While it may be the 2nd largest city in Norway, Bergen may be the richest in local and lively Norwegian culture. This charming destination is nestled on the Sogneford Coastline, surrounded by mountains that are stocked with lush trees and dotted with pastel wooden houses.

ARRIVE: How To Get There

Bergen was our last stop on our customized “Norway in a Nuttshell” tour, we arrived by Skyss bus from Aurland. If you are interested in learning about this well advertised tour, read about my experience here.

If you are arriving by plane, the airport is only 12KM away from city center. There is a simple Airport bus (Flybussen) that drops you at a few centrally located spots in the city.

Try your best to avoid taxis…they charge by the millisecond.

STAY: Where To Set Up Your Base

We stayed at an awesomely located ground-floor AirBnB in . My man Kjetil needs to update his photos because I really feel like they don’t do the place justice. This flat has a fairly spacious living room for apartment standards that houses a couch and TV. The TV has 4 channels, all in Norwegian, so get ready to dub. This room opens up to a fully equipped kitchen brought to you by IKEA. There is a french press provided, thank you coffee gods. The bathroom is European and updated, but if you wear any type of make-up, the dim lighting may produce a monster. This area is also equipped with a washer and dryer which is always a plus on long holidays. Heads up that they are in Norwegian, so you can take a few minutes to translate labels or impatiently infer directions from the vague hieroglyphic pictures next to the buttons and proceed to cross your fingers. There is also two minimalist bedrooms; one that can fit 2 people and another that can fit 1.

EXPLORE: What To Do

I’m going to be totally honest with you, reader. My efforts to experience Bergen were lackluster because I was fighting off a pretty aggressive cold. To make matters worse, the weather was a cold’s antithesis. To really leverage this city, you need to be uber active and I just didn’t have it in me. So, keep in mind that I would give our exploration grade a D+.

Walk Around

I am biased because simply walking around a city is my favorite thing to do, but the manageable size and constant hidden charm of Bergen make this an activity to tackle. The city center surrounds a bustling and quite commercial wharf. Moving outward, history buffs will especially delight in the cobblestone streets that transport you back to the middle ages, as the architecture is approved with a UNESCO stamp and ripe with commendable preservation. Zooming out even further, you will come across a cornucopia of nature to explore. More on that under hiking.

Fløyen Mountain: Funicular or Hike

This is the Empire State Building of Bergen. It is a mountain top that offers a birds-eye view of the city landscape and dazzling Fjord (if your weather-lucky). It is also a gateway drug for hiking hedonism. The hike is free and the Funicular is 90 Kroner round trip and offers student/senior discounts.

• The funicular is a great alternative for kids, people pressed for time, and those that pass on being active. It leaves every 15 minutes, so try to time it and get a spot right in the very front OR if it’s already booked up, try to get in the front of one of the levels via the staircase.
• There was a thick layer of fog hugging the city and we knew it would block the top view, so we opted for the hike up in hopes that we would see some sights below the clouds. I really recommend this trail! Littered throughout are skinny, tall trees that seem to touch the sky, as well as many unpretentious waterfalls. It’s ALL uphill, so if you want to experience it without the huff and puff, try the Funicular up and the hike down. Best of both worlds.

 3. Fish Market

All the Bergen guide books tout the Fish Market in a way that makes you think that the food gets up to sing for you and they make it rain free caviar. Sadly, these things don’t happen, but just like any other food market IMO, it is a must-do stop. This market is right on the wharf. Inside, you will find food from the sea of every gill, claw, and fin. After you order, you have the choice of sitting inside the market OR taking in the marina views outside.

I have something to admit that might damage my reputation as a human being who eats. I don’t like seafood.  I try it every single time hoping that my taste-buds have gone through that shift people always talk about, but I typically waste the nibble. However, the hubs loves it and the hubs is a full blown food snob foodie, so I can usually get a genuine review. He gave the quality an A+. So, have at it.

     4. Hiking/Exploring Nature

Like I said, I wasn’t in the best state to really capitalize on our day in Bergen. That said, we didn’t partake in ANY of the seemingly awesome hikes from the top of Floyen OR anywhere else. Even though I know I made the right choice for my health, I am still envious of anyone who is able to partake because they seem awesome! Here is a link to some hikes that you can go on.

GRUB: What To Consume

Pingvinen

Go here! It’s delightfully intimate, seemingly authentic and damn delicious. Don’t be put off by the line around the front door–they just don’t have any waiting area and there “system” for taking names is a little, well, non-existent. We only had to wait about 20 minutes on a Saturday night.

I inhaled the dish with Swedish-esque meatballs that reminded me of the IKEA cafe (only bigger and better), and lingonberry jam (which is what you spread onto your meatballs for an explosively tasty experience), with a side of mushy peas, cooked carrots, and potatoes. My 8 year old self would disapprove, but mushy peas are AHMAZING.  Henry opted for the Fish and Macaroni Pie. He approved. The Tempranillo wine blend was yummy, too.

Service was slow, but I’ve come to expect that in many parts of Europe. They were friendly, so that’s what mattered most.

Cafe Bastante

There are two locations for this cafe and one of them has renamed itself. Regardless, the menu is the same for both. This cafe is somehow unassuming, yet slightly pretentious. They serve deliciously fresh coffee and steamy lattes, as well as hearty filling food. Try the Roasted Tomato Meatball Soup or the Croque Monsieur. You won’t be let down by the portions or the perfection.