Bergen, Norway

Hanseatic Embankment

The main attraction of Bergen, which also made it famous worldwide thanks to the UNESCO World Heritage List, is the Hanseatic quarter of Bryggen, known also as the German Wharf and featuring 61 old wooden houses of every color of the rainbow in the very center of the city. In fact, only a quarter of the buildings date back to 1702 - the rest, suffering from numerous fires, were rebuilt or restored much later, although some stone basements of the buildings are dated to the 15th century. Bright wooden buildings line the bay in a steady row and are the most beloved place for walks, for both tourists and city residents. Along the waterfront there are souvenir workshops and shops.

Hawkins Hall

This castle was built by King Håkon Håkonsson as his own residence, featuring a particularly impressive banquet hall. When the royal heir, Magnus Håkonsson Lagabøte, married the Danish princess Ingeborg in 1261, two thousand guests were invited to the feast. At that time, Bergen was the largest and most important city in the whole country, and Håkon’s Hall was the venue for the major events. During World War II, the castle suffered heavily, and the romantic paintings on the walls and vaults were lost forever. But even now, echoes of medieval celebrations still wander behind the thick stone walls. As a national monument, Håkon’s Hall is still sometimes used for official ceremonies.

Fish Market

The Bergen Fish Market is meant more for eating than for shopping. Of course, you can just pick up some fish to take home, but it’s expensive here, and cured salmon or frozen shrimp are available in all the shops around the city. What you can find here, though, are the main local specialties. First of all, it’s the famous Scandinavian cream soup with salmon: they cook it in huge pots that have “Fish soup” written in chalk in English right on them. Then come the mussel shells, which are fried in woks. And finally, pieces of all kinds of fillet, tentacles, and claws, which are grilled on an open flame on a griddle. This is exactly what you should eat at the fish market to get closer to the authentic experience of Norwegian seafood cuisine.

St. Mary’s Church

This is the oldest church in Bergen and, what’s more, the oldest building in the present-day city. Fires struck it only twice: in 1198 and in 1248. Founded in 1180, the church was built using 5 varieties of soapstone, and its appearance features clear Romanesque traits, so typical of Bergen architecture of the 12th century.

Trollhaugen

Trollhaugen is the home-museum of Edward Grieg, whom the Norwegians honor as a national composer. Here, you will be accompanied everywhere by the stunning music of Edward Grieg. The house features many original items, and all the furniture and furnishings are the ones that were there during Grieg’s time. This is because Nina, Edward Grieg’s wife, was still alive when the house became a museum. Edward Grieg’s piano is the museum’s pride. It was made to Grieg’s custom order, with the legs and keyboard lower than they should be. When musicians come here, only the most famous and deserving are allowed to play on this piano. Edward and Nina were of small stature (152 cm), so all the furniture at Trollhaugen is miniature: chairs, tables, and items made to order.

Hanseatic Museum

The Hanseatic Museum is one of the oldest and most interesting museums in Norway, founded in 1872 by a Norwegian merchant. The merchant saw that the Hanseatic League was gradually becoming a thing of the past, everything was falling apart, and Bryggen had started to lean, but he wanted to leave future generations a memory of the Hanseatic League. At first, the residents of Bergen mocked him, because at that time nobody preserved old things-only the new was valued. But his idea was supported by the Swedish king, and the museum was allowed to continue living on. The museum’s exhibits tell the story of the life and activities of the Hanseatic League. In the building at Bryggen, there are both the Hanseatic merchants’ working areas and the rooms where they lived. Many original and old items have been preserved.

Take a ride on the funicular.

The funicular not only allows guests of the city to avoid inconveniences, but also to get magnificent photos of Bergen from the top of Mount Floyen, at a height of 320 meters. The lower station is located literally a few steps from the fish market. In ten minutes, you can walk here from Bryggen. Along the way, the funicular makes several stops, and you can get off at any of them to enjoy a leisurely stroll around the green grounds. At the very top, there is a souvenir kiosk and a dining complex with a coffee shop and a terrace with an excellent view. Here, you’ll also find a children’s playground and an open-air theatre for dancing and other entertainment. And in just a couple of minutes, you can reach a lovely small lake where you’re allowed to have full-scale picnics with grilled meat at the barbecue gazebos.

Aquarium

In the Bergen Aquarium you can find one of Europe’s richest collections of marine life. The very location of the museum-featuring a wonderful view of the city harbour-brings you closer to the sea and its inhabitants. In front of the Aquarium building itself there is a large open-air penguin enclosure, with penguin houses, platforms where they lie down and bask in the sun with their thick bodies, and a pool where penguins dive in energetically. In more than 60 large and small aquariums, you can see strange and amazing denizens of the deep sea. Other creatures live here as well: crocodiles, snakes, lizards, and monkeys.

Bergen City Tour

You will see all the most important sights of Bergen, including the waterfront, the fish market, the merchants’ quarter, the estate of composer Edvard Grieg, where a museum collection is housed today, St. Mary’s Church, built in the 12th century. For an additional fee, you can ride the funicular over the picturesque landscape. It is located at an altitude of 320 meters above sea level. The cost of the sightseeing tour will be approximately per person.

Hop-on Hop-off Bus City Tour in Bergen

In Bergen, you’ll be treated to unforgettable Scandinavian landscapes, which you can explore by taking the funicular. You’ll see the Bryggen waterfront with its fairy-tale colorful houses. You’ll be impressed by the cozy Edward Grieg House-Museum. The frescoes created by artist Axel Revold will leave an indelible impression. There’s an option to listen to the tour in different languages, including Russian. The buses run along the route at 30-minute intervals. The ticket is valid for 24 hours. At any of the stops, you can get off, check out the sights, and then continue your journey by boarding another bus. Price - 13 euros.

Fishing in Bergen

Regular fishing tours departing from the city center of Bergen are a great opportunity to combine a sea trip through the most beautiful places in the Bergen archipelago and real sea fishing. Suitable for a family holiday. An experienced captain will take you to the best fishing spots and, along the way, will share entertaining stories. English-speaking guide, departure from the quay at Bryggen waterfront. Fishing cost (incl. fishing equipment): from 230 EUR/person. Group of 4-8 people. Preparation of the catch - 30 EUR/person.

Excursion: Norway in Miniature

During this excursion, you will have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the main natural attractions of the fjords country. First, you will take a train ride along the Flåm Railway, located in the mountains, and enjoy magnificent landscapes. The places between the two stations Flåm and Myrdal are especially beautiful. Upon reaching the Flåm Valley, you will board a ship and make a cruise along the Nærøyfjord. After that, there will be another transfer-by bus, which will take you through the Stalheim Canyon. The cost of the excursion will be about 0 per person.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can check it after booking your cruise in your “Client Personal Account”.