Six reasons to fall in love with Bergen, Norway

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on any of those links and make a purchase, I’ll get a small commission, at no cost to you, to help support this website. 

Bergen is the historic capital of Norway from the 13th century and is packed full of culture, history, and direct access to nature, making it a perfect weekend break or stop in a longer Norway travel itinerary. It’s also the city I’m lucky enough to call home at the moment, so perhaps I’m a little biased. I highly recommend visiting, though you might not want to go home afterwards! So here’s just a few reasons to fall in love with Bergen, Europe’s cosiest city.

Bergen is a beautiful scenic city. There’s no shortage of incredible viewpoints from it’s 7 surrounding mountains and historic harbour area. Many of these viewpoints don’t even require a long hike to reach and are accessible for those with mobility issues. 

You can reach the top of Fløyen by funicular trains that leave every 10 minutes from the Floibanen station in the city centre. For those wanting an easier walk in nature that isn’t a full hike, the Løvstien trail offers a well-paved mountain walking trail with great city views. 

And of course, you can also catch great views just by wandering around the city. Festplassen offers views of Ulriken, Bergen’s highest mountain. And in Nordnes, the posh part of town, it’s easy to spend a few hours strolling among the traditional Norwegian streets and houses.

The seven mountains surrounding Bergen all offer unique hiking experiences, a favourite pastime for the locals. All of them have good, well-marked trails and are accessible for those with average physical ability.

Hiking and being in nature is a core part of Bergen culture, and Norwegians in general are a very outdoorsy people. Don’t be surprised to see families with small babies hiking these trails on the weekends, or children as young as five running up the 1000+ steps to the summit of Ulriken. There’s even a ‘seven mountains’ challenge every year where Norwegians hike all seven mountains in one day. If you truly want to do as the locals do, try hiking one (or multiple!) of Bergen’s mountains during your visit. 

My suggestion? For beginners, Fløyen is a nice simple uphill walk on paved road. For the hardcore hiking enthusiasts? The Vidden trail is a 12km+ hike between Fløyen and Ulriken that ticks off three summits in a day and will definitely challenge you.

This historic old wharf was once the busiest trade port in Northern Europe and has been a centre for trade for over 1000 years. Now, behind the famous facade of colourful wooden houses, there are cosy alleyways and a thriving creative community full of local indie artists and shops selling everything from reindeer hides to handmade Norwegian wool jumpers.

I highly recommend spending an afternoon perusing the area for unique souvenirs, while also taking in the atmosphere and you walk through this special part of Norway’s seafaring history. For the history buffs, the Hanseatic museum located in Bryggen is a great place to learn more about the importance of this historic harbour during the middle ages.

Being right on a harbour, Bergen is known for its excellent fresh seafood. Try the daily catch at the fish market by the old harbour, and perhaps some more unique Norwegian specialty dishes such as reindeer hotdog with lingonberry jam which you can buy at the Trekroneren stand nearby. 

Another favourite that my boyfriend and I like to visit on date nights is Pingvinen, a Norwegian gastropub where you can try some traditional dishes such as local fish soup, raspeball (a type of potato dumpling), reindeer steak and salted lamb. 

Want to do as the locals do? The 7 Elevens in Norway are truly a lifesaver – whether you want a slice of pizza, coffee or a frozen yoghurt, these little convenience stores are a great way to save money and the food is surprisingly good! As a young backpacker, most of my meals came from 7 Eleven and I have few regrets.

Being cold and rainy for a good half of the year, Bergen is the perfect city for a cosy cafe scene and it absolutely delivers. The Starbucks next to Bryggen is one of my favourite people watching spots as it’s housed inside a gorgeous building that looks like a gingerbread house. 

In the city centre, you also have multiple popular coffee chains and bakeries: Espresso House and Godt Brød are my two favourites as they both offer cosy seating areas, great coffee and freshly baked pastries. 

In the mood for the best hot chocolate of your life? I highly recommend trying out Fjak. Hidden away in a little cobble-stoned street in the city centre, this boutique chocolate shop offers the most delicious, creamy hot chocolate I’ve had in Norway so far. You can choose from many different flavours including some weirder ones like brown cheese. Truly decadent, 100/10 recommend.

One of my favourite things about living in Bergen is what a walkable, pedestrian-friendly city it is. Most of the city centre is car-free, with zebra crossings on all of the roads. It’s a city built for exploring on foot, for lazy days spent wandering down cobblestone alleyways with a hot drink and pastry with no real destination in mind.

While there’s plenty of tourist attractions and tours you can do in Bergen, I highly recommend taking an afternoon off just to walk through some of the beautiful scenic residential streets and admire the Scandinavian houses, the great views, and the charming cosy vibes of this historic city.

After all, Bergen is more than a tourist attraction. It’s a real city where Norwegians live, commute to work, go to the gym and spend time with their loved ones.

Sometimes slowing down to take it all in, and get a feel for how the locals live their lives, is the best way to truly understand a place.