Bergen

2022

If you’re in Norway, you can’t skip Bergen!

Cost: £££ – all of Norway is expensive but it doesn’t have to break the bank if you plan well
Rating: 10/10 – Bergen is a very special place
Trip length: 3 nights – although I would have stayed longer if we had time
Trip video: inc. stops in Lillehammer and Oslo

Getting there…
We hopped on a 7 hour train from Oslo to Bergen. It may be long, but it is considered one of the most beautiful train rides in the world! With this in mind, we booked an afternoon train to make sure we saw as much of the changing landscape as we could and it really didn’t disappoint (the dirty windows stopped me from taking epic photos but you get the gist below).

Bergen was also our last stop of 3 so, to be honest, we needed a 7 hour break from moving about / socialising.

Trains are super reliable in Norway and can be an inexpensive way of travel if you book in advance. The 7 hour journey cost us NOK 1,638 (GBP 126.50) = GBP 63.25 per person. You can book all transport (train / bus / taxi) through vy.no.

Flights back to London
We flew back to London from Bergen for GBP 103 per person. The airport is only 11 miles from the centre of Bergen and it’s easily accessible on the tram which was close to the hotel.

Accommodation
We stayed at a cute little hotel right on the water in the centre of the action, conveniently located in front of the pick up point for lots of Bergen day-trips and activities. Scandic Torget Bergen was compact but stylish and cosy, and a short walk from the train station so no taxi was needed. We paid NOK 3,933 (GBP 303) for 3 nights / 2 = GBP 151.50 per person and this included a basic breakfast.

Currency us the Norwegian Krone – 1 is less than 10p so it’s annoying one to work out!

Bergen is notorious for having heavy rainfall (239 days out of 365) so don’t let these photos deceive you – we got very lucky after being asked whether we had a rain jacket by everyone we told that we were heading there.

What we did…

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Epic fjord hike with Norway Mountain Guides
The hike with Frank from Norway Mountain Guides was truly a highlight of the whole trip to Norway. We had originally booked a Panorama tour of Bergen as it was the only one available, but as we were a small group with a pro photographer we went for a fjord hike instead and I am SO glad.

Costs for Fjord hiking / On Top of Bergen public tours = NOK 1,290 (GBP 100 per person) and well worth it.

The tour lasted 5 hours (inc. the drive to and from the fjord) but the hike itself lasted about 3 hours. It wasn’t too strenuous, although I can imagine much harder in more adverse weather.

When we got to the highest point, we sat and enjoyed some time on our own before tucking into some Norwegian snacks.

Couldn’t have asked for a better bunch or a better day to do this. A must if you’re in Bergen.

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Fjords Cruise
We went on the 4 hour Osterfjord, Mostraumen and Waterfall Cruise which cost GBP 108 per person when we were there (although the boat on the link looks slightly different to the one we were on which had open sides).

But what makes a fjord a fjord? I actually had to ask this when we were there – it’s ‘a deep, narrow and elongated sea or lakedrain, with steep land on three sides’. They were created in the Ice Age by glaciers!

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Stroll around Bergen
Bergen itself is so beautiful – we spent an afternoon exploring, and grabbing drinks outside in some of the sweet bars / restaurants on the pedestrianised streets.

We strolled by loads of trendy restaurants, many of which were busy and only taking reservations so definitely do some better research than we did if there’s anywhere in particular you want to eat.

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Food & drink…
As to be expected, the fish is unreal in Bergen and the sushi was some of the best I’ve eaten!

We ate at Fjellskål Seafood Restaurant twice because it was so good! Not only is the food delicious (and not too extortionately priced), but you feel like you’re sitting on the water in little conservatories.

Fish Market
We ate in a little restaurant under a temporary marquee in the fish market along the front of the main water in Bergen – fresh, simple and so tasty (although portions could have been bigger for the price).

Trattoria Osteria
Was a buzzing Italian restaurant which we found in the back-streets of Bergen when we were already pretty drunk. Of course, I had to go for the seafood linguine which was fantastic.

The final thing I will say on food is … if you try the Norwegian treat, Smash, you will be hooked and it will be all you want to eat. Do with that info what you will 🙂

Overall, Bergen was bloody amazing and I would go back in a heartbeat.