By rail
Bergen station, the scenic Bergen Line from Oslo, ~7 h
Europe · Norway
Bergen, Norway
The gateway to the fjords
Getting there
By air
Bergen Flesland (BGO), ~20 km
Best time to visit
May to September — long days
Don't miss
Bryggen
The Fløibanen
The Fish Market
The Fantoft Stave Church
Things to do
Bryggen's wharf
The Fløibanen funicular
The fish market
Fjord cruises
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Agtfjott · CC BY-SA 2.5
What to pack
A rain jacket — it rains often
A quieter corner
Mount Ulriken's ridge hike
Questions travellers ask
Do I need a rain jacket in Bergen?
Yes — it rains often. Come between May and September for the long days.
Is the train from Oslo to Bergen worth it?
The Bergen Line is the scenic way in, about 7 h from Oslo to Bergen station. If you fly, Bergen Flesland (BGO) is about 20 km out.
What should I do in Bergen?
Wander Bryggen's wharf, ride the Fløibanen funicular, browse the Fish Market and see the Fantoft Stave Church. It is the gateway to the fjords, so take a fjord cruise.
Where can I go for a hike near Bergen?
Try Mount Ulriken's ridge hike. Warm up afterwards with fish soup or fresh seafood.
About Bergen
- Coastal
- Mountains
Where it is
Bergen is Norway's second-largest city, on the west coast in the county of Vestland, set around a harbour among the so-called seven mountains, between the Sognefjord and the Hardangerfjord.
History
Traditionally founded in 1070 by King Olav Kyrre, Bergen served as Norway's capital in the 13th century. In the 14th century German merchants set up one of the Hanseatic League's four great trading offices at Bryggen, exporting dried cod from northern Norway, and Bergen remained Norway's largest city until the 1830s.
People
Bergen's people speak a distinctive Norwegian dialect, and the city keeps its own traditions, such as the buekorps, neighbourhood youth brigades that parade with drums and imitation weapons. Fish soup and skillingsboller, large cinnamon buns, are local favourites.
Known for
- The Hanseatic wharf of Bryggen
- The Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen
- The harbour fish market
- Edvard Grieg's home at Troldhaugen
- Cruises into the western fjords
Did you know?
Bryggen's wooden warehouses have burned and been rebuilt many times, always in their medieval style, and they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.