Bergen, Norway: comprehensive city guide, main attractions with photos and descriptions, location on the map.
City of Bergen (Norway)
Bergen is a city in western Norway, situated on the eponymous peninsula on the shore of the North Sea. It is the country’s second-largest city, the center of the Hordaland region, nestled among picturesque hills and fjords. Bergen is one of Norway’s oldest cities, a seaport, and the ancient capital of the country. It has preserved old wooden architecture and heritage from the Hanseatic period. The famous Bergen waterfront, Bryggen, is the city’s most famous landmark and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Bergen is a city of amazing charm. It’s a place where colorful houses climb the slopes, where it almost always rains or is foggy, where picturesque nature meets the urban environment. It’s all the more surprising to learn that this lovely city is one of the wealthiest in an already affluent Norway, a major port, and a center for the oil industry.
Geography and Climate
Bergen is located in Western Norway on the shore of the North Sea. The city lies in the valleys of the Bergen Peninsula, which open out to the sea. The city’s surroundings are quite mountainous. The coastline is indented with picturesque fjords. The historic city center is located on the shore of the Vågen Bay.
The climate is temperate maritime. Despite its northern location, winters are snowy and mild with an average temperature of 1-3 degrees Celsius, while summers are cool with an average temperature of less than 15 degrees. A very large amount of precipitation falls annually—over 2000 mm. It is almost constantly overcast and rainy. The Norwegians themselves joke that you can recognize people from Bergen by the webbing between their toes.
Interestingly, Bergen has beaches. Because the waters of the Bergen bay are separated from the cold waters of the North Sea by numerous islands, on sunny summer days the water in shallow areas can warm up to 18 degrees.
Best Time to Visit
Bergen can be visited year-round. Winter is quite mild with an average temperature just above zero, and summer is cool. A lot of precipitation falls throughout the year, so with a 90% probability, you will need an umbrella.
Practical Information
- Population — over 270 thousand inhabitants.
- Time zone UTC: +1, in summer +2.
- Currency — Norwegian Krone.
- Visa — Schengen.
- The tourist center is located near the fish market.
History and Interesting Facts
Bergen was founded in 1070 by King Olaf III. A few decades later, the Bergenhus Castle was built in the northern part of Vågen Bay. From the 12th to the 13th century, Bergen was the capital of Norway, the residence of kings and bishops.
In the 14th century, the city ceased to be the capital and became part of the Hanseatic League. Power was concentrated in the hands of Hanseatic merchants. This lasted until the 18th century. By that time, Bergen was one of the most important cities of the Hanseatic League, the largest and wealthiest city in Norway. The city owes the appearance of the Bryggen waterfront to the Hanseatic period. The main commodity was fish (mostly cod), and from Europe — grain.
In the 15th century, Bergen was attacked several times by pirates who managed not only to destroy the fortress but also to burn part of the city. In 1665, a major naval battle between England and the Netherlands took place in Vågen Bay.
Bergen remained the largest city in Norway until 1830. During the Second World War, the city was occupied by German troops and liberated in 1944.
How to Get There
By Air: the airport is located 20 km south of Bergen. The capital of Western Norway is served by flights from Oslo, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, London, New York, Prague, Berlin, Paris, Edinburgh, and other European cities. It should be noted that a taxi from the airport to the center costs about 300 dollars. This is, of course, very expensive. A bus runs every 15 minutes, which is also quite expensive. The ticket is valid for a return trip within a month. Since 2017, a light rail service has been running from the airport.
By Train: the railway connects Bergen and Oslo. The journey takes 7 hours and is very scenic.
By Car and Bus: the E16 highway from Oslo. Buses to Bergen run from almost all major cities in Norway.
By Ferry: regular ferry connections with Northern Denmark.
Shopping and Purchases
There are several large shopping centers in the vicinity of Bergen, and the city also has large chain stores. It’s no secret that Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world, so shopping is not the most common pastime for tourists here. Mainly, people buy traditional souvenirs, products from local artisans, rare items, and various interesting trinkets.
Cuisine
Food in Bergen is expensive. Lunch or dinner can easily cost $100-150 for two and more. You have to try very hard to find inexpensive establishments. Most restaurants are very similar in terms of cuisine and decor. Kitchens usually close at 11:00 PM.
Traditional Norwegian cuisine is quite simple. It includes fish and seafood, vegetables, and game. Traditional dishes: fish soup, goat cheese, potato dumplings with bacon, fish balls, reindeer fillet, baked pork ribs.
To buy fresh fish and seafood, we recommend going to the fish market. Although it should be noted that prices here are also quite high. A trip through the fish stalls can easily amount to $50-70 per person.
Attractions
We recommend starting the sightseeing tour of Bergen with its symbol—the Bryggen waterfront, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Bryggen translates from Norwegian as wharf, pier. The waterfront appeared during the Hanseatic period. It is a very colorful place with ancient, multi-colored wooden houses that host shops, museums, cafés, and restaurants. Almost 25% of Bryggen’s buildings were constructed before the 18th century.
Be sure to take the funicular up Mount Fløyen to enjoy a magnificent panorama of the city and Vågen Bay. The mountain’s height is 320 meters. The funicular boarding point is 150 meters from the fish market.
The Old Bergen Museum is a complex of antique wooden houses in an open-air setting. It is a mini-town of 50 buildings reconstructed with historical accuracy. This is a unique place that allows you to experience what life was like in Bergen two centuries ago.
Rosenkrantz Tower is one of Bergen’s main medieval monuments, a powerful stone tower whose history began in the 13th century. The tower acquired its current appearance in the second half of the 16th century. It now houses the city museum.
A very popular spot is the highest peak in the vicinity—Mount Ulriken, which is accessible by cable car. From a height of 643 meters, a stunning view of Bergen, the bay, and the fjords opens up.
Bergen Aquarium is an excellent place for family recreation. It features over 50 aquariums and pools where you can see the animal world of the Norwegian seas. There is also a large collection of tropical fish, marine mammals, and penguins.
Bergenhus is a medieval fortress, one of the oldest structures in Bergen and one of the oldest forts in Norway. The Bergen Fortress was built in the 13th century and was a royal residence. Some of its parts are excellently preserved, for example, the Rosenkrantz Tower and the King’s Hall (in the photo). The King’s Hall was built in the mid-13th century and is in simply wonderful condition. Unfortunately, other parts of the fortress, including the ancient cathedral, have not stood the test of time and now only ruins remain.
Gamlehaugen is the royal residence with a park, built at the beginning of the 20th century in the English style.
In Vågen Bay, you can often spot the beautiful three-masted vessel Statsraad Lehmkuhl, built at the beginning of the 20th century. A cruise through the Norwegian seas on this vessel costs 425 Norwegian Kroner and takes 5 hours.
Sacred Architecture
Bergen Cathedral is the main Lutheran church in Bergen, located in the northwestern part of the historic center near the Bryggen waterfront. It is one of the oldest religious buildings in the city. The Baroque church is designed in a medieval style. The first church was built in the 12th century and was named after St. Olaf. The cathedral was subsequently rebuilt several times.
St. Mary’s Church is considered the oldest preserved building in Bergen. It belongs to the German community. It is located in the northeastern part of the historic center. For almost four centuries, it was the main church for merchants and traders.
St. John’s Church is a brick neo-Gothic church from the late 19th century.
Korskirken (Church of the Cross) is an Evangelical Lutheran church from the 12th century. Initially, it was a simple Romanesque building, later rebuilt in the Baroque style. It is located in the Old Town east of Vågen Bay.
St. Paul’s Church is a Catholic church from the mid-19th century in Bergen.
Notable and Interesting Places in Bergen
- Hanseatic Museum (Schøtstuene) – exhibitions related to the Hanseatic period.
- Science Center – interactive exhibitions of science and technology.
- Maritime Museum – exhibitions dedicated to maritime history, shipping, and Vikings.
- Damsgård Hovedgård – a beautiful 18th-century manor house.
