Bergen, also known as the gateway to Norway’s famous fjords, sits on the country’s southwestern coast. Once an important Hanseatic trading center, Bergen is not only loaded with history, but its natural beauty is in a league of its own. If a visit to Norway’s fjords is on your bucket list, stay in Bergen as a convenient base for your adventure.
Ready for an unforgettable trip to Norway? After spending three days in this UNESCO World Heritage City, I’ve put together a list of the best things to do in beautiful Bergen!
Bryggen Wharf
Wandering through colorful Bryggen is like taking a walk through history. Featuring a collection of well-preserved wooden buildings and quaint streets, the wharf is a must-see on any trip to Bergen. Although this former Hanseatic trading port has been damaged by numerous fires throughout the years, the buildings have been carefully restored on their original foundations each time.
Located in the city center, Bryggen consists of many shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants. Spend a few hours strolling through the area and learning about the significant part it played in European trade for many years.
Fish Market
Bergen’s Fish Market is a popular tourist attraction in the heart of the city. Open for business since the 13th century, the market played a crucial role in the local economy. An essential trading place for fishermen and local farmers, it was the center of life in Bergen for years.
Although the Fish Market is more of a tourist spot today, it’s a great place to sample fresh seafood. In addition to fish, you can also find other local goods including fruits and vegetables, flowers and handcrafted souvenirs. Consisting of an indoor market and restaurants, which are open year round, and a seasonal outdoor area, there’s plenty to see at this iconic spot.
Hike Mount Floyen
The City Between Seven Mountains, Bergen offers no shortage of opportunities to get outside and explore its natural landscape. Mount Floyen is the easiest to access from the city center, making it one of the best things to do in Bergen. Starting from the Floibanen Funicular, take the stairs past the building and continue following the switchback trail through the town, across a park, into the forest and up the mountain. Going up it takes about forty-five minutes to an hour to reach the Mount Floyen Lookout, while the descent only takes around thirty minutes.
Note: The hike is pretty steep, but luckily there are lots of amazing viewpoints where you can stop and take a break along the way!
Floibanen Funicular
If you’re not feeling up for a hike, take the Floibanen Funicular up Mount Floyen instead. The ride on the cable car takes about six minutes to reach the top, so if you’re short on time this is a great option! Enjoy the exquisite scenery, then either jump back on the funicular or hike down to the city center.
Museums
Rainy days are a common occurrence here, so I’d recommend having a few indoor activities in mind for when you want to escape the wet weather. If you find yourself caught in the rain, one of the best things to do in Bergen is to stop by one of the city’s museums to pass the time. A few choices in the city center include Bergen Maritime Museum, Bryggens Museum and Bergenhus Fortress.
Bergen Maritime Museum
One of Norway’s best and oldest museums, the Bergen Maritime Museum provides visitors with an intriguing look into Norway’s maritime history. Ship models, maps and other naval artifacts are a few features guests can look forward to seeing here.
Bryggens Museum
An archeological museum displaying a variety of artifacts found during excavations of the site following the 1955 fire.
Bergenhus Fortress & Museum
A 13th century fortress featuring a small museum, Haakon’s Hall and Rosencrantz Tower.
Fjord Tour
The one thing you have to do on a visit to Bergen… a fjord tour!! During my 3 days in Bergen, I went on two different tours and they’re some of my favorite travel experiences to date.
Norway In A Nutshell
The first tour I’d suggest is the Sognefjord Tour with Norway In A Nutshell. I’ll be honest, it’s pretty pricey for an unguided tour. However, if there’s one thing you splurge on in Norway, it’s an opportunity to cruise the fjords! The company organizes all transportation and provides you with tickets and directions for each transfer throughout the journey. While you could book each ticket independently to save money, as a first time visitor, I appreciated the convenience of having everything arranged for me.
A completely customizable experience, Sognefjord In A Nutshell allows you to choose whether you whether you want to make it a day trip or extend your adventure over several days. You can even end your voyage in Oslo, rather than returning to Bergen.
Because I only had 3 days in Norway, I opted for the day trip option, starting and ending in Bergen. First, the tour began in the city center with a train ride from Bergen to Voss on the Bergen Railway. In Voss, I caught a bus to Gudvangen, where I then hopped on board a boat for a serene cruise on the Sognefjord’s glass-like water. Known as the “King of the Fjords”, Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord. Get your camera ready because the views are absolutely breathtaking!
After two hours on the boat, I arrived in Flam, an adorable village at the base of the mountains. Here I spent some free time having lunch, shopping and exploring the area before the next leg of the journey.
Next up; a scenic ride on the Flam Railway. Often called the world’s most beautiful train ride, the trip from Voss to Myrdal definitely lives up to expectations! The landscape is remarkable and the ride is the icing on the cake of an already incredible day. Upon arrival in Myrdal, I changed trains and ended the day back in Bergen that evening.
Mostraumen Fjord Cruise
If you’re looking for a shorter and less expensive way to see Norway’s fjords, the Mostraumen Fjord Cruise is for you!
Only three hours long, the boat cruise departs near the Fish Market in Bergen. The catamaran used for the tour is smaller than the one used to cruise Sognefjord and it felt like we were able to get much closer to the mountains as we cruised by them. Waterfalls, colorful houses and small villages dotted along the water’s edge are highlights of the trip. The scenery, not as jaw-dropping as it was on the Sognefjord cruise, was still very beautiful.
All in all, I really enjoyed both cruises and either one would be a great option depending on your time and budget!
Explore The City Center
Bergen’s city center is very compact and exploring on foot is one of the best things to do during your visit. Have a leisurely afternoon traversing the cobblestone streets, popping into charming shops and kicking back with a coffee in a Byparken City Park. Godt Brod and Dromedar Kaffebar were two of my favorite cafes during my 3 days in Bergen.
Miscellaneous Bergen Travel Notes
- Bergen is expensive! It’s completely worth visiting, but be prepared for high prices. During my 3 days in Bergen, I saved money by taking advantage of the complimentary breakfast at my hotel, ordering seafood soups from fish markets instead of sit-down entrees and grabbing snacks from the grocery store.
- Take the Flybussen (Airport Bus) from the airport to the city center. It’s clean, convenient and less expensive than taking a taxi.
- Bergen is one of the wettest places in all of Europe. Chances are that it’ll rain at some point during your visit, so make sure to bring plenty of warm and waterproof clothing.
Summary
Whether you only have a few days or longer, I hope you love Norway as much as I do! 3 days in Bergen is just enough time to check a fjord cruise off your bucket list, sample traditional Scandinavian seafood and take in the sights in the city center.
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Have you been to this beautiful city? What do you think are some of the best things to do in Bergen?
