Travel to Bergen

Travel to Bergen

Bergen is on the southwestern coast of Norway and is an interesting place to visit, set in a beautiful setting surrounded by mountains and fjords. Aside from the natural beauty and tranquillity, there is some good local food to sample and the citys philharmonic orchestra is one of the oldest in Europe, with an excellent reputation to match.

Transportation to Bergen

Bergen has good transport links and is easily reached by road, rail, sea and air. The airport is located 12 miles outside the city and is connected to a number of different European destinations, with some budget airlines offering cheap flights.

Many people choose to travel by ferry to Bergen. The route is scenic, especially as you approach Norway and Bergen, and there is the added convenience of arriving right in the heart of the city. There are regular services to Newcastle (UK) and Hanstholm (Denmark) as well as to the Faroe Islands and Iceland.

The rail journey from Oslo is said to be one of the most beautiful routes in the world, with snow capped mountains and fjords to be seen outside the window. The journey takes 8 hours and trains are of a high standard. Bergen also has good road connections to Oslo and Trondheim (although in winter you need to drive via Oslo), as well as continuing to Sweden.

What to see

The most famous sight in Bergen is the Bryggen area, a UNESCO protected site, with its beautiful colourful wooden houses and small narrow lanes. The area has a rich history and today it has many shops and artists workshops as well as the busy fish market. The funicular railway to the top of Mount Flien is great fun and provides the most spectacular views in the city, as well as some pleasant walking trails. There are some old churches that provide information about the history of the area and the house where Edvard Greig lived has been made into an interesting museum. The city also has one of the biggest Aquariums in Europe with a mixture of local and tropical marine life.

Daytrips

There is a lot to explore in the area surrounding Bergen, with the drive across the Kvamskogen plateau to the Steinsdalsfossen waterfall, a popular thing to do. The scenery is beautiful in the areas around Kvandal with the Folgefonn glacier, and there are some attractive small towns and villages to explore.

Activities and leisure

Bergen has a good reputation for classical museum and if you get the chance to see a performance while you are here you wont regret it. The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra perform every Thursday in the Grieg Hall, and there are also concerts at Troldhaugen (Edvard Griegs house) in a small and atmospheric concert hall. The city has plenty of good restaurants where you can sample delicacies such as reindeer meat or some of Bergens excellent seafood as well as some good shopping, especially in the Bryggen area.

Safety issues

Bergen is generally a safe place to visit and tourists rarely have any problems, care should be taken with your belongings in the busy tourist areas, and driving in winter can be treacherous. Visitors should take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy.