Summary
Norway’s second-largest city served as a royal residence during the Middle Ages and acted as a trading post for the Hanseatic League. An enduring remnant from that period is Bryggen, a picturesque quayside district featuring painted wooden houses with triangular gables.
The city center of Bergen is framed by a chain of seven mountains that are snow-capped for much of the year. Among these, Fløyen and Mount Ulriken offer a funicular and cable car, respectively, for effortless access to their summits. Upon reaching the top, one can navigate rocky trails while enjoying uninterrupted views of Bergen and its fjords.
Speaking of fjords, the Hardangerfjord presents a landscape that appears surreal until experienced firsthand. This pleasant day trip location from Bergen is bordered by towering rock walls that lead down to charming villages and fertile orchards.
Let us delve into the noteworthy activities in Bergen:
1. Bryggen
The row of slender wooden houses, adorned in hues of yellow, ochre, and red along the eastern quayside of Vågen bay, stands as one of Bergen’s most recognizable images.
Bryggen is also designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These structures, once used as warehouses, stored grains from Europe and stockfish sourced from northern waters.
The narrow passages between the shops provide a glimpse into how Bergen may have appeared during Medieval times.
The city developed around this waterfront community nearly a thousand years ago, and by the mid-14th century, Bryggen became a Kontor, a trading post for the Hanseatic League, which extended its influence across Northern Europe at that time.
The current architecture is a result of the rebuilding after a fire in 1702, although the ancient foundations were preserved during reconstruction.
2. Hanseatic Museum and Schøtstuene
Constructed following the fire of the early 18th century, the exquisite timber building that houses the Hanseatic Museum is one of Bergen’s oldest wooden structures.
Since 1872, this facility has served as a museum chronicling the 400-year history of the German merchants’ guild in Bergen, spanning approximately from 1350 to 1750. It is the sole building in Bryggen that has maintained its original interiors.
Occupants were prohibited from using fire for light, heat, or cooking due to the fire risk associated with such materials.
During the daytime, they operated in the warehouse and offices and spent nights in communal dormitories located above.
With the same admission, one can also explore Schøtstuene, a short walk from Bryggen, which served as assembly halls for the Hanseatic League, featuring meeting rooms, banquet halls, and courtrooms.
3. St Mary’s Church
St Mary’s Church, the oldest structure in Bergen, lies adjacent to Schøtstuene and represents a unique example of Romanesque architecture in Norway.
Indeed, no other church in Norway shares a west facade similar to this, featuring square, unembellished towers and semicircular windows typical of the Romanesque style.
This church was established during the mid-12th century.
Within the choir, the pointed windows exhibit Gothic characteristics, indicating that this segment of the church was reconstructed after a fire in 1248. The southern portal displays Romanesque motifs of beasts and foliage carved into the capitals on the jambs.
The church’s most significant treasure is its altarpiece, intricately carved in the Hanseatic capital of Lübeck during the 15th century.
This triptych features the Madonna and Child at the center, flanked by St Olav and St Antony on the right, and St Catharine and St Dorothy to the left.
4. Fløyen and the Fløibanen Funicular
Merely 150 meters from Bryggen, visitors can board a funicular that swiftly transports them to near the peak of the 425-meter Fløyen mountain.
The Fløibanen commenced operations in 1918 and is recognized as Bergen’s most frequented visitor attraction.
The track spans 850 meters, and the train elevates passengers over 300 meters in just six minutes.
Upon arrival, visitors can stand at Fløytrappene and admire panoramic views over Bergen, observing the fjords and maritime activities navigating to and from the North Sea.
This point can serve as the initial leg of a hiking journey along this scenic pathway above the city, and there is also a restaurant as well as a children’s playground situated up a wide flight of stairs.
5. Troldhaugen, Home of Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg, Norway’s preeminent composer, resided at this picturesque villa on a hill overlooking Lake Nordås for the last two decades of his life.
This residence, named Troldhaugen (Troll Hill), was designed by Grieg’s cousin Schak Bull and completed in 1885. Grieg and his wife would spend summers here, with the composer creating music in a small hut that overlooks the lake.
In 1985, the inconspicuous 200-seat Troldsalen auditorium was added to the property, followed by a museum building a decade later, featuring exhibitions about Grieg’s life and musical contributions.
Additionally, the house operates as a living museum, showcasing the Grieg family’s personal belongings, including the Steinway grand piano Edvard received as an anniversary gift in 1892.
6. KODE Art Museums
In 2013, four art institutions and cultural sites in Bergen were consolidated under a single umbrella named “KODE,” with one ticket granting access to all four attractions.
KODE 1 focuses on craft and design, featuring a permanent display of gold and silver artifacts created in Bergen, alongside paintings by Old Masters and various European and Asian antiques.
KODE 2 serves as a contemporary art museum, and at the time of writing, it featured an exhibition by Japanese installation artist Chiharu Shiota.
KODE 3 showcases works from the Golden Age of Norwegian art, including pieces by Edvard Munch and Romantic painter Johan Christian Dahl.
Finally, KODE 4 is another art museum housing works by Dahl, in addition to pieces by Paul Klee, Picasso, and Asger Jorn.
Children are welcome at KODE 4, which includes the Kunstlab, where young visitors can engage with art through play.
7. Mount Ulriken
The highest of Bergen’s seven mountains reaches an elevation of 643 meters, and similar to Fløyen, there exists a convenient means to ascend to the top.
In Ulriken’s case, the Ulriksbanen aerial tramway has been transporting visitors to and from the peak since 1961. At the summit, another breathtaking viewpoint features telescopes, a restaurant, and a well-known TV tower visible throughout Bergen.
For those seeking a more challenging experience, hiking is an option via a network of trails, with the most popular route beginning at Montana, accessible via bus number 12, typically taking about 90 minutes in favorable weather conditions.
Upon reaching the summit, experienced hikers can continue along the Vidden Trail toward Fløyen.
8. Hardangerfjord
Bergen is conveniently located near Norway’s second-longest fjord, making a visit almost essential.
A minimum of one full day is necessary to appreciate its beauty, and fortunately, a robust transport infrastructure, including buses, ferries, and tour operators, facilitates an enriching experience in this breathtaking landscape.
The Hardangerfjord region is also renowned as Norway’s orchard, with lush apple and strawberry farms situated by the water at the foot of soaring cliffs.
In season, you can purchase apples using an honor system and explore villages where traditional folk culture is preserved (including embroidery and traditional fiddles). Additionally, you may wish to experience nature in its most unrefined form by venturing toward extraordinary geographical formations such as the iconic Trolltunga (Troll’s Tongue) or the Folgefonna glacier.
9. Bergenhus Fortress
This fortress has stood guard at the entrance to Vågen bay since the mid-13th century in one form or another.
The complex’s current outline was established in the 19th century, consisting of structures dating back to various periods between the 1200s and the 1900s (including German WWII bunkers). Haakon’s Hall, one of the oldest buildings, is a beautiful ceremonial venue constructed in the mid-13th century during the rule of King Haakon IV of Norway, originally serving as the site for the wedding of his son, Magnus VI of Norway, to Ingeborg of Denmark.
The hall features both Romanesque and Gothic window designs, capped by a crow-stepped gable on its façade.
History enthusiasts may enjoy a self-guided exploration of the fortress grounds, featuring a German bunker, quarters for soldiers and officers, stables, artillery batteries, and the Koengen, a former depot that now hosts prominent outdoor concerts in the summer months.
10. Rosenkrantz Tower
Adjacent to Vågen bay south of the Bergenhus fortress lies another historically significant structure.
The Rosenkrantz Tower is named after Erik Rosenkrantz, a nobleman and governor who oversaw its transformation into one of Norway’s prominent Renaissance residences during the 16th century.
This tower has been present since the late 13th century when it served as a residence for King Eric II of Norway, the last monarch to hold court in Bergen.
The tower features a distinct upstairs-downstairs configuration, with the king’s residence at the top and a dungeon located in the basement, which served this purpose until the 1800s.
In the 1740s, the upper levels of the tower were converted into a gunpowder magazine, a function it maintained until the 1930s.
Visitors today may ascend the dark, narrow staircase to enjoy views of Vågen bay from the tower’s rooftop.
11. Fantoft Stave Church
Visitors can take the Bergen Light Rail to reach this reconstructed timber stave church located a few kilometers south of the city center.
The Fantoft Stave Church originally hails from the village of Fortun in the Sogn district and was built around 1150. It was relocated here in pieces in 1883 to preserve it from destruction.
Unfortunately, the church was consumed by arson in 1992, but it underwent meticulous reconstruction over the following five years.
The reconstructed structure presents a striking sight, even if little of the original monument could be salvaged, aside from the gold cross on the altar, a relic on one wall, and a historic stone cross moved here from Sola municipality.
12. Damsgård Manor
Across Damsgårdssundet (Damsgård Sound) lies what is arguably the most exquisite wooden Rococo mansion globally.
Damsgård Manor was constructed in the 1770s for minister of war Joachim Christian Geelmuyden Gyldenkrantz during a time when luxurious country retreats were becoming prevalent on the city’s outskirts.
During the summer months, the grounds are accessible to the public, featuring a formal Lord’s Garden and Lady’s Garden, complete with statues, topiaries, and patterned flowerbeds.
Additionally, there exists a more natural English garden with rolling lawns and a pond.
The interior of the house has been restored to its 18th-century opulence and can be viewed on guided tours at 12:00, 14:00, and 13:00 on Sundays.
13. VilVite Science Centre
For families visiting Bergen when the weather is unfavorable, the VilVite Science Centre offers a blend of fun and educational opportunities.
The center features 75 stations encouraging children to engage through games and hands-on experiments.
Young visitors can take on roles such as a TV presenter delivering a weather forecast, navigate a container ship, drill for oil, or experience the “G-Force,” a bicycle on a track that completes a full loop.
Most stations focus on themes related to energy, the ocean, and meteorology.
On weekends and during school holidays, the center also hosts 3D movie screenings and specially curated science presentations.
14. Bryggens Museum
This museum in Bryggen attributes its existence to an unfortunate incident.
In 1955, a catastrophic fire affected the district, offering the city an opportunity to conduct archaeological digs.
The artifacts discovered during this process provide invaluable insights into Medieval life and trade in Bryggen.
The museum is built around the 900-year-old foundations that were unearthed during these excavations.
Exhibits showcase Medieval weights, pieces of jewelry, and a collection of runic inscriptions delicately etched into wood.
15. Fish Market
At the deepest quay on Vågen bay is the historic site where fishermen have conducted trade since the 13th century.
Although the modern fish market caters more to tourists, it remains a must-see during a visit to Bergen.
Outdoor stalls are situated next to a contemporary indoor hall, which functions more as a culinary destination than a conventional market.
Within the hall, patrons can enjoy freshly shucked oysters accompanied by a glass of Riesling, warming fish soup, a mango-salmon roll, or fried calamari, or even indulge in a high-end meal.
The outdoor market’s hours are reduced during the winter, operating only on weekends, while in summer, visitors can stop by any day to witness the impressive variety of seafood sourced from the North Sea.
