One city – endless opportunities. What has really made Bergen famous the world over is its unique charm and atmosphere. You have to experience it for yourself.
The city was voted one of the best cities in Europe in 2017 by Condé Nast Traveler’s readers (several hundreds of thousands of votes!), which proves just how attractive and exciting this city between 7 mountains really is.
Bergen is worth exploring on foot. Strolling around old streets and alleyways where people have lived for centuries is like a fairy-tale. You will see higgledy-piggledy small wooden houses, cobbled streets with stone steps in the steepest parts and flowers everywhere.
Stop off at the Fish Market to mingle with the crowds. Visit the Aquarium and see the fish, penguins and seals in their natural element, as well as crocodiles, snakes and spiders. Stroll along the UNESCO-listed wooden buildings at Bryggen to the old fortress at Bergenhus, or call in at one of Bergen’s many museums and galleries. Bryggen has become a symbol of our cultural heritage and has gained a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The old Hanseatic wharf is architecturally unique and is perhaps one of the most familiar images in all of Norway.
It is not far from the city centre to Mt. Fløyen, Mt. Ulriken or another of the seven mountains that form the backdrop to the city. The panoramic view of the city, the fjord and the ocean is breathtaking.
History and proud traditions
Bergen was founded by King Olav Kyrre in AD 1070, and it became Norway’s first real capital in the 13th century. Until the 1830s, Bergen was the biggest town in Norway and the largest in Scandinavia for a period during the Middle Ages. The reason for this was that Bergen was a major European trading and seafaring port, and one of the Hanseatic merchants’ four most important trading centres. Bergen today has a population of approximately 260.000. Trade and seafaring still play an important part in Bergen’s economy. Industry, trades, tourism, fisheries and the oil and gas industry are other important sectors. Bergen is also a major university city.
Gateway to the fjords
Bergen is surrounded by one of the most popular attractions in the world, the Norwegian fjords, which have been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and voted the world’s most unspoiled tourist destination by National Geographic. Bergen is a great starting point if you wish to explore the fjords. There are many organized sightseeing and fjord tours of varying length that you are guaranteed to find memorable. Almost all of the tours from Fjord Tours or Go Fjords can be started in Bergen. On these tours you travel with one ticket and get a great overview of everything Fjord Norway has to offer.
European city of culture
There are many good reasons why Bergen was designated European City of Culture in 2000. The city has fostered several famous sons who have achieved worldwide fame and put their home town on the map. Edvard Grieg, Ole Bull and Harald Sæverud all became famous, each in his own way. As a City of Culture, Bergen can now also boast an innovative and trendy music and design scene. The city has a wide variety of events ranging from “high” culture to lively football matches.
Accommodation
There is far too much to see and do in Bergen for just one day. Fortunately, we can offer a varied range of accommodation that suits all tastes.
What to do
Fjord Norway and the city of Bergen offer you the ideal combination of nature, culture and exhilarating city life.
What to see
Museums and attractions, culture and entertainment, sport and leisure. Bergen has something to offer all year round.
How to get here
You can fly to Bergen direct from more than 30 central destinations in Europe. You can take the Bergen Railway between Oslo and Bergen, this is an experience in itself. You can take a direct ferry from Denmark, or you can travel by car and experience the magnificent mountain passes and majestic fjord landscape.