Bergen, Norway – The perfect winter holiday destination

December 2024 – We decided to go on a short winter holiday and Bergen turned out to be a phenomenal choice. Located in the heard of the Fjords, Bergen is picturesque, cute, cosy with mesmerising views and sooo much more. It is located in the west coast of Norway and is surrounded by seven mountains. Once you get there, you definitely don’t want to miss Bryggen – the old Hanseatic wharf. The vibrant area of Bryggen is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. I definitely recommend you staying in that area as you will enjoy it to the fullest.

What to do in order of priority (according to my view that is)

1. Fjord cruise: We booked the Bergen – Mostraumen fjord cruise of duration 4 hours. The views were breathtaking and despite the challenging weather conditions we couldn’t resist standing out on the ferry deck taking it all in. Check out a short clip capturing the highlight of our experience. [You should expect to see narrow fjords, steep mountainsides and waterfalls! We sailed up the 27-kilometer long Osterfjord towards Modalen, the country’s second smallest municipality with only around 380 inhabitants. Along the way, we safely navigated through strong currents in the shallow and narrow Mostraumen straits. We got so close to a towering waterfall that we even felt a refreshing spray on our face! – Source: visitbergen.com]

   

   

2. Fløyen mountain: Mount Fløyen is definitely something you should explore during your visit in Bergen. It’s easily accessible via a state of the art cable car (Fløibanen) which is quite affordable – approximately €11 roundtrip for adults. There are many options once you are up there – enjoy the majestic views, hike, visit the troll forest and capture the unique creations, access the nearby lake and more. We explored the map available once you get to the top via QR code and it is fairly easy to navigate as everything is appropriately signposted.

   

   

   

   

   

3. Walk around the beautiful city

   

   

   

   

4. Christmas Market: The entrance to the Christmas Market is free – be sure to check the dates it will be operating prior visiting.

   

   

5. Museums: There are many museums that are worth a visit. Click here to explore the available options.

Where to stay

I strongly recommend you staying at Radisson Blu Hotel as it is affordable and perfectly positioned in Bryggen. And when I say perfectly, I mean perfectly. The pick up point for the Fjord cruise we booked was conveniently enough right outside the hotel and the same holds for the AirPort Express shuttle Flybussen (the cost was approximately €14).

How to get there

The most convenient way is to fly to the Bergen Airport – and then get the Bergen Light Rail Line 1 to the centre (the cost is approximately €5 and it is very convenient and smooth). If you are staying at the centre the distance is short so you will definitely be able to walk to your accommodation.

When to go and for how long

As mentioned we wanted to experience the winter holiday vibes of Bergen so visiting in December right before Christmas was a good choice. Make sure you look up the dates the Christmas Market will be available though as the last available date to experience it during our visit was 22nd December. Three to four (3-4) days are more than enough to explore the city and make the most of it.

Tips

1. If you are worried about the language, don’t. Everyone speaks English in Norway, they are very kind and eager to help.
2. Bergen is the most rainy city in Europe so having an umbrella with you may be useful.
3. During this time of year temperatures vary from 0 to 2 degrees centigrade so bring lots of layers with you and a warm coat.
4. This is funny coming from me being a vegetarian, but if you are a meat eater definitely try out the local hot dogs at Trekroneren.
5. My mummy friends have been asking whether it is a suitable city for babies and the answer is of course. Navigating with a stroller is super easy there! Make sure you bring all necessary equipment and you will be more than fine.
6. Bergen City card: Is it worth it? Well if planned properly yes, making sure you have enough time to visit the free attractions included in the price. If not, then it is not worth it.