Advice needed for Trip to Norway

[Faxmesomehalibut]

Hi. I need help from anyone familiar with Norway.
We have had a skiing trip planned at the end of March for the last two years. Didn’t go for obvious reasons but hoping to get there march 2022.
As we were so disappointed at missing out in the last couple of years we’ve added an extra week. So first week is skiing in Geilo, all organised. But where can we go for second week?
We have a car hired and our return flight will be from Oslo. Any ideas?
I’ve always wanted to go to Norway but know very little about it (I know it’s expensive!!). We are two adults and two children aged 9 and 12.
I would really appreciate any suggestions of regions to visit (not too far from Geilo as we only have 1 extra week). Maybe 1 region that we can explore so I can narrow my search.
Thanks so much !!

We found Oslo a bit dull but the train journey from Oslo to Bergen was really pretty. We liked Bergen and there were good restaurants and a few things to do like a mini fjord cruise. Friends enjoyed a longer cruise from Tromso. There are internal flights which are cheap too.

Thank you. Bergen sounds good I might look into that. I think we’d like to see a bit of coast and or fjords rather than a big city like Oslo. Thanks very much for responding!

There's a classic tour called Norway in a Nutshell - you can have it all arranged for you but it's easy enough to do yourself. It's Oslo - Bergen (or vice versa) stopping off at an intermediate station for a ride on the Flåm Railway and then on to a sightseeing boat for a tour of the Fjords. The boat drops you off at a place where you get a bus to the next station on the route to Bergen and you can get the train the rest of the way.

It would be a long day (when we did it we stayed overnight in Flåm, which was great) but definitely doable. Bergen is a lovely place.

Not terribly helpful, but having binge watched Ice Road Rescue, which is set in Norway, I really want to go too.

Maybe watch that?

We did the railway described by OP and stayed in Aurland near Flam for two nights. Preferred Oslo to Bergen but both lovely. We had an ‘Oslo pass’ for some amazing museums. Science museum and the Polar exploration museum were incredible. Kids similar ages to yours when we went. Brilliant parks everywhere.

Voss is the only place I’ve heard of - might just be skiing in the winter though.

I went with teen dd for a weekend in Oslo and really enjoyed it. The viking ship museum, and the neighbouring one with all the old buildings. The Mathallen food market. The ski jump. Park with statues. Opera house. The castle on the fjord. I went in February and it was bitterly cold - would love to go back in the summer for longer and also do Bergen and the Flam railway. It is expensive - especially drinks.

Bergan is lovely. We used to stay on Sojnford and get the boat. The trip was stunning.

Entry to the museums was free for dd as I recall as under 18. She got a very cheap transport pass too.

The Flam railway is stunning as well.

When we went we did between Alesund and Bergen which is relly spectacular scenery and full of fjords. We also went on Flam railway which would recommend and to a Viking museum by there with ax throwing etc. Alesund is very beautiful as well, we did a boat trip from there but went in summer. Also did moose safari but that was further over by Sweden.

Driven from Bergen up to Loen and back, about 600 km. It's an interesting drive, with a few ferry crossings and several (long!) tunnels. Even though this was on a 'main' road, in many places it wasn't much more than a single track.
Scenery is breathtaking of course but the cost of things (like food and/or drink) was eye-watering, especially in the smaller villages.

My best advice (if you drink) is to take a box of wine with you in your suitcase!

The train to Bergen from Geilo is amazing.

Thanks everyone. Some great ideas. I’m leaning towards Bergen as it seems to have lots to do in the city and stunning scenery too. I think we’ll then have an overnight in Oslo to look around.
Great tip about the wine! Thanks so much

Stavanger is nice the petroleum museum is great
www.norskolje.museum.no/en/
Trollstigen is a must the drive to it was spectacular, we saw snow in August fantastic lakes etc
www.fjordnorway.com/top-attractions/trollstigen