Bergen and Beyond
We availed of the direct flight from Dublin to Bergen with Widerøe, a flight time just under 2 hours makes Bergen an excellent choice for an adventure holiday or a short city-break. A scenic landing over the fjords was only a taster of what Bergen and Beyond has to offer.
As a party of five ladies, we opted for a 3-bedroom apartment in the centre of Bergen which was perfectly suitable for our needs and located a mere 7-minute stroll from the main thoroughfare of Bergen.
We got straight into our activities with a stroll through the city to find our bearings which truly is not hard, the city is compact, everything is within super easy walking distance. Lille Lungegardsvannet is a small 5-acre lake in the centre of Bergen where people congregate to meet, have lunch or take a stroll. The cherry blossom trees and flowers in full bloom made the lake even more beautiful and perfect for photo opportunities. This evening, we pre-booked a floating sauna cruise with City Sauna. An incredibly unique experience to relax with your partner or friends as you gently glide along the water taking in the views of the city and harbour. This floating sauna was 2 hours long and you do have the opportunity to take a dip into the crisp water if you feel brave enough. A fabulous way to end the day before we retreated for the evening.
Early start next morning to meet with our Walking Food Tour guide in Bergen. A 3-hour private tour with three food stops including the Fisketorget Fish Market, Famous Trekroneren Hot Dog Stand followed by coffee and waffles at KAF in Bryggen. We discovered a wealth of information from our guide on the history of Bergen and Norway along the way. Remarkably interesting!
Bryggen is truly a highlight for tourists, an historic harbour district dating from the 12th century. Each characteristic wooden house was lovingly rebuilt to the exact replicable of the originals damaged by fires over the years. Now home to beautiful bakeries, shops selling local hand-made souvenirs, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Strolling through the historical street of Bryggen gives you the atmospheric impression of working and trading life over the centuries.
Later this day we ventured up the Fløibanen funicular to take in spectacular views of the city from Mount Fløyen! A wonderful experience that takes a mere 6 minutes. Surrounded with natural beauty walking/hiking trails, playground for children, restaurants, café, and souvenir shop. A short stroll through the forest paved way to a stunning natural lake which I envisage would be popular in the summer months with families and groups. If you do visit make sure to say hello to the resident goats “Fløyenguttene” who are mischievous and extremely happy to meet you.
Dinner this evening was an incredible experience! We took Norway’s largest gondola, Ulriken, up 643 meters above sea level to the top of Bergen’s highest mountain where we enjoyed spectacular views over the city, bay, and coast. Enjoying a delicious meal at the Skyskraperen Restaurant while the sun set over Bergen was an incredible experience and a must do!
Day 3 was another full day exploring and the best experience all round. Our 08.00am train from Bergen to Myrdal took approx. 1 hr 30 minutes. Beautiful scenery began quite immediately of beautiful lakes and mountains, however as we climbed further up the mountains the view changed to sparkling snow and frozen lakes. The plan was to take the Flåm Zipline, however the start date was delayed, so instead three of us opted to take the walk down while the two other ladies continued the scenic Flåmsbana train to Flam which looked fantastic. Our walk began through snowy paths for the first part and then a leisurely stroll down man made paths passing incredible waterfalls and scenery. From here we took to the bikes and began our 1 hour 30 minutes cycle down to Flåm. This offers the most spectacular scenery on a bright day and like something from a movie.
Following a well-deserved lunch and guided tour of the Fretheim Hotel in Flam, we had the opportunity to experience a scenic fjord cruise to Gudvangen on board a fully electrical, no noise pollution vessel through the “out of this world” fjords. Let me tell you the scenery was sublime; the experience was so peaceful. I would 1000% recommend this experience to enjoy a short scenic fjord cruise.
Our driver was waiting for us at Gudvangen to take us on our 2-hour scenic drive back to Bergen, a very welcome transfer after the day’s activities. Saturday nightlife was in full swing in Bergen, plenty of people buzzing around the centre, the atmosphere was super around the restaurants and bars. We enjoyed dinner at the Frescohallen Restaurant located in the historic stock exchange building.
Needless to say, we took to our beds as we flew home the following morning.
Our 3-night trip to Bergen was utterly impressive and thoroughly enjoyable, I cannot believe we had so many activities and different experiences over our 3 days. There is a wealth of activities on offer in and around Bergen and something for all the family to enjoy from young to old. For me personally, I will absolutely return to Bergen and venture further afield as this country is stunning.
For a wonderful holiday, I believe Norway will suit those looking for a cooler climate with plenty to do. Off road intentions, walking, hiking, sightseeing, foodies, cultural enthusiasts and historical interests, cruise holidays and so much more. For families looking for an active holiday this will absolutely tick the boxes for you.
I do hope you enjoyed my personal blog of Bergen and beyond, have I inspired you to go?
Travel Counsellors partner with an incredible local supplier in Norway who assisted us with the planning of our itinerary. I can assist you with planning the perfect itinerary suited to your own personal requirements. If you would like to discuss and begin your plans please do contact me to arrange a consultation first.
