Surrounded by seven mountains and overlooking the sea, Bergen is a city that embraces tourists with spectacular views and exuberant nature that surrounds it. But it only has one defect, it is classified as one of the cities that rain the most in Europe, no less than 250 days of rain a year.
Day 1
Relatively small compared to other cities in Europe and even Oslo, it is possible to visit the main attractions of the city in just one day.
In this 2-day itinerary, I have selected the main tourist attractions for the first day. Check out this little map here to see the route for day 1.
The tip to make the most of day 1 is to wake up early and enjoy every second in this beautiful city. In general, as you will see in the map above, all attractions are very close to each other and therefore it is possible to do everything on foot and calmly, without the need to use public transport.
1. Bergenhus Fortress
The Bergenhus Fortress is an ancient fort that was used for several centuries to protect the entrance to the port of Bergen. The attraction is right in the historic center of the city and it is one of the oldest and most preserved forts in Norway, a place that once served as a royal residence in the 11th century.
What to find at Bergenhus Fortress : the fortress houses old buildings dating from this 1240 and others from the Second World War. For those who enjoy history and ancient places, it is a very interesting place to spend some time admiring the medieval buildings that are inside the castle.
In the fortress you will find a charming garden, Priest’s Hall, churches, the Rosenkrantz Tower which was the residence of King Eirik Magnusson in the 13th century and the Bergenhus Fortress Museum which is close to the parking lot (museum with free admission).
If the weather is good, through the Rosenkrantz Tower it is possible to see the city from above. I didn’t get to do it, but here’s the tip to enjoy a view from the heights of Bergen’s historic center.
Note : the entrance to the outside of the fortress is completely free, but it is worth noting that access to the main rooms is paid.
2. St. Mary Church – the oldest church in Bergen
Right in the historic center of Bryggen is the oldest church in Bergen, St. Mary’s Church or Mariakirken in Norwegian. The little church is relatively small, but still beautiful, and has two towers that can be seen from afar, as well as more than a thousand years of history.
3. Bryggen – historical center of Bergen
It is one of the postcards of Bergen and the most famous and photographed region of the city, where the charming little colorful wooden houses are located.
The interesting thing is that even after several fires, a group of colorful wooden houses that are located on the edge of the port managed to remain standing. Since then, after the area was revitalized, today these little houses are the highlight of Bergen and Bryggen has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
And in the place where the colorful houses are located, there are restaurants, souvenir shops, bars, museums, etc. It is worth going inside the complex to see the interior of the houses up close and observe the wooden architecture that, even after centuries, are still preserved.
For those who like history and are curious to know how Norwegians lived in the past, it is worth checking out the Bryggen Museum , a small museum that is close to the colorful houses of Bryggen and the Church of Santa Maria.
In addition to the colorful houses, several small buildings caught my attention in the Bryggen region, such as Mc Donald ‘s and Starbucks , super photogenic. The tip is to dedicate some time to walk in this area that is pure charm.
4. Fish market
Still in the historic center of Bryggen, for fish lovers, across the bay is the famous fish market of Bergen. I didn’t particularly get to go to the place because I don’t like fish, but for those who do, it’s worth including in your itinerary. Here’s the tip for lunch 😉
5. Torgallmenningen
Leaving the fish market, head towards the main shopping avenue in Bergen, Torgallmenningen, a pedestrian street where you will find several restaurants, bars, cafes, some interesting statues, as well as the Sjømannsmonumente t , a beautiful monument that honors Norwegian navigators since the Viking age.
6. Byparken
Leaving the most touristic area of Bergen, Bryggen, the tip is to relax a little in Byparken, a wonderful park that is full of sculptures, gardens, a super photogenic bandstand, in addition to a beautiful lake that is beside it, the Lille Lungergardsvannet .
7. Lille Lungegårdsvannet
The Lille Lungegardsvannet is the most famous lake in the city, which is close to the Byparken.
The lake provides an incredible view of the houses that are on the mountain, and right when I went the trees were all colored because of autumn, giving an even more magical touch to the scenery that is composed of a fountain that is in the center of the lake. , in addition to several swans and ducks that further embellish the place. Perfect attraction to take several pictures.
Day 2
On the second day, the tip is to visit some attractions that are outside the most touristic part of Bergen or even return to the places you most enjoyed visiting on day 1.
I put only 3 places for this day, because the last attraction I ended up choosing to do a trail to reach the top of Mount Ulriken, which despite being the highest mountain in Bergen, is much less touristy than Mount Floyen. In any case, it is possible to reach it via a cable car.
8. Colorful wooden houses
Not far from the historic center of Bergen are two neighborhoods that are right next to each other, Sydnes and Nøstet , both wonderful and filled with super cute little wooden houses.
I found a very interesting area to see a very typical Norwegian neighborhood up close, and as I said, it is close to the center and it is possible to walk there. Just to get an idea of what I’m talking about, see the pictures ⇓