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 lunchtime 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.
With direct flights from over 40 international destinations, it has never been easier to plan a visit to Bergen. A flight from hubs like London or Amsterdam only takes less than 2 hours, and 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 book your Airport Bus in advance.
Bergen offers a wide range of hotels and charming bed & breakfasts in and around the city center. It is time to open your senses and let the fairytale begin.
Day 1: The first impression counts!
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.
Bryggen in Bergen. Photo: Visit Bergen / Espen Bakketun - visitBergen.com
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. During the summer you can also join a popular guided tour of Bryggen.
But there is much more to Bryggen, than the famous facade. Meet the passionate artists and designers who work in these historic surroundings.
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: Visit Bergen / Casper Steinsland - visitBergen.com
A cultural highlight
On the first evening in Bergen you can experience å magnificent cultural highlight. Almost every Thursday throughout the year, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra arranges concerts in Grieghallen. Here you can listen to beautiful classical music in a magical setting that gives you a unique musical experience.
Day 2: A day in the fjords
Bergen is located in the heart of the fjords. On Friday morning, it is time to join Norway’s most popular fjord tour. Norway in a nutshell® (about 8 hrs.) takes you through some of the most beautiful fjord scenery. Experience the scenic Bergen Railway, the breathtaking Flåm Railway, the Aurlandsfjord and the narrow Nærøyfjord. Here are some great tours from Bergen:
After a day in the fjords, you are probably ready for a dinner and a concert back in Bergen. As a European Capital of Culture, Bergen is a city of music, concerts, shows and festivals. You will always find a concert that suits your taste. You can visit the Bergen Jazzforum and enjoy lively jazz tunes at their weekly Friday shows, and get tickets to one of Bergen’s concert venues with both big Norwegian and International artists.
Day 3: Food, music and shopping – the perfect combo
Make time for a lunch concert at the home of one of the world’s most famous composers – Edvard Grieg. 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
Once back in the city, it is 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, Janus and Dale of Norway
Photo: Designer knitwear from Dale of Norway.
After a good shopping round, 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
Accommodation:
If you would like to stay in a charming old wooden house from around 1700, you can stay at Amunds Appartement in the city center. Bergen als offer a range of hotels.
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.
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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?
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