Norway is also known as the land of hundreds of fjords. The country’s capital is Oslo, but the capital, and the heart, of the fjords is Bergen. Even though it’s the second largest city in the Scandinavian state, it has the appeal of a small town and thousands of little details that invite you to explore it. So, head out and explore the city of colourful houses nestled under the seven mountains.
Bergen was the most important Norwegian trade city in the Middle Ages, as it belonged to a group of cities in the Hanseatic League, a trade and defence association. Travellers can see the trade heritage in Bryggen Harbour that is now listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site. Wooden houses of all colours stand next to moored boats and they once had trade significance, but now they mostly function as charming cafés, museums and shops, serving as gathering places for travellers and locals alike.
Just a short distance away lies the next opportunity for exploring the life of the locals, namely a fish market where people have been buying fresh fish since 1276. In addition to fish, travellers can now also buy vegetables, fruit and souvenirs. A tip for travellers is to walk down the cobbled streets between the wooden houses. The city is also known for its street art; artists have decorated the streets with the help of spray paint. A walk down the Skostredet shopping street is also a must and it’s where you should start exploring the city. Another travel tip for you is to go on an audio tour around the city, that way you’ll get to see the major attractions at your own pace.
It rains for 200 days in a year in Bergen, so the best city museum suggestions are really welcome. You can learn a lot of interesting things about life in the fjords in the open-air museum of Old Bergen that is a reconstructed village of fifty wooden houses from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. All art enthusiasts can enjoy KODE, one of the largest art, music and design museums in whole Scandinavia. And if you love classical music, you’ll enjoy the tour of Edvard Grieg’s house. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a concert. Another attraction for travellers is the aquarium where sea animals of all kinds, from penguins to crocodiles, wait for you. It’s best to buy a special card that is valid for different number of days and lets you travel by tram and bus for free and comes with additional discounts on various tourist attractions.
Bergen is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, which means a stop at one of the restaurants is a must. The main ingredient, of course, is fresh seafood and fish soups, fish cakes and specially prepared codfish, or persetorsk in Norwegian, are particularly delicious. To top it all off why not get a drink at Magic Ice Bar where the temperature never rises above zero. What makes the bar special is the large number of ice sculptures, one of which represents the famous Scream painting by Edvard Munch. Buy a ticket online and you’ll get winter gloves, a winter poncho and a welcome drink.
The surroundings of the city are picturesque. Head out to explore and to find out why Bergen is also called the city of seven mountains. Fløyen is the most easily accessible one and you can reach it by cable car in just a few minutes. The view is fantastic and there are also options for further hikes. The tallest of the seven mountains, Ulriken, rises 643 metres above sea level. You can climb to the top with a gondola. There you can enjoy the view of the sea, fjords, mountains, islands and the city. The mountain slopes is where you can find the HI Bergen Montana, an ideal place to take a break. It has the Eco-Lighthouse certificate and is an excellent starting point for hikes in the surrounding area. You’ll see why Bergen is the fjord capital. Now is the time to visit those fjords and enjoy the views of the city and the surrounding mountains. For starters, go on a trip with a tourist boat. The city is nestled between two largest fjords in Norway, Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord. The fjords are truly special and a must stop for travellers in Norway. Rugged cliffs are just waiting to be explored and you can enjoy the best views and endless hikes. Sailing a fjord is a unique experience and it lets you feel the majestic play of nature even more, plus you can see a lot of waterfalls. You can also take a trip to Oslo by train. The railway line will take you through a picturesque landscape of lakes, mountains and forests and is one of the most gorgeous in Europe. The journey takes around seven hours.
Wherever you go, your trip can be safe, with simple and customisable international travel insurance for solo travellers and families. Get travel insurance through World Nomads and get a policy with 24-hour assistance and transport for medical emergencies, as well as cover for more than 220 sports and leisure activities on snow, water, air and land. The insurance policy may include, among other things, coverage for experiential activities, such as au pairs – part-time or voluntary work with children, working in a bar, fruit picking, office work, teaching and some other work abroad. Protect yourself or your family with World Nomads travel insurance.
Enjoy while exploring Bergen and don’t forget to send postcards with MyPostcard. All HI members get 25% off. New users can send their first postcard for free with the HIGlobetrotter promo code through the Globetrotter profile. You can read more about it here.
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