Bergen

Did you know that male penguins can ‘adopt’ eggs and become the world’s best parents, that turtles can breathe through their butt, that the plastic we throw away each year becomes a patch in the ocean the size of an entire country, or that some spiders move using hydraulics? After a visit to the aquarium, you are sure to know a new thing or two. And you’ll learn by using your whole body, not just your brain.

One of the most unique things about Bergen is that the city is surrounded by seven beautiful mountains. Indeed, there is no shortage of inspiring options for trips into nature, even for visitors staying in central Bergen.

The highest of the seven mountains surrounding Bergen, Ulriken towers 643 meters above the sea. You can either climb the mountain along footpaths from the parking lot by Montana, or you can take the funicular.

Right next to the student compound in Fantoft you find a stave church, which was originally built in 1150. The wooden church was moved to Fantoft from Sogn in 1883 and was restored after a fire in 1992. The church is surrounded by lush parkland and is well worth a visit.

Gamlehaugen is often called Bergen's "castle", although it is more of a manor. It was constructed in 1900 and has been state property since 1925. Here you will find a public park, a museum and the region's royal residence. The museum tells the story of upper-class life in the 1900s, while the park offers swimming opportunities during the summer season.

If you are travelling to Bergen with children who love a little splashing fun then head to the Vannkanten waterpark in Loddefjord. Here you can enjoy swimming in open-air and indoor pools and try Norway's longest water slide. You can also enjoy a game of curling at Iskanten, which is also located in the complex.

Bryggen in Bergen has for centuries been a place of buzzing activity. The area attracts tourists from all over the world seeking to buy souvenirs and quality Norwegian crafts.

Bryggen in Bergen enjoys UNESCO World Heritage patronage for very good reason. Already in the 1300s there was lively commercial activity along the Bergen waterfront. Hanseatic merchants came to do good business, and Bryggen was locally known as the Hanseatic or German Wharf.

A stroll along the cobbled streets behind the Bryggen harbourfront offers a journey back in time. Along the dark wooden verandas and narrow alleys you can experience ancient architecture and heritage craftsmanship. The old buildings have suffered many devastating fires but have nevertheless retained their basic structure over the centuries. The oldest buildings from 1702 were rebuilt after a major fire.

Today, the houses are heritage listed and are the third-most visited tourist attraction in the country after the Føibanen funicular in Bergen and the Holmenkollen ski jump in Oslo.

If a visit to a fish market would inspire you then head to Fisketorget opposite Bryggen. Here you'll find a market selling the day's catch from local fishermen. Nearby, several restaurants serve wonderful fish soup made according to local traditions. Worth mentioning is Søstrene Hagelin where they have served seafood and fish soup for almost a century.

The 'Meat Bazar' (Kjøttbasaren) is another local attraction for foodies. The heritage food hall was completed and opened in 1877. Here you'll find restaurants and market stalls selling game such as caribou, elk, venison and grouse.

Bryggen in Bergen has for centuries been a place of buzzing activity. The area attracts tourists from all over the world seeking to buy souvenirs and quality Norwegian crafts. Along the narrow streets behind Bryggen you find everything from a shop selling Christmas decorations year-round to a gift shops dedicated to selling elk-themed souvenirs. You'll also find a number of shops selling homemade sweaters, felted slippers, embroidered tablecloths and warm winter hats.

Many of the most popular museums in Bergen are located near Bryggen. Here you'll find very exciting experiences, especially if you are interested in history.

The museums include:

•The Hanseatic Museum and Schøtstuene
•The Bergen School Museum
•The Bergen Fortress Museum
•The Buekorps Museum
•Bergen City Museum

If you are travelling to Bergen then don't miss the chance to enjoy a daytrip to Hardangerfjorden. Hardanger is known for its towering mountains, stunning waterfalls and sprawling apple orchards, which cling to the mountainside along the fjord. Take a boat trip on the fjord and enjoy Hardanger at its best. Hardangerfjorden is approximately 1.5 hours' drive from Bergen. And with its 179km in length there is much to explore on your trip along the fjord.

There are several tour operators offering excursions from Bergen to Hardanger by tour boat. Here's an example: "Hardangerfjorden in a Nutshell". Please feel free to ask the hotel reception for further travel inspiration. Our staff can also help with reservations.

Discover Norway's longest, deepest and most famous fjord on a daytrip by tour boat from Bergen. Sognefjord stretches 205 km from Jotunheimen and Jostedalsbreen.
If you are planning to take a trip through Sognefjord then it's definitely worth stopping in Flåm and spending an hour on a train ride with the Flåmsbana Railway, which takes you through mountainscapes and scenic beauty – it's a tourist attraction in itself.

Here is an overview of various fjord excursions from Bergen!

Barely an hour's sailing from central Bergen you can experience pure romance and nostalgia at the Baroniet Rosendal, a manor located in idyllic surroundings in the typical Norwegian landscapes of Rosendal.
Here you can enjoy a guided tour and hear stories from when the manor was constructed in 1665 right up to modern times. The manor also features art exhibitions, a café and a superb estate garden. If you arrive between June and November, you can experience more than 2,000 varieties of roses in full bloom.

Read more about Baroniet Rosendal here!

It only takes 2.5 hours to travel from Bergen to Norway's third-largest glacier, Folgefonna. The glacier is located just off the coast and is a so-called maritime glacier. Here you can go ice-walking, or skiing at Folgefonna Sommarskisenter.

There are daytrips to Folgefonna from Bergen by boat along Hardangerfjorden. Approaching the glacier from the sea offers the most spectacular views.

Read more about the daytrips at Folgefonni Breførarlag!

"Norway in a Nutshell" is the most popular round-trip in Norway – and from Bergen you can reach the destinations along this route on daytrips. There are daily excursions all year round, which include scenic travels on the Bergen Railway and Flåmsbana Railway along the magnificent Sognefjord. Here you will discover picture-postcard landscapes and countryside idyll.

Read more about "Norway in a Nutshell" here!

Our hotel in Bergen, First Hotel Marin, is located right in the centre of the city and is the perfect base for travellers seeking to experience western Norway in all its glory. Although chances of experiencing the Northern Lights in Bergen are small there are plenty of reasons to explore the city and its scenic surroundings on daytrips, also on foot or by ski.

Learn more about daytrips from Bergen here!

VilVite is an exciting offering in Bergen for travellers on family holidays where children can learn through play. There are over 100 different interactive exhibits where you can try winter sports, make your own forecast in the weather studio or try a soap robe, etc.

VilVite is just a 5-minute walk from the Florida urban rail station and about 6 minutes from our hotel in central Bergen, First Hotel Bergen Marin.

There are always exciting experiences at VilVite. For an updated program and admission price list, click here!

Bergenhus Fortress is located in Bergen at the end of the waterside district of Bryggen and is an exciting destination for adults and children alike. Here you can explore the dark, cramped stairwells up to the roof of the Rosenkrantz Tower and experience the impressive Håkonshallen.

If you are lucky and come at the right season you can also experience special events and festivals, or you can book tickets for open-air concerts at Koengen. It takes about nine minutes to walk from First Hotel Bergen Marin to Bergenhus Fortress. The buildings are today part of the Bergen City Museum, which offers several interesting experiences, including the Leprosy Museum (Lepramuseet) and Old Bergen.

Between 1350 and 1750, German merchants of the Hanseatic League made their mark on the city of Bergen. The Hanseatic Museum, located at Bryggen in Bergen, relates the story of merchant trade in the city. You will be guided through the various rooms in addition to the winter hall Schøtstuene to explore historical objects.

The Hanseatic Museum is located a one-minute walk from First Hotels in Bergen. Read more about Hanseatic Museum here!

At Troldhaugen you study the home of Edvard Grieg and experience his music in Troldsalen. You can also enjoy the scenic views that inspired the famous composer. Troldhaugen is the country villa where Edvard and Nina Grieg lived for the last 22 years of Edvard Grieg's life. The area also includes Komponisthytten, Troldsalen and the grave of both Edvard and Nina Grieg.

You can reach Troldhaugen either by car or urban rail. If arrive by rail then alight at the Hop Station, about 22 minutes from downtown Bergen, then walk 25-minutes. Follow the signs!

Get a concert calendar for Troldhaugen here!

The great thing about Bergen is that the largest art museums are clustered around a small lake called Lille Lundgårdsvannet right by the festival square. Here you'll find art museums with works by Munch, among others, and you can experience exhibitions of arts, crafts and design as well as musical performances. You can visit all the art museums with the same ticket.

KODE is about 11 minutes' walk from First Hotel Marin.

Check out the art exhibitions in Bergen here!

There are many more museums in Bergen than those listed above. You can be almost sure to find a museum that will appeal to you. Find the museum you're looking for here or contact the reception if you are staying at First Hotels, located in the centre of Bergen.

The Fløibanen funicular takes you to the top of Mount Fløyen. The 5-8 minute trip is one of Bergen's most famous attractions. If you are staying at a hotel in Bergen you should definitely treat yourself to a trip up Mount Fløyen to enjoy the majestic views.

The Fløibanen funicular is part of the cityscape of Bergen. You're bound to see the carriages meandering up the mountainside only a short stone's throw from Bergen's waterfront, Bryggen, and First Hotel Bergen Marin. The two carriages, Rødhette and Blåtann, depart every 15 minutes and the last departure is at 23:00. So whether you are a morning bird or late-night owl then a trip by funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen is an amazing experience.

Mount Fløyen offers amazing views over central Bergen as well as the mountainscape that surrounds this western Norwegian city. On the mountainside you are close enough to the city to point out its major landmarks but you can also enjoy amazing views of the fiord and sea. This is a unique experience not to be missed.

Up on Mount Fløyen there are many things to try. Children can enjoy the city's best playground, and during certain times of the year, you can also enjoy food and drink at Fløien Folkerestaurant. There are also activities for children as well as concerts, an open-air cinema and activities throughout the year for visitors of all ages.

The Fløyen tourist website features information on activities scheduled during your visit to Bergen!

Mount Fløyen also offers hiking trails through the woodlands. There are short daytrips perfectly suited for families with young children in addition hiking routes to Mount Ulriken for the more experienced trekkers. Read more about 10 different trails on Mount Fløyen here!

The Fløibanen funicular is open every day of the year! If you would like enjoy the views from the mountain you can either purchase tickets for the funicular online or from the ticket office at the lower station. To avoid standing in line then consider purchasing tickets online in advance, especially during the mid-summer tourist season.

Bergen offers everything you could wish for when it comes to shopping. The city has everything from high street stores to fashion shops and cozy secondhand shops. Are you interested in art, fond of good food or want to experience Bergen as a tourist, you will find your both galleries, souvenir shops and food markets worth visiting.

For those interested in art Bergen features a wide choice of art galleries and exhibition spaces. Whether you are seeking to purchase an artwork or simply enjoy beautiful art then treat yourself to a visit to Lille Lundegårsvannet, a lake located in central Bergen, which is also a popular gathering spot nicknamed 'Smålungeren' by locals. Here you will find many different galleries featuring art by world-renowned artists such as Munch and Picasso as well as contemporary artists.

Those with a culinary interest will enjoy visiting the fish market at Fisketorget in central Bergen. Here the catch of the day landed by local fishermen is sold from market stalls, including fish, crabs and other shellfish. The open-air fish market is open from May to September. About once a month, Bergen hosts a farmers' market in the city centre. Here you can find local produce from the districts of Hordaland, Sogn and Fjordane.

Along the waterfront district of Bryggen in central Bergen, previously locally known as the Hanseatic or German Wharf, there are souvenir shops and boutiques selling traditional Norwegian crafts. Among them is Bryggen Husflid, a store that only sells elk-themed souvenirs. There is also a gift store selling Christmas decorations year-round.