Destinations > Norway > Bergen

Bergen

View of Bergen from the Funicular to Mount Fløien photo: Per Nybø; © Fjord Norge as

Norway's second largest city is situated on a mountain-studded peninsula which juts out into a spectacular fjord. The city has a strong history as a maritime port and was Norway's capital in the 12th and 13th centuries. Bergen's narrow cobblestone streets and small wooden houses give the city a unique ambience while many travellers make the trip here to take advantage of the scenic rail journey from Oslo.

Bergen's sights include the bustling fish market, the aquarium and of course, the wilderness at the city's doorstep.

Like many other Scandinavian cities, Bergen's tourist office issues a discount card imaginatively called the Bergen Card. The Bergen Card costs NOK 170 for 24 hours and NOK 250 for a 48 hour card. The card entitles the holder to free bus travel within the city limits, free entry to most museums, free entry to the aquarium (Sept-May), free admission to the funicular, a free harbour tour during July and August, the sightseeing train Bergens-Expressen, free admission to swimming pools along with numerous discounts. The Bergen Card is available from the train station, the main post office, tourist information centres and the Montana Hostel.

Practical Information

Bergen Tourist Information Centre

Vågsallmenningen 1, Bergen

Tel 55 32 14 80

Website www.visitbergen.com

Open Jan-Apr Mon-Sat 9am-4pm; May 9am-8pm daily; Jun-Aug 8.30am-10pm daily; Sep 9am-8pm daily; Oct-Dec Mon-Sat 9am-4pm daily

Local Transport

Bergen has a good bus network with a free bus (route 100) running between the bus station and the Galleriet shopping centre. Other buses cost NOK 20 within the city centre, the Bergen Card entitles you to free travel on these buses.

Coming & Going

The train and bus stations are both located on Strømgaten about ten minutes south of the harbour. There are direct ferries to Bergen served by Fjord Line (Denmark and the UK) and P&O Ferries (the Shetland Isles and Scotland).

During summer, Smyril Line (website www.smyrilline.fo) run ferries to Iceland via the Shetland Islands and Faroe Islands.

Bergen Flesland Airport is situated 15 km south of the city centre. The airport bus runs every 15 minutes and costs NOK 60.

Accommodation

Bergen Vandrerhjem YMCA

Nedre Korskirkealmenning 4, 5017 Bergen

Tel 55606055

Haukeland Hotel

Jonas Liesvei 59, 5021 Bergen

Tel 55 20 92 00

Marken Guesthus

Kong Oscarsgt. 45, N-5017 Bergen

Tel 5531 4404

Montana Youth Hostel

Johan Blyttsvei 30, 5096 Bergen, Hordaland

Bus 31

Tel 55208070

Nygard Apartment

Nygardsgaten 31, 5015 Bergen

Tel 5532 7253

Sights

Bergen Aquarium

Norway's largest aquarium is home to penguins and seals in addition to the usual fish.

Nordnesbakken 4, Bergen

Bus 11

Tel 55 55 71 71

Website www.akvariet.com

Admission NOK 100

Open Jan-Apr 10am-6pm daily; May-Aug 9am-7pm daily; Sep-Dec 10am-6pm daily

Bergen Art Museum

The Bergen Art Museum is split into three branches. The City Collection features mostly Norwegian art. The Rasmus Meyer Collection contains some of the better known Norwegian art from the 18th-century up to the early 20th century and includes several of Edvard Munch's works such as Jealousy, The Woman in Three Stages and Melancholy. The Stenersen Collection consists mainly of modern art from the twentieth-century including works by Pablo Picasso.

City Collection and Stenersen Collection, Lars Hilles gate 10, Bergen. Rasmus Meyer Collection, Rasmus Meyers allé 7, Bergen

Bus 1, 5, 9

Tel 55 56 80 00

Website www.bergenartmuseum.no

Admission NOK 50, students NOK 35

Open 11am-5pm daily

Bergen Museum

Founded in 1825, this museum has exhibits on cultural and natural history with a collection totalling 7.4 million objects.

Harald Hårfagresgt. 1, Bergen

Tel 47 55 58 93 63

Website www.bm.uib.no

Admission NOK 30

Open Jan-May Tue-Fri 10am-2pm, Sat 11am-3pm; Jun-Aug Tue-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm; Sep-Dec Tue-Fri 10am-2pm, Sat 11am-3pm

Bryggen

This harbourside neighbourhood, which is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is home to beautiful old architecture and it's narrow streets are a great place to wander around. Bryggen is home to a couple of interesting museums including the Bryggens Museum and the Hanseatic Museum.

Bryggens Museum

This museum displays relics from Bryggen, including old custumes and tools.

Dreggsallm 3, Bergen

Bus 20, 21, 22, 23, 50, 70, 71, 80, 90

Tel 55 58 80 10

Website www.uib.no/bmu/

Admission NOK 30

Open Jan-Apr Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, Sat noon-3pm, Sun noon-4pm; May-Aug 10am-5pm daily; Sep-Dec Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, Sat noon-3pm, Sun noon-4pm

Fløibanen

This funicular railway climbs Mt Føyen for a fantastic view of the city and surrounding area.

Vetrlidsallmenning 21, Bergen

Tel 55 33 68 00
Website www.floibanen.no

Return ticket NOK 60; one-way NOK 30

Open Jan-Apr Mon-Thu 7.30am-11pm, Fri 7.30am-11.30pm, Sat 8am-11.30pm, Sun 9am-11pm; May-Aug Mon-Fri 7.30am-midnight, Sat 8am-midnight, Sun 9am-midnight; Sep-Dec Mon-Thu 7.30am-11pm, Fri 7.30am-11.30pm, Sat 8am-11.30pm, Sun 9am-11pm

Leprosy Museum

Housed in a 19th century hospital, this museum records the history of this disease.

Kong Oscars gate 59, Bergen

Bus 1, 5, 9

Tel 55 32 57 80

Website www.lepra.uib.no

Admission NOK 30

Open May-Aug 11am-3pm daily