Bergen is located within the Byfjord, on the North and Norwegian Seas, and is one of the most important ports in Norway. Some of Bergen’s suburbs are located on neighboring islands, and the city is surrounded by mountains – the highest peak is Ulriken, 643 m above sea level.
How to get around the city?
Bergen is very well connected. Flesland International Airport is located 20 km from the city, and you can get there easily via a tram line that starts from the city center. In Bergen itself, the easiest way to get around is by bus operated by Skyss. City bicycles and scooters are also popular means of transport, and they can be found everywhere.
Fjord cruise
If you want to visit Norway’s largest fjords, it is worth planning a stay in Bergen, which is an excellent base for both Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord. During your stay in Bergen, it is worth taking a cruise around the fjords – the city is the so-called gateway. There are various options to choose from and you can decide on the length of the cruise and its route. This is an indispensable point of your trip when in Bergen. It is worth booking the cruise in advance on the website.
TOP 3 fjord cruises from Bergen:
– Full day cruise to Flåm
– Cruise to Mostraumen
– Cruise to the Alversund streams
Sognefjord
Sognefjord
Hardangerfjord
Hardangerfjord
Bergenhus Fortress
The Bergenhus Fortress: Bergenhus is a distinguished landmark for those who arrive in Bergen by sea. Bergenhus Fortress was built and completed in 1261 to protect the entrance to the port of Bergen. The King Haakon’s Hall is the only surviving part of the royal palace built by King Haakon IV Haakonsson (1217–1263). It is a three-story building with a cellar in the basement, a number of rooms on the first floor and a large hall in the uppermost storey.
Bergenhus Fortress Museum: The building is constructed of stone, mostly massive coursed rubble, but with corners, windows and doors in ashlar. Bergenhus Fortress Museum is located in the storehouse building and was opened on 9 April 2006 by resistance hero Gunnar Sønsteby. It holds three separate exhibitions called the Women’s contribution to the defence, The Resistance in the Bergen area in during Worl War II and The Bergen press in a time of crisis.
You will find Bergenhus Fortress located next to Bryggen Wharf in Bergen.
Akvariet i Bergen – The National Aquarium
One of the finest and most extensive collections of marine fauna in Europe. The Bergen Aquarium is located on the outermost point of Nordnes, with a delightful view over the approach to the port of Bergen. Seals and penguins playing in the large pools welcome visitors to the Aquarium that has as one of Europe’s largest collections of fish and invertebrates. One million liters of clean seawater are pumped up from depth of 130 meters, allowing as one of the few aquariums in the world to keep a shoal of herring. In addition, they have a number of 100.000 liter fresh water aquariums containing fish from all parts of the world.Here are waterfalls and nesting cliffs and presentation of parts Norwegian coastal culture. There are altogether 9 large and 42 smaller tanks, 3 outdoor pools with seals, penguins and carps.
VilVite – Bergen Science Center
Keep your family entertained discovering the secrets of the human body and learning about important cycles in nature. Play with the water and explore the ocean floor. Take on the challenge and feel the physics by spinning 360 degrees upside down. Create something new in the creativity workshop and end the day with a science show full of exciting experiments. At VilVite you can discover the joy of learning!
Bryggen
The historic district of Bryggen was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a well-preserved old port building. The buildings here are made of wood and, unfortunately, because of this, fires often broke out in Bryggen and consumed entire houses. some of them burned completely, and some were only partially preserved. Despite everything, some of the old buildings have survived to this day and are in great condition. Walking between the colorful wooden houses, you may have the impression that time has stopped here. For those curious about what the interiors of houses in Bryggen looked like in the past, special exhibitions have been created in the Hanatice Museum. There we will see not only the interior design, but also learn about traditions and scenes from merchant life. In the past, Bryggen was full of life and trade took place here. Today it is a place most frequently visited by tourists. there is no shortage of small restaurants, cafes and shops selling souvenirs from Bryggen.
Fløibanen
Take a walk and enjoy the beautiful views and winding roads from Fløyen Mountain down to the city center. If you don’t like steep climbs, you can take the Fløibanen cable car to the top and down to the center of Bergen. This is a popular walk suitable for all ages and takes approximately 1 hour (or less if you like to walk quickly). Needless to say, you can also walk to Fløyen – it just takes a little longer. The Fløibanen cable car has several stops on its way up the mountainside. If you don’t feel like walking all the way down, you can, for example, take the cable car halfway down to Fjellveien and walk the last part of the journey. This is especially useful in winter when ice may appear on the mountain. During this walk you will have the perfect opportunity to take great photos of the fantastic views and charming old wooden buildings.
Fantoft stavkirke
Fantoft stave church – a stave church located in Bergen (suburb of Fana), Norway. Currently, it is a faithful copy of the former church, burned down in 1992. The original church was built around 1150, in the village of Fortun next to the Sognefjord. In the 19th century, as in many other cases, the inhabitants decided to demolish it to build a new, larger temple. The old church was sold and demolished – in 1879, the consul from Bergen, Fredrik Georg Gade, bought it and ordered it to be transported to its current location. After the church was built in 1883, its appearance was slightly changed, mainly the roof – new elements were added, including: ridge decorations in the shape of dragon heads. In 1916, Jacob Kjone, a lover of wooden architecture, became the owner.
Troldhaugen
One of the most popular attractions in Bergen is the Edvard Grieg Museum – Troldhaugen. This charming house provides an incredible insight into the life of the famous composer, and you can fully immerse yourself in his music. Located 10 kilometres (6 miles) south of Bergen, it may seem a little daunting to reach. Most tour companies do include a visit to the museum, as do most cruise ships.A lot of people also don’t fully realise who Edvard Grieg is or why the museum is so important.
