Bergen: x3 days, x3 nights – (this page is travel ready and printable below)
Fly in and out: Bergen airport (BGO)
Tram: The cheapest way to travel from Bergen Airport to Bergen city centre is to take the City Light Rail (Bybanen). It takes about 45 mins and only costs around 38 NOK (adult).
Hotel: Comfort Hotel Holberg, Strandgaten 190, 5004 Bergen,Norway
On our first ever visit to Norway we decided to skip the capital Oslo and head straight to Bergen. Norway’s second largest city nestled within a ring of seven mountains and seven fjords, it seemed the perfect place to spend a long weekend with the view to escape the hustle and bustle of our busy London lifestyles and bring ourselves closer to nature.
It did not disappoint. Located on the water, it has a great deal going for it, with fjord cruises departing daily from the well-known Fish Market in Bergen, a famous old timber wharf with Unesco World Heritage Site status and plenty of cultural charm.
Bergen isn’t a huge city, so across three days it’s the perfect place to go hiking, exploring and eating in a comfortable amount of time.
Day 1: Take the tram from the airport to arrive in the city centre, and check into the hotel. Head for lunch at Lovetann Kaffebar to enjoy comforting Nordic dishes, and a nice seating area to dine al fresco, whilst admiring the spectacular views of Mount Fløyen. Once you’ve filled up on hiking fuel, head to one of the most popular viewpoints in Bergen – Mount Fløyen. Starting from the city centre it’s a relatively straight-forward climb which is free and should take around 2.5 hours for the round-trip (with time to chill at the peak). Post-hike, it’s time to explore Bergen’s famous and historic fish market. Here you can try an array of fresh fish and seafood, whilst dining along the waterfront.
Day 2: After a hearty hotel breakfast, head straight to the waterfront to jump on a Fjord cruise to Mostraumen (recommended to pre-book). This round-trip takes around 3 hours (departing from Zachariasbryggen by the Fish Market) and travels on a scenic trip through the Osterfjord, bypassing steep cliffs, waterfalls and small Nordic villages. After the cruise, grab a Skolebolle (a Nordic sweet roll filled with custard) from a riverfront cafes along the Bryggen (the historical dock). To continue the exploration, take the Stoltzekleiven challenge, an exhilarating hike up a steep paved trail and approx. 722 stairs. Not for the unfit or faint hearted, it’s a tricky climb with narrow and steep pathways. If you complete this hike it’s time to celebrate. So, in anticipation you will, it’s worth pre-booking dinner at Cornelius, one of the finest out-of-this-world Nordic seafood experiences. Situated on a tiny island with a meteorological menu. The experience begins with a boat trip to the restaurant and ends 5 hours later.
Day 3: It’s time to take on the highest of Bergen’s seven mountains, Mount Ulriken. At a height of 643m/2109 feet, it offers incredible panoramic views across the city centre. There are two hiking paths to choose from, beginner or intermediate, or the option to take the cable car either up or down the mountain, although this is weather dependent. Allow around 4-5 hours for this hike if walking up, as the trail starts at Montana (about 40 min walk from the city centre). Møllendal Fetevare is a nice cafe to visit pre or post hike, conveniently located about 15 min walk from the start of the hiking trail. It’s worth having a bite and coffee before if feeling peckish as there isn’t much at the peak and the cafe wasn’t open when we went. The walk up takes around 1.5/2 hours from the starting point, and it is very steep but you are rewarded with stunning views at the top. After the epic hike, spend the evening by the riverside and remember your camera to capture Bryggen dazzling at night.
out of the office adventures 