Weekend trip from Hamburg to Bergen, Norway

You may have seen it on TV or in the magazines – pictures of Bergen and the world famous Norwegian fjords. Today it is easier than ever to experience The Kingdom of the Fjords with your own eyes. 

During your stay you get to see the most spectacular fjord landscapes. Enjoy delicacies from the ocean with fresh sea air next to the open sea. Or what about a lunch concert at the home of Edvard Grieg - one of the World’s most famous composers? Bergen is the perfect combination of nature, culture and interesting urban attractions – all year around. Welcome to a long weekend in Bergen, the World Heritage City and a European City of Culture.

Direct flights from Hamburg to Bergen!
Pick any Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday and book a seat on one of Widerøe's direct flights from Hamburg to Bergen in Norway (booking on wideroe.no) and experience the beautiful autumn and winter in Bergen.

Thursday: The first impression counts!

The timing of the flights are perfect – you leave Thursday at 14:00 and the flight is only about 1 hour and 30 minutes which means you still have a bit of Thursday to see the city.  With the Airport Bus you find yourself at Fisketorget (the Fish Market), right in the heart of Bergen, in less than half an hour. You can save money by booking your Airport Bus in advance. Bergen offers a wide range of hotels and charming bed & breakfast in and around the city center. It is time to open your senses and let the fairytale begin!

The famous Fish Market is Norway’s most famous outdoor market. Let your taste buds run wild to the smell of freshly boiled crab, shrimp and fresh seafood. Sit down and order the specialty of the day at one of the outdoor dining places, and enjoy the smell, tastes and the wonderful atmosphere in the area.

Just a few metres away from the Fish Market you will find Bergen’s most famous attraction - Bryggen. The unique wooden houses are inscripted on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. A walk through the narrow alleys between the leaning houses is like a trip back to the Middle Ages, when Bryggen was a lively centre for international trade.  A visit to Bryggens Museum and Hanseatic Museum gives you a historical insight of Bryggen’s meaning to Bergen and the city’s rich history. At Bryggen, you will experience a lively atmosphere with cafés, bars and small unique shops. Sit down at a café and order a cup of tea and a Skillingsbolle (cinnamon roll) – a tasty local pastry and world known specialty from Bergen.

Bryggen in Bergen- Photo: Sverre Hjørnevik - www.fjordnorway.com

Up on the top!
There is a saying that you haven’t been to Bergen if you have not been on top of one of it’s seven mountains. Just about 150 metres away from Bryggen you will find the Fløibanen Funicular, taking you up to the top of Mt. Fløyen (320 metres above sea level). From here you get an amazing view of Bergen, with the small houses, cars and people underneath your feet, surrounded by mountains, fjords and ocean in the background.

Fløibanen Funicular. Photo: Sverre Hjørnevik

A cultural highlight
In the evening and if you prefer to stay in the city center there is plenty of concerts and events all year round. As a European Capital of Culture, Bergen is a city of music, concerts, shows and festivals. You can visit the Bergen Jazzforum and enjoy lively jazz tunes at their weekly Friday shows, or get tickets to one of Bergen’s concert venues with both big Norwegian and International artists. Check out our What's on calender. If you want that great dining experience check out Lysverket or Colonialen Restaurant for a meal to remember.

Friday: A day in the fjords

Bergen is known as the Gateway to the Fjords of Norway. On Friday morning, it is time to join one of the many fjord cruises from Bergen. Join the Fjordcruise at the Hardangerfjord, a journey through beautiful landscapes of fjords, mountains and the impressive waterfall Vøringsfossen.

Are you visiting Bergen in winter, you can find a selection of winter tours here.

A list of all fjord cruises and tours are avaiable here.

Saturday: Music and art – the perfect combo

Enjoy a good breakfast at your hotel and take a stroll in the beautiful city center and the peninsular called Nordnes. The wooden houses and narrow alleyways are perfect for exploring on foot.

Make time for a lunch concert at the home of one of the world’s most famous composers – Edvard Grieg. Daily from mid April - mid October. At Troldhaugen you can get a tour in Griegs Villa. The building is preserved exactly as it was when Grieg wrote his world known pieces, containing his own furniture and piano from 1892. In newer times, a museum and a concert hall is built, and in Troldsalen you can enjoy Grieg’s music to the same beautiful view that once inspired Grieg as a composer and artist. A bus will take you from the Tourist Information to Troldhaugen (and return trip). Read more about Lunchtime concert at Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen and buy your tickets online.

Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen. Photo: Dag Fosse

Back in the city center head over to KODE - Art museums and Composer Homes and unjoy the extensive collection of art and design. Masterpieces by Edvard Munch, Nikolai Astrup, Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, J. C. Dahl and  "the Silver Treasure". 

The spectacular Blomenthal room in Kode 3. Photo: Dag Fosse

On Saturday you also will have some time to do some shopping. Bergen has a compact city centre, making it ideal for street shopping. Visit some of the unique stores, like the award winning Oleana just oposite the Tourist Information. After some good shopping, you are probably more than ready for dinner.

A boat picks you up at Bryggen, giving you the chance to prepare your taste buds with the fresh air and the beautiful coastal scenery on your way out to Holmen and Cornelius Seafood Restaurant. This is by far the most exotic seafood dinner concept in the region, with a Meteorological Menu of exquisite seafood and trimmings, prepared using innovative culinary techniques and with a genuine passion for seafood. A dinner at Cornelius provides a rich taste experience and an extraordinary encounter with the coastal environment. You are picked up at the restaurant and taken back to Bryggen by boat. A perfect ending to an exciting day in Bergen. Read more about dinner at Cornelius and book your trip in advance.

Cornelius Seafood Restaurant. Photo: Truls J Løtvedt

The flight back to Hamburg leaves on Sunday at around mid day from Bergen Airport Flesland.

Explore Bergen with the Bergen Card
The Bergen card gives you free entry or discounted admission museums and attractions and you can travel for free on busses and the Bergen light railway. It also includes a discount on Fløibanen Funicular, Lunchtime concert at Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen and a free upgrade from 3 to 5 course dinner at Cornelius Seafood Restaurant. You can buy the Bergen Card online and collect it at Bergen Airport, ready to start using it straight away!

The highlights in three days
It is a challenge pointing out one single highlight after a long weekend in Bergen. It is the total experience from your meeting with the fjords, nature, culture and history that makes the total package of what you get during your stay. With direct flights from a large number of destinations, you can find yourself in the middle of the experience just hours after leaving home. Bergen is ready to welcome you. Are you ready to visit Bergen?