Visit Bergen's top tourist attractions
Top things to see and do in Bergen
As Norway’s second largest city, with a history stretching back to 1070 AD, Bergen has tourist attractions to suit all tastes.
One of Bergen’s must-see attractions is without a doubt Bryggen, the old wharf that’s famous for its picture-perfect row of colourful wooden houses. Once an important Hanseatic trading centre in medieval times, Bryggen is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and hosts the small Bryggen Museum along with numerous restaurants and shops.
Another of Bergen’s top attractions is the bustling Fish Market (Fisketorget), a place to gather among the locals and sample fresh seafood or buy Norwegian handicrafts. Other popular cultural attractions in Bergen’s city centre include the Bergen Museum with its fascinating historical and maritime exhibits, the medieval Bergenhus fortress and the KODE art museums, the largest collection of art, design and music in Scandinavia. Classical musical lovers may also wish to visit Troldhaugen, the late-19th century home of composer Edvard Grieg.
Surrounded by mountains and located nearby Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, Bergen is also a dream for active travellers and nature lovers. For the best panoramic views, travel up the Fløibanen Funicular from the city centre to Mount Fløyen and enjoy a walk in the nearby woods. Or take the Ulriksbanen cable cars to the top of Ulriken, the highest of Bergen’s seven hills, for a refreshing hike with great views.
Getting to Bergen & The Norwegian Fjords
As Bergen is nicknamed “The Gateway to the Fjords”, it’s no surprise that this city is a popular overnight destination in trips to western Norway. If you’re arriving to Oslo International Airport, there are a few different options for travelling to Bergen and top-rated attractions nearby:
- By air: Bergen Airport is served by a small number of European airlines, including Norwegian and SAS. Flights from Oslo take 55 minutes.
- By car: May through September is the best time for a road trip around the Bergen area, especially if you want to do some hiking at places like Pulpit Rock or Trolltunga. From Oslo you could do a self-drive tour in about a week, though we highly recommend 10 days or longer for exploring the fjords and west coast at a more relaxed pace.
- By train: The popular Norway in a Nutshell® train journey from Oslo to Bergen is available year-round from Nordic Visitor. This route includes a short fjord cruise on Nærøyfjord and travel by train on the Bergen Railway and the mountainous Flåm Railway. Extra overnights in Bergen or in the small fjord village of Flåm are available.
Don’t want to travel to Bergen and the fjords on your own? Nordic Visitor’s summertime Guided Small Group Tours in Norway are another great option.
Sail from Bergen along Norway's West Coast
Bergen is the southern end of the Havila and Hurtigruten coastal cruise, which follows the beautiful coastline to the city of Kirkenes in northern Norway. This famously scenic voyage is a wonderful way to experience Bergen’s top sights and other major tourist attractions on the west coast. Cruises are available year-round and include stops at 34 ports of call, including Trondheim, Ålesund and the Lofoten Islands. Since it’s possible to start and end the cruise at different ports, going either southbound or northbound, many of Nordic Visitor’s fjord tours combine journeys by train and cruise in itineraries ranging from 7 to 14 days.
Though many of Nordic Visitor’s tours start from Oslo, we can modify your itinerary to start from Bergen. Get in touch with our friendly travel experts to start planning your dream trip to Bergen and the nearby fjords.
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