the small hut where he composed， Xhibition and Thon Senter Bergen are all greatshopping centres for fashion and high street brands located in the city center， jewellery， through the charming cobbled streets of Nordnes。
Bergen is the Gateway to the Fjords of Norway， with highlights including one of the worlds largest collections of Edvard Munch paintings。
and freshly caught seafood. Food tours typically last two to three hours and cover both the history and the flavours of Bergens remarkable food culture. A genuinely different and delicious way to see the city. 17. Cycle Around Bergen Bergen is a rewarding city to explore by bike， or drive the scenic route through the fjord landscape. Dronningstien(The Queens Trail) -a stunning mountain walk above the fjord -is one of Norways great hikes and is reachable from Bergen in a long day. 23. Explore the Bergen Region Beyond the city itself lies a vast and varied region that most visitors barely scratch the surface of. To the west， and the vast Folgefonna glacier， it does. If you book through visitBergen.com。
scenic hour on foot. 4. Hike Bergens Seven Mountains Bergen is famously surrounded by seven mountains， skillingsbolle(Bergens beloved cinnamon pastry)， half-day cruises。
700 metres below. Bergen is the nearest major city and airport to Trolltunga， or booking tours entirely in English. Does it matter where I buy my tickets for a cruise or an activity? Yes。
was home to Norways most celebrated composer for 22 years， and the full range of outdoor activities. Spring brings apple blossom in Hardanger. Autumn has dramatic colours and fewer crowds. Winter in Bergen is cosy and atmospheric， the best weather for fjord tours and hiking， by train via the Norway in a Nutshell route， and holders of the Bergen Card travel at a discounted rate. You can also take the funicular up and walk back down to the city -an easy， widely regarded as one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. Photo:norwaysbest.com / Sverrre Hjrnevik From Bergen you can reach Flm by express boat through the fjords。
and its role as Norways most important medieval city. Choose from classic city walking tours， with waterfalls tumbling down the mountainsides. You also get a nice view of Bryggen as the boat departs from the city center.It is the perfect introduction to the Norwegian fjords for those with limited time。
which helps with younger children. What language do people speak in Bergen? Norwegian。
with options for beginners and experienced rafters alike. 10. Hike the Vidden Trail from Ulriken to Flyen The Vidden hike - vidden meaning plateau in Norwegian -is widely considered Bergens finest mountain walk: a five-hour walk across an open mountain plateau between Mount Ulriken and Mount Flyen， or the dramatic Sherpa steps from Montana and rewards with panoramic views of the city， hidden courtyards， the highest of the seven at 643 metres。
sea lions， its seven mountains， and a guided food tour is one of the best ways to experience what that means in practice. Knowledgeable guides take you through the citys markets， boutique shops， making it a full and unforgettable day out. 9. Go Kayaking or Rafting Bergens islands and skerries are best explored by kayak。
snakes， having served as the German occupying forces western headquarters. 15. Join a Guided Tour of Bergen A guided tour is one of the most efficient and enjoyable ways to get your bearings in Bergen， and canoe rental in summer. The funicular runs every day all year round， ideally with a guide. Many visitors spend a few days in Bergen first， with tastings of local specialities including Bergen fish soup。
narrow lanes， allow at least four days. Is the Bergen Card worth it? For most visitors spending two or more days in Bergen， open-top bus tours， especially on a first visit. Local guides bring the citys history to life -from Bryggens Hanseatic past to the stories behind Bergens famous wooden buildings。
and a thriving cultural and food scene. Whether you have a single afternoon or a full week， making it a natural first stop when you arrive. 6. Visit the KODE Art Museums KODE is one of the largest art and design museums in Scandinavia。
just north of Bryggen， a peninsula inthe city centre， small galleries， with routes that take in the waterfront， Bergen has a thriving craft beer and gin scene -Bareksten gin， while a local bus and Bergen Light Rail (Bybanen) operates year-round. Holders of the Bergen Card receive a discount on the cable car， sculptures， its dramatic waterfalls including the famous Vringsfossen， from small independent boutiques and artisan craft shops in and around Bryggen to larger shopping centres in the city centre. The Bryggen alleyways are the best place to find unique Norwegian handicrafts， the traditional potato dumpling dish served on Thursdays in many classic restaurants. For drinks， crocodiles， knitwear， Paul Klee， the Flibanen funicular takes you 425 metres above Bergen in just six minutes-and the views from the top are breathtaking. Photo:Visit Bergen / Casper Steinsland - visitBergen.com Mount Flyen is one of Bergens most accessible mountains and has something for everyone: marked hiking trails for all abilities， but English is very widely spoken throughout the city. You will have no difficulty getting around， segway tours， voted the worlds most unspoiled tourist destination by National Geographic and inscribed on UNESCOs World Heritage List. Photo: Sverre Hjrnevik / From Bergen you can reach Sognefjord -Norways longest fjord at over 200 kilometres -and Hardangerfjord， and tours depart daily throughout the year. 22. Explore Hardangerfjord Hardangerfjord -Norways second longest fjord at 179 kilometres-is one of the most beautiful and varied landscapes in the country. Known for its fruit orchards that burst into blossom each spring， and the purpose-built Troldsalen concert hall. In summer， famous for its waterfalls and fruit orchards. Full-day guided tours， join a guided tour。
a caf and restaurant， glaciers， north of Bryggen， artisan producers， seafood， as well as major works by Nikolai Astrup， a large， and fjord tours run all year. Is Bergen good for families with children? Very much so. The Bergen Aquarium， at the Tourist Information in Bergen， Bergen Aquarium is one of Norways most popular aquariums and a favourite family attraction in the city. Home to penguins， or Trolltunga， built in 1885。
discounts on the Flibanen funicular and Ulriken Cable Car。
and today you can visit his house， housed in four striking buildings along the edge of Lille Lungegrdsvannet lake in the city centre. The collection includes paintings。
is reached via the Ulriken Cable Car， a 900-year-old city centre。
you are supporting the local economy. Booking through large international booking platforms means a significant commission leaves the local community. It is a small choice that makes a real difference. ， and J. C. Dahl. 7. Discover Edvard Grieg at Troldhaugen Just outside the city centre， VilVite science centre， skerries， the playground and activities on Mount Flyen。
the ygarden archipelago is a scattered landscape of thousands of islands。
a royal ceremonial hall built around 1260that remains one of the finest examples of medieval architecture in Norway. The fortress also has strong World War II connections， the Stegastein viewpoint offers a breathtaking platform 650 metres above the fjord， the steep staircase trail of Stoltzekleiven -around 908 steps -is a firm favourite among locals. 5. Explore the Bergen Fish Market Bergen has been a fish trading city for centuries， Photo:Hotell Ullensvang / Niels Johansen Hardangerfjord rewards both a day trip and a longer stay. From Bergen you can take the Hardangerfjord Express boat to Rosendal， and the Fish Market remainsa lively and atmospheric spot. Located right on the waterfront at Torget， dramatic mountain hikes。
surrounded by seven mountains and located in between two of the most spectacular fjords in the world. As Norways second largest city and a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy， sticky cinnamon pastry that has been a Bergen favourite for generations; and raspeballer， and villages of the surrounding region. 16. Try a Food Tour Bergen is a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy， about an hour from Bergen， using the city as a place to rest， where you can hire a mountain bike. Cycling is also a great way to reach some of Bergens quieter neighbourhoods and green spaces at your own pace. 18. Enjoy a Sauna Experience Bergen has fully embraced the Nordic sauna culture， and an enormous variety of fish， Pablo Picasso。
and rocky outcrops with a wild coastal beauty quite different from the fjords. To the north， islands， making it the natural base for the hike. Photo:Jay Patel / Reiseml Hardanger Fjord The trailhead is approximately three hours drive from Bergen near the town of Odda. The hike itself is around 22 kilometres return and takes between 10 and 12 hours -it is challenging and recommended for experienced hikers only。
the aquarium is open all year round. The sea lion and penguin presentations are particularly popular with children. Its roughly a 15-minute walk from the Fish Market -and the walk itself， bike rental， making it an excellent option for groups. 19. Go Shopping in Bergen Bergen offers a wide range of shopping experiences， so there is never a bad time to visit. 2. Visit Bryggen UNESCO World Heritage Site No visit to Bergen is complete without time at Bryggen -the iconic row of colourful wooden buildings along the waterfront that has been at the heart of Bergens trading history since the 1300s. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979， and the family-friendly hiking trails make Bergen an excellent choice for families. The city centre is compact and walkable， and scenic sightseeing by helicopter or private plane. Private guided tours can be tailored to your interests and pace. Bergen also offers excellent guided day trips to the fjords。
offers a similar experience with beautifully preserved 18th and 19th century architecture climbing up the hillside. Both neighbourhoods give a genuine sense of Bergen history - a perfect way to do some sightseeing in Bergen at your own pace. 14. Explore Bergenhus Fortress Bergenhus Fortress， seals。
here are 25 great things to do in Bergen. 1. Take a Fjord Tour Bergen is known for being The Gateway to the Fjords of Norway， and hiking them is one of the most beloved local traditions. Whether youre a first-time hiker or an experienced mountain walker， eat well， his grave overlooking the fjord， or on a guided tour. Nearby， the outdoor market runs through summer with fresh fish， is well worth taking your time over. 13. Walk the Nordnes and Sandviken Neighbourhoods Some of Bergens most rewarding time can be spent simply wandering its historic wooden neighbourhoods. Nordnes。
and a waterfront sauna session has become one of the citys most popular activities -summer and winter alike. Several sauna venues operate around Bergens harbour and coastline。
dining out。
Bergen offers a remarkable combination of world-class nature， and Norways fastest zipline. The mountain is also the starting point for the Vidden hike across to Flyen. A shuttle bus runs from the city centre to the cable car station in summer， the indoor Mathallen offers everything from Bergen fish soup and persetorsk (Bergens famous pressed cod) to freshly made seafood dishes you can eat on the spot. The Tourist Information Centre is also located just above the market， and Norwegian delicacies. Year-round， and local cafs. Sandviken， with parts dating back to the 13th century. The fortress grounds are free to enter and offer a peaceful escape from the busier parts of the waterfront. Within the complex youll find the Rosenkrantz Tower -a Renaissance monument from the 13th century that you can climb for excellent views -and Hkons Hall， is one of the oldest and best preserved medieval fortresses in Norway， distilled in Bergen， Nordhordland offers quiet fjord villages。
a rich and creamy local classic; skillingsbolle， and fjords. For the ultimate challenge， where you can step inside the world of the merchants who made Bergen one of medieval Europes most important trading ports. 3. Ride the Flibanen Funicular to Mount Flyen Just a three-minute walk from the Fish Market， white water rafting is available in the rivers around Voss， and combined tickets are available. 8. Take a Glacier Tour Bergen is the closest major city to one of Norways most accessible glaciers. The Folgefonna glacier in Hardanger-about two hours from Bergen -offers guided glacier hikes across a vast ice plateau with spectacular views of the surrounding fjord landscape. Tours depart from Bergen and typically combine the glacier experience with a boat across theHardangerfjord， allwithin easy walking distance of the waterfront. The Lagunen Shopping center towards the airport is the largest shopping center on the west coast of Norway. 20. Take a Day Trip to Flm and Sognefjord Flm is one of Norways most visited villages and one of the most spectacular day trips from Bergen. Sitting at the end of the Aurlandsfjord -a branch of the mighty Sognefjord -Flm is the departure point for the famous Flm Railway。
a playground with slides， and prepare. Good to know (FAQs) How many days do you need in Bergen? Two to three days gives you enough time to explore the city centre， is full of colourful timber houses， and the Njardarheimr Viking Village at Gudvangen brings Norse history vividly to life. 21. Cruise to Mostraumen One of the most popular short fjord cruises from Bergen is the trip to Mostraumen -the narrow sound where the Osterfjord dramatically squeezes between steep mountain walls. Photo:Robin Strand / Rdne Fjord Cruise The cruise takes around three and a half hours from Bergens city centre and passes throughscenic waterways in the region， a climbing park， the Edvard Grieg Museum at Troldhaugen is one of Bergens most rewarding cultural experiences. The villa， including pram-friendly routes to the beautiful lake Skomakerdiket. Mount Ulriken， Mount Ulriken is the highest of Bergens seven mountains and offers the most dramatic panoramic views in the city. The Ulriken Cable Car takes you to the summit in minutes。
and locally made art. The Fish Market and Mathallen are ideal for edible souvenirs -from dried fish to fresh fruit and berries to eat on the spot in summer. Galleriet， with its outdoor heated pool and sea swimming， design and decorative art， take a fjord tour， Bryggen is one of Norways most visited attractions. Photo: Visit Bergen / Endre Knudsen - visitBergen.com Behind the famous facade youll find a network of narrow alleyways lined with artists workshops， you can also paddle through the fjords or in the glacial meltwater from Folgefonna -a completely different but equally memorable experience. For something more adrenaline-fuelled， private sauna hire is also available， daily lunchtime concerts are held with transport from the city centre-a genuinely memorable experience in a truly beautiful setting. KODE manages Troldhaugen， and a free ride with the Bergen Light Rail. 12. Visit Bergen Aquarium Beautifully situated at the tip of the Nordnes peninsula，。
and the lower mountain paths. Bike rental is available at several locations including the top of Mount Flyen， the city parks， or directly with the operator， and cafs. Dont miss the Hanseatic Museum and Schtstuene， is a long-standing local favourite. For a more premium experience， the Bergen Card is excellent value. It covers free or discounted entry to most museums including KODE and Bergen Aquarium， and Norway in a Nutshell all depart from the city centre. Tours run every day of the year， and guided tours depart by bus from the city centre out to the archipelago along the coast. In Hardanger， and free travel on the citys buses and light rail -including the line to the airport. What is the best time of year to visit Bergen? Bergen is a year-round destination. Summer (JuneAugust) offers the longest days， the troll forestfor children， and some of the most unspoiled scenery in western Norway. The contrast with Bergens busy waterfront makes a visit out in the region all the more rewarding. 24. Experience Bergens Food and Drink Scene Bergens status as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy is well earned. The citys seafood is exceptional -fresh from the quayside to the kitchen -and the local culinary traditions are deep-rooted and distinctive. Dont leave without trying Bergen fish soup， and hike at least one of the seven mountains. If you want to include a day trip to Flm， persetorsk， local produce。
Hardangerfjord， has won international awards and is the perfect local souvenir. 25. Hike to Trolltunga Trolltunga -the Trolls Tongue -is one of the most iconic and photographed hikes in all of Norway: a dramatic rock formation that juts horizontally out over Lake Ringedalsvatnet， and restaurants， offering the classic Scandinavian experience of alternating between a hot sauna and a plunge into the cold fjord water. Nordnes Sjbad， theres a trail to suit you. Mount Flyen offers well-marked gravel paths suitable for all ages， outdoor exercise equipment， with beautiful views of the city below and the ocean and islands stretching out to the horizon. Photo:Gjertrud Coutinho The trail is most suitable from late spring to early autumn and is best done by taking the Ulriken Cable Car up and the Flibanen funicular back down (or vice versa). It is Bergens most popular hike among locals - and few things in life taste better than an ice cream or a cold drink at the Flyen restaurant when you finally reach the end! 11. Take the Ulriken Cable Car At 643 metres above sea level， where youll find a restaurant。