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Bergen

The city in the heart of the fjords
Bergen is a charming city nestled on the western coast of Norway, surrounded by seven mountains, fjords and the Atlantic Ocean. The second largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo, it is famous for its landscapes, breathtaking views, as well as its fascinating history and cultural attractions that make it an ideal destination for a trip in nature and culture.
 
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 Bergen. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos 
 
The city of Bergen has a long history dating back over a thousand years, when it was an important trading center for fishing, especially for cod in the north. Today, the city offers a perfect combination of nature, culture and attractions boasting several historic buildings such as the Church of Santa Maria, built between 1130 and 1170, the Rosenkrantz Tower (a 1560 watchtower that offers a panoramic view of the city and surrounding mountains), the Bergen Cathedral in Gothic style dating back to 1150 (in one of the oldest places in the city, famous for its architecture and the XVII century pipe organ), and the old Bryggen wharf, which recalls the city's importance as part of the Hanseatic League's commercial empire from the 14th to the mid-16th century.
 
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Bergen. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
 
The historic center of Bryggen
The historic center of Bryggen, built in the 14th century, is characterized by a row of colorful wooden houses, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The houses with unique architecture along the harbor, once used as warehouses, now host shops, cafes and restaurants. The old city, called Bryggen, with its colorful buildings and narrow winding alleys, is ideal for strolling in a lively atmosphere.
 
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Bergen. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
 
Bergen Museums 
Bergen offers many opportunities to discover its culture, starting from galleries and museums. The Bryggen Museum provides an overview of the history and culture of the city, while the Hanseatic Museum and Schøtstuene, in an ancient building in the old town, presents objects and documents on the history of Bergen's Hanseatic merchants. Instead, in the art and design collection of the KODE Museum, in four buildings in the center of Bergen along the Lille Lungegårdsvann lake, you can discover the masterpieces of Edvard Munch, Nikolai Astrup, Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, JC Dahl and contemporary art works.
 
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Bergen. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
 
Furthermore, Bergen is also known through its musical history by visiting outside the city center the Edvard Grieg Troldhaugen Museum, a renowned composer, or by participating in jazz concerts or the famous annual classical music festival, the Bergen International Festival. There are also museums dedicated to the history of fishing and trade such as the Norwegian Fisheries Museum and the Maritime Museum of Bergen dedicated to the Norwegian fishing tradition, the history of navigation with ship models, paintings or marine archaeological finds.
 
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Bergen. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
 
In Bergen, there are many outdoor activities that can be done, such as mountain excursions, fishing or water skiing. Here nature is lush and one of the most suggestive ways to admire the city is from Fløyen Park on a hill with a panoramic view, reachable from the city center with the Fløibanen cable car up to Mount Fløyen, where you can continue along several hiking trails.
 
The Norwegian fjords around Bergen
The must-do excursion in Bergen is dedicated to the Norwegian fjords, which are inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. In fact, Bergen is located south of Sognefjorden (the longest and deepest fjord in Norway which includes the Nærøyfjord, also on the World Heritage List) and north of Hardangerfjorden, two of the most visited fjords in Norway. Half-day or full-day tours are available to visit them, which can also be combined with cycling, kayaking, or rafting. Additionally, along the coast of Bergen, there are thousands of small islands to visit in the summer.
 
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Bergen. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
 
What to eat in Bergen
The stops, between a visit to the city or an excursion in the surroundings, are dedicated to tasting local delicacies. Bergen is famous for its fresh fish cuisine and the bars, open until late, liven up its vibrant nightlife by serving local drinks and Norwegian beer. Seafood, the heart of the city's culinary culture, can be purchased at Bergen's famous fish market. In restaurants, you can taste recipes based on fresh fish, mussels, scallops, lobsters, crabs, and shrimp.
 
Fish soup
 The Persetorsk
Photo Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
 
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Bergen Creative City of Gastronomy. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
 
Among Bergen's typical dishes to try are the traditional fish soup and Persetorsk, made from previously marinated cod pressed with salt and sugar. Bergen's gastronomic creativity has also been recognized by UNESCO, which designated it as a Creative City of Gastronomy.
 
Text by Nicole Villa 
Avion Tourism Magazine
Photos: Copyright © Ente del Turismo Visit Bergen
Photos: Copyright © Sisterscom.com / Depositphotos
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Video: visitBergen.com
 
 
 
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visitBergen.com

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Where sleeping in Bergen

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Bergen. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos

 

Bergen is a welcoming city and offers different possibilities for accommodation.

To find the ideal hotel and the best offers you can do a search for the stars but also for districts or landmarks.

 
STARS
Hotels for stars, differentiated by type of services:
 
 
 
HOUSES, RESORTS, B&B
Stays in homes, resorts, B&Bs and hostels
 
DISTRICTS
Hotels in the districts
 
REGION
Hotels in the region
 
Where to go in Bergen
Attractions in Bergen
Bryggen. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
Bryggen
Just a few meters from the fish market is Bergen's most famous attraction: Bryggen, with its unique wooden houses listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A stroll through the narrow alleys between the leaning houses takes you back to the Middle Ages, when Bryggen was a center of international trade. About 150 meters from Bryggen is the Fløibanen funicular that takes you to the top of Mount Fløyen at 320 meters above sea level.
Bergen Fish Market. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
Bergen Fish Market
Bergen Fish Market is one of the most visited outdoor markets in Norway, selling fish, seafood, fruits, and vegetables. It is located in the city center, between the fjords and the seven mountains of Bergen. Since the 1200s, it has been a meeting place for merchants and fishermen. There are also several restaurants serving seafood dishes. The indoor fish market (Mathallen) is open all year round, and the outdoor fish market is open from May 1st and during the summer.
 
Bergen Cathedral. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
Bergen Cathedral
The cathedral, dedicated to Saint Olav, the patron saint of Norway, dates back to 1150. The church has been damaged several times by fires over the years. The cathedral has beautiful windows and stained glass, while on the churchyard there are two commemorative monuments (one is the tomb of Bishop and Poet Johan Nordahl Brun). On the south side, there is a memorial dedicated to two contemporary poets: Dorothea Engelbrektsdatter and Petter Dass. Outside, you can see a cannonball from the battle in the bay of Bergen in 1665 between the British and Dutch navies.
Bergenhus Fortress. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
Bergenhus Fortress
Bergenhus Fortress is one of the oldest and best-preserved fortifications in Norway. The fortress has a long history as a royal residence, bishopric, and military base. The entrance to the fortress area is free. In the fortress complex, there are representative events, opera and theater performances, rock concerts, and other cultural events.
 
Museums in Bergen
Kode- Art museum and composer homes. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
KODE - Art Museums and Composer Homes
The KODE Museum is the second-largest art museum in Norway and houses masterpieces of Norwegian art history by Edvard Munch, Harriet Backer, Nikolai Astrup, and J.C. Dahl. It consists of four buildings that can be accessed with a single admission ticket to visit exhibitions of contemporary art and architecture. KODE 1 and 2 host temporary exhibitions while KODE 3 displays the permanent collection of Rasmus Meyer and the third-largest collection of Edvard Munch in the world. KODE 4 displays temporary exhibitions and hosts the large Tower Hall on the fourth floor and the Lysverket restaurant.
Bryggens Museum. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
Bryggens Museum
The Bryggens Museum, founded in 1976, is built on the remains of Bergen's oldest buildings from the first half of the 1100s and houses medieval archaeological finds from Bergen and Vestlandet excavations since 1955. In the museum, you can admire documents, artifacts, clothing, and everyday ceramics of the medieval population of Bergen and western Norway. The entrance to the historical area of Bergenhus Fortress is free.

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Tours in and around Bergen
Bryggen. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
 
24-hour hop-on hop-off bus ticket for Bergen
With the ecological bus you can get on or off at the points where the best attractions of the city are located. Wi-Fi on board and audio guide available in 7 different languages (English, German, Spanish, French, Dutch and Norwegian). The full sightseeing tour takes approximately 50 minutes for unlimited rides in 24 hours. Stops include Bryggen, the fish market, Bergen Aquarium and Mount Fløyen funicular station. Information and reservations: hop-on hop-off bus valid for 24 hours to visit the city of Bergen.
 
Guided group walk to discover Bergen. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
 
Guided group walk to discover Bergen
Guided city walking tour to discover the history of the city with expert local guide. Walking around you will discover: the Rosenkrantz Tower (inside the Bergenhus Fortress), Bryggen (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the narrow alleys, the wooden architecture of Bergen, the most famous restaurants in the city and the funicular station of Floibanen. Duration: 2 hours. Information and reservations: Guided walking tour of Bergen.
 
Skuteviken. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
 
Bergen Historical Monuments Cruise
City sightseeing cruise to see some of Bergen's most important historical sites such as the medieval fortress and colorful pier at Bryggen, the old wooden warehouses at Skuteviken and Sandviken, the cliff-top residences at Måseskjæret or on the mountain at Verftet. Sailing past U-Boot Bunker Bruno with Nordnes Sjøbad and back to Bergen fish market. Duration: 1 hour starting from the pier in Börshopen. Information and reservations: Bergen historical monuments cruise.
 
Fjord cruise from Bergen to Mostraumen. Copyright © Sisterscom / Depositphotos
 
Fjord cruise from Bergen to Mostraumen
Sightseeing fjord cruise departing from Bergen aboard a boat. Highlights: the view of Bryggen (UNESCO World Heritage site), the Osterfjord fjord with mountain landscapes and waterfalls. Chance to spot eagles along the banks of the fjord. Kiosk on board for snacks, audio guide, solarium. Duration: 3.5 hours, round trip. Information and reservations: fjord cruise from Bergen to Mostraumen.
 
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