Norway trip advice

[yorkie]

Does anyone know the best way to obtain reservations for various journeys in Norway, when holding a 1st class Interrail pass? Does it have to be done within Norway? (if so, is there anyone here in Norway who may be able to help? )

Also does anyone have any thoughts regarding whether we should get from Bodø to Narvik by plane or by bus?

If we go by plane it gives us time to explore Narvik, if that is recommended? If we get the plane, how easy is it to get from the railway station to the airport and what time would we need to set off for an 0730 flight?

Alternatively if if the bus journey is worth doing maybe we should do that instead? Does the bus have reserved seating or is it a case of sit anywhere? If anyone has experience of doing this journey it would be good to hear your experiences.

If anyone has any info that could help us that would be much appreciated; many thanks in advance

 

[Segedunum]

When I booked seat reservations, I ended up calling Entur and they were fantastic. IIRC there's a dedicated option to press for English too. The person I spoke to was very knowledgeable, and gave me the necessary details to then pick up the reservations from Oslo S.

There's more information at: https://om.entur.no/reisende/hjelp-og-kontakt/kundesenter

You can also do it at the station, but I had a pretty poor experience with that as I was charged twice over. The person I had there (Oslo S) didn't seem to have much idea what he was doing at all.

 

[Lewlew]

The ÖBB app and website are very good at making reservations for all sorts of places. I used it for journeys wholly within Romania. Just had a quick look and there were some journeys in Norway able to be reserved.

When you go through the booking process you have a choice of either a seat reservation (normal reservation, available to everyone) or for some journeys (often sleepers) you have to purchase a ticket, make sure you add your interrail pass as a discount and you will then only be charged the reservation fee.

It’s not the most intuitive but once you get the hang of it then it’s simple enough. With the app you can have it as an e-ticket or download a PDF, the website only does PDFs. The train staff only really checked the Interrail pass and ignored the reservation but on the sleeper between Budapest and Bucharest the attendant took the printed reservation and kept it for the journey, to make sure you’re awake and ready to get off. So in some scenarios you may have to print it.

 

[Gloster]

Try .avinor.no for details of access to the airport. I can’t remember being particularly struck by Narvik in 1989, but I only had a few hours there and didn’t go far from the station.

I would expect the bus from Bodø to be quite an impressive trip. There is nothing on the bus times site, but you could try reisnordland.no and try to contact them through kontakt.oss (they almost certainly speak English). It is probably worth checking. I think you would find details of the airport bus here as well.

Edit: A quick look, using 27 July gives only a 06.05 from Narvik Bus Terminal arriving 07.03. However, there may be a special airport bus as well, although probably not.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

I would expect the bus from Bodø to be quite an impressive trip.

Very impressive - bus times are in European Rail timetable.

Bodo Airport is walkable from the station - about a mile and a half - and slightly less from the town centre (07.30 flight you would need to spend the night in Bodo)

I can’t remember being particularly struck by Narvik on 1989

Ditto!

 

[Gloster]

Sorry, is it Narvik Airport you want to get to by 07.30 or Bodø’s?

EDIT: It looks as though Bodø Airport is very close to the city centre, unless there are two.

 

[Segedunum]

Sorry, is it Narvik Airport you want to get to by 07.30 or Bodø’s?

EDIT: It looks as though Bodø Airport is very close to the city centre, unless there are two.

Bodø Airport is indeed very close. There's also a bus which takes about five or so minutes from the centre which I used on account of having a twisted ankle when I visited! Tickets can be purchased on the Norrland (?) app.

 

[30907]

It is 40 years since I did Narvik-Bodo, and the roads are now fully tarred and ISTR one of the ferry crossings is now a tunnel, but I would still use it (irrespective of environmental concerns). I somewhere have a photo from the longer of thect2o ferry crossings, if I can find it...

 

[yorkie]

Sorry, is it Narvik Airport you want to get to by 07.30 or Bodø’s?

EDIT: It looks as though Bodø Airport is very close to the city centre, unless there are two.

Sorry I wasn't totally clear; we have the choice of a bus from Bodo at approx 0730 or a plane from Bodo at approx 0730.

The plane does save a lot of time but we still have to get a bus into Narvik.

 

[Gloster]

It looks as though the bus leaves the airport at 07.14 and the bus station at 07.22. There may be a bus change at Storfjord (or Bognes ferjekai/quay).

 

[30907]

Unless you are desperate to be in Narvik mid morning, use the bus.

 

[yorkie]

It sounds like the bus ride is very scenic and is our best option. That was always my preference but I had to ask is it's not just up to me, but these answers have helped make the decision, thanks

 

[jamesontheroad]

Narvik is not worth the extra time; take the bus and enjoy the scenery.

 

[Iskra]

Narvik is uninspiring (courtesy of the Luftwaffe), keep your time there to a minimum.

If you’re not already doing it the Stockholm-Narvik sleeper is well worth doing although ideally in winter for the most scenic landscapes.

You’ve got me pining for the Fjords now…

 

[rvdborgt]

When I booked seat reservations, I ended up calling Entur and they were fantastic. IIRC there's a dedicated option to press for English too. The person I spoke to was very knowledgeable, and gave me the necessary details to then pick up the reservations from Oslo S.

Entur can also email the reservations.
First class reservations are free of charge in Norway if booked via Entur.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

The bus in Narvik arrives at a horrid bus station cum shopping mall which you have to fight your way through to reach the main street. The 'War Museum' - detailing the 1940 debacle - was very disappointing and poor value. The cable car to Narvikfjellet is good though, giving a grand panoramic view (weather permitting).

Narvikfjellet

It was pay on the bus the last time I went from Bodø - the morning bus meets the overnight sleeper from Trondheim at Fauske so it can be quite busy. Sometimes they run a 'duplicate' from Fauske which runs fast for through passengers to Narvik, the regular bus doing the intermediate calls. There is one ferry crossing on the route left (about 30mins) - you can leave the bus for refreshments / PNB. Good distant views of the Lofoten Islands en-route.

 

[rvdborgt]

The bus in Narvik arrives at a horrid bus station cum shopping mall which you have to fight your way through to reach the main street.

You don't need to go through that mall, you can walk past it.

 

[dutchflyer]

agree with all thats said about Narvik, except when I was there the shop-centre was not there yet, as its quite some time ago.
However, I do remember that conductor on overnite from Trondheim was asking anyone if s/he would use bus onward-and which one (also one to TromsÖ)-and the final count was then apparently forwarded to bus-comp. In times of high demand more buses could be provided-or in cases of heavy train delay bus2 would wait for train and 1 would set off regular time.

 

[Gloster]

The 07.10 bus from Bodø to Narvik stops at Fauske stasjon from 08.27 to 08.50 to meet the night train from Trondheim.

 

[185]

Bodø to Narvik was a nice bus ride, good views, friendly driver with a ferry crossing included if I remember. Did it 15 years ago, two days in Narvik then off to Tromsø the day after.

 

[Bald Rick]

Also does anyone have any thoughts regarding whether we should get from Bodø to Narvik by plane or by bus?

Definitely the bus. It was spectacular scenery when I did it (30 years ago). At least that’s what my travelling companions told me; I was so tired I slept the whole way. Didn’t realise we did two ferries…

Also agree about Narvik. By far the best thing to look at was the girl running the tourist info office.

 

[Gloster]

By far the best thing to look at was the girl running the tourist info office.

You have jogged my memory. Agreed.

 

[Lxd2]

I agree with everyone above that the bus from Bodo to Narvik is very scenic. An even more scenic option is to take a ferry from Bodo to either Moskenes or Svolvaer on Lofoten and then bus to Narvik from there, that is an absolutely incredible bus route, but it takes a bit longer, probably a whole day, or even better an overnight stop somewhere on Lofoten, so it sounds like it might not fit into your plans.

Train reservations are tricky in Norway, mainly as there are so few ticket offices left (only six in the whole country!), and if you wait until you are there the train you want might be sold out. I think I'll give the Entur telephone booking line a try next time I go.

There are no reserved seats on the buses - you just pay on board or (very slightly cheaper) on the Billett Nordland App and sit wherever you want.