Bergen - The picturesque Norwegian harbor city
Bergen – “the gateway to the fjords”: Sognefjord, Nærøyfjord, Aurlandsfjord and Hardangerfjord to just name a few of the fjords around Bergen, which can easily be visited within a daytrip or less.
Also the small city itself is worth a visit. You can slow down while walking through the small streets and along colorful, wooden houses or while enjoying some fresh sea food in the picturesque harbor.
Table of Contents
- Top things to see and do in Bergen
- Explore Bergen on a walking tour
- Bryggen
- The Bergen fish market
- Sydnes & Johanneskirken
- Fantoft Stavkirke
- Ulriken mountain top and Ulriksbanen
- Pepperkakebyen – The gingerbread city
- How to plan your visit to Bergen
- How to get to Bergen
- How to get around Bergen
- Where to stay in Bergen
When traveling from Oslo to Bergen by train, do not miss the “Norway in a Nutshell” train ride. By this, you will already be able to visit two of those Fjords: Aurlandsfjord and the famous Nærøyfjord.
But do not get unsettled by this outlook – the city itself and its special charm will brighten up your day anyways!
Even if the weather is not that nice, do not let it stop you from exploring the city and the narrow streets.
Going on a city walk – DIY or via an official tour operator – is the best way do explore the city of Bergen. Find following some ideas for your city walk itinerary.
Bryggen
The famous colorful houses on the harbor side of Bergen are the main postcard motiv of Bergen. Do not miss to go inside and explore the small alleys: there are stores and cafés hidden inside.
The Bergen fish market
A must for every fish lover. You can buy fresh fish or eat directly at one of the many stalls inside the market hall.
Sydnes & Johanneskirken
Sydnes is a traditional neighbourhood in the city of Bergen. Here you can find typical wodden houses, narrow streets and the postcard-picture perfect scenery of a typical Norwegian city as it used to be. The Johanneskirken is one of the many churches in Bergen and located in the district of Sydnes. Not just the church itself is impressive, but also the view from the hill, it stands on.
Fantoft Stavkirke
We unfortunately did not make it there, but if you have some spare time, you should not miss to visit the Fantoft Stavkirke outside of Bergen. It is a typical Norwegian church built completely out of wood. It can be reached by train from the city center (Line 1; Start at Bystasjonen and get off at Fantoft station).
Ulriken mountain top and Fløibahn
When in Bergen, the visit of the mountain “Ulriken” is a must. It is the highest peak of the seven mountains and offers great views over the city and the adjacent northern sea.
Within just a couple of minutes, the “Fløibahn” – a funicular – takes you up to the peak. The Fløibahn has its lower station close to the harbor side. Thus, you can easily connect a visit with a stroll thorugh the city center. A roundtrip costs about 150 NOK (15€) per Person.
Another Alternative is the “Ulriksbanen”. The lower station of the Ulriksbanen is not located at the city center and you have to take a bus or the car to get there. Prices for a roundtrip with this cablecar are around 345 NOK (35€) per Person. You also have to consider, that this cablecar only operates between April and September and is closed during the winter months.
Pepperkakebyen – The gingerbread city
When visiting Bergen in winter, you should not miss the “biggest gingerbread city of the world”. An exhibition of hundreds of gingerbread houses and sculptures, illuminated with atmospheric light and embedded in artificial snow.
The houses were built by children of the surrounding schools and kindergardens. Pepperkakebyen is a well-persevered tradition, which was first established in 1991. The exhibition puts you directly in a Christmas mood and is the perfect thing to do for families – or everyone who just loves Christmas.
How to plan a visit at Pepperkakebyen?
The houses, churches and other small buildings are only displayed for a few weeks in November/December and is definitely a must-see in Bergen at this time of the year.
Tickets are around 70 NOK (7€) and can be bought directly at the entrance. The exhibition is located at a former swimming pool at the city center (Småstrandgaten 3).
How to get to to Bergen
I would recommend to travel to Bergen by train and take the scenic “Norway in a Nutshell” – Tour from Oslo. If you want to skip the “touristic” part, you can also take the “normal train” from Oslo to Bergen.
How to get around Bergen
When in Bergen, you can easily walk your way trough the city or take the public transportation. No rental car needed.
Like many other cities Bergen offers a special discount card, which applies to many things like transportation, sightseeing and food. The Bergen Card can be purchased for 24, 48, 72 or 96 hours and costs between 280 (24 hours) NOK and 500 NOK (96 hours).
Where to stay in Bergen
I recommend to stay at the “City Box Bergen” – Hotel. It provides clean and spacious rooms. The big advantage is, that there is a shared area, which offers places to sit and a small kitchen. You can prepare your own food and drinks and eat them here. As eating-out in restaurants in Norway is extremely expensive, it is a huge money-saver to have a possibility to cook for yourself.
