4 Days In Norway, 2018
We came up with the idea of visiting Norway while looking for a flight to The Netherlands, and this particular flight happened to have a layover in Bergen Norway. After researching how to spend the layover we realized we needed to see Norway for more than just one day and that it deserved it’s own trip. We went the end of August which was nice but, we both would like to go and experience a Norwegian winter and the Northern lights someday. We stayed in Bergen, the 2nd largest city in Norway, located on the southwestern coast. Bergen, known as ‘the city of seven mountains,’ is surrounded by mountains and fjords. There is so much to see and do in Norway that I promise, you won’t be bored!
We stayed in an Airbnb which was very nice and centrally located. The apartment was a 5 minute walk from the tram stop and train station, 2 minutes from a mall which included a grocery store and maybe 10 minutes or possibly less to the city center. If you want to know more about our Airbnb check out my post under the “Stay” tab on the menu.
Day # 1
We took an overnight flight and arrived in Bergen early in the morning. Right outside the airport door is the tram; which was an easy 45 min ride into Bergen. Both the airport and Bergen are on opposite ends of the Tram route, so you won’t have trouble getting to your destination. It was too early to check into our Airbnb, but the train station conveniently has lockers that you can rent for 24 hours to store your luggage. They were very reasonably priced, so we rented a locker and started to explore the city. Right in the main city center there is a big tourist information building where you can book all kinds of day trips and excursions, get maps, and information such as places to eat, and free things to do and see.
For our first adventure we took the Fløibanen Funicular to the top of Fløyen Mountain for a panoramic view of Bergen City. The mountain is 320 meters above sea level offering nice view of the city and fjords. We made it to the top just in time to take a few pictures, within minutes the clouds and rain rolled in and we couldn’t see more than a few inches in front of us. We ran for the restaurant where we enjoyed soup by a warm fireplace. By the time we were done eating, our clothes had dried and the rain had subsided.
We picked up our luggage from the locker and checked into our Airbnb. The rest of the day consisted of stopping at the local grocery store to pick up some food and snacks. We also stopped at Frontline Academy, a local Jiu-Jitsu gym so Charlie could get some training in.
Later that night we went out to dinner. We looked for a particular Chinese restaurant called Mr. Chang's, but couldn't find it. After wandering around for a bit we decided to stop in the next restaurant we came across, which happened to be Chiangmai Thai Restaurant.
Day # 2
I was most excited about the adventures we had planned for today, and hands down it was my favorite day. We decided to do the Norway in a Nutshell tour as we were only visiting for a few days and wanted to see as much of Norway as possible. We had to be at the train station by 8 a.m. to catch train to Voss. The train ride itself was very enjoyable; we relaxed and took in the beautiful scenery as the train made its way through the mountains, passing a lot of waterfalls and rivers along the way. Once in Voss, we had a few minutes to look around before catching a bus to Gudvangen. The bus ride was also very scenic with waterfalls everywhere you looked, through charming villages and down Stalheimskleiva, a road famous for its steep hairpin bends through the mountains. The road is so steep, it is only open from May-September. Once at Gudvangen we walked around for a little bit taking in the breathtaking views, got to checkout an old Viking boat and enjoyed a nice lunch in the restaurant while we waited to board of Fjord boat cruise.
The Fjord cruise was my favorite part of the entire trip. The views were simply stunning. The first fjord we cruised on was Nærøyfjorden which is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and is one of the most narrow fjords in Europe. The Fjord is surrounded by high mountains and everywhere you looked were waterfalls. The second fjord we cruised along was Aurlandsfjord which was picturesque with some of the most beautiful landscapes. The entire cruise was about 45 minutes long and was so relaxing.
The cruise dropped us off in the quaint colorful village of Flåm. We walked around taking in the gorgeous views of the mountains, had a pint or two of local beer at the ÆGIR BRYGGERIPUB, tried reindeer stew, followed by a Belgian waffle, which tasted as good as it smelled. Somehow we missed our train but the people were very nice and got us on the next train free of charge since there were still a few seats left. The tour continued on the legendary Flåm Railway. The railway is well known for its spectacular panoramic views and literally going right through the mountain. The train stops for 5 mins to allow you to get out of the trin and take pictures of Kjosfossen Waterfall.
The Flåm Railway arrived in Myrdal, where we change trains to the Bergen Railway and headed back to Bergen. It was a long 14 hour day; we were both exhausted but, it was well worth the trip and the views were amazing. We were very fortunate to have a beautiful sunny day, it only sprinkled a little bit here and there and then cleared right back up. Once back in Bergen we walked around the city a little and had a delicious dinner at Roxy’s Diner before heading back to the Airbnb to go to bed.
Day # 3
Our last full day in Norway we spent exploring Bergen and visiting all the little shops and buying our souvenirs. They city is very clean, safe, and easy to get around. Per our usual we did the Hop On - Hop Off bus tour so we could see all the main attractions of the city center, learn a little history about the city and we were able to utilize the bus as an easy mode of transportation around the city; although we pretty much walked everywhere. Our typical strategy is to do a complete bus loop to get an idea of which stops/attractions we want to see. The tour had plenty of places to see with 13 stops.
Bryggen is a historic harbor district in Bergen, which is one of North Europe’s oldest port cities on the west coast of Norway. The old wharf was once the center of the Hanseatic League's trading empire dating as far back as the 14th century. Bryggen is home to the colorful wooden houses which are situated along the old wharf and is now an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside these houses are souvenir shops that are worth checking out.
Bergen’s famous Fish Market is a must see even if you are not a fan of seafood, like myself. The picturesque outdoor market is located right in the heart of the city situated between the mountains and fjords. Along with fresh seafood, the market also offers fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers from local farms. There are plenty of restaurants right in the market itself and along the harbour serving fresh seafood. Charlie enjoyed the biggest seafood platter I’ve ever seen for lunch (I ate chips haha)! We both tried minke whale, which surprisingly tasted like steak that had been marinating in saltwater. We were adventurous and tried moose, reindeer and whale sausage (tasted similar to pepperoni or salami). The outdoor Fish Market opens May 1st and the indoor Fish Market is open all year long. If you can get past the smell of seafood it is worth walking around and checking it out!
After lunch we decided to do one more adventure and took the Ulriken Express bus to Ulriken; which is the highest of the seven mountains in Bergen. You can either hike up the mountain or take a cable car. We took the cable car up because we were not dressed for hiking and it was late in the afternoon and we didn’t really have the time. No worries, the cable car did not disappoint, the views were amazing! Where the cable car drops you off, there is a nice viewing platform with stunning views of the city below, the sea, islands, mountains and fjords. You can enjoy lunch at Restaurant Sky and shopping. If you are more adventurous there is zip-lining and paragliding (on my bucket list)! We took a short hike to the highest point of the mountain to take a few pictures and to say we made it to the top!
We finished our day off with some drinks in the Irish pub (leave it to Charlie to find the only Irish Pub in Norway!!) right across the street from the fish market, before heading back to the apartment.
Day # 4
We had a few hours to kill before heading back to the airport, so we had a nice breakfast in a cute little cafe and did a little shopping. Once again we took advantage of the storage lockers at the train station so we didn’t have to drag our luggage around with us (so convenient).
Bergen weather & what to pack
Contrary to what most probably think, Bergen has a mild winter climate with little snow accumulation. Summers tend to be cool and pleasant with temperatures around 19C (66F) to 25C (77F). Bergen boasts the warmest temperatures in the country. This is because the mountains protect the city from the cold winds from the north and the Gulf Stream keeps the sea relatively warm. However, the temperatures in Norway as a whole is still colder than most European countries. Despite the mild temperatures you can expect a lot of participation in Bergen. It is called the rainiest city on Earth as it rains approx 240 days per year!
We didn't do thorough research when planning our trip and we were not prepared for the rainy Bergen weather. With that being said don't let the rainy weather deter you from visiting Norway, just make sure you go prepared with waterproof shoes and jacket, wear layers and don’t forget your umbrella!