Looking for the very best issues to do in Bergen, Norway? Bergen is residence to picturesque fjords, colourful properties within the historic metropolis heart, a few of the finest hikes on the planet, and world class museums. And that’s simply to start out.
Surrounded by mountains and fjords, Bergen is a metropolis of just about 300,000 individuals on the southwestern coast of Norway. It’s an ideal combination of beautiful pure magnificence, coupled with world class museums and great locations to eat.
If you’re planning a go to to this superb metropolis, listed below are the 20 finest issues to do in Bergen.
Best Things to do in Bergen Norway
Many fortunate guests come to Bergen by way of the Oslo to Bergen practice, probably the most stunning practice rides in Europe.
Bergen is known as the “heart of the fjords“, and it manages small town charm, while being the second largest city in Norway. There are so many places to visit in Bergen, from day trips to the fjords, exploring the historic downtown and museums, and more.
Mount Floyen and the Funicular
The view of Bergen from easily accessible Mount Floyen (320 meters above sea level) is spectacular. It’s likely one of the most popular attractions in Bergen, simply for the stunning bird’s eye view over the city.
The base of the Funicular is conveniently located downtown, and the ride to the top is just over ten minutes.
Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf
Bryggen is the historic center of Bergen. Also known as Tyskebryggen, Bryggen is one of the oldest port cities in Northern Europe. It’s packed with colorful homes, businesses and hotels, situated on narrow, winding streets.
This historic quarter of Bergen is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hanseatic Museum
Hanseatic Museum and Schøtstuene is a museum in the city center of Bergen. It highlights how the Hanseatic merchants lived and influenced Bergen over the course of 400 years.
Bergen Fish Market
The fish market in Bergen dates all the way back to the 1200s.
The Bergen Fish Market is one of Norway’s most visited outdoor markets. Bergen is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. There’s plenty of fresh seafood here, but be sure to try persetorsk, a traditional steamed cod dish from Bergen.
Fun fact about Norway: Norway is the largest exporter of salmon in the world.
If you’re not a seafood lover, the fish market also sells fresh fruit, vegetables, handicrafts and souvenirs.
Mount Ulriken
Ulriken is the highest mountain surrounding Bergen, which sits at 643 meters above sea level.
The Ulriken Cable Car makes it easy to reach the peak, and take in the panoramic views of the surrounding islands, sea, mountains and fjords.
If you’re the energetic type, you can hike to the top with the locals. You can even zipline or paraglide from Ulriken.
Tip: The tourist bus to the base of the mountain is faster than the cheaper local bus.
Stoltzekleiven
Stoltzekleiven is a steep paved trail with stairs that lead up to the top of Sandviksfjellet mountain.
There are over 900 steps on this trail and it’s one of the most popular trails in Bergen.
The mountain is on the east side of the city in the neighborhood of Sandviken, just north of the mountain Fløyen.
Bergenhus Fortress
The Bergenhus Fortress is one of the best preserved stone castles in all of Norway. Dating back to the 1200s, it housed both Kings and criminals alike for centuries. The Rosenkrantz Tower is one of the major sights in the Bergenjus Fortress and is often considered one of the most important renaissance monuments in Norway.
Byparken
Officially called Julemarked Byparken, this beautifully manicured park surrounds a small lake near the train station. There’s a charming gazebo with flowers and plenty of green grass and trees.
Bergen Tourist Information Building
The Bergen Tourist Information Building is near the Fish Market in the city center. It’s a handy place to book activities, fjord tours, get information on Bergen sightseeing, and buy Bergen attractions tickets or the Bergen Card.
Tip: You can buy a Bergen Card at the Tourist Information Building, online, and at some select hotels and stores. The Bergen Card gives you free entry or discounted admission to museums and attractions, events and sightseeing tours, plus discounts on restaurants and parking. A Bergen card gives you free travel on buses in Bergen and the region, as well as the Bergen Light Rail between Bergen airport and the city center. You can buy the card in 24, 48, 72 and 96 hour versions. Prices start at 300 kr (adult) or 100 kr (children 3-15 years of age).
Fantoft Stavkirke Church
Fantoft Stave Church is a reconstructed stave church in the Fana borough of Bergen. It’s a striking building, with its black color making a distinct contrast to most European churches.
University Museum of Bergen (Universitetsmuseet i Bergen)
Bergen is well known for its university. The university, in turn, houses many impressive museum collections.
The University Museum of Bergen (Universitetsmuseet i Bergen) includes the Natural History Collection, the Cultural History Collection, and the Seafaring Museum.
Troldhaugen Edvard Grieg Museum
Famous composer Edvard Grieg (1843–1907) spent his days creating music in Troldhaugen.
It’s a living museum with an exhibition center, shop and cafe, concert hall, composers’ cabin and Grieg’s villa. Guided tours are available, and you can also listen to a concert in the museum’s concert hall.
KODE Art Museums of Bergen
The KODE Museum is made up of four museums, KODE 1, 2, 3 and 4.
- Kode 1 is the museum of craft and design, and it houses the restaurant Bien Centro.
- Kode 2 is home to temporary exhibitions, as well as a large bookstore with information on architecture and design.
- Kode 3 houses the collection by Edvard Munch and the Golden Age of Norwegian Art. Munch is famous for his painting “The Scream”.
- Kode 4 is presently closed for main renovations to the buildings.
The Bergen Maritime Museum
The Bergen Maritime Museum is one in all Norway’s oldest museums. It’s full of replicas of Viking ships in addition to different maritime memorabilia.
VilVite – The Bergen Science Center
VilVite is the place to discover know-how and science, whether or not you’re a child or grownup. There are loads of palms on actions, and reveals on water experiments, robots and globes, making it probably the most enjoyable issues to do in Bergen with the household.
Enjoy the Aquarium
The Bergen Aquarium is Norway’s largest aquarium, and one of many metropolis’s hottest vacationer points of interest. There’s loads of leisure right here, together with sea lion reveals and penguin feedings, making it a should for youths of all ages.
View the Street Art
There’s spray-painted road artwork everywhere in the metropolis of Bergen, a lot of it from world-class road artists.
Make certain to take a look at Skostredet, which is Bergen’s well-known purchasing road, and a really perfect place to begin for a self-guided road artwork tour.
Catch a Concert
Bergen is well-known for its profitable musical bands and artists, like Kygo, Aurora and Röyksopp.
Even in case you can’t catch a giant identify artist within the time of your go to, there are many music venues all through town with glorious up and coming acts.
Day Trips from Bergen
Bergen’s day journeys largely concentrate on visiting the attractive close by fjords and mountains. Bergen is the preferred jumping-off level for visiting Norway’s most well-known fjords. While you’ll be able to go to Norway by bus, it’s often a lot simpler to have your individual transportation, or take a tour.
Fjord Cruise
Bergen is completely nestled between the 2 greatest fjords in Norway, the Hardangerfjord and the Sognefjord. This makes town a really perfect place to begin for fjord excursions.
You’ve probably seen Hardangerfjord’s Trolltunga on social media. Trolltunga is a rock that juts out 700 meters above Ringedalsvatnet lake, making for a surprising picture.
Lots of people be part of within the in style Norway in a Nutshell tour, which helps you to get pleasure from Norway’s UNESCO fjords and mountains. The tour additionally features a trip on the Bergen Railway and the Flåm Railway.
Vidden Trail between Mt. Fløyen and Mt. Ulriken
The hike between Ulriken and Floyen takes simply over 4 hours. It’s a properly marked path, and in style with vacationers and locals alike.
Flåm Railway
The Flåm Railway is commonly described as probably the most stunning practice journeys on the planet. It’s actually one of many steepest as properly. The practice runs from the tip of Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the Sognefjord, as much as the excessive mountains at Myrdal station.
The journey takes round two hours.
Best Things to do in Bergen Norway
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