Bergen is a city that looks like it belongs on a postcard. It has colorful buildings, a scenic harbor, and mountains rising right behind it. It’s charming, walkable, and packed with history. To me, it exemplifies what you imagine Norway to be. But let me be honest: when we were there, the rain was relentless. Not a drizzle. Not “bring a light jacket.” I’m talking torrential downpours that soaked to the bone within minutes. In that respect, it was miserable.
Even with that, there’s still plenty to do here. And if you get better weather than we did, you’ll love it even more. I’d also recommend more than a day. Sadly, that’s all we had and the rain was such a bummer that I don’t feel like we truly got to experience the city as much as we would of.
Here’s my recommendation on what to do when you are there:
Ride the Fløibanen funicular to Mount Fløyen
This is one of the top things to do in Bergen. The funicular takes you up to Mount Fløyen in just a few minutes, and the views over the city and harbor are incredible. At the top, there are other things to do besides admire the view. You’ll find goats wandering around. You’ll find a small troll park area with giant troll statues that are perfect for photos.
You can also walk back down, which I’ve heard is beautiful and very scenic. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans for us. Between the rain and the slick paths, it just wasn’t happening. If you get a clear day, definitely consider doing the walk. It would be worth it.
Stroll through Bryggen
Bryggen is the iconic historic area along the waterfront. It has the colorful wooden buildings you’ve likely see in photos. It does look exactly like the photos. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it really does feel like stepping back in time. Even in the rain, it’s worth walking through the narrow alleyways and exploring the small shops tucked inside. This is the heart of Bergen, and it’s an easy place to spend time just wandering.
Visit Bergenhus Fortress
Right along the waterfront, just a short walk from Bryggen, you’ll find Bergenhus Fortress. It’s one of the oldest and best-preserved fortresses in Norway, and the setting is beautiful. It’s right on the harbor with green open space around it. It’s a nice contrast to the busier waterfront area and gives you a bit more room to explore.
About the Rain
Bergen is known for its rain, but experiencing it is something else entirely. We didn’t just get a little unluck. We got absolutely drenched. I’m talking soaked shoes and a jacket that gave up. Seriously, I started questioning all my life choices haha.
Because of that, we didn’t get to explore nearly as much as we wanted to. It’s just the reality of visiting Bergen. You have to be flexible and roll with it. I will say just walking around before we were soaked was so enjoyable. The buildings are beautiful, there is street art, and there is just this sense about the city and captivates you. And, Bergen is bigger than I thought. There are a lot of areas to visit more than just near Bryggen. It’s Norway’s second large to city with lots to do, and it’s well-worth a few days, especially if you plan to venture outside the city and explore fjords or other Norwegian sites.
Tips
One thing I’d strongly recommend is to make restaurant reservations, especially if you are there on a Sunday. A lot of places fill up quickly, and options can feel limited if you don’t plan ahead. We learned this the hard way. Between the weather and not having reservations, we ended up at McDonald’s. Not exactly the cozy Norwegian dinner we had in mind, but sometimes that’s how travel goes. By the way, Americans you will appreciate this – their ice cream machine was working!
The Fishmarket is a nice place to visit as well, but with the rain, you likely won’t want to dine outside.
As far as where to stay, the best areas to stay are near the Bryggen or in City Center. You’ll want to be walking distance to the main attractions. We stayed at the Thon Hotel Rosencratz. It was clean and the room was a good size. They are known for their breakfast buffet, and that delivered. We took a cab there from the port and an uber to the airport. We also looked at the Clarion Admiral Hotel which looked nice and had lovely harbor views, but in the end chose the Thon Rosenkratz.
All in all, Bergen is beautiful, even in less than ideal conditions. Between the views from Mount Fløyen, the charm of Bryggen, and the historic waterfront, there is a lot to enjoy there. But if you take anything away from this, be prepare for rain and make those dinner reservations.
And if you happen to have sunshine? You’ll see a completely different side of this city and likely fall in love with it.
