Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and is known as “The Gateway to the Fjords”, and some believe that Bergen is the most beautiful city in Norway. The most popular fjord cruises start from Bergen Bus Station, Bergen Railway Station and from Bergen Strandkaiterminal.
Mt Fløien and Fløibanen Funicular, the UNESCO World Heritage protected Bryggen in Bergen and the composer Edvard Grieg’s home Troldhaugen are three of the main attractions in Bergen.
Visit Bergen
Visit Bergen is the official destination company for Bergen.
Bergen – The Gateway to the Fjords
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and is known as “The Gateway to the Fjords”, and some believe that Bergen is the most beautiful city in Norway.
Bergen is also the gateway to the Hardangerfjord. The most popular fjord cruises start from Bergen Bus Station, Bergen Railway Station and from Bergen Strandkaiterminal.
Mt Fløien and Fløibanen Funicular, the UNESCO World Heritage protected Bryggen in Bergen and the composer Edvard Grieg’s home Troldhaugen are three of the main attractions in Bergen.
Bryggen (The Hanseatic Wharf) in Bergen has since 1979 been on UNESCO´s list over World Cultural Heritage Sites. Bryggen is a series of wooden houses along Bergen Harbour, originating from the Hanseatic (German) activities in Bergen from around year 1350.
At the innermost part of Vågen, the Bergen Harbour, you find the famous Fish Market where you can buy all sorts of fish, shellfish and local products from the fishermen and farmers in the Bergen area.
If you visit Bergen, you should take the Fløibanen Funicular to Mt Fløyen. Both Fløibanen and Fløyen are great experiences, with the best view over Bergen City, Vågen Harbour and Byfjorden (the City Fjord).
Bergen – What to see and do
Bergen Fish Market – At the innermost part of Vågen, the Bergen Harbour, you find the famous Fish Market where you can buy all sorts of fish, shellfish and local products from the fishermen and farmers in the Bergen area.
Bryggen (The Hanseatic Wharf) in Bergen has since 1979 been on UNESCO´s list over World Cultural Heritage Sites. Bryggen is a series of wooden houses along Bergen Harbour, originating from the Hanseatic (German) activities in Bergen from around year 1350. There has been several fires during the years, and the oldest remaining building is reckoned to be from around year 1702. The buildings were taken over by Norwegians in year 1754.
Fløibanen and Mt Fløien – If you visit Bergen, you should take the Fløibanen Funicular to Mt Fløyen. Both Fløibanen and Fløyen are great experiences, with the best view over Bergen City, Vågen Harbour and Byfjorden (the City Fjord). At Mt Fløyen you have Fløien Folkerestaurant and Fløien Shop and Café. Mt Fløyen is a great starting point for hiking in the surrounding mountains. And there are also many activities for children, like the Troll Forest and the best playground in Bergen.
Bergen Cable Car at Mt Ulriken is a great start for getting a view over Bergen and it´s surrounding nature. The cable car start at Landås, close to Montana Youth Hostel, and ends at Mt Ulriken (643 masl). During summer, you can do the 13 kilometer long hike over “Vidden”, the mountain from Mt Ulriken to Fløien, and then take the Fløibanen Funicular down to the center of Bergen. At Mt Ulriken, there are also a restaurant.
Edvard Grieg´s home Troldhaugen – The composer Edvard Grieg’s home Troldhaugen is situated at Hop, approximately ten kilometer outside Bergen. Edvard Grieg´s house was built in 1885 and is now a museum. The composer´s hut and Nina and Edvard Grieg´s tomb are located down by the lake in a close distance to the house. Troldsalen Music Hall is a new concert hall which is used for concerts. There is also a café at Troldhaugen.
KODE Museums – Consiting of seven Museums and Composers Homes, KODE Museums has more than 50.000 Paintings, Sculptures, Fine Craft and Installations. The homes of the three composers from Bergen; Edvard Grieg, Ole Bull and Harald Sæverud are all part of KODE, and many concerts are arranged in these homes. The other four KODE Museums are LYSVERKET (temporary exhibitions and permanent works from the collection), RASMUS MEYER (Works by Edvard Munch and other Norwegian artists), STENERSEN (alternating exhibitions, contemporary art, architecture, handicraft and graphic art ) and PERMANENTEN (temporary exhibitions, both contemporary art and works from own collection).
Bergen Aquarium – At Nordnes, the outer part of Vågen (Bergen Harbour), you find the largest aquarium in Norway, Akvariet i Bergen. The aquarium is a great playground for people in all ages, and of course fun for children. With more than 500 species, there are special events every hour during the opening hours. Sea Lion training, Penguin feeding and Guided Tours are some of the events.
Fjord Tours from Bergen
Bergen is known as “The Gateway to the Fjords”. With boats from Strandkaiterminalen at Bergen Harbour and with bus and train from Bergen Bus Station and Bergen Railway Station there are numerous fjord tours to choose between.
We recommend several tours from Bergen. One of them starts with bus from Bergen to Norheimsund. On this tour you will experience a fjord cruise on the Hardangerfjord, from Norheimsund to Eidfjord.
Another tour starts with train on the Bergen Railway from Bergen via the wild and beautiful Flåm Railway to Flåm by the Aurlandsfjord. From Flåm you take a fjord cruise on the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord.
Hotels and Where to stay in the Bergen area
KLOSTERHAGEN HOTEL at Strangehage 2 in Bergen is a small but great hotel. The hotel has 15 high standard rooms at a favourable price. The hotel´s breakfast has a very good reputation. It is only a short 12 minutes walk from the Fish Market to the hotel.
OPUS XVI HOTEL AND RESTAURANT is located in the heart of Bergen, at Vågsalmenningen, only a short walk from the Fish market. The hotel is classic, yet modern and luxurious. There is a brand new restaurant, bar and café at the hotel, offering seafood and local produce food.
BERGEN BØRS HOTEL is located in the heart of Bergen, at Vågsalmenningen, a short walk from the Fish market. With it´s elegant rooms and suites, restaurant and bar, and the central location, this is a great hotel to stay at if you want to explore Bergen City.
MONTANA YOUTH HOSTEL at Landås is a great and reasonable low-budget accommodation at the hillside by Mt Ulriken and close to Bergen Cable Car that takes you to the top of Mt Ulriken (643 masl). The hostel is situated five kilometers from the city center of Bergen with good bus-connection between the city and the hostel. Also excellent parking, free of charge for guests.
HOTEL HAVNEKONTORET is located right in the middle of Bergen’s Bryggen area that is characterised by charming streets and historic buildings. With the best location in town, and an elegance shaped by local history and Baroque Revival architecture, the Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret now stands as one of the smartest hotels in Bergen.
Where to eat in the Bergen area
Hoggorm (Viper) Pizza in Nygårdsgaten close to Grieghallen Concert Hall. A good friend of mine said this, quote: –This pizza is simply out of the ordinary. You just have to visit this restaurant, nothing can compare to this extremely great food.
Bryggeloftet & Stuene at Bryggen is a great old fashion and a “genuine traditional Bergen” Restaurant. Try the traditional Raspeball every Thursday, or during November and December the traditional Christmas menu, but be sure to book in advance.
Enhjørningen Seafood Restaurant at Bryggen is the oldest fish restaurant in Bergen. Enhjørningen has always been considered to be one of the last Hanseatic restaurants, and the seafood is recommended with great reviews.
Spisekroken Restaurant is located at Klosteret on Nordnes, close to the city center. The restaurant is small, but the food is great. The menu changes with the seasons, and the specialities are dishes of calf. The fish is wild-caught white fish and changes from day to day depending on what the fish supplier has to offer.
Kaf Kafé is a cozy café at Bryggen. The coffee and the Cinnamon Buns are superb. And of course, lots of other things to eat, drink and buy.
Bare – Restaurant Bare is located on Torgalmenningen in Bergen in the same building as Børs Hotel. Bare has several restaurants.
Lysverket – Restaurant Lysverket is located in Rasmus Meyers Allé in Bergen. The restaurant has one Michelin plate and is located in the same building as Lysverket Museum, one of four KODE museums in Bergen.
Bekkjarvik Gjestegiveri – Why not combine a Fjord Cruise with a great meal. Take a speedboat from Strandkaiterminalen in Bergen to Bekkjarvik Gjestegiveri at Austevoll where you can experience high standard cuisine based on local ingredients. The cruise will take you around 90 minutes. Bekkjarvik Gjestegiveri also provides accommodation.
Bergen – Some Pictures
The Hardangerfjord Area – What to See and Do
The Hardangerfjord area, the orchard of Norway, is known for Summer Skiing at Folgefonna Glacier and a spectacular fruit tree blossoming in spring.
Lake Bondhusvatnet and the Bondhusbreen Glacier in Kvinnherad was one of the first places the English tourists visited when they discovered Norway in the mid 1800´s.
Drive in the Hardanger area and see the Vøringsfossen Waterfall in Måbødalen in Eidfjord, the Låtefoss Waterfall in Oddadalen and all the other great waterfalls in the Hardangerfjord area.
In summer, you can take part in a Cider Cruise on the Hardangerfjord, where you can combine a fjord cruise in beautiful nature with a visit to some of the local farms along the fjord. Remember that if you want to visit local cider producers, you must book this in advance.
Odda, in the heart of Sørfjorden, has now transformed from an industrial town into an adventure town. Trolltunga Active and Trolltunga Adventures are based at Odda, and offers guiding and equipment rental. Some of the adventures they offer are Trolltunga hikes, the Dronningstien hike, Via Ferrata Trolltunga and Tyssedal, Fjord Adventures and Winter Adventures.
Combine a fjord cruise on the Hardangerfjord with a trip to Måbødalen to see the mighty Vøringsfossen Waterfall from the new viewing platform and viewing bridge built in connection with the Hardangervidda National Tourist Route.
The Hardangerfjord is located in the county of Vestland, near Bergen, in the middle of Western Norway. Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and is known as The Gateway to the Fjords. Bergen is also the gateway to the Hardangerfjord.