Overview

Bergen, known as the ‘Gateway to the Fjords,’ is a city where majestic fjords, mythical woodland trolls, and breathtaking coastal landscapes converge. As a UNESCO World Heritage City and the second-largest city in Norway, Bergen offers a perfect blend of culture and nature, making it an ideal destination for travelers. It may very well be the most charming city in all of Scandinavia.

Often called ‘the city between the seven mountains,’ Bergen is surrounded by peaks identified by The Bergen Mountain Hiking Association as Damsgårdsfjellet, Sandviksfjellet, Rundemanen, Ulriken, Løvstakken, Lyderhorn, and Fløyfjellet.

Today the city is considered one of the most popular cities in Norway, and it offers locals and tourists a variety of hiking and leisure options.

Things to See and Do

Bergen’s most famous site is the Bryggen - its World Heritage-listed Hanseatic wharf, whose brightly painted wooden buildings will make you feel as if you have traveled back in time.

Bryggen once housed central offices of the Hanseatic League, a dominating force in Northern Europe's trading industry. Today the wharf remains a well-preserved relic offering a glimpse into its rich historical past dating back to the Middle Ages.

Bryggen is a great area for wandering to explore, shop, and dine. The wooden walkways will lead you to narrow alleys made of cobblestone streets overflowing with charm. This is the best area to find the artisan shops with some of the most unique souvenirs.

The 700-year-old Fish Market is located right by the Bryggen and is a perfect way to immerse into the Norwegian culture by sampling local traditional foods. The market is open year-round and contains indoor and outdoor booths that sell much more than just fish. However, Seafood lovers will be in paradise with the endless variety of local catches and freshly prepared meals.

There are two options to view Bergen from above: the Fløibanen Funicular and the Mount Ulriken Cable Car.

Fløibanen Funicular is a steep railway connecting Bergen’s city center to the mountaintop area of Mount Fløyen. It’s located in the center of town and a short journey to the top. The viewing platform offers one of the best vantage points of Bergen and the surrounding area. There’s also a restaurant, troll forest, playground, famous cashmere goats, and hiking trail to enjoy at the top.

Another option to consider is to hike or bike up to Mount Floyen.

Ulriken Cable Car takes visitors 2109 feet above sea level to the highest of Bergen’s 7 mountains, Mount Ulriken. This is Norway’s largest Gondola and it is a thrill to ride! The view from the cable car and at the top are breathtaking, but be sure to plan for a clear day.

At the top of Ulriken, there are additional hiking trails and Skyskraperen Restaurant. This is, by far, the best view you will find while dining in Bergen, so make reservations if possible!

There is also a well-marked hiking trail between Mount Ulriken and Mount Fløyen called the Vidden Trail, making it possible to plan a full day of hiking that includes two of the most popular Bergen attractions!

Byparken is also known as “The City Park”, and is a popular location for locals and tourists looking to escape the city’s hustle and bustle. It was established in the 1850s and is Bergen’s oldest public park offering green space, a small lake, and lush gardens. It is conveniently situated adjacent to the Bergen Railway Station and the city’s main square, Torgallmenningen. An easy stroll from the city center or a quick ride on the Byparken Light Rail will get you there.

Museums

Troldhaugen Edvard Grieg Museum is the home of Norway’s most famous composer, Edvard Grieg, and wife/singer Edvard Grieg.

Bergenhus Festningsmuesum is a museum of the resistance movement during WWII. Check out the great exhibition featuring women’s contributions to the Norwegian Armed Forces.

Lepramuseet St. Jørgens Hospital was once a hospital for patients with Leprosy, and today a monument of Bergen’s scientific breakthrough leading to a cure. Bergen’s leprosy archives from this hospital are on UNESCO’s program for World Memory program.

The West Norway Museum of Decorative Art (Permanenten), a museum of design and decorative art. It houses Norway's largest collection of Chinese art.

Bergen Art Museum (Bergen Kunstmusem) is one of the largest art museums in the Nordic countries, with art from the Renaissance as well as contemporary art. The museum houses several of Edvard Munch's works.

Bryggens Musem , after the fire in 1955, when a lot of Bryggen burnt down, remains of the first settlement on Bryggen were discovered. The museum is built over these up to 900-year-old wooden building foundations, giving a unique insight into Bryggen's architectural history. It contains the world's largest collection of medieval runic inscriptions, mostly inscribed on wooden items, but only a small number of these are on display. It also hosts themed exhibitions.

The Hanseatic Museum and Schøtstuene are the only places on Bryggen where the original interior is preserved or restored. A tour of The Hanseatic Museum gives you a good introduction to the Hanseatic Bergen and the Hansa life, as you walk around an authentic Hanseatic merchant's house from the early 1700s. The building was in use until the late 19th century when it was converted into a museum. In Schøtstuene, buildings from other parts of Bryggen are rebuilt to show where people ate, celebrated and held meetings.

Theta Museum - During the first half of World War II, the Theta group, formed by people between the ages of 19 and 22, established radio contact with London and reported movements of the German fleet in Norway. The group headquarters and radio station was located in the heart of occupied Bergen, but remained active for two years before it was discovered and raided by the Nazis. In the 1980s, the small room was reconstructed to its original state. It is now probably the country's smallest museum, displaying radio equipment and the Theta group's own security system.