BergenNorway · Ferry Destinations

All About Bergen

Bergen is a city of many personalities. Founded in 1070 by King Olaf III Haraldson, it has, from the start, been an important port town in the southwest of Norway. Formally known as Bjørgvin, a castle was built here in 1100, and the city served as the country’s capital in the 12th and 13th centuries. While trade prospered, even with the Hanseatic merchants dominating business in the region, Bergen continuously faced much devastation due to fires, particularly in 1702 and 1916.

Now, though, Bergen is Norway’s second largest as well as rainiest metropolitan. Known as the ‘city of seven mountains’, it is home to over 300,000 residents, many of whom come to study at the city’s famous university. Fishing, shipbuilding, and food processing continue to add to the city’s industrious legacy. At the same time, the rise in tourism has further placed Bergen on the world map.

For travelers, a holiday in Bergen is brimming with fascinating highlights such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bryggen, music and cultural festivals, history-filled museums, and the chance to admire the spectacular exquisiteness of the fjords on relaxing cruises.
 

Routes and Ferries to Bergen

Ferry tickets to Bergen are available for boats operated by Fjordline, Norled, and Rødne, from various destinations within and outside the country. Among the more popular routes is the two-hour-long Rosendal to Bergen trip, with up to 14 sailings weekly. Ferries from Selje and Sogndal to Bergen take roughly five hours, with 12 and 7 sailings respectively, every week. Simultaneously, while ferries from Hirtshals and Langesund take over 18 hours to complete their journeys, the frequency of the trips is quite regular, with seven sailings weekly.

A few of the other locations from where you can get ferry tickets to Bergen are Stavanger, Sollibotn, Lavik, Vik, Aurland, and Florø. Ferries arriving at Bergen dock at one of two terminals. However, the one in Nøstegaten is the most used and is only a 10-minute walk from the city center. You can use Ferryscanner to check up-to-date schedules and book your ferry tickets to Bergen.

Travelers flying into Bergen arrive at the local airport, 12km from downtown. Bergen Airport welcomes all-year and seasonal flights from Norwegian and European cities, such as Riga, Zurich, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, London, etc. You can take a shuttle, taxi, light rail, or rental car from the airport to the center.

Tourists already in the country often take the scenic train journey from Oslo to reach Bergen. The seven-hour trip is slow, with 22 stops. Still, the views along the way and over the Hardangervidda plateau are particularly astounding. Taking the bus from Oslo to Bergen is by far the cheapest mode of transport. However, there’s no direct connection, and thus, the journey lasts close to 10 hours.
 

Port of Bergen

Port of Bergen, located on the west coast of Norway, boasts a centuries-old trading legacy. In its new-age avatar, the port provides all modern-day facilities to cargo and container ships, passenger ferries, leisure boats, and cruise ships. Situated close to the city’s central neighborhood, it is the second-largest port in Norway and the country’s largest cruise harbor.

The Port of Bergen has five quays of varying lengths, accommodating ships and boats of different sizes. Their primary ferry terminal offers services like luggage storage, parking, toilets, and a café. Although it is within walking distance of the center, you can find buses and taxis near the departure gate.
 

Best Beaches of Bergen

Even though the beaches in Bergen offer unlimited access to the sea, the rain and cold limit locals and tourists from enjoying time by the water, under the sun. So, when the weather is pleasant, everyone loves to be outside, swim in the 14°C summer sea, soak in the sun, and enjoy the beauty of the rocky nooks and grassy coves that dot Bergen’s coastline.

Kyrkjetangen Beach

Kyrkjetangen is a small family-friendly sandy beach located 15 minutes south of the town center. A lovely spot for a swim, the beach has conveniences like a diving board, toilets, barbeque spots, parking, green patches to lie down, and picnic benches. Although accessible by bus and car, the best transport to visit the shore is by cycle to avoid the traffic on busy summer days.

Tømmervågen Badeplass

A shallow beach with calm waters great for kids, Tømmervågen is a lovely spot amidst a natural setting 10km north of downtown Bergen. Locals typically come here to swim, have a picnic on the grassy areas, fish, or hike in the surrounding woods. Parking, toilets, and a diving board are services you’ll find at the beach.

Grønevika Badestrand

A small public bath 30 minutes from the city, Grønevika promises a scenic location amongst the region’s wilderness. Facilities at the beach range from toilets and picnic tables to a diving board, grilling areas, and a ramp leading to the water for disabled visitors. To lounge, there are grassy areas nearby. However, you’ll have to walk a bit from the car park to reach the shore.

Mjølkevika Badeplass

Alongside Fanafjord, Mjølkevika welcomes visitors to a beautiful setting only a 20-minute drive south of Bergen center. The beach consists mainly of a grassy patch and a small gravel section near the water. A cozy and sheltered nook, the sea by the strand is calm and shallow, making it ideal for kids to play. The seabed is rocky, so bring along water shoes if you plan to swim. Amenities on-site include picnic tables, parking, camping, toilets, a diving board, and fishing spots.

Nordnes Sjøbad

If a shortage of time limits your travel to the beaches in Bergen, make the most of the city’s sea baths. Sandviken and Sydnes both have excellent sea baths, but the most popular is in Nordnes. Located next to the aquarium, Nordnes sjøbad has a 25m heated saltwater pool and a diving tower leading into the sea. Open all year round, you can swim here, take a sauna, and sunbathe in the grassy area. A single winter ticket for the bath costs €7.50, while in summer, the same is €8.50.
 

Neighborhoods of Bergen

Whether Bergen’s central and residential areas or one of its suburbs, each neighborhood presents visitors with something exciting to witness, from old wooden houses and modern architecture to public baths, shopping opportunities, or access to the province’s natural marvels.

Bergen City Center

Quaint cobbled streets, shopping opportunities, cafes, and oodles of history, Bergen’s city center is its beating heart. The neighborhood primarily consists of Bryggen, the 12^th-century Old Town, rebuilt after a fire in 1702. Here you can wander around charming narrow streets lined with colorful wooden houses, buy traditional souvenirs, and visit the Bryggen Museum and Hanseatic Museum. For all your retail requirements, take a walk down Torgallmenningen, the city’s primary pedestrian street, and town square.

Sandviken

Situated in the northeast of the city, Sandviken is a neighborhood that extends up a steep slope from the water. It separated from Bergen in 1561 but rejoined the town in 1876. Initially, an industrial community having windmills and shipyards, it is now a popular residential area consisting of 18th and 19th-century wooden houses, large villas, the Old Bergen Museum, and the Norwegian Fisheries Museum. While in Sandviken, do take the 908 steps up to Sandviksfjellet to admire stunning views of the surroundings.

Nordnes

Nordnes is a peninsula to the west of the city center, known as Klosteret by the locals, as it is home to the country’s oldest monastery, Munkeliv. Rebuilt in part after various fires and WWII, the neighborhood is where many students and generational families of Bergen live. In Nordnes, you’ll come across wooden houses, the Bergen Aquarium, and Nordnesparken which houses a totem pole gifted by Bergen’s twin city, Seattle.

Møhlenpris

Named after the 17th-century shipowner Jørgen Thor Møhlen, Møhlenpris has seen much progress over the last decade. As a lively residential and industrial neighborhood, families and tourists come here to enjoy the beach, shops, restaurants, and children’s playgrounds. While in Møhlenpris, stop by the VilVite Science Center and catch a theatrical or musical performance at the Corner Theater.

Nygårdshøyden

Teeming with learners from around the world, Nygårdshøyden is where you’ll find the University of Bergen. Most students live in this neighborhood known for its brick house and apartment blocks. However, there’s plenty for tourists as well, from the Natural History and Cultural Museum to the Bergen Maritime Museum and Muséhagen botanical garden, with over 3000 species of plants. Also in the neighborhood is St. John’s Church. Built in 1894, in Neo-Gothic style, the church has the highest tower in the city at 61 meters.
 

Things To Do Around Bergen

With plenty of things to do in Bergen, the city is a versatile and vibrant holiday destination catering to business persons, couples, solo travelers, and families. A stroll around the UNESCO Heritage Site of Bryggen is undoubtedly one of the highlights of a stay in Bergen. Simultaneously, you can indulge in a variety of cultural, historical, adventurous, culinary, and natural excursions, some of which are ideal for when the sky is unpredictably pouring.

Relax in a Floating Sauna

The sauna is an integral part of life in Norway. It is the perfect cozy escape during the winter, is good for health, and is an excellent way to mingle with friends, family, and colleagues. Booking a sauna cruise is a novel way to partake in this experience. Departing the city’s Frydenbø marina, the floating sauna can accommodate two to ten people starting from €250 for a couple of sailing hours. The year-round excursion offers you the chance to take a cold bath in the sea and then relax in a wood-fired sauna for a memorable time. Moreover, the sauna boat has showers, changing rooms, and a lounge area.

Take a City Food Tour

Among the most fun and exciting things to do in Bergen, especially for gourmands, is to take a city food tour. This culinary crash course promises a visit to some of the iconic gastronomic spots of the city. A three-hour excursion costs around €85 and includes tasting local specialties and unmatched insight into Norwegian cuisine. Alternatively, you can head out on your own to explore Bergen’s famous Fish Market, which has been operational since the 1200s. You’ll find fresh seafood, vegetables, and fruits in the indoor-outdoor market. There are also restaurants here where you can savor freshly prepared Bergen delicacies.

Go Up Mount Fløyen

The best vantage point from where you can admire the spread of the city and fjord panoramas in all their glory is the top of Mount Fløyen. Rising 320 meters above sea level, the mountain’s peak has nature trails and a kid’s playground. You can also take a six-hour hike from here to Ulriken, the highest of the seven mountains in the area. Fløibanen is the five-to-eight-minute funicular that takes enthusiastic travelers to the top of Fløyen, costing €15 for a return trip. On your return, stop by the oldest and possibly smallest café in Bergen, Det Lille Kaffekompaniet, for a warm cup of coffee and some cake. 

Stop by KODE Museum

There is no shortage of museums in Bergen covering various themes. From the Old Bergen Museum to the Hanseatic Museum, these are lovely institutions you can visit, especially on a rainy day. The Kode Museum is a much grander and more widespread foundation, comprising four art museums and three residential houses. At the museums, namely, Lysverket, Rasmus Meyer, Stenersen, and Permanenten, you’ll find classic Norwegian art, international modernist paintings, the world’s third-largest Edvard Munch collection, and other temporary exhibits. At the same time, Siljustøl, Lysøen, and Troldhaugen are homes of famous Norwegian composers who at one time lived in Bergen.

Enjoy a Fjord Tour

A fjord tour is one of the unmissable things to do in Bergen. The majestic beauty of the fjords, the mountainous surroundings, and the waterfalls is for all to relish through a range of sailing options. For example, you can pick a three-hour cruise to Mostraumen on a catamaran or a longer sailing to Gudvangen. Most excursions leave from the harbor near the Fish Market. Another option is booking a tour to Flåm with return ferry tickets to Brengen. A famously beautiful journey through Sognefjord, this is a full-day trip packed with stunning sights and exotic discoveries.
 

Transportation Around Bergen

A stroll around downtown Bergen is the ideal way to appreciate the city’s many architectural marvels and laid-back vibe. It’s also convenient and economical. Moreover, travelers arriving with ferry tickets to Bergen will find the city center only a short walk from the port.

If the plan is to travel and sightsee the neighborhoods, opt for the next best option, bicycles or eBikes, which you can rent for around €50-60 per day. Unfortunately, taxis are the opposite, and while a faster transfer mode, they tend to be very costly. Additionally, you need not rent a car if staying within Bergen, but can get one if heading out to different parts of the region.

Bergen does have an extensive and efficient public transport system, including buses and light rail. Based on a zone system, you can purchase a single zone ticket for around €3.75 or a 24-hour zone pass starting at €10. Do keep in mind that tickets are more expensive when bought on the bus, so it’s best to purchase them earlier.

Whether visiting the city for a day or longer, tourists looking to save money should opt for the Bergen Card. The card, meant mainly for visitors, costs between €32.50 to €55.50 depending on the usage time of 24 to 96 hours. Bergen Card concessions include free travel on buses and light rail within the city, free entry into museums, shopping discounts, and restaurant deals.