Two worlds, one adventure: this 11-day Norway and Panama itinerary threads together Oslo’s modern Nordic culture, Bergen’s fjord-facing heritage, and a cruise-style finale in Panama City with the legendary Panama Canal. You’ll ride one of Europe’s great rail journeys, taste new-Nordic and Panamanian flavors, and sail tropical waters teeming with wildlife.

Norway’s capital blends Viking history with bold architecture—the Oslo Opera House and the National Museum sit minutes from medieval Akershus Fortress. Bergen, a UNESCO port ringed by seven mountains, is your fjord gateway with wooden warehouses at Bryggen and viewpoints over the North Sea.

In Panama, centuries of maritime lore come alive as ships climb the locks of the Canal. Between canal transits and Gatun Lake safaris, you’ll wander Casco Viejo’s cobbles, sip top-tier coffee, and cruise to islands with Caribbean-blue water. Practical note: Norway is mildest May–September; Panama’s dry season runs roughly December–April.

Oslo

Days 1–4: Oslo’s art, waterfront, and modern Nordic flavors

Welcome to a capital where fjord air meets design-forward museums. Stroll the white-marble roof of the Oslo Opera House, then follow the waterfront promenade to cafés and sculpture parks. Don’t miss the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the world’s largest sculpture park by a single artist, and the National Museum for Edvard Munch beyond The Scream.

On Bygdøy Peninsula, dive into exploration at the Fram and Kon-Tiki museums—polar expeditions and ocean-crossing ingenuity under one sky. If you’re traveling with kids, the hands-on Norwegian Maritime Museum ties it all together on a quiet strip of shoreline.

• Morning coffee/breakfast: Tim Wendelboe (benchmark Norwegian espresso bar), Fuglen (mid-century interiors, pour-overs), or Godt Brød for sourdough buns and kanelboller.
• Lunch ideas: Mathallen food hall (smoked salmon, reindeer wraps, and moose burgers under one roof), Fiskeriet Youngstorget for fish soup and fish ‘n’ chips.
• Dinner: Maaemo (three-Michelin-star tasting menu; book well ahead), Hot Shop (seasonal Scandinavian plates, Michelin-starred), or Ekspedisjonshallen at Sommerro (grand brasserie, live music).
• Evening drinks: Himkok (award-winning cocktail bar with a house distillery) or Brygg for craft beer and board games.

Where to stay: Browse central apartments and hotels near the Opera House/Barcode or Majorstuen for easy tram access: VRBO Oslo stays and Hotels.com Oslo deals.

Getting to Oslo: Fly into OSL (Gardermoen). From major U.S. hubs, nonstop or one-stop flights typically run 7–11 hours, economy fares ~$350–$800 depending on season. Compare options on Omio flights (to/from Europe) or multi-city options via Kiwi.com. The Airport Express train to central Oslo takes ~20 minutes.

Bergen

Days 5–7: UNESCO Bryggen, mountain views, and fjord day-trips

Bergen’s pastel warehouses at Bryggen whisper of Hanseatic trade and salty voyages. Ride the Fløibanen funicular for a panorama over tiled roofs and fishing boats, or take the cable car to Mount Ulriken for longer ridge hikes.

Art lovers can wander the KODE museums (Grieg, Munch, and more), while foodies sample the Fish Market (look for shrimp sandwiches and fish cakes). If time allows, book a fjord cruise to Mostraumen or Osterfjord—narrow passages, waterfalls, and goat-dotted slopes.

• Coffee/breakfast: Kaffemisjonen (third-wave coffee), Det Lille Kaffekompaniet beneath Fløyen, or Smakverket for hearty toasts.
• Lunch: Bare Vestland (modern takes on raspeballer and cured lamb), Trekroneren for Norway’s most famous hot dogs.
• Dinner: Cornelius Sjømathus (boat-access seafood destination—ask about their “meteorological menu”), Pingvinen for homestyle Norwegian classics, or 1877 for seasonal tasting menus in an old meat market building.

Where to stay: Choose the harborfront for views, or quiet neighborhoods near Nygårdshøyden: VRBO Bergen options and Hotels.com Bergen stays.

Getting from Oslo to Bergen (morning departure): Take the scenic Bergen Railway (6.5–7 hours, ~$40–$120). It’s one of Europe’s great rides across the Hardangervidda plateau—book seats on Omio trains. Prefer flying? It’s ~50 minutes, fares ~$60–$150 on Omio flights.

Day 8: Travel from Bergen to Panama City

Fly from Bergen (BGO) to Panama City (PTY) with one stop via Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, or Frankfurt. Expect ~14–17 hours total travel time including layover; economy fares often range ~$650–$1,100 outside peak holiday periods.

Compare transatlantic options on Omio flights (to/from Europe). In Panama City, taxis and rideshares are common; the Metro is clean and inexpensive for central trips.

Panama City

Days 9–11: Panama Canal, Casco Viejo, islands, and jungle wildlife

Few places fuse old and new like Panama City. Watch skyscrapers shimmer over the Pacific, then step into Casco Viejo, a 17th-century quarter of tile-roofed mansions, plazas, and churches. The headline act, of course, is the Panama Canal—a 50-mile engineering marvel linking oceans since 1914.

Build your time around canal navigation, island cruising, and rainforest encounters. Tours often include hotel pickup; early-morning starts keep you ahead of heat and traffic.

• Signature Canal experience: Navigate the locks and live the story of global trade on the Panama Canal Partial Tour - Northbound direction.

  

  Expect ~5–6 hours with commentary through Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks; great for photos as ships rise and fall in the chambers.
• Old Town deep dive: Join the Legends of Casco Viejo Tour: Uncover Hidden Gems.

  

  Learn the area’s pirate tales, French canal-era stories, and get insider tips for rooftop bars and artisan shops.
• Wildlife by boat: Speed across Gatun Lake on the Monkey and Sloth Jungle Habitat Panama Tour.

  

  Glide past “Monkey Islands,” spot capuchins, three-toed sloths, and toucans—nature viewing right beside the Canal’s shipping lanes.
• Island day out: Trade skyline for sea breeze on the All Inclusive Taboga Island Catamaran Tour from Panama City.

  

  Swim in a calm bay, wander the historic village, and dance back to the city with views of the Bridge of the Americas.

Local gems around town: Walk the Amador Causeway for skyline views and sea air; stop for raspados (shaved ice) on a hot afternoon. At the Mercado de Mariscos, order a cup of just-made corvina ceviche and people-watch with locals and deckhands.

• Coffee/breakfast: Café Unido (Panama Geisha on bar), Kotowa Coffee House (Boquete beans), or Mentiritas Blancas (baked goods and filter coffee in Casco).
• Lunch: Fonda Lo Que Hay (creative Panamanian plates—try the octopus or yuca), El Trapiche for sancocho and tamal de olla, or ceviche stands inside the Fish Market.
• Dinner: Maito (flagship Panamanian fine dining; rainforest-to-plate), Donde José (intimate tasting menu), or Santa Rita (wine bar with Iberian-Panamanian dishes).
• After dark: Rooftops at Tántalo or Casa Casco, craft pints at La Rana Dorada, or rum cocktails at Pedro Mandinga in Casco Viejo.

Where to stay: Base yourself in Casco Viejo for evenings on foot or near Punta Pacifica for modern towers and easy pickups: VRBO Panama City stays and Hotels.com Panama City deals.

Getting around and timing: Morning departures help beat heat and ship schedules for canal tours. Gatun Lake and Gamboa are ~45–60 minutes from the city; island cruises depart from the Causeway marinas. For flights home, compare fares on Omio flights.

Suggested Multi‑Day Flow

• Days 1–4 (Oslo): Opera House, Vigeland, Bygdøy museums; National Museum; waterfront dining and cocktails.
• Days 5–7 (Bergen): Bryggen, Fløibanen, Ulriken; fjord cruise; seafood feast.
• Day 8: Fly Bergen → Panama City (PTY).
• Days 9–11 (Panama City): Canal partial transit, Casco Viejo walking tour, Gatun Lake wildlife, Taboga catamaran; ceviche and rooftops.

From fjords to freighters, mountain light to tropical breeze—this itinerary gives you two distinct flavors of the hemisphere in 11 efficient days. You’ll return with museum moments, mountaintop photos, and memories of ships rising through the locks at the edge of the rainforest.