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As Norway’s second biggest city after Oslo, the city of Bergen sees its fair share of visitors.
Affectionately known as the “gateway to the fjords”, Bergen is a popular place to base out of for different day trips around the stunning landscape- plus a few different cruise itineraries stop here too!
This tour is a great option for those looking to make the most of Norway’s fjords in a single day.
The train between Oslo and Bergen is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world, so I always recommend that visitors to Norway stop by Bergen for at least a day or two.
Once you arrive into Bergen, take the edge of your hunger with a visit to Trekroneren. This iconic hot dog stand has been slinging sausages for going on 80 years! Trekroneren offers 10 different types of sausage, with Reindeer being the most touristy- and therefore the most popular. I got a simple pork sausage, but even then I could see how the stand has remained open for so long.
Trekroneren is open until the wee hours of the morning, so if you miss it during normal daytime hours, maybe check it out after a night out!
Bergen is probably most well known for Bryggen, its historic warf district- though I suspect that many people confuse it with Copenhagen’s similarly popular Nyhavn.
These colorful wooden warehouses are the remains of once powerful Hanseatic League which used to be in charge of the merchant guilds of Central and Northern Europe.
The picturesque Fish Market is another popular site in Bergen. The market has been around in one form or another since the 1200s and serves locals and tourists alike. Stop by here for fresh seafood and local produce.
With seven mountains surrounding the city, it’s no wonder Bergen is a haven for hikers.
I really enjoyed the popular hike from Mt. Fløyen to Mt. Ulriken, but it definitely wasn’t for the faint-hearted! Check out my blog post here for more details!
Don’t let the elevation prevent you from getting the best views of the city; Mt. Fløyen is serviced by the Fløibanen funicular, which shuttles visitors from Bergen to the viewpoint in under ten minutes. Make sure to stop for a photo with one of the iconic trolls of Norway.
Similarly, the Ulriken Cable Car allows visitors to see the peak of Mt. Ulriken without sweating for it! This one departs a little outside of city center, but there is a bus that shuttles visitors between the city and the departure point.
If you can only pick one of these viewpoints, here’s my take on them: Mt. Fløyen is easier to get to from town, and offers a fantastic view overlooking the city and the fjord. This does mean that it’s the most popular, so you’ll be joined by what may be a whole cruise ship’s worth of visitors!
Mt. Ulriken, on the other hand, is more annoying to get to, and while I love a cable car I admit that this is not the best method of transit for those with a fear of heights.
This viewpoint does offer more unique views of the surrounding mountains, however, and was one of my favorite parts of the hike (or was it not having to hike all the way back down?).
Once you finish your hike, relax with a sauna. Most of Norway’s bigger cities have a few saunas and Bergen is no exception. Just keep in mind that most saunas must be booked in advance.
If you’re looking to be more out on the water, check out this fjord cruise out of Bergen!
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