Things to do in  Bergen

Yes, Bergen is worth visiting. Norway’s second-largest city is minutes from fjords and mountains. Bryggen, the city’s historic harbor district and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is lined with gabled, pastel-colored houses and wooden alleyways. A busy bar and nightlife scene awaits next to excellent museums in the city center.

Two days are enough for the city. On day one, visit the fish market, Bryggen, and Bergenhus Fortress. On day two, ride the Fløibanen funicular or check out museums. While you might have time to kayak the harbor, you’ll need a third day to visit fjords and mountains outside town.

One of Europe’s oldest seaports, Bergen is famous for the leaning rows of gabled, pastel-colored buildings and wooden alleyways in Bryggen, a historic harbor district and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Scenic fjords and mountains surround the coastal outpost, famously called the city of seven mountains.

Yes, but rarely. The lights make sporadic appearances throughout the year. September through March is the peak northern lights season in Norway—if you want to have a good chance of seeing them, travel north toward the Arctic Circle to Trondheim, Tromsø, or the island of Svalbard.

It depends. Norway’s capital and sole true urban center, Oslo offers cutting-edge arts, cuisine, and architecture scenes. Both cities have fjords and mountains nearby, but Bergen is smaller and closer to nature along the coast and ocean. The train ride between Oslo and Bergen is one of the most scenic in Europe.

Yes. Bergen is relatively small, with nearly all main attractions within walking distance of the city center. Cobblestone lanes cross downtown, wooden alleyways lead through the historic harbor, and walkable paths curve past scenic viewpoints toward Mt. Floyen. The city is pedestrian-friendly and rarely has traffic.