Bergen

The “Gateway to the Fjords”: a port city ringed by seven mountains, with the World Heritage–listed colorful wooden wharf of Bryggen and a fish market, and the starting point for Norway's fjord trips.

Bergen lies on Norway's west coast. It is Norway's second-largest city, a major Hanseatic trading hub in northern Europe, surrounded by seven mountains, and the starting point for trips to the fjords of Western Norway. This destination focuses on Bergen city and its surroundings: the World Heritage–listed colorful wooden houses of Bryggen on the north side of the harbor, the Bryggens Museum, the Hanseatic Museum and St. Mary's Church; Bergenhus Fortress and Håkon's Hall at the harbor entrance; the Fish Market and the KODE art museums by the lake; the Fløibanen funicular or the Ulriken cable car for views over the city, and for the fit, the Vidden plateau trail between the two mountains; to the south, Troldhaugen, Grieg's home, and Fantoft Stave Church, and farther out, Ole Bull's villa on Lysøen. To see a fjord in a day, take the 3-hour Mostraumen fjord cruise from the Fish Market; the Sognefjord (Norway in a Nutshell), Hardangerfjord, Geiranger and Pulpit Rock are farther away and best planned as separate destinations. May–September is best for cruises and hiking, and in June–July it is still light at 11 p.m.; winters are rainy, but December brings a Christmas market and a gingerbread town. Bergen gets over 200 days of rain a year, so a waterproof jacket is essential. The airport light rail takes about 45 minutes to the city center; the Bergen Railway from Oslo takes about 7 hours. Allow 2–3 days in the city; most sights are walkable. Norway is expensive, and supermarket ready-made food can save money.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries