Bergen, Norway

Hei hei fra Bergen!! One of the most picturesque places I probably have ever been. Located on the west coast of Norway, it is known for its colorful architecture and access to some of the most incredible fjords in the whole country. Bergen is known for having very similar weather to Seattle. On average, 250ish days of rain and I was blessed with 2.5 days of straight sunshine. No clouds! Absolutely breathtaking.

If you start your Norway adventure in Oslo, I would highly recommend the train ride from Oslo to Bergen. It is almost 7 hours but you get a true idea of Norway’s countryside. The train goes through farm fields, snow-covered mountains, countless tunnels, lakes, and much more. At one point we were going through an area covered in probably at least 7+ feet of snow when we went through a tunnel and we were greeted by a waterfall and green trees everywhere we looked. If you have a little extra change, I would recommend getting one of their seats in the pluss car. At first, I thought it might have been a waste but after walking through the rest of the cars and sitting at different chairs, was definitely appreciating the extra legroom the seat offered.

After the 7-hour train ride, I was definitely feeling like I needed to stretch my legs a little. I stopped at my hotel and dropped off my bags before heading to the funicular around the corner. This is something I’d highly recommend to anyone visiting Bergen. You can either take the funicular all the way up to the top of Mt. Floyen or brave the 3 km hike up. Obviously, I decided to take a ride on the tram. The views from the top can make one speechless. Miles and miles of ocean and mountains not to mention a great view of the city from up above. There are countless trails for those looking to get a hike in as well as multiple playgrounds for the littles. It also offers both a cafe and a full restaurant if you are looking for a bite to eat. But the absolute best part in my opinion is that at the top of the mountain are wild goats that are just hanging out. Goats are quite nice and love a good scratch behind the ears and a selfie. I didn’t see them the first time I went up but on my last day had a lot of time before my plane to Tromso so went back to the top and got to see them then. The hike down was quite nice and shaded but man are my calves still feeling it.

Things I’ve learned in Bergen:

Due to my blonde hair and light-colored eyes, I have been assumed as Norwegian 9/10 times. It’s when I stare at them blankly that makes them realize, oh American
You have to pay to use bathrooms in certain public places or transportation. Do not be offended and walk away as I did
If I had to drive in this city, I would cry
Feels more crowded than Oslo just due to it being a big cruise hub
They love 7/11 in Norway. They are everywhere
You need to scan your recite in order to leave a grocery store. Learned that the hard way when I just stood there wondering why I couldn’t leave
If you order meat, mainly hamburgers, they will give you the same way of cooking it unless specifically requested (usually medium with some pink)
Lunch is not really eaten here. Breakfast and dinner are the two meals. It is common to have dinner at 4 or 5 pm

At one point in time, Bergen was not only the biggest port in Norway, it was also one of the top ports in all of Europe. It’s a city that’s built on its history and is still today a massive import/export location. Everything from fish, timber, oil, and minerals gets distributed through this port. It’s also a massive cruise hub so don’t be surprised if mid-day there are lots of people walking around. Make sure to take a walk around the Bryggen neighborhood! Located right on the water, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Would definitely recommend the hotel I stayed at as well, Det Hanseatiske Hotel. It’s located in the Bryggen neighborhood and is very convenient to the rest of the city. A very historical, boutique-like hotel.

And you can’t go to Bergen without going on a fjord tour. With a ton of different fjord tour options, there’s something for everyone when it comes to exploring these natural wonders. The one I ended up doing started and ended in Bergen but took us all the way up the strait to a small, small town called Mo. At one point, we were over 2 hours away from Bergen and there were still houses. Houses that are only available to get to via boat. Every time I thought it would just be us and nature, a random house would appear. So many mountains and waterfalls. I just kept thinking like I wonder if these people that live out here ever get sick of this view. Like oh darn, there goes that waterfall next to my house again surrounded by those snow-covered peaks. Probably not.

While I didn’t explore Bergen as in-depth as I explored Oslo (calves have never looked better), it’s a city that if you get the chance, I would definitely recommend checking out for a day or two. Hopefully, you will be blessed with endless sunshine as well. Well, I’m off to the final leg of this trip and heading all the way North to Tromso. Sad that this is starting to come to an end but starting to miss my bed. Fingers crossed I see the Northern Lights!

Til Neste Gang, The Library Abroad

Hotel Link: https://www.dethanseatiskehotel.no/

Tour Link: https://www.getyourguide.com/bergen-l1132/bergen-osterfjord-mostraumen-and-waterfall-cruise-t414903/