Norway is a beautiful, pristine country that is mind-blowing expensive. It is a very refined, detail-oriented place where everything is thoughtful and lovely. It’s also conventional and within the box. You win some, you lose some.
Basically every place accepts credit cards (including bathrooms), so you don't really need to get out cash during your whole trip. You can learn more about sim cards here, but honestly there's high-speed and stable wifi everywhere (including public transportation), so you don't really to buy one.
Take the day train from Oslo to Voss so you can enjoy the incredible views, from entire white landscapes to quaint mountainside villages. Take the 2-hour bus from Voss (incidentally where the world famous luxury water is from) to Odda, so you can rest up for your hike. Full schedule here. If you are coming from Bergen rather than Oslo, the easiest and shortest way by boat, the “Hardangerfjordexpress” from Bergen to Rosendal , with direct bus connection to Odda. The Fjord Cruise between Nordheimsund and Eidfjord runs daily from May to October.
We stayed at the Trolltunga Hotel, really the epitome of Alpine chic. They also help you pack the much needed calories for the hike the next day.
Spring is not a good time to hike, as it’s wet and the snow get slushy. Winter is cold, but according to our guide, it’s one his favorite times, because the fully snow covered trek really brings out another aspect of the wilderness. During the winter, you have to go with a guide (we really recommend Trolltunga Active.) If you plan to hike it during summer, get ready for an hour+ wait at the top for your epic photo. We were pretty lucky when we hiked it, as it was quite clear when we got to the top. The hike can take 11 or 12 hours.
Hopefully you make it down from the mountain 7:45/8ish as the last bus to Bergen departs at 8:40. There's not always direct buses between Odda and Voss, so use this website to find the exact bus you can use.
Bergen is the perfect place to recover from the arduous hike. It’s a slow town, where you can walk around to artisanal shops on the seaside and then the street behind (Øvregaten) has a number of fun antique shops. If you want craft beers and kitschy vibes try Bar Barista. Fjellskål in the fish market serves an super fresh fish, and Bare Vestland is part of Norway’s slow food movement.
Oslo is a lovely city, but just remember that they’re a country of farmers and believe in minimalist decor, even in their architecture. While some of the Viking museums and history are interesting, I found the Royal Palace a little disappointing. However, The Thief is a really lovely boutique hotel with just enough Scandinavian personality.
The best restaurant in the world Maaemo is in on Oslo. My favorite place to work is Kulturhuset, a multi-story multi-area concept, with a library and microbrewery. Has that nice coffee house buzz during the day, and lounge vibe during the evenings.