City Guide - A Closer Look at Bergen
As Norway’s biggest city, Oslo gets a lot of attention from tourists. However, Bergen has a lot to offer as a vacation destination as well. In fact, there are countless reasons why you should make Bergen a part of your next Norway trip, many of which revolve around the incredible activities to do in Bergen and the luxurious hotels it offers. Here is an in-depth look at the second-largest city in Norway to help convince you why Bergen is a special place to visit.
Photo: Bergen - Jan M. Lillebø - visitbergen
A Community Built on Fishing
With many of Norway’s biggest cities and towns being located on the coast, it is no surprise that fishing is an activity that is a big part of Norwegian culture. However, Bergen takes this to another level by making fishing an integral part of their city through things like Bryggen Harbour.
This lively wharf is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and offers a fantastic look at what life used to be like hundreds of years ago in this now bustling city. The commercial buildings in this area are a unique mix of both new and old architecture, with some of the buildings dating back to before the 15th century.
Photo: Cornelius Sjømatrestaurant
Among these buildings are various workshops, museums, and eateries, including the meeting place for the Cornelius Seafood Restaurant. This unique restaurant is located on an island, making transportation by ferry essential. The restaurant includes a menu listing many delicious types of fish and other seafood that changes daily based on the weather forecast for the day. This meteorological menu, in addition to the restaurant’s unusual location, is what makes it such a unique and impressive dining experience.
But it is not just the seafood cuisine that demonstrates how intertwined this city is with the fishing industry. There is also the Bergen fish market, which is one of the most well-known spots in the entire city. You can take a stroll through the market and find a massive amount of fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, and various handmade decorative items for sale. During the summer months, this food market is especially busy and is a great place to get outdoors.
Photo: Bergen Reiselivslag / Robin Strand - visitBergen.com
Great Hiking and Sightseeing Opportunities
The sights in any Norwegian city are going to be excellent, but Bergen is especially great for this thanks to the seven mountains surrounding the city. While these mountains range in size, from about 1,200 feet to 2,100 feet, they are all able to provide exceptional views of the city below. If you head out on one of the hiking trails on the Fløyen mountain or any other of the seven mountains, then you will be able to experience the Norwegian wilderness and be rewarded with amazing views of Bergen.
Photo: © Sverre Hjørnevik
An Abundance of History
When a city has been around for nearly a millennium, it is bound to have accumulated some impressive historical items and stories. It almost doesn’t even matter what area you go to in Bergen, there is going to be something historical to see and learn about, like the Norwegian Fishing Museum. That is why there are so many tours offering to take you throughout the city to learn about the historical importance of each area.
Perhaps the best example of this is the Segway tour in Bergen, which passes by Bryggen, comes close to Håkonshallen and Rosenkrantztårnet, and goes further to the Bergen Aquarium before proceeding into park Nordnes.
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Photo: Girish Chouchan - visitbergen
With all of this to offer, it proves that Bergen is a very versatile city that has something for everyone to enjoy, whether you enjoy sightseeing, learning about a place’s history, or experiencing a cider tasting tour. If you are ready to visit Bergen as part of your next Norway trip, then contact our team today.
