Bergen - between trolls and fjords

Our accommodation

We rented a house a little bit outside the city of Bergen. It was very modern and only 50 meters from the sea. The house has several bedrooms, so would also be ideal if you have children with you or are travelling in a group. However, I would not recommend it for more than 4 people. The main bedroom had a wonderful view of the sea. The living room was also very cosy and the kitchen had enough space to cook. There is also a hot tub and barbecue outside. 

A shop is about 5 minutes away by car where you can buy food and drinks as well as the necessary groceries.

Fjordcruise

Norway and fjords - they go together like day and night, fire and water. Anyone travelling to Norway wants to see at least one fjord. And that's totally understandable. After all, it is very impressive how the mountains rise next to the mostly kilometer-long and seemingly endless waterway.

We were travelling on the Rygertroll catamaran from Rodne Fjord Cruise. The journey took about 3 hours, but these 3 hours flew by. The tour starts in Bergen and goes all the way to Mostraumen. Mostraumen lies almost at the very end of the Osterfjord. The end point of the small cruise is the village of Mo. The fjord becomes very narrow in Mostraumen, so the catamaran has to slow down and glide very slowly through the water. It was very pleasant to take photos as the boat slowed down. My tip for you - dress warmly. It was super cold and the wind was really strong.

The whole trip along the Osterfjord is a highlight and incredibly beautiful. When you leave the harbor in Bergen, you have an incomparable view of the city. The first section you travel along is still part of the North Sea.  The longer the journey takes, the higher the mountains to the right and left become. At the same time, the fjord becomes narrower and narrower and civilization less and less. You are in the middle of nature.

Bryggen

The Hanseatic district of Bryggen is considered the landmark and most important sight in Bergen. This district is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

World Heritage Sites are those places in the world that are of outstanding universal value to mankind. They are included on the UNESCO list and are protected so that future generations can also appreciate and enjoy these places.

Bryggen, Bergen's old quay, is a reminder of the city's importance as part of the Hanseatic League's trading empire from the 14th to the mid-16th century.

Many fires, the last in 1955, have devastated the characteristic wooden houses of Bryggen. The reconstruction was traditionally carried out according to old patterns and methods. The main structure was thus preserved. It is a relic of an old wooden city structure that was once common in Northern Europe. Today, 62 buildings of this former townscape have been preserved.

What I found very nice were the shops in the houses. There was a 3-storey shop with Christmas decorations. As a Christmas junkie, I was in heaven. Also, don't be surprised about the floors. It's normal for them to be crooked sometimes. The same goes for doors and walls.

Gamle Bergen Museum

Gamle Bergen means old Bergen. The museum is a reconstructed urban environment with around 50 wooden houses and is dedicated to the town in the 18th century, when Bergen was Europe's largest wooden town. The town had a distinctive townscape with wooden houses and streets built close together, squares and alleyways full of life.

There are also few cities that have experienced as many major fires as Bergen. The appearance of the city has often changed, and often with great drama. In other cases, old houses fell victim to new buildings and urban renewal. But Bergen has also shown that it can preserve its history.

There are private homes and several shops and maintenance plants here. Unfortunately, the museum is not open all year round and was closed when we were there. Nevertheless, we were able to walk through the streets and look at the beautiful houses.

When the museum is open, you can even meet people from the old days. There are actors who bring you closer to life back then. In any case, Gamle Bergen is an idyllic reminder of old times in Bergen.

Fløyen & Fløibanen

Bergen's true beauty is also its location, so one of the most important things to do in Bergen is to see the city from above. If steep climbs are not for you, you can take the Fløibanen funicular railway to the top and walk down to the centre of Bergen. This is a popular walk that is suitable for people of all ages and takes about an hour. Of course, you can also walk up to Fløyen - it just takes a little longer. The Fløibanen funicular railway stops several times on your way up and down. So if you don't want to walk all the way down, you can get off halfway at the Fjellveien stop, for example, and walk the last stretch into town. This is particularly practical in winter, when it can be slightly icy at the top. Of course, you can also do both routes by train only, as we did. It was a bit too cold for us, as it was already November.

Fantoft Stavkirke

A Church as if from a world of legends. Dark, menacing but impressive. Fantoft Stavkirke is located in the Fana district of Bergen. It is therefore not easily accessible on foot from the city center. I recommend travelling there by car.

In 1992, the church burnt down almost to the ground within half an hour. The building was in flames when the fire brigade arrived 2 minutes after being notified and 20 firefighters had no chance of saving the church. Rebuilding the church was a challenge for master builders and carpenters, as stave churches had not been built in Norway for many centuries and the existing building expertise was modest.

Food & Restaurant

I would definitely like to recommend the cosy hidden café in Brygen. It's called Kaf Kafe. It's lovingly decorated and serves the most delicious hot chocolate I've ever tasted.

Trekroneren may not be a restaurant, but it is a snack bar that deserves a place on the Bergen Insider Tips list. It sells very good hot dogs with a large selection of sauces and types of meat - including reindeer. Considering the Norwegian price level, you get a lot for your money at Trekroneren.

A nice restaurant is the Fjellskål restaurant. It is located right next to the fish market and you can enjoy fresh fish there. I can highly recommend the fresh salmon, it was delicious. We also bought some salmon for ourselves and took it home with us. As a tip, buy it at the end of your holiday and have it vacuum-sealed. Put the fish in the fridge until you go home and freeze it at home or consume it within a week.

I would also like to give you a taste of the delicious Skillingsboller. My partner and I kept calling it Zimtbolle because we couldn't remember the name. The pastry is big, moist and has cinnamon on top. You can also have the pastry with chocolate or pistachios. But my favorite is clearly the one with cinnamon. The townspeople are proud of their "Skillingboller" and everyone who visits Bergen should try at least one of these delicacies

Trolls

and last but not least, the thing with the trolls…

Cute, ugly or a little scary? Trolls can be found all over Norway. For thousands of years, mysterious rock formations and mountains with troll-like shapes have fascinated people all over Norway.

What are trolls? Trolls are several types of human-like creatures in Nordic folklore and fairy tales. Norway's high mountains, deep fjords, vast forests, and dark winter nights naturally form a perfect backdrop for seemingly supernatural phenomena. Whatever people don't understand, they must explain in one way or another - and in Norway, that's where the trolls come in.

In Norway, many places are associated with trolls - so be careful not to wake any of the trolls from their thousand-year slumber!