Norway's second biggest city comes alive every summer with long daylight hours and an infectious energy. Bergen has a population of 230,000 but the city is delightfully compact, making it easy to explore on foot.

Its real charm lies in the famous waterfront area, Bryggen, a picturesque old harbour district which dates back to the Middle Ages and is on UNESCOs World Heritage List. It makes a great area to explore, with its maze of narrow alleyways and old wooden houses.

Many of Bergen's best restaurants are also found around Bryggen and food lovers will enjoy the city's selection of gourmet seafood restaurants and small friendly bistros. On the long summer evenings the waterfront bars and cafes are packed and the atmosphere is lively.

A wander around the bustling Fish Market on the harbour is also a must. Colourful stalls offer what is perhaps the best, and cheapest, fast food in the city! Here you can buy produce ranging from wild salmon to shrimps, hake and herring.

Bergen is also home to some of Norway's most famous cultural artists such as playwright Henrik Ibsen who began his theatrical career here, and classical composer Edvard Grieg. Grieg's lakeside house, Troldhaugen, is easily reached in 20 minutes by bus from the city centre, and boasts a museum, the hut where he composed many of his famous works, and the house he lived in. There's also a hall where concerts are performed on summer evenings.

Add to all of this Bergen's famous symphony orchestra and frequent music festivals and it's no wonder that Bergen is often referred to as a City of Culture.

Places to Visit

Fløibanen, the funicular
An 8-minute ride to the top of Mount Fløyen (altitude 320 m). Runs every half hour, every 15 minutes if necessary. A magnificent view over Bergen and the suburbs. Ideal for mountain walks. Souvenir shop open all year. Concerts every evening during summer.

Bryggens Museum
A cultural history museum based on finds made during the archaeological excavations at Bryggen between 1955 and 1972, showing the foundations of the city's oldest buildings from the 12th century on their original site. Also temporary exhibitions.

Haakon's Hall
The medieval Castle Håkon's Hall was built during the reign of King Haakon Haakonsson between 1247 and 1261. It was the largest and most imposing building of the royal residency in 13th century Bergen, then the political centre of Norway.

Norwegian Museum of Fisheries
The oldest fisheries-museum in Norway, established in 1880. Situated in the Fishery-centre at Bontelabo, close to the cruise-harbour. Shows the natural resources as well as the management, coastal culture and sea products, their natural beginnings.

Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Milde
The Arboretum, founded in 1971, occupies an area of 125 acres, part of which is planted with a variety of foreign trees and shrubs. Good walking in wooded surroundings and spots for swimming.

Bergen Aquarium
One of the finest and most extensive collections of marine fauna in Europe. There are 51 tanks. 3 outdoor pools containing seals, penguins and carp. The Aquarium extension contains a nesting cliff, open-plan aquariums, a new exhibition and a supervideograph.