailer for all Norwegian train tickets) have a great guide to FIP in Norway here if you haven't already seen it: https://personalbillett.entur.no/fip-travel-in-norway

On a personal level - I spent a week in Norway in January and (whilst mainly there for a conference) travelled both Oslo-Trondheim and Oslo-Bergen. Both were great experiences, though I wouldn't recommend PlusNight for the Bergen route, I didn't sleep particularly well even with the lie-flat seat; I think next time I'd do both ways by day and stop over in Bergen an additional night.

 

[Rab Smith]

Entur (the Government-run retailer for all Norwegian train tickets) have a great guide to FIP in Norway here if you haven't already seen it: https://personalbillett.entur.no/fip-travel-in-norway

On a personal level - I spent a week in Norway in January and (whilst mainly there for a conference) travelled both Oslo-Trondheim and Oslo-Bergen. Both were great experiences, though I wouldn't recommend PlusNight for the Bergen route, I didn't sleep particularly well even with the lie-flat seat; I think next time I'd do both ways by day and stop over in Bergen an additional night.

I've read that, thanks. Some good information there.
I don't know whether to do the trip in the summer or winter. The videos I've watched are mostly winter ones with some great journeys through snow covered mountains but quite grim looking!
I can imagine the trains being very busy in the summer months.

 

[ricohallo]

The FIP coupons work on almost all trains in Norway, the Flåm railway being a notable exception, as well as the SJ run train to Narvik of course.

Unlike Interrail you can't book your reservations on the Entur website, however you can chat with them (or phone them) and they'll be able to provide you with all the information you'll need, what it costs and of course make the reservations for you. It's not 24 hours but they're open for most of the day.
Do keep in mind though that trains regularly sell out, especially on the Bergen line, so it's highly recommended to make reservations as soon as you know your travel plans or have a backup in case your desired train or all trains are sold out.

The FIP coupons are not valid on cross-border trains to Sweden except for the train from Trondheim to Storlien.

Take a look on these pages for more info and prices of reservations:

Norway | FIP Guide – Fast. Clear. Community-based.

Information about FIP conditions for Norway and which operators offer discounts such as FIP 50 tickets and FIP Coupons.

www.fipguide.org

Vy Group | FIP Guide – Fast. Clear. Community-based.

Information about FIP conditions at Vy Group: validity, ticket and reservation purchase, special tariff conditions

www.fipguide.org

 

[Rab Smith]

The FIP coupons work on almost all trains in Norway, the Flåm railway being a notable exception, as well as the SJ run train to Narvik of course.

Unlike Interrail you can't book your reservations on the Entur website, however you can chat with them (or phone them) and they'll be able to provide you with all the information you'll need, what it costs and of course make the reservations for you. It's not 24 hours but they're open for most of the day.
Do keep in mind though that trains regularly sell out, especially on the Bergen line, so it's highly recommended to make reservations as soon as you know your travel plans or have a backup in case your desired train or all trains are sold out.

The FIP coupons are not valid on cross-border trains to Sweden except for the train from Trondheim to Storlien.

Take a look on these pages for more info and prices of reservations:

Norway | FIP Guide – Fast. Clear. Community-based.

Information about FIP conditions for Norway and which operators offer discounts such as FIP 50 tickets and FIP Coupons.

www.fipguide.org

Vy Group | FIP Guide – Fast. Clear. Community-based.

Information about FIP conditions at Vy Group: validity, ticket and reservation purchase, special tariff conditions

www.fipguide.org

I think Norway is another country that the people value their trains going with the sold out trains I've read about.
Thanks for the advice!

 

[Merseysider]

Definitely +1 for going to Bergen in the winter - I did the trip (by day train) a few years back and the snowy views were unbelievable.

Ulriken is a reasonable, albeit moderately challenging at times, mountain to climb. There is also a cable car.

 

[EuxtonNeutral]

I write from Mo i Rana on the incredible Bodø-Trondheim line. This is the return leg of an epic London-Stockholm-Narvik-Lofoten-Bodø-Trondheim-Oslo-Copenhagen-London trip, all by train or ferry.

Do it!

My two bits of advice:

1) After much head scratching I found the only way to book Norway FIP tickets or reservations was to ring ENTUR (I couldn’t find any way to do it online). They were helpful and friendly. I think reservations (~50 NOK) are strongly encouraged if not obligatory but they can sell you those if you have a coupon, as well as the discounted FIP fares for partners/dependents. (I believe ENTUR handles basically all intercity rail bookings including VY and SJ Nord).

2) ‘sold out’ doesn’t necessarily mean sold out. The Entur/VY websites seem to indicate that a service is ‘sold out’ when in fact bookings are not yet open for that service. So don’t despair if you are looking far in advance. Again, probably worth calling ENTUR for clarification.

Hope this helps.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Oct 2026 ==

I write from Mo i Rana on the incredible Bodø-Trondheim line. This is the return leg of an epic London-Stockholm-Narvik-Lofoten-Bodø-Trondheim-Oslo-Copenhagen-London trip, all by train or ferry.

Do it!

My two bits of advice:

1) After much head scratching I found the only way to book Norway FIP tickets or reservations was to ring ENTUR (I couldn’t find any way to do it online). They were helpful and friendly. I think reservations (~50 NOK) are strongly encouraged if not obligatory but they can sell you those if you have a coupon, as well as the discounted FIP fares for partners/dependents. (I believe ENTUR handles basically all intercity rail bookings including VY and SJ Nord).

2) ‘sold out’ doesn’t necessarily mean sold out. The Entur/VY websites seem to indicate that a service is ‘sold out’ when in fact bookings are not yet open for that service. So don’t despair if you are looking far in advance. Again, probably worth calling ENTUR for clarification.

Hope this helps.

Also I vote early autumn (September) - incredible colour and some snow on the hills; chance of seeing the northern lights in the north but also enough daylight hours to enjoy the scenery.

 

[Rab Smith]

I write from Mo i Rana on the incredible Bodø-Trondheim line. This is the return leg of an epic London-Stockholm-Narvik-Lofoten-Bodø-Trondheim-Oslo-Copenhagen-London trip, all by train or ferry.

Do it!

My two bits of advice:

1) After much head scratching I found the only way to book Norway FIP tickets or reservations was to ring ENTUR (I couldn’t find any way to do it online). They were helpful and friendly. I think reservations (~50 NOK) are strongly encouraged if not obligatory but they can sell you those if you have a coupon, as well as the discounted FIP fares for partners/dependents. (I believe ENTUR handles basically all intercity rail bookings including VY and SJ Nord).

2) ‘sold out’ doesn’t necessarily mean sold out. The Entur/VY websites seem to indicate that a service is ‘sold out’ when in fact bookings are not yet open for that service. So don’t despair if you are looking far in advance. Again, probably worth calling ENTUR for clarification.

Hope this helps.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Oct 2026 ==


Also I vote early autumn (September) - incredible colour and some snow on the hills; chance of seeing the northern lights in the north but also enough daylight hours to enjoy the scenery.

Sounds amazing! I am definitely doing it, just when is the question!

 

[Gloster]

It is thirty years since I travelled frequently in Norway, but my preference was for around April when there was still plenty of snow, but not just snow. However, global warning may have affected that.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Midges can be a real nuisance in Northern Norway (like Western Scotland) in high summer - Bodø is particularly notorious for them. May / early Jume is preferable.

 

[AndrewE]

Midges can be a real nuisance in Northern Norway (like Western Scotland) in high summer - Bodø is particularly notorious for them. May / early Jume is preferable.

When we went on our round trip the first stop on the Inlandsbanen coming back south from Gällivare was the mosquito Museum!
Going north by train (and bus in the gaps) we had budgeted to travel by day, then eat in a restaurant and sleep in the places we had booked... It didn't work out that way as we discovered that all(!) the restaurants had closed by the time we arrived. We learnt to live by eating potato salad and cold meat and a dessert bought from whatever supermarket we could find still open!