Bergen – a picturesque, harbor-side city in Norway is out of a sudden a destination everyone is talking about. You’ll find Bergen on most Top 10 cities-lists in Europe and there’s a good reason why!
What Makes Bergen So Special?
Norway’s second biggest city with less than 300,000 inhabitants has seven mountains surrounding the city centre of Bergen, which makes an unique scenery, and therefore it’s often called ‘the city between the seven mountains.’
Bergen has the most beautiful fjords, colorful houses, plentiful museums, and innovative gastronomy all served up alongside a heavy dose of Scandinavia! There are plenty of things to do in Bergen…if you can get past the weather there is!
One Of The Most Beautiful Countries On Earth
After arriving to Bergen from the north of Norway (Vassfaret) and spending more than 3 days here on Norway’s southwestern coast, on my 22nd visit to Norway, I’ll admit I have a weak spot for Norway and its beauty! Now I have a very soft spot for Bergen too! But don’t get too excited before you’re off to Bergen!
The Weather
Yes, there is no denying it, Bergen is allegedly either the wettest city in Europe or the entire world (depending on your internet source.) Around 240 days of rain on average a year, guess I was extremely lucky to have 3 days in the most beautiful sunshine I’ve ever seen with no rain whatsoever. But don’t worry, the hardy Norwegian Vikings have developed plenty of alternative activities for a rainy day!
Furthermore I’ll strongly recommend you to go in July. August is doable too, but July is the best chance you’ll have for no rain!
5 BEST Things To Do In Bergen! (3-Days Itinerary)
These are some of the unmissable things to do in Bergen. Of course, there are plenty more things to do – but for 3 days in Bergen, this should keep you very busy!
1: Take Fløibanen Funicular To Admire the Views From Mt Fløyen
If you’re unlucky to have lots of rain, wait for a break in the weather and head to the Fløibanen funicular, which whisks you up to the top of Mt Fløyen every 15 minutes for the best views of Bergen. Bonus points if you can time it for sunset, there is truly nothing else like it in the world. Beautiful views!
Pro budget tip: For the more adventurous/active traveler you can save yourself some coin and hike up/down or both ways – it’s about an hour up, and there are two pretty decent loop tracks on Mt Fløyen (1.6 km / 5 km) which take you past picturesque lakes and through the forest.
I actually paid for both ways, which was stupid because I chose to walk down! I saw the beautiful scenery and changed my mind up there. It’s 135 NOK (16 dollars) for both ways. You can pay for one way also, which is 65 NOK (8 dollars), which I should’ve done. If you want to save more money and time, I recommend you to buy tickets for Fløibanen online at www.floyen.no in advance. The queue was pretty bad!
Bergen is getting popular!
2: Admire the UNESCO World Heritage Enclave of Bryggen
Bryggen has been ravaged by many fires, the great fire of 1702 in particular. The whole of the city was reduced to ashes, but the foundations had been there since the 12th century, which means that Bryggen is basically unchanged despite the passing centuries. This magical place of wooden buildings and walkways on the harbor front is easily Bergen’s most iconic attraction.
Though there has been plenty of fires over the last 1000 years, (I like to imagine they partied too hard every time,) Bryggen is still the best example left remaining of the overseas Hanseatic Offices and is protected with an UNESCO World Heritage status.
Today it is filled with boutique shops, souvenirs, and cafés, but still has plenty of charm…especially at night when the place is completely deserted and you feel transported back in time. Magic!
3. Try The Freshest Seafood at the Bergen Fish Market
In a country known for the quality of its seafood, you simply can’t visit Bergen without checking the fish market out! There is no better place to try seafood than the ultra-modern Bergen Fish Market with over 30 specialty shops selling small-scale Norwegian produce.
You can try the expensive +$100 Norwegian King Crab or you can go for some cheaper options. Remember Norway is considered one of the most expensive countres in the World, so it probably won’t be cheap no matter what.
I tried a bit of the legendary Norwegian Atlantic Salmon, which is 2. in the World, after New Zealand’s King Salmon, which is the creme de la creme of all salmon. Top choice still!
Enjoy a meal here of some of the freshest seafood in the world, or simply walk through and try to spot as many weird fish species as you can. It literally blew my mind to see the options here! In the summer months there is a large outdoor fish market that takes place every day, but in the winter months there is only the iconic Mathallen Food Hall to keep you warm and dry.
One of the best things to do in Bergen, and given it’s location – you would be sad to miss it!
4. Take a Road Trip Around The Fjords (Or Boat Trip)
Bergen is the Gateway to the Fjords of Norway! The best starting point to experience the most magnificent fjord landscape, with narrow fjords, glaciers, steep mountain sides, beautiful islands and spectacular waterfalls.
From Bergen you can pick from several fjord tours in the Bergen-region, a journey to one of the World’s most popular tourist attractions Nærøyfjorden – the world’s narrowest fjord, which was voted ‘The World’s Top Unspoiled Travel Destination’ by National Geographic in 2004.
Or Just Drive Through The Stunning Landscapes
Nature itself has provided the first letter for many of the superlatives used to describe the fjords and the landscape near Bergen: Stupendous, stunning, spectacular!
You can drive a little further to ‘Hardangervidda’ and the landscape changes completely from mountainous fjords to becoming a huge flat mountain plateau, it largest of its kind in Europe.
Or you can drive to one of Norway’s most famous and majestic waterfalls, Vøringsfossen. An absolute stunner!
5. Take A City Walk In Bergen
Put on your best shoes and get moving in Bergen! It’s not for fun it’s one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Historic wharves and colorful wooden houses in a beautiful Scandinavian design! If it wasn’t for the 240 rainy days in a year here, I would strongly consider moving here after my 3 days here! So cozy!
Bergen has some undercover artistic hot spots too, and I was surprised to find out that the Bergen street art has burgeoned over the last decade largely thanks to a Bansky visit in 2000. Head to Sentralbadet to see one of Bergen’s only legal street art walls or explore around the University of Bergen or the Skostredet neighborhood to spot more creative pieces of art. This city has it all!
See You Next Time, Bergen!
I can’t wait to visit Bergen in winter time too one day and watch the World’s biggest Gingerbread City – the Pepperkakebyen in Bergen, which unfortunately is only a seasonal attraction, but if you’re visiting Bergen in the winter months (November-December,) you should definitely go. It looks amazing.
Bergen, it was a pleasure. I can’t complain too much after 3 sunny days in the World’s wettest city!
Gustav
gus1thego.com
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