Bergen is Norway's second largest city, with about 290,000 people. It was the country's capital in the 13th century and remained its biggest city until the 1830s, when Christiania overtook it. For centuries it was the centre of the stockfish trade, controlled first by the Hanseatic League and later by local merchants.
The city sits between seven mountains and faces the North Sea. It rains here roughly 230 days a year, which locals treat as a point of pride rather than a complaint. If you visit and it is not raining, consider yourself unusually lucky.
Bergen is compact. The main sights are within walking distance of each other around the harbour: Bryggen, the fish market, Bergenhus fortress, and the Fløibanen funicular. The city gets very crowded when cruise ships are in port, sometimes three or four at once. On those days, the centre becomes a slow-moving stream of tour groups.
Outside the centre, Troldhaugen, the home of Edvard Grieg, and the Fantoft stave church are both worth the trip. Bergen is also the gateway to the fjords. Hardangerfjorden and Sognefjorden are both reachable as day trips.
The city sits between seven mountains and faces the North Sea. It rains here roughly 230 days a year, which locals treat as a point of pride rather than a complaint. If you visit and it is not raining, consider yourself unusually lucky.
Bergen is compact. The main sights are within walking distance of each other around the harbour: Bryggen, the fish market, Bergenhus fortress, and the Fløibanen funicular. The city gets very crowded when cruise ships are in port, sometimes three or four at once. On those days, the centre becomes a slow-moving stream of tour groups.
Outside the centre, Troldhaugen, the home of Edvard Grieg, and the Fantoft stave church are both worth the trip. Bergen is also the gateway to the fjords. Hardangerfjorden and Sognefjorden are both reachable as day trips.