Book Olympic Air Flights to Bergen

Sightseeing in Bergen

The historic district of Bergen is the picturesque coastal neighbourhood of Bryggen, which has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Bryggen extends as far as the eastern side of the port of Vågen and was a centre of commercial activity for the Hanseatic League. Take a stroll through this beautiful neighbourhood with its cobbled streets and wood-paved roads, the colourful wooden buildings with the tall triangular roofs built according to 12th-century designs (the ones you will see were built more recently, in the 18th century) and the lovely shops and restaurants.

If you are a history buff then at Håkon’s Hall you will be able to see how the Viking kings lived. This is a huge hall, built 750 years ago, within the Bergenhus fortress complex and which continues to host royal functions and rituals. Norway’s most important renaissance monument is situated next to Håkon’s Hall. This is the Rosenkrantz tower, which was the residence of King Eirik Magnusson, the last king to reside in Bergen.
Address: Vågen, 0047 55 54 63 87

The Bergen Art Museum / KODE is set within an idyllic landscape next to Lake Lille Lungegård in the city centre. This arts venue is spread out over four buildings and houses an important collection of masterpieces by artists such as Diego Rivera, Joan Miró, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso and Auguste Rodin.
Address: Rasmus Meyers allé 5, 004755 55 93 10, www.kunsthall.no

The imposing Mariakirken, the church of St Mary, was built in the second half of the 12th century and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. It is of special architectural interest, as the Norman-Romanesque style of its austere exterior contrasts with its interior, which is characterized by a luxurious 16th-century wood-carved pulpit and a striking central aisle.
Address: Dreggsallmenningen 15, 0047 55 59 32 70, www.bergen.kirken.no

Music lovers must visit the Edvard Grieg Museum, just a little outside of Bergen. It is housed in Troldhaugen, the summer residence of the famous Norwegian composer, a romantic villa with beautiful gardens, situated next to Lake Nordåsvannet, where Grieg lived until 1907. In the museums you can examine the scores of his works that were inspired by Norwegian nature and even see the hut in which Grieg sought isolation so that he could compose his music. If you find yourselves here in the summer months then you can attend one of the concerts that are held in the wooden concert hall, with the large windows that look out onto the forest.
Address: Troldhaugvegen 65, 0047 55 92 29 92, http://griegmuseum.no

For a “dip” into the history of the city, visit the open-air Old Bergen Open-Air museum. In the fifty-five wooden houses of the museum, examples of the architecture of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, you will see scenes from the life of what was once the largest wooden city in Europe, performed by actors, who narrate stories from the daily life of other eras.
Address: Nyhavnsveien 4, www.bymuseet.no

Things to do in Bergen

Take the cable car and go up Mount Fløyen, from where you can enjoy the most stunning view over Bergen and the fjords. You can also go on delightful walks on the well-signed paths, through dense forests and along deep-blue lakes.
Address: Vetrlidsallmenningen 21, 0047 55 33 68 00, www.floyen.no

Take a cruise to the fjord and discover the impressive formations of Bergen, which resulted from soil erosion during the glacier retreat. Choose from among the many daily cruises that are on offer and explore, among others, the famous Sognefjord. This is the largest fjord in the world, with the water reaching up to 1,300 metres deep and extending for a length of 205 km. The landscape is literally breath-taking.
Address: Bergen tourist information office, Strandkaien 3, 0047555520 00.

Shopping in Bergen

You will find stylish boutiques in the neighbourhood of Bryggen and in the shops in the centre of town, with excellent quality handmade jacquard sweaters, jackets, hats and scarves with the typical embroidery motifs of Norway.

In many of the shops you will find jewellery made of silver and wood-carved ornaments inspired by the jagged and curve edges of the fjords, souvenirs such as the little colourful wooden houses of the port made of wood or china, as well as little statues of trolls, the ugly and scandalous creatures of Norwegian mythology, nautical flags and traditional bunad costumes.

Food and Entertainment

If you love fish, then this is the ideal place for you. It is worth getting up in the morning to go to the Fisketorvet fish market in the heart of the city to see the fishing boats unloading their catch. Try shrimps and crabs directly from the stalls, smoked salmon sandwiches as well as the fresh strawberries that are grown in the surrounding green valleys.

You will find many restaurants concentrated around the old docks of Bryggen where, with a view over the port, you can try some local specialities based on cod, herring and shellfish from the fishing grounds of the North Sea. Such a meal is always accompanied by a local beer.

The city of Bergen also has a large number of international restaurants, from brasseries to sushi bars, and even authentic Italian or Indian cuisine.

Since you are in Norway, you should definitely sample some genuine skillingsboller cinnamon rolls, which you can easily find in the bakeries and cafes in the centre.

The nightlife of Bergen picks up around the docks, when the pubs with the nautical atmosphere turn on their lights and live musical evenings as well as other musical events are held.

Getting from the airport to Bergen

Bergen Airport, Flesland is located amongst the Norwegian fjords, just 18 km from the city centre. To get from the airport to the city centre, you can take the airport Flybussen (journey time 30 minutes), which makes many stops in the city, the Bergen Light Rail train, called Bybanen in Norwegian (journey time 45 minutes), or a taxi. If you have bought a Bergen Card then the journey with the Bybanen and all Skyss buses is free, while there is a 20% discount on the Flybussen. You can buy the Bergen Card online at https://en.visitbergen.com/bergen-card and pick it up at the Flesland Service Centre in the airport or at the tourist information office in Bergen.

The “gateway to the fjords”, picturesque Bergen, with its colourful wooden buildings and splendid natural surroundings that take your breath away, will enchant you. Book your tickets through the Olympic Air site and discover this stunning Norwegian city with a long history.