How To Visit Beautiful Bergen, Norway in One Day

When I think of Bergen, Norway, I think of trolls. I know that trolls are found every where in Norway, but these trolls were really big!

Bergen, Norway was the second stop on our 14-day coastal Norway cruise on the Holland America Koningsdam. Our ship docked in Bergen for only one day, but we still managed to see quite a bit of this beautiful city.

Bergen, Norway’s second largest city, is a cultural hub, with outstanding museums, galleries, historical areas and special events. In addition, there is a modern and youthful vibe, thanks to the fact that students make up about 10% of the local population.

Natural escapes are just minutes away. The Bergen port is the gateway to the amazing fjords which make up the Norwegian coastline. In addition, seven mountains ring the city.

Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf

Bryggen Warf, established in the 14th century, is one of Bergen’s and Norway’s main attractions.

The picturesque wooden structures, rebuilt following a fire in 1702, later became recognized as a vital part of Bergen’s cultural heritage, and also the world’s, as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Meanwhile, today the wharf houses a small museum, shops, restaurants and cafés and is a natural focal point for locals and visitors alike.

Fløibanen and Fløyen

Bergen is known in Norway as the “City of the Seven Mountains” so of course we wanted to visit one of them. By far the most easily accessible is Fløyen, which is close to the city center. The Fløibanen Funicular (a cable railroad, especially one on a mountainside, in which ascending and descending cars are counterbalanced) transported us to the top in less than eight minutes.  Once at the top, we enjoyed spectacular views of Bergen and the surrounding landscape. 

There was a playground, restaurant and café, picnic tables, barbeque, hiking trails and of course, the trolls!

Trollskogen – The Troll Forest

The Troll Forest is located at the top of Mount Floyen. Trolls are everywhere and are great fun for taking photographs. Even though children love the Troll Forest , it was a special delight to me as well.

Bergen Fish Market

The outdoor Fish Market in the middle of the city center has a lively atmosphere and a colorful selection of fish and shellfish, fruit, vegetables and hand-made crafts.

The Fish Market’s location near the harbor has been used for centuries as a meeting/trading place for merchants and fishermen, and today it is one of Norway’s most-visited outdoor markets.

The booth selling reindeer, whale and moose sausages drew my attention.

It Rains a Lot

Bergen is the rainiest city in Europe. It rains 231 days per year. In Bergen, the summers are cool and mostly cloudy. The winters are long, very cold, windy, and overcast and it is wet year-round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 29°F to 64°F and is rarely below 17°F or above 74°F.

The best time of year to visit Bergen for warm-weather activities is from early July to mid-August. Fortunately, my visit was in July when the weather was cloudy but not rainy.

Cost

Unfortunately, food and drinks in Bergen are shockingly expensive, to the point that backpacker-types will find the place to be very frustrating. Everything, even in supermarkets, costs double what it does in most expensive European cities. The hostel beds are expensive, and there are almost no budget hotels at all.

Summary

Bergen is a lovely city with spectacular views and great trolls. Still, I would not want to live there due to the rain and cost of living. As it turned out, a one-day visit was just right.