Bergen Hotels

The underground music scene is bustling and visitors can hear the sounds spilling onto the streets. There are lots of sights to see by day as well, with a visit to the two University Museums,theBergen Cathedral and theWaterfront Fish Marketa definite must.

The dark sends band members and foodies into their hidey-holes, where they’ll wait until you delight in finding them. Get out of the main blocks of the city and you’ll find the best indie bands and local produce in Bergen, and feel very in the know that you did.

Bergen's Top 10

Bergen History

• Damsgård Manor – Europe’s most wonderful example of rococo timber architecture from the 1700s with a baroque garden.
• Lysøen Estate - Built as the summerhouse of the well-known violinist Ole Bull with architecture that takes on that of Moorish Granada.
• Fantoft Stave Church - This lovely setting in Bergen was built in the mid 1100s, also known by the name “Paradise”.
• Siljustøl - Home to a well-known Norwegian composer who wrote protest music against the occupation of the Nazis in WWII.
• Håkonshallen - Large ceremonial hall built in the 1200s by King Håkon Håkonsson for his son’s coronation and wedding.

Bergen Art & Culture

• Hanseatic Museum - Housed in a building from the early 1700s made out of rough timber.
• Railway Museum - From the months of June through September, you can take a Sunday tour on the veteran steam train.
• Bryggens Museum - Archaeological museum built at the site of Bergen’s first settlement.
• University Museums - Includes the cultural history collections with artefacts from the vikings, medieval ages, Inuit and Aleut cultures and natural history.
• Old Bergen Museum - Open-air museum with a wonderful collection of 300-year-old buildings.

Bergen Shopping

• Gitarmaker - Makes high-quality handcrafted acoustic guitars.
• Torget Fish Market - Hard to beat this place for prices and atmosphere. Find a wide assortment of fish, smoked whale meat, chips, fish cakes, local caviar and even elk and reindeer.
• Kvams Flisespikkeri - Lovely gallery with Bergen-themed art, with a wide range available for all budgets.
• Juhls’ Silver Gallery - Exquisite jewellery crafted from silver by Regine Juhls at her workshop that lies above the Arctic Circle.
• Laeverkstedet - One of the most popular shops in Bergen for the softest moose leather and a great assortment of clothing, bags and accessories.

Gay & Lesbian Bergen

• Parodi Grand Prix - Held every year, with old hits performed by new artists and added show and glamour.
• Fincken - Oldest place of its kind in Bergen with a great atmosphere.
• Kremm - Cafe, restaurant and lounge.
• Cafe Opera - Cafe club with an international clientele.
• The Sailor - Local disco bar with shows and entertainment.

Bergen Events

April and May brings the famous Bergenfest celebrating the music of the city, with concerts popping up all across town.

May 17 is Constitution Day and a public holiday. The streets fill with people dressed to the nines in suits and gowns.

Bergen International Festival hosts about 160 events in two weeks from the end of May. Events include literature, dance, theatre and classical music.

May also brings Nattjazz, a two-week long jazz festival that attracts all the big names.

The Bergen International Film Festival puts out the red carpet every October, screening films from around the world.

When To Go

Summer is mild but pleasant. In July and August, temperatures average around 20°C (68°F).

It rains for around 250 days a year in Bergen, so bring a brolly!

Tourists tend to flock to Bergen in May, as it is the driest month and the temperatures are not too cold.

Getting Around

Between May and August you can catch the Vågen Harbour Ferry between the Torget fish market and Tollbodhopen. It’s about Nkr40 for a single trip.

Buses in the city cost around Nkr20 and will get you to the most popular places and attractions.

Travellers can hire bikes for Nkr300 for a weekend or Nkr200 for a single day. It’s a great way to discover the city at your own pace.

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General Information

Attractions

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Climate

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