Bergen Norway – Colorful Wharf, Mountain Views & Fjordside Charm

 Is Bergen Norway worth visiting?

We had no expectations when we arrived in Bergen and we were surprised by this beautiful city. As is normal in Norway the city was clean and picturesque. It has a wonderful fish market and city parks. You can take a funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen for spectacular views of the city on a nice day. Review our Bergen Norway Images in the sections below to get a feel for the city.

 What is the Bergen Weather like?

Many people had told us (including Norwegian friends) that we should expect some "less than perfect" weather while in Norway, but that never happened. Bergen Norway weather in July was perfect with blue skies, no rain, and pleasant temperatures, so we would propose that July might be the best month to visit Bergen. It is a city that is known for its temperate and oceanic climate. The city is located on the west coast of Norway and experiences a lot of rainfall throughout the year. The winter months in Bergen are relatively mild, with temperatures hovering around freezing point. Snow is not a common occurrence, but when it does snow, it usually melts away quickly.

• What is Bergen known for: Bergen is perfect if you love mountain hikes, city walks, water activities and culture as well as the impressive Bergenhus Fortress, the 14th-century wharf of Bryggen, and Troldhaugen, the former home of the Norwegian composer, Edvard Grieg.
• Is Bergen near the Fjords: Bergen is known as the "fjord capital of Norway" set between two of the largest in the country; the Hardangerfjord and the Sognefjord.
• How far is the Sognefjord from Bergen: The easiest entry point into Sognefjord is via Flåm, a 2.5-hour drive from Bergen. If you want to experience Bergen Fjords over the period of a few days or even a week, then the passenger boat leaving from Bergen to Flåm is a good way to start your journey. The boat takes 5,5 hours, and stops at a number of places along the Sognefjord on its way from Bergen to Flåm.
• What are the best places to stay in Bergen: Click to view a Google Search Results list.
• Is Bergen worth visiting: Click here to see why the "Culture Trip" site says yes and gives you the reasons why.
• Is Bergen expensive for tourists: Bergen is a moderately priced destination with an average daily cost of $107. Compared to the rest of Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, it is a moderately priced place to visit. It's ranked in the top 50% of cities in Europe for its travel costs, comparable to places like Kotor and Saaremaa.
• What is the Bergen elevation: The area around Bergen has an elevation range from 7 feet to 1,086 feet above sea level.
• Best Bergen Hikes: Click to view the "Visit Bergen" list of hikes.
• Places to eat in Bergen: Here is a Google Search Results list for restaurants in Bergen.

 Where is Bergen Norway on a map?

Bergen is located in the southern part of the west coast of Norway. It is 1,562 kilometers north of Amsterdam and 486 kilometers west of Oslo Norway. Click the map link above to view an interactive Bergen Norway Google map.

 How to get to Bergen Norway?

You can get to Bergen easily by plane from many major cities in Europe and even direct from Newark in the USA. It’s also easily reached by train or car. As part of the Norway in a Nutshell tour we took the train from Voss.

As of recent data, Bergen, Norway, boasts approximately 40 hotels within the city center and surrounding region, offering a range of accommodations from small, charming establishments to larger chain hotels with excellent facilities. In total, Bergen has around 56 hotels encompassing both independent establishments and those affiliated with various hotel chains. Here is a list of the top 5 hotels based upon Google Review Ratings:

1. Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz Bergen:

   This four star contemporary redbrick hotel is 3 minutes' walk from the medieval boat houses at Bryggen wharf and 7 km from Ulriken mountain. Google Reviews Rating 4.5 based upon 1,100+ reviews.

2. The Hanseatic Hotel:

   A 4-minute walk from Bryggen medieval wharf, this laid-back four star hotel in an 18th-century building is a 9-minute walk from Bergenhus Fortess museum and a 4-minute walk from the Fløibanen funicular. Google Reviews Rating 4.5 based upon 591 reviews.

3. Bergen Harbour Hotel:

   A 5-minute walk from Bryggen, a medieval wharf known for its wooden boat houses, this unassuming four star hotel is a 2-minute walk from the Floibanen funicular and a 12-minute walk from Bergen train station. Google Reviews Rating 4.3 based upon 159 reviews.

4. Moxy Bergen:

   Set on the shores of Puddefjord, this trendy hotel is 5 km from hiking trails on Mount Ulriken and 8 km from Bryggen, a historic harbor district with cafes and shops. It's 4 km from Bergen train station. Google Reviews Rating 4.2 based upon 796 reviews.

5. Home Hotel Havnekontoret:

   A 3-minute walk from medieval Bryggen wharf, this genteel four star hotel is a 6-minute walk from 13th-century Bergenhus Fortress and an 8-minute walk from the Fløibanen funicular. Google Reviews Rating 4.4 based upon 740 reviews.

If you would prefer to perform your own accommodations research, here is a Google Search Results link for "accommodations in bergen norway"

We selected the Scandic Ornen Hotel during our trip research planning, because it was central to the downtown area, looked comfortable, and received many 4 star reviews as well as being reasonably priced. It opened in May 2014 and is a large hotel with 368 good sized modern rooms. We found the hotel true to the four star reviews. It was comfortable, we could walk everywhere in the city and it was right next to the train station for easy access when we arrived. The sky view bar was wonderful after a long day of traveling and we had a fascinating discussion with the bartender about living in Norway and the difference in education between Norway and the U.S.A at the college level.

Click here if you are looking for additional information about this hotel.

As of 8/31/2024 Google says there are 108 hotels in Bergen - click here to view a Google Search Results list of all of them.

There are many parks in Bergen Norway. We captured images of Byparken Park (AKA "The City Park") as we walked through it, but click here to find out more information for a complete list.

Byparken is in the center of Bergen. You'll find locals walking and playing in the park on beautiful days.It was the first public park created in 1855 after a fire changed regulations and straightened the roads in the area. The park includes a pond and music pavilion. It is a peaceful park with beautiful flowers and statues. One statue is of Edward Grieg, a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is widely considered as one of the leading Romantic era composers.

We thought of how similar Bergen is to San Francisco - Hills surrounding the town, deep harbor with the city surrounding that harbor, although much smaller and more welcoming, we think. It was a pleasant surprise!

The Bryggen Wharf is one of Bergen’s most iconic and historically significant landmarks, instantly recognizable for its colorful wooden buildings lining the waterfront. These picturesque structures, which date back centuries, tell the story of Bergen’s role as a maritime and trading hub. In 1979, Bryggen was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ensuring its preservation as a cultural treasure.

Bergen itself is Norway’s second-largest seaport and has long been a key player in Northern European trade. It is one of the oldest port cities in Northern Europe, with its origins as a major trading center dating back to the 12th century. Its strategic coastal location allowed it to flourish as a hub for commerce, particularly in the exchange of dried fish, grains, and other valuable goods.

In 1350, the powerful Hanseatic League—a network of merchant guilds that dominated trade across Northern Europe—established a Hanseatic Office in Bergen, solidifying the city's importance in international commerce. For centuries, Hanseatic merchants operated from Bryggen, overseeing trade between Norway and the rest of Europe. Their influence is still evident today in the preserved wooden buildings, museums, and historical sites that offer a glimpse into Bergen’s prosperous past.

The Fish Market in Bergen has been around since the 1200s and is an important place for trading between people living there, fishermen and farmers and, of course, tourists. In addition to the merchants on land there were also sales boats along the quay. Fishermen who lived outside the city used to row into the Fish Market to sell their catch of the day. Being seafood lovers we had to stop here for lunch for some fresh fish at a fish market restaurant. A highly recommended place for a casual seafood lunch with a view.

There was such an abundance of great looking seafood that we wound up eating lunch here - good food & a great view of the harbor.

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Click the video poster image to the view the area of Bergen that reminded us of Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco ! The Fish Market is located in the heart of the city between the fjords and Bergen's 7 mountains. It has existed since the 1200s and has been a meeting place for merchants and fishermen - and now serves Bergen visitors as well.

So after walking around the fish market, we headed over to the Fløibanen Station, bought our tickets and boarded the funicular to get to the top of the hill.

Because it was still early in the AM, we were able to get right onboard the funicular - later in the day when we came down from the top, the line went down the hill, all the way back to the fish market!

The top of Mount Fløyen was beautiful; covered in trails, trees everywhere, a herd of goats that were having fun with the tourists, and stunning views of Bergen below.

The top of Mt. Fløyen is covered with this beautiful forest, with hiking trails and great views of Bergen below. The people with the tent were setup for a little longer viewing episode!

 Hiking Tips 

From the top of Mount Fløyen, the 1.8 km (1.1 mi) walk in relatively flat terrain to Brushytten (lit. "the soda cabin") is ideal, if you have kids. Brushytten is a kiosk usually open on Sundays. There are several ways to get there, if you follow the signs, you're on the safe side and will walk on dirtroads all the way (easily accessible with both a wheelchair or a pram).

From Brushytten, you can walk up the hill to Mount Rundemanen and get a beautiful view. From Mount Rundemanen, a good choice for a not-so-long hike will be to walk to Sandviksfjellet, and from there down to Sandviken, where you can get on a bus or walk back to the city center. Another possibility is to cross the Vidden plateau and walk to Mount Ulriken, the highest mountain in Bergen, a hike which takes about five hours. You should be somewhat fit to take this trip, and also be prepared for bad weather. The trip across Vidden is among Norway's most popular hiking trips.

 The above info came from Wikipedia

Even though it is possible to hike from the top of Mt. Fløyen to other mountains in the area, or even to hike back down to Bergen - We decided to remain in the general area of the funicular, and use it to return to Bergen so that we could maximize our time in the city.

There is a herd of goats on Mt. Fløyen, placed there to keep the greenery trimmed. The goats were moved to Mt. Fløyen in 2016 and even though they do not require humans to feed them, they still gather around to see if anyone brought them a snack.

These 'cashmere goats' each have names, and their photos and names are displayed on a notice board at the back of the viewing platform. Click here to read the complete story about these goats.

You can see what a great view there is of Bergen from Mt. Fløyen. The top of Mt. Fløyen is 400 meters above sea level, enough height to provide a beautiful vista of the city, but not so high as to be uncomfortable. For comparison's sake, the majority of the city of Bergen is between two to 6 meters above sea level (6 to 18 feet), which places Mount Fløyen approximately 390 meters above the city. The summit station sits at 320 meters above sea level, so you can see that the mountain is still a bit higher than the area of the station.

• Just Traveling Thru European Travel Tips
• Just Traveling Thru Travel Planning Tips
• Best History of Bergen on the 'ESN Norway' site
• Google Search Results list for "Bergen Norway Lodging"
• Fun things to do in Bergen Norway on the "Visit Norway" site
• Fun things to do in Bergen Norway on the "Crazy Tourist" site
• Google Search Results list for "Bergen Norway Restaurants"
• Google Search Results list for "Bergen Norway Shopping"
• Bergen: A Walk through Past & Present Tour from the "Get Your Guide" site
• Visit our Youtube Channel
• Our Image Gallery for Bergen
• Wikipedia Article for Bergen
• Google Image Gallery for Bergen
• Google Reviews for Bergen, Norway
• The creation of some portions of this page's narrative text were assisted by OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT [Large language model].