Bergen

Norway Travel Tips – Things To Know Before Visiting

July 15, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Have you always dreamed of seeing the fjords? But don’t you have any desire to take part in a cruise that forces you on board for days? You can organize the trip, it’s quite simple, you can book everything you need online.

The first thing to say about Norway is that is very big. You certainly can’t visit it all in a week. Having to make a selection, we recommend that you opt for a classic itinerary that is affordable for everyone, even for families with children. You will have to evaluate your budget because Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world.

If you are considering a trip to Norway, the following Norway travel tips should come in handy and form as part of things to consider when planning a trip to Norway. Norway is an amazing country for nature and adventure lovers.

If you love a city break there are plenty of amazing cities to visit in Norway too. From the beautiful city of Bergen, surrounding by 7 stunning mountains, many of which have cool viewpoints like Mount Ulriken.

Book As Early As Possible

This way you will have much more possibilities to secure the most convenient tickets for public transport such as airplanes, trains and buses – and also the least expensive overnight stays.

Norway as we said is a really expensive country, so it is good to book everything including air and overnight stays as soon as possible. If you are looking to hike the Trolltunga trail, I cannot stress enough how important it is to book hotels near Trolltunga is because there aren’t many and once they are sold out you will have no option but camping in Odda or nearby towns.

This is not that pleasant when the weather is bad. Another thing to mention is that with Norway being a popular destination for nature holidays majority of which require a road trip so you will have to make sure you book your rental car in advance otherwise you will be left with even more expensive options.

Travel out of season

When it comes to things to know before travelling to Norway booking out of season is up there among top things to know when planning a trip to Norway. It’s a smart way to find cheaper overnight stays and transportation, plus, you won’t have to see the most popular attractions with so many other people.

You can save even if you travel like the locals, with public transport. Cities like Oslo is a lot calmer and a little cheaper to during and towards the end of busy seasons.

Inexpensive nights

Norway has around 1000 campsites with pitches for tents, caravans and campers. It is a good idea to book your seat in advance if you travel in the high season. Most of the campsites offer bungalows for rent, from very simple to more luxurious ones.

In hostels, pensions, guest houses and bed & breakfasts you can often find accommodation at even more advantageous prices. Or could you stay overnight on a farm? You can also rent a holiday home or chalet through specific sites.

Travel with others

Plan your trip to Norway with your family or a group of friends. This way you can rent a larger chalet, apartment or house and use it as a base. It is a solution that can significantly reduce costs. Check out Booking.com for the latest deals on hotels and accommodation in Norway.

Buy local foods

Having the ability to cook, at least for some parts of the trip, works wonders for your budget. You can prepare yourself an unforgettable picnic or a dinner with local delicacies without emptying your wallet. Stop at the direct sale of a farm or a deli, or simply a normal grocery store.

Especially in rural areas there are shelves reserved for local foods. Buy local cheeses – many of which are among the best in the world – creamy butter, meat toppings, cold cuts and fresh bread.

In Oslo you can find trendy and affordable street food in Vippa or from Oslo Street Food in Torggata. We found this invaluable during our road trip in Norway. We could so by local shops and buy groceries to cut costs from restaurants around towns.

Also if you are planning on renting an apartment of using Airbnb this works great too as you have access to a kitchen and can make breakfast and lunches too.

Fresh drinks

A nice water bottle, which keeps its contents cold, is a good investment, so you can fill it with pure and free water directly from the tap. But choose to treat yourself well at breakfast with an incredibly fresh Eplemost (Norwegian apple juice).

And yes, we like to have a beer outside in the sun, but not necessarily in the most expensive bar in the city.

In most places in Norway, you can buy beer from local producers and microbreweries at the farmer’s market or in grocery stores. You can also drop by Vinmonopolet, to get some fresh and trendy Norwegian cider. Check out my guide on Norweigen beers not to miss out on when visiting Norway.

Restaurants accessible

Most Norwegian cities have restaurants for all price ranges. You can often take the dish of the day, based on fresh ingredients, in modest numbers. Try to taste local dishes such as cod, fish soup, or maybe a moose burger – delicious foods and within your spending limit.

And why not try Norwegian delicacies such as waffles, cinnamon rolls and svele? They are cheap but full of energy and taste.

Stop longer

One way to cut expenses is to stay in one place for a longer period of time and rather spend your money on on-site adventures. Many travellers want to be able to do everything when planning a vacation to Norway, where distances can be incredibly long, which means you miss out on many beautiful local attractions. If you are staying longer or planning to explore Norway for a longer period it helps to also learn a couple of Norwegian phrases too.

Natural attractions

Norway is like a large natural park where you can go hiking, cycling, skiing, kayaking and climbing, or simply enjoy the spectacular landscapes and the enchanting villages and towns. However, it can be a good investment to participate in one of the many guided activities offered across the country.

A guide often adds something more to the experience. In many locations we rent equipment such as bicycles, skis, canoes, kayaks, climbing equipment and more. I shared additional tips on the best-guided hiking tours in Norway taking you out on some of Norway’s famous hike trails.

Explore the national parks

The numerous Norwegian national parks are our most beautiful and important natural areas. You are more than welcome to explore them, if you do it respectfully.

This means leaving nothing but your footprints and staying on the marked paths. Always bring your waste back and use the toilets where possible. If nature calls along the way, move away from the path and cover well when you’re done.

Enjoy the outdoors

Some of the best things in life are free and do you good. “Friluftsliv” is the Norwegian term for “outdoor life” and is an integral part of our DNA. Remember though that we are all custodians of this natural treasure. Don’t leave garbage lying around and show respect for people, animals and nature.

You can pitch a tent or sleep under the stars in the countryside, in the forests or in the mountains, if you are at least 150 meters away from the nearest inhabited house or chalet. However, locations with many travellers may have more stringent camping restrictions, so check with your local tourist office before deciding to spend a night in the outdoors.

Take a cycling holiday

An inexpensive way to experience Norway up close is by bicycle. The period between April and October is the best, but in very popular places, such as the Lofoten Islands, it is better to avoid the high season from mid-June to mid-August. If you come in the low season there will also be less traffic and you will find budget nights more easily.

See which are the ideal destinations for cycling, where you can rent road bikes, mountain bikes, electric bikes and even find accommodation for cyclists. You can also purchase pre-arranged bicycle tours, some of which offer luggage transportation.

Is it convenient to travel to Norway in winter?

Preparing an itinerary for Norway in January is not difficult, but there can be some challenges to consider:

There are many things to see but you have to deal with different difficulties:

The few hours of light (the sun remains above the horizon for one hour in early January !!!)
The cold, but if you stay on the west coast it is tolerable
Oversized prices
The distances that seem enormous
Means of transport that undergo significant seasonal changes!

But in winter there is also the Northern Lights. To answer to this question, we asked ourselves before: no, it is not convenient to go to Norway in winter. It really depends on your budget and what you expect. Certainly, if you want to see the Northern Lights it is the right time but be careful of the price.

Sample Itineraries – Norway Travel Itinerary Options

In addition to the above travel trips for Norway, below samples of ready-made itineraries. They are short itineraries, which make the most of the time and the means and which you can fit as you wish. Below are 8 possible travel itineraries perfect for those in need of Norway holiday ideas. For additional inspiration you can check out these Southern Norway road trip itineraries.

ITINERARY 1

Day 1: Train from Oslo to Bergen. Boarding in the evening on Hurtigruten.
Day 2: On board Hurtigruten
Day 3: On board Hurtigruten
Day 4: Arrival in Bodo: possibility to continue to the Lofoten islands by ferry or to return to Oslo by train or plane.

ITINERARY 2

Day 1: Day in Oslo, night train to Trondheim.
Day 2: Arrival in Trondheim, Train to Bodo, night in Bodo.
Day 3: Ship from Bodo to Moskenes, in the Lofoten islands.
Day 4: … stay in Lofoten. Check out this site for Loften tours.
Return via Bodo (reachable by ferry) or Evenes (reachable by car) at the end of your stay

ITINERARY 3

Day 1: Flight Oslo / Evenes (Narvic), from here a rental car to visit Vesteralen and Lofoten.
Day n: Evening Hurtigruten from Svolvær (Lofoten islands) to Tromsø
Day n + 1: Arrival in Tromsø in the middle of the day.
Day n + 2: Stay in Tromsø
Day n + n: Return by plane from Tromsø to Oslo

ITINERARY 4

Day 1: Train from Oslo to Bergen. Night in Bergen.
Day 2: Flight Bergen / Tromsø and stay in Tromsø
Day 4: Return by flight Tromsø / Oslo or Hurtigruten to the Lofoten islands … and start again!

ITINERARY 5

Day 1: Flight Oslo / Tromsø
Day 2: Stay in Tromsø
Day 3: Stay in Tromsø
Day 4: Flight Tromsø / Bergen
Day 5: Stay in Bergen
Day 6: Return to Oslo by train from Bergen

ITINERARY 6

Day 1: Flight Oslo / Evenes, from here a rental car to visit Vesteralen and Lofoten.
… .. Stay in Lofoten
Day n: Evenes / Bergen flight
Day 5: Stay in Bergen
Day 6: Return to Oslo by train from Bergen

Overall, Norway is absolutely STUNNING!! When it comes to when the best time to visit Norway I would say that any time other than winter unless you are coming for a short stay for Northern lights. You will explore more and further during summer and springtime in Norway.

You will have better weather, you will explore on foot for longer, you will have far more nature trails you can explore without a guide when the weather is better than during the winter.

However, planning a trip to Norway one cannot ignore the costs to as I have said about booking early means you have wider access to hostel, hotels, and other forms of accommodation. Traveling in Norway is not easy, as you will have seen, there are really many variables to consider. You may travel alone, with family, with friends.

You have to consider how much money you have and how many days of holiday you can take. I hope our little travel tricks shade some light on what to expect when traveling to Norway. For more specific Norway tips for traveling around the country check out my posts my Norway blog posts.

Also Read:

Things To Bring When Visiting Europe
The Best Luggage To Use In Europe
What To Pack For Norway
How To Get To Trolltunga
What To Pack For A Month In Europe
Best Day Trips From Bergen
How To Plan A Trip To Europe
Best Books About Norway
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The Best Books About Norway – Travel Books & Novels Set In Norway

March 12, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Norway with its beautiful scenery, fjords, hiking trails, mountain ranges is just an awe-inspiring country to explore. If you love Norway as much as I do and love to immerse yourself in all things Norway then this post should definitely just want you never knew you wanted. Travel books on Norway as well as books set in Norway to inspire you to visit beyond the popular cities in Norway.

Explore hidden gems with stunning views. I love how many of the authors just take you on a journey and make you want to seek out these towns and see for yourself. Take in the views, explore Norwegian gastronomy, experience the outdoors. From what I have found, Norwegians are very outdoors, which is no surprise considering what is at their doorstep.

Bergen alone is surrounded by 7 mountains and many of which offer an array of activities in winter, summer, spring and all year round. Having hiked Trolltunga we opted to take it easy and just enjoy the views from Mount Ulriken but there is just so much to offer in Norway. With that in mind, I hope the books on Norway below will drive even more inspiration for your to go and see more of Norway.

Books and Novels Set in Norway

Dregs (William Wisting Mystery 1) by Jorn Lier Horst

The mystery novel starts when a severed left foot comes ashore in a training shoe in Stavern, Norway. Before the police department could put it away as an isolated case, four more such severed feet kept surfacing in just a week!

The Police Inspector William Wisting and his journalist daughter Line realize that there is more to these amputated feet. The novel has become famous as a BBC TV adaptation under the name of Wisting, starring Carrie Anne Moss. The novel is highly interesting.

Follow the Dead (RhonaMacLeod Book 12) by Lin Anderson

Who doesn’t love a whodunit? Set in the snowy mountains of Cairngorms, Scotland, the novel is of a forensic scientist Dr. Rhona MacLeod. She and a team of mountain rescue recover the dead bodies of three young people after a deadly accident of an airplane. Far away in Glasgow, DS McNab has just raided a shady club.

On recovering quite a lot of substance and on questioning two underage girls, the officer realizes there is a link to the air crash in the Cairngorms. It is surely mystifying that Norwegian detective Alvis Olsen and Dr. Rhona MacLeod can find much more pieces of evidence joining these two events hundreds of miles apart. They are also to face the wrath of some extremely powerful people who can go to any lengths to see they do not get their goal.

Operation Orca Rescue (Poppy McVie Mysteries Book 2) by Kimberli A. Bindschatel

In a bid to save the orca from extreme poaching, special agent, Poppy McVie heads off to Norway. In the high seas, she is on a mission to put the wrongdoer to the task. She goes undercover as a gang-member.

Once in the gang in the ship, Poppy realizes she is in a do-or-die mission. Will she be able to fight against the miscreant or lose her life in the mission to save the orca? There are the icy Norwegian waters and the massive vessel on the other side. A lot is at stake in this mission and this is what the author aims to offer to the readers.

A Child Made to Order by Piotr Ryczko

Set in Norway’s capital city, Oslo, the novel revolves around an investigative journalist, Viola Voss. She hears of a women’s fertility rights activist, Marianne Stine’s disappearance. Though Voss is curious about the misdeeds at that moment, soon, the news loses steam. Voss is so curious because she was aware that Marianne also had a genetic issue that she had. Due to this issue, she had lost a child too.

Many years later, when Voss is set to take up a senior post in her firm, she finds herself recalling the disappearance of Marianne. She comes to hear of Marianne’s presence and now with a young child. Voss resolves to find Marianne and know more about her disappearance. Taking the help of a former police officer, Voss traces Marianne’s disappearance to a fertility clinic. Is it just a fraud clinic, or is there more mystery to it? The novelist uses the city’s undertones to paint a spooky and a psychological thriller.

Crowbone (The Oathsworn Series, Book 5) by Robert Low

The year is 979 AD when a dying monk must pass on a secret to the heir to Norway’s throne, Crowbone. Once the secret is out, the archenemy of Crowbone, Gunnhild, the Witch Mother of Kings threatens to do everything to ensure he does not get the crown.

Crowbone and his group of loyal men have to embark on a quest to get to their goal of not facing their enemy and ensure Crowbone becomes the king of Norway. The author employs a marvelous reference to Norway’s landscape in making this epic novel impeccable.

The Best Travel Books on Norway

Lonely Planet Norway (Travel Guide)

For a person looking to travel through the diverse landscapes of Norway, this book is a must-buy. The book by Lonely Planet opens up on top itineraries for covering the best places across the length and breadth of the country.

There are top historical sites steeped in Viking histories like Loften islands, or perhaps to the Fjords, Ramsdol, and a whole lot of places. Each of these places has specific charms and you must not miss any of them. Have this handy book to go on a soul-searching trip through Norway.

The Rough Guide to Norway (Travel Guide E-book)

The book is an eye-opener’s guide to exploring Svalvbard’s enchanting forests and Arctic fringes up north and the other spots in Norway. Know some local tips while booking a tent to watch the Northern Lights or watch the midnight sun phenomenon. The book touches on all the aspects that make Norway worth visiting. If you are in the mood for some offbeat adventure activities or cycling and hiking, the guidebook helps you find them all.

Norway Marco Polo Pocket Travel Guide

From guiding you on some specific natural spots and fjords to spot and enjoy in Norway to giving you the local touring tips, the book does it all. There is a pullout map with this travel guidebook. It comes with a tour app that complements the travel guide.

Book yourself itineraries and affordable hotels that are listed in this travel guide. Get yourself the best-reviewed hotels list, the best restaurants, cafes, and tips to explore Norway safely. The book also details on the museum and church timings, or fees for booking certain shows at the entertainment centers.

Berlitz Pocket Guide Norway

This handy guidebook can help you tour through Oslo, Tromso, Bergen, Geirangerfjord, Svarbland, and other such places. Plan your itinerary as per the season by checking these essential tour plans and the places that look the best during certain seasons. Whether you plan a solo trip or with family, know the places you can go as per that.

Finding accommodation to watch the northern lights will not be a problem too. Train timings, bus or coach services, and their timings and rates are all elaborately discussed here. A bilingual dictionary is a thoughtful addition to make basic communication easy.

Fodor’s Essential Norway Travel Guide

With full-color photographs of the places in Norway, this guidebook has honest recommendations and reviews places. The travel guide comes with multiple itineraries for you to suit your budget and time constraints.

You get to know about places like Trolltunga, Bodo, Tromso, and Oslo, among others. The guide has practical tips to inform you of the 24-hour services, which you will find while traveling. The book also has special features on the wildlife itineraries for those seeking to go on such expeditions.

Wild Guide Scandinavia by Ben Love

The travel guide details itineraries and places to visit in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland. There are superb photographs to make the readers plan their next trip from over 800 wild adventures. Whether you are looking for camping out places, or historic ruins, the book is elaborate in all aspects.

The author Ben Love has been an active traveler and has presented his first-hand experience as a photographer. There are places and adventures you can get when you travel through Scandinavian. Explore the neighborhoods, the best-reviewed and affordable homestays and hotels in your budget across these countries. Whether you are honeymooning or going on a family trip, the guide is best for you to move around on your own.

Lonely Planet Best of Scandinavia by Anthony Ham, Alexis Awerbuck, Carolyn Bain and 10 more

Get all the information on your fingertips. The full-color photographs and the cultural insights and information about the historic spots are all great for any traveler. You may get itineraries as per your needs and insider information for you to travel local public transport or to hang out in local bars. The free, convenient Copenhagen map is elaborate for you.

The book elaborates on the historical events that were important in the entire Scandinavian regions and the best time to visit each of these places to witness something unique that marks each of these Scandinavian countries. What also works wonders is the way it details and gives honest reviews of restaurants and even highlights if the restaurants are worthy of your time or not. Such clarity is what makes this book a top choice by the travelers looking forward to exploring the Scandinavian regions.

Insight Guides Norway (Travel Guide with Free ebook)

Everything you ever wanted to know about Norway before you embark on your journey is here. The book is elaborate in describing scenic fjords, pools, lakes, coasts and beaches, mountain ranges, and more that define the landscape. It also gives insight into the Norwegian culture and history that you will not miss. The book gives out travel tips and maps to help you find your way through the country.

Below are a few more options on books about Norway, and no, you won’t have to learn how to speak Norwegian but definitely helps while explore smaller towns in Norway.

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The Best Day Trips From Bergen

February 26, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

fjord cruise from bergen | small villages in norway | best roads norway

Taking boat fjord tours from Bergen

Bergen is one of those cities that caters to all interests. If you love the outdoors there are plenty to get into, if you love food, relaxation, cultural activities there is plenty of that to do.

You may have seen many recent post on all the cool things to do in Bergen, in this post I am going to cover fun places to visit a short day trip from Bergen.

Bergen is considered to be the second largest city of Norway and renowned famously as “The Gateway to the Fjords.” Thought to be one of the most astonishing cities in Norway.

The town provides a huge range of Fjord cruises day trips which I covered and linked to in addition to other activities to indulge in. Travellers can experience the wonders of Fjord throughout the year.

It has many express boats, train services and buses going into fjord towns several times daily as well as options for day tours from Bergen.

With several organized sightseeing options and fjord tours of different lengths, you are ensured to get memorable moments.

day trips from bergen | norway fjord tours from bergen

Taking in Noway’s beautiful scenery from Mount Ulriken

Cool Day Tours And Day Trips From Bergen To The Fjords

If you are visiting Bergen and looking for inspiration on things to do outside of Bergen, below is some travel ideas to help explore beautiful Fjord villages in Norway or if you want to do some hiking beyond Bergen there are plenty of places to hike in Norway.

There are also many tour operators who arrange customized trips whenever you want. By booking a tour, you can explore the exciting places in the city with ease. Click here for day trip tours from Bergen to many of the cute and pretty villages around the Fjords.

Take the Old Voss Steam train(runs in the summer)

If you like to travel with Old Voss Steam Railway museum this summer season, then experience the first-hand golden epoch of rail travel. It is pulled over by elegantly restored 10-wheeler steam train from 1913.

This train departs every Sunday from middle of June and September, which steam between Midttun station and Garnes station outside Bergen. By taking part in train ride, you can enjoy wide range of events in best possible manner.

Get ready to depart back to the golden epoch of rail travel to realize the smell of teak varnish, burnt coal, as well as steam, wafting via the air, the pressed uniform conductor sounds his whistle & signals the driver by showing green flag, deep howl of steam engine displays that it is ready to depart.

Thus, take your seat to relax & enjoy the pleasant atmosphere onboard the train & the picturesque landscape rolling through your window. It is really distinct and not-to-be-missed out experience.

Half-day Tour to Mostraumen

Among the best half-day fjords tours from Bergen and lets you experience mountains, fjords, and astonishing waterfalls by taking up a fjord cruise towards Mostraumen from the Bergen city.

This cruise option is available throughout the year. The Fjord cruise begins from Zachariasbryggen, which is situated nearer to the famous Fish market at Bergen. When starting from Bergen, you will have a magnificent view of ancient city of Bergen along with Bergen harbor basis as well.

By leaving Bergen, you will reach out of the Osterfjord and Nordhordaland Bridge. Upon reach Mostraumen, the fjord will get narrow & well surrounded through steep mountains.

You will pass through many waterfalls and get fresh mountain water to taste. Beyond that, this tour will help you to discover abundance of wildlife around the area, including eagles, goats, and seals.

bergen fjords | 1 day fjord cruise from bergen

Cruising through Noway villages on day trips from Bergen

Alverstraumen Sound Trip to Skjerjehamn

To get away for the hustle-bustle city life, you can indulge in delights of paranormal half-day excursion towards idyllic and historical Skjerjehamn. However, the ancient trading post has numerous coastal traditions to explore, and now it has new sculpture walk “The Blue Garden,” which discovers the impact of modernized aquaculture.

Skjerjehamn is located on a mesmerizing petite island, precisely on the port of Sognefjord. It is the perfect option for who wishes to realize nature, art & culture.

You can stop at gallery, which owns changing exhibitions where you will get home-smoked salmon, snacks, and souvenirs for sale.

Onboard Norleds express boats, on the way to Skjerjehamn, you are sure to enjoy the beautiful landscape from the comfort of chairs at saloon or reside outside of the deck and hence enjoy the excellent feel and view of wind above your head.

Moreover, the beautiful tour has present you with cafeteria onboard that serves both hot & cold beverages, icecream, snacks, and food.

There is small playground for children as well. When the boat reaches the shores of exciting Skjerjehamn then it is the right time to explore the small island with pleasing atmosphere. This place is also known for hosting mind-blowing Utkant music festivals during summer season.

Fjaerland (Sognefjord, Boyabreen Glacier, Norwegian glacier museum)

The Fjaerland trip will tend to take you through the beautiful landscape on Sognefjord. It incorporates visit towards Boyabreen glacier as well as Norwegian Glacier Museum.

The trip begins at Bergen morning by taking express boat sailing around northbound alongside the coast before traveling to magnificent Sognefjord.

The fjord water will be in light green color often because of the glacier melt. When you head towards fjord, you can find out some exciting attractions like Norwegian glacier museum and Norwegian book town.

The narrow Fjaerlandsfjord, which has forested and steep mountainsides takes you to the edges of the imposing Jostedal glacier. Alongside the fjord, you will come across many farms and hamlets.

At Norwegian glacier museum, you can come to learn about glacier history. From there, you can get the beautiful view of Boyabreen glacier from the cabin. Moreover, you can try some local food after enjoy the majestical view of the city. You can book for this tour if you like to enjoying sightseeing options of island by boat.

Island hopping( Solund, Bulandet, Vaerlandet)

Island Hopping to Solund, Bulandet, and Vaerlandet is considered the round trip towards westernmost islands found in the country of Norway. By taking boat trips, you can get close to the most spectacular and unique scenery on the coast & hence experience the life of local people surviving in the islands.

The Solund municipality has about 1700 islands, skerries, and islet. The mail boat will let you enjoy guided tour towards these islands.

Keep your eyes open & get the camera ready during the tour to spot the wildlife animals like seal, white-tailed eagle, and many other common sights in the location. At Bulandet, you can taste fish soup prepared by experienced chefs.

After completing the sightseeing places at Bulandet, you can depart to Vaerlandet where you can enjoy delicious meals at one of the local cafes. You can also rent a bike rather than taking bus to reach Vaerlandet because you can discover beautiful road that links the island with 6 different bridges.

Norway in a Nutshell Tour (Norway’s most famous fjord tour) Duration

This popular tour makes you penetrate through Norway’s most astonishing UNESCO projected mountain scenery and fjord, and a trip to Europe’s foremost iconic rail journey.

Norway, in a nutshell, tour helps you to explore the best places in Norway, including mountains, fjords, waterfalls, and many more locations in single journey and one day. The Norway in Nutshell trip operates between Oslo and Bergen.

During this tour, you will experience breathtaking Bergen Railway, iconic Flam Railway, Aurlandsfjord, the dramatic and narrow UNESCO protected Naeroyfjord, as well as bus trips towards the magnificent panorama of western Norway.

From May to September, your bus trip will have steep hairpin curves of Stalheimskleiva. It does not matter whether you want to arrange a tour on fall, summer, spring or winter, daytime or nighttime, you can quickly start your Nutshell tour from Flam, Voss, Bergen, and Oslo.

This tour is available throughout the year and can be completed in a single day. Travel experts recommends to make overnight stops on the route to get enjoyment from magnificent scenery or take part in exciting activates like walking, hiking, kayaking, fjord safaris, and many others.

Furthermore, you can also customize your tour by including hotels & activities of desired choice on the way.

Norway Active Round Trips

Norway Active Round Trips are specifically developed for active people who are searching for a new journey of action and discovery.

However, these customized tours will not only let you view the spectacular views of the country rather, but it also helps you to experience it at your own pace.

By going through some of the world’s most picturesque railways, rib boating via world heritage fjord landscape, biking down the scenic Flam Valley, rafting on rampant white-water, and driving up northern Europe’s steepest road, this seems to be the memorable day in your life. Thus, this active round trip helps you to explore Bergen city thoroughly at a cost-effective price.

Thus by taking day trips from Bergen, you might tend to experience the colorful views of several places and carry sweet memories with you. The tour can be enjoyed either your friends or relatives depending upon your desire and need. Have a happy journey!

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20 Cool & Fun Things To Do In Bergen Norway

February 25, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

The gateway to the Fjords in Norway is one stunning and must-visit city. Rich in history, a UNESCO Heritage city as well as also being a gastronomy city, there are so many reasons to visit Bergen. Below you not only get reasons to visit but more than 20 things to do in Bergen to keep you busy for a while. Whether you want to experience the culture, adventure or just leisurely exploring, I hope my list of attractions in Bergen as well as some cool and fun ways to explore inspire you to explore this beautiful city if you haven’t been.

If you are planning for a wonderful trip to Bergen on the way to hike Trolltunga I have also linked to further tips below. Bergen in addition to Oslo over a gateway to many of the amazing hiking trails in the country. This is a city surrounded by 7 mountains so of course there many trails in the city too. Some of which are covered in the lists of magnificent things that you can indulge in exploring Bergen.

20 Fun Things To Do And Cool Bergen Tourist Attractions To Check Out

There are so many ways to experience Bergen, Norway’s point of interest. From museums, parks, cruises, markets and must-see places in Bergen that you cannot miss out on, in addition to cool tours too.

Explore Bryggen and its Museums

Bryggen is known as the UNESCO world heritage site and among Bergen’s top attractions. However, the edifices were considered to be warehouse once for holding cereals from the Europe & stockfish caught from further north. It is filled massively with souvenirs, boutique shops, and café, but it has plenty of charm during night times. The museum at Bryggen is one of the must-see archeological excavations. When the district was got under fire, the city allowed carrying out archeological excavations. It opened up a new window for commerce and Medieval life in Bryggen.

Do a Medieval Tour of Bergen

Tourists who are planning for the medieval tour of Bergan city must not miss out on the museums and churches. You can also plan for the guided tour to visit several old parts of the city, including Hanseatic office and fortress easily.

Visit the Bergen Aquarium

Bergen Aquarium is the biggest aquarium found in Norway. Having a visit to Aquarium is one of the distinct things to do while traveling to Bergen, Norway. This aquarium includes crocodiles to sea lions and exotic species of snakes and fishes. The ambiance of the aquarium is amiable, and you might tend to visit many locals while coming across this place. If you are planning to visit with your kids, this is one of the best things to do in Bergen for the younger travellers.

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Views from Mount Ulriken

Ulriken643 Cable Car and View at the Top

One of the most unusual places to view in Bergen, Norway, is Ulriken643 cable car. By standing on the top, you can mesmerize at the unbelievable panoramic views of Bergen. By getting to the top of Mount Ulriken, you will be amazed by the many locals who love hiking. You can hike through the way to the funicular, which is close to the city in few hours. If you are a photo lover, then you can take astonishing photos with a wonderful background.

There are so many activities on offer on Mount Ulriken, make sure you check out my post for more details. There is also a restaurant on the mountain as well.

St Mary’s Church

The oldest building at Bergen is St Mary’s church, which is remarkable example of Norway Romanesque architecture. This church has been established amid 12^th century. No other church at Norway seems to have western frontage like this, with unadorned, square towers and curved windows resembling Romanesque style. The triptych displays the Madoonna having child at centre, bordered by St Antony and St Olav at right & St Catharine and St Dorothy at the left.

Rosenkrantz Tower

The Rosenkrantz Tower is named after the governor and nobleman Erik Rosenkrantz who supervise the tower remodeling for prime Renaissance residence of Norway in the 16^th century. This tower comprises of real upstairs, and downstairs setup with the king residence was on top floor and later changed to governor residence while the basement seems to be dungeon. Many visitors come to this astonishing place to view the dark and narrow staircase to see over the Vagen bay at the roof.

Hakon’s Hall

Hakon’s Hall was constructed between 1247 & 1261 by the famous Hakon Hakonsson. As a national cultural monument, this hall is used both for the sake of official occasions and royal dinners.

St Johns Church

It is the largest church situated in Bergen with 1250 accommodation – and also considered as the highest point of the city. Visitors are sure to admire the gothic revival exterior with bright-red color details and stunning interior frescoes.

Hanseatic Museum

The Hanseatic Museum is considered to be the oldest buildings in Bergen city, and it is preserved perfectly, right down the creaky wooden floors and real dried stockfish. If you like to know about quarters of apprentices, palatial offices, fishers, and farmers of that age, then take a visit to Hanseatic Museum. With the fabulous museum at Bergen, you can know about the German merchants of Hanseatic League survived and worked within Bryggen and visualizes how the complex has modified over centuries.

Visit The Wooden Houses

There are many wooden houses present in Bergen city, including:

1. Damsgard Country Mansion

Damsgard Country Mansion was constructed in the year 1770 for the minister of ware Gyldenkrantz. This mansion is considered to be a significant example of Rocco architecture in Norway and hence known to be the best sealed wooden building in Europe. By visiting the place, you are sure to take a glance through the building interior and exterior to know about the property history completely. The garden at Damsgard will be found open to the public during museum opening hours.

1. Old Bergen Museum

If you are unsatisfied with the momentous streets of Bryygen, then you can visit the Old Bergen Museum. This open-air museum is reconstructed small town with perfection comprising about 50 buildings from 18^th, 19^th, and 20^th century which are moved from Norway and Bergen to this place. With astonishing views back to state-of-the-art city, nostalgia-filled actors, and plenty of fresh air during summer months, a trip to the museum is considered to be the must-visit place in Bergen.

1. Fantoft Stave Church

As stave churches are found to be quite a famous place in Norway but Fantoft Stave Church is particularly popular in Bergen. The church, which was built at Fortun in 1150, seems to be original and moved to the Fantoft in the year 1883. It was sadly demolished due to fire in 1992. The church is situated 6 kilometers from downtown Bergen, and you can attain it by taking Bergen Light Rail to the Fantoft. It is reconstructed after destruction and considered to be perfect place to survive on wood with your frozen fantasies.

1. Alvoen Manor

Alvoen Manor is considered to be Norway’s ancient industrial communities. It was known as the grandest private homes of Bergen, which is found open for public. You will encounter art history, social history, industrial history, and family history. The main building of the home comprises the memory of Fasmer family’s life, which spans a lifetime of about 300 years.

Fish Market

Similar to other notable things found in Bergen city, the fish market also has a long history. When you take a walk along market stands, you can able to taste wide variety of fresh plates of seafood, which is cooked on the spot. The beautiful thing in the fish market is whale meat, smoked fish and shellfish that you cannot see in other places. This is another place that is among the best things to do in Bergen and not miss out on.

Bergenhus Fortress Museum

Located at the Bergen harbor entrance, this fortress museum is known to be ancient stone fortifications preserved in Norway. It is created to safeguard the city, but presently it has turned to be crowd-puller & thrilling place of interest. It will be open from 11 am to 5 pm from Monday to Sunday.

Floibanen Funicular

With about 150 meters from the city of Bryggen, you can take the astonishing views of Funicular by standing on the top of 425-meter Floyen Mountain in sooner time. Much like Ulriken, this is an unmissable tourist attraction in Bergen. There also plenty of opportunity for hiking here as well. If you are a fan of the outdoors and have many of Norway’s hiking trails on your bucket list then also read my post on the best hiking tours in Norway.

Bergen Maritime Museum

The most famous single-visitor attraction of Bergen city, which started to run first in the year 1918, is Floibanen. It has 850 meters long track as the train takes you more than 300-meters on the top of slope in about 6 minutes. You can stand at Floyen and capture the views of Bergen, including the fjords & water traffic, which makes its way towards and from the North Sea.

Bergen Science Centre

If you are at Bergen with your little ones & weather is not good then the Vilvite science center is considered to have great fun & education in equal amount. There are about 75 stations in the center that invites children to learn quickly by getting involved in interactive games and experiments. Nearly all stations are focused on topics of weather, ocean, and energy. During weekends & school holidays, it has 3D movie screenings and distinctly organized science shows.

Kode Art Museum

A group of 4 art and cultural heritage around Bergen were combined under a single roof named “Koda” with single ticket entry for those attractions.

Kode 1 is meant for craft & design, which exhibits gold & silver objects developed in Bergen and paintings made by old masters, Asian, and European Antiques.
Kode 2 is meant for a traditional art museum that comprises the writing of Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota.
Koda 3 gathers the work from Norwegian art along with paintings by Romantic artist named Johan Christian Dahl and Edvard Munch
Koda 4 meant for the art museum, which awards with work done by Dahl, Paul Klee, Asger Jorn, and Picasso. Children are allowed to this floor because it has kunstlab through which they can discover art via play.

Escape Bryggen

If you are looking for cool and fun things to do in Bergen this is one to check out. Escape Bryggen seems to have massive fun-filled and challenging games. The objective of the gameplay is quite simple, escape from the room, and you need to use your creativity, teamwork, and logic. Follow up the clue signs to find out the puzzles to solve out the mysteries.

Magic Ice Bergen

You cannot have a visit to Norway without ice and snow, and fortunately Magic ice Bergen is on hand with its distinct hand-crafted ice bar when you can’t receive your winter wonderland vision outside. With refreshing cocktails, plenty of ice sculptures, and free welcome shot and artworks, having a visit to Magic Bar is a lovely thing to accomplish in Bergen while it’s raining or before night out. However, the staffs are amicable and bar changes usually and you cannot find anything else like this in town. Though the entry price is a bit higher, it is good to visit during Saturday or Friday night when it gets going.

Shopping In Bergen

Bergen has been known as the city of traders & you will acquire much tempting shopping ranging from small, distinct shops to vast department stores.

Some of the exciting places to shop around include of Strandgaten St, Gagaten, Torgallmenningen, Marken, Hollendergaten, Ovrgaten, Bryggen, and Skostredet. You can also explore Fishmarket, which also has fruit, vegetables, and flowers.
Lagunen Storsenter: One of the largest shopping centers situated in Borough Fana at Bergen, Norway. This shopping mall has more than 150 shops at the square feet of 60, 000 meter square. It is the must-see place to buy your desired goods.
Galleriet: Another essential shopping mall is Galleriet with lunch restaurants and cafes. If you are planning to get a trip to Bergen city, then you must not forget to visit Galleriet mall.

Bergen Nightlife

Though Bergen seems to be very small, it has famous nightlife districts like Ole Bulls Pass and Bryggen. Bergen possesses a lively cultural scene, and there are plenty of night clubs and bars to explore the whole city like Kava Roofgarden, Bryggen Nightclub, Terminus Whisky Bar, Wave Fun Pub, and Storm Bar. Additionally, some of the cool restaurants like Ulriken643 restaurant with exploring views during nighttime make your life colorful. There are also artsy cafes that are open late in the evening include of Lie Nielsen, Gresk Pai, and Colonialen Kranen.

bergen top attractions | must see bergen | things to do in bergen norway

How To Explore Bergen

There are several ways to explore Bergen city quickly and effortlessly. Some of them are:

Explore by Segway Tour

Do you like to explore Bergen city in a fun and exciting way? If yes, then take a segway sightseeing trip. This specific tour will help you to view the city’s several narrow streets, amazing views, and attractions. Within two hours duration, it is possible to see Bergen city ultimately and get majestic view of 7 mountains.

Explore Bergen through a Food Tour

The Bergen food tour helps you to uncover rich food history and culture of Bergen people. You can taste Norwegian seafood dishes and refreshing drinks. If you wish to eat plenty of different food items, then join the Food tour as it makes you know about local food tastes and its in-depth story.

See Bergen from Above via a Helicopter Tour

If you want to explore Bergen from the top through helicopter, then you are sure to explore significant monuments, mountain views, and some hidden gems. It is a unique means to see the historic streets of Bergen city in a single trip.

Explore Bergen by Bike Tour

If you want to explore Bergen city for a few hours, then you can consider for bike tour, which helps you to view the place completely. It is recommended to either rent a bike or take your bike to explore exciting places in the city.

City Hunt

City Hunt is an appealing option to explore the beautiful attractions of Bergen city. With this trip, you might come across several unusual places, including churches, monuments, mountains, and others.

Additional Tips For Visiting Bergen

If you get stuck while in the city or need information, right next to the fish market, you will find Bergen’s tourist office. There are leaflets and free booklets with information on things to do in Bergen and Norway in addition you can also get tickets for many of the cruises and tours in Bergen and beyond.

If you need information on the accommodation they can help you with that as well, but considering how expensive Norway is I would strongly suggest you book where to stay in Bergen before you arrive in the city. The city isn’t that grand and there arent that many budget places to stay so the more in advance you book the more options you have for reasonably priced hotels in Bergen. Keep in mind that at the time of writing this post there were under 300 hotels and hostels in the city so just imagine the demand during the summer months.

Getting Around In Bergen

There are buses and trams in the city all very easy to use. You can by tickets outside many of the stops, but if you have the Bergen card like we did, you can get discounts on attractions as well as transportation in the city.

What to pack for Bergen

I have covered what to pack for Norway in a separate post but that also covered what to pack for Bergen as well. I find that Norway and Scandic countries tend to feel colder and their summers are very mild compared to summers of southern European countries so even when visiting Bergen in summer make sure you are least pack a scarf and light jacket if you don’t want to pack a coat as the evenings tend to feel much colder even in the summer. For additional tips on what to pack particularly if this is your first trip to Europe then also read my post on essential items to bring to Europe.

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Do It For The Culture! Norwegian Beers You Need To Check Out

January 18, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

As you have seen in my other post on Greek Beers, whenever I travel, checking out the local food and beer is all part of experiencing the culture. Our visit to Norway was no direct and neither was the Icelandic trip too. Below is a short history of Norwegian beer, culture, rules and beers you should try when you are exploring the many cities in Norway.

What To Know About Norwegian Beers

About a decade ago, it was a rather complicated life for beer lovers in Norway. The only type of beer on tap was lager. Didn’t like it? Too bad. So, most Norwegians drank whatever lager was on tap. But the times have changed. Now, hundreds of new breweries have popped up, gaining attention for their delicious craft beers. You can experience many of these Norwegian beers on many of the beer tours offered in Oslo, Bergen and other cites across Norway.

In ten years, the market share for craft brewers has grown from zero to four percent. There are breweries in all 20 counties plus the Arctic settlement of Spitsbergen. Craft brewers now employ 25 percent of the workforce in Norwegian breweries.

Beer Quality

Big or small, all Norwegian microbreweries share a common passion to brew “real beer,” unfiltered, unpasteurized and made from the world’s finest malts and hops, then “bottle-conditioned” or left to ferment naturally in the bottle. It is fair to say that for many Norwegian producers, quality comes first.

Take a sip of these brews and you’ll be hooked by a complexity, smoothness and aroma usually associated with fine wine. Though borrowing from the brewing traditions of Germany, Belgium, England and the U.S., Norwegian microbrewers also share a love of experimentation.

Beer History In Norway

Beer has been brewed in Norway since before the age of the Vikings. In fact, sources indicate that brewing was carried out as early as 330BC. They have been perfecting the craft for over two thousand years!

As you can imagine, Norwegian beer went through many different stages throughout its long history, with many ups and downs. Always changing, always developing into something new and creative. There were also times when the future of beer in Norway seemed rather bleak. During the Second World War, the resources were scarce and so beer was barely even brewed, and when it was, it generally became weaker and thinner. The situation began improving in 1956, when Christmas beer was brewed again.

The beer renaissance started later in Norway than elsewhere, but beer is an important part of Norwegian cuisine and was brewed by almost every farmer in the past. In fact, they were at risk of even losing their farm and be kicked out of the country for not brewing, as it was a rule that you had to comply with. Nowadays, the rule has been reversed, because beer taxes are now very high and advertising is prohibited. Such high taxation that is the government’s attempt to curb alcoholism is a serious threat to the growth of beer industry in Norway. Whether the plan works or not, is debatable.

Drinking culture In Norway

Generally labeled as being slightly reserved and cautious, many Norwegians tend to turn that around when drinking. It often appears to be without limits, sometimes leading to excess and culminates into situations often associated with binge-drinking. Of course, this is not only a Norwegian problem but an apparent global one. In Norway, however, the high alcohol prices force young adults to get wasted with cheap alcohol during the vorspiel, or pre-party, and eventually end up turning into jumping jolly bouncing balls on Oslo’s dance floors on the weekends.

Long tradition of brewing Christmas beer

A tradition that originated during pre-Christian times survives to this day and is an important part of Norwegian culture. Brewing winter and Christmas beer is one of the oldest Norwegian traditions, Pottøl (“pot beer”) and søttøl (sweet beer) were the two main kinds of Christmas beer invented towards the end of the 1800s. Their noticeably sweet, rich flavour was designed to pair well with most Christmas foods. Nowadays, thanks to Norway’s recent microbrewery revolution, Christmas beers are some of the most important drinks a Norwegian brewery can produce. One such beer is known as juleøl, a strong, dark, malty ale exclusively available during Christmas.

The typical Christmas beer is darker, fuller and with a higher alcohol percentage than that consumed during the preceding months. In the past, all Norwegians, rich and poor, were required by law to brew their own beer, and gathering to indulge in this beverage was considered sacred.

Along with the intensely flavourful beer, Norwegians also drink aquavit, a typical liqueur from the Nordic countries made with potatoes and spices. Aquavit, which in Norway is matured in oak barrels, helps digest the typical empachos which is a common Christmas dish.

Pineapple Oceans IPA (6.6%) – from the brewery in Oslo, Norway with their fantastic artwork, always accompanied by and epic brew within! Appearance: Hazy, golden orange with a minimal head. Aroma: Sweet and quite malty with a cracking mix of pineapple, toffee apple and honey.

Sippin’ Into Darkness Bourbon Barrel Aged (12.0%) – barrel aged version of Sippin’ Into Darkness, a new dimension of great beer! A sweet imperial stout straight from the creative minds of 2 of the world’s best head brewers right now. They’ve taken a rich malty imperial stout and added in Candi syrup, Lactose, Cocoa nibs and vanilla to give this quite dry stout a fresh lick of paint in a sweet facelift. The cocoa added to the roasted dark chocolate flavours and comes out on the body whilst the candi sugar and vanilla dominate the finish of this excellent beer

There’s A Beer In My Fridge, And I Need A Drink IPA (7.2%) – a collab between Norwegian Lervig, and one of the most sought after breweries in Europe Mancs Cloudwater. Lervig introduced rye to the IPA mix, with its spicy, smooth character complemented by Golden Promise Pale malt and hazy-making effects. They juiced it twice with hops though their new HopGun, and tripled-down on dankness with Chinook, Mosaic and Simcoe, finishing with Citra blast.

Eternal Rest 2017 (14.0%) – carefully selected barrels of stout from Nøgne ø’s cellar, blended together to capture a singular moment in time. Eternal Rest is a combination of Russian Imperial Stout aged for 19 months in Armagnac Barrels and Imperial Stout aged 25 months in Bourbon Barrels. The blend was then conditioned on top of fresh vanilla beans and toasted coconut.

Alcohol rules

In Norway, you cannot buy beer after 8pm Monday to Friday, or after 6pm Saturdays. Not at all on Sundays, any public holidays, and limited hours only on Christmas Eve, Pentecost Eve and New Year’s Eve. Basically, you should learn to be very organized with your alcohol shopping in Norway – but at 7.57 pm on a Wednesday, just before that Champions League match starts, you’re likely to find several stressed out people queuing in your local shop to get that 6-pack scanned before 8.

Drinking in public is illegal in Norway and subject to fines. In many cities, the police will primarily react if the use of alcohol is causing trouble and drinking in parks is quite common. Most officers will ask the drinker to empty the bottle without further reactions.

Norwegian Beer Brands To Note

Nogne
Hansa
Ringnes
Mack
Dahls

Beer-Related Events In Norway To Bookmark For Your Trip

Bergen Craft Beer Fest

Taking place on March 28^th, 2020, Norway’s largest international beer festival will present a line-up of 20 exciting breweries from around the world, including from Finland, England, Iceland and Serbia. This year will be the 4^th year of the event. The beer will flow at Grand Bergen in the city centre and visitors can choose between the Blue Session from 12 noon to 4pm or the Magenta Session from 6pm to 10pm. Alternatively, there will be ALL DAY passes available. For detailed check out their official website for the Bergen Beer Festival. For tips on things to do in Bergen check out my post.

Top rated beers, top rated breweries, a bunch of lovely people, what else could one wish for??

Norwegian Breweries

Below are just a few of the many Norwegian breweries in Norway. Many of which you can also find featuring at the beer festivals in Norway, like that held in Bergen.

Geiranger Brewery
Hand Brewery
Hansa Borg Breweries
Hammerhead Brewing Company
Ego Brewery
EC Dahl’s Brewery
Ekangermuget
The Twenty Microbrewery
Central City Brewery
Qvart Beer Company
Egg Brewery
Voss Brewery
Reins Kloster

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Tips On How To Get To Trolltunga

November 21, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

How to get to Trolltunga from Bergen | How to get to Trolltunga from Odda

Sitting on the edge of Trolltunga

Trolltunga is situated in the region of Hardangerfjord in Norway. The Hardangerfjord is very close to Haugesund and Bergen and is known to be the most astonishing area in Norway. Waterfalls, glaciers, fjords, two national parks, and two national tourist routes waiting for you. Odda city is well surrounded by lush valleys, silvery peaks, blue glaciers, emerald fjords, and rushing waterfalls. It is the biggest city in the region and takes 20 minutes to drive to Trolltunga. Hence why I am going to be sharing tips on how to get to Trolltunga from Odda, Bergen and Olso. Odda is the perfect base and offers a lot for those looking for things to do near Trolltunga.

To get to Trolltunga, you can rent a car in Norway like we did or use the train, boat, and bus to get the start of the hike. Here is a detailed explanation of how to reach Trolltunga.

How To Get To Trolltunga

Trolltunga is one of Norway’s most iconic and spectacular places to visit. The hike itself takes around 10 -12 hours to complete but you can also camp on the trail. For tips on what to expect and everything you need to know about hiking Trolltunga, check out my comprehensive guide with many of the popular questions answered.

As far as buses are concerned, between July 1st and August 31st there are daily bus services connecting Hardanger and Ryfylke to Trolltunga and Preikestolen, another one of the cool Norway hiking trails to check out.

The Trolltunga Shuttle

Hikers can take a Trolltunga shuttle bus from Magelitopp and many of the hotels in Odda to Skeggedal. With the bus, only takes you as far as Skeggedal, about 4.3 kilometers and 400 meters of ascent. The first point is where the first car park is and the 400 meter to ascent is the last car park which can fill up. By taking the bus down, you can save 1.5 hours of hiking. The price of NOK 100 per individual includes a one-way bus ticket from Magelitopp to Skeggedal.

I would highly recommend parking your car on the first car park and then taking the bus to the starting point at the top. The road after the first car park is to be narrow, steep and incorporates 17 scary hairpin turns with a picturesque view above the Skeggedal Valley. I was definitely glad we left the car down and we let someone else take on the cray turns. Note that this is also one lane.

Trolltunga shuttle bus time table and pick-up points.

How To Get To Trolltunga From Bergen

By starting your journey from the city of Bergen, you will need to take the bus or train to Odda or Tyssedal before at least a day your hike so a stay overnight in Odda is a must. We chose to drive. It is easy to start from Bergen’s early morning and drive towards Odda or Skeggedal. Thus, your travel from the Bergen city to the starting point of Odda will take only 3 hours, and hence, it is recommended to stay overnight anywhere close to Odda. It can be a little longer if you use the tunnels or miss the ferry crossing.

The Bergen trip generally about 150 kilometers and the roads are beautiful and scenic with waterfalls along the way. It takes you via Hardanger, Norway Orchard, along the astonishing city of Hardangerfjord, as well as into the city of Sorfjord. As you arrive into Odda you will be in awe of the beautiful mountains vista thrusting straight down to the fjord waiting for you, so get ready to conquer.

The nearest airport to Trolltunga is the Bergen Airport Flesland – hence why we chose to fly to Bergen. The city itself is also beautiful and with many options too for getting to Trolltunga from Bergen too.

Getting to Trolltunga

Trolltunga is a massively large, flat rock, placed above the Ringedalsvatnet Lake. It can be easily reached by taking a car from Norway’s main cities such as Stavanger, Oslo, and Bergen. Depending on the city that you depart from, you can also have good access to public transportation options.

By use of public transportation, most will take you as far as Odda before you have to change from a train or coach. From Odda you then take a bus, private transfer, or a shuttle bus, which takes an hour’s duration to reach Trolltunga. While making plans, keep in mind that the shuttle buses usually operate from June to September. Also note, you cannot do the journey from Bergen to Trolltunga and do the hike in one day as well. You will have to stay in Odda overnight considering the length of time it takes to hike.

Bergen to Trolltunga By Bus Or Train

The duration involved in traveling from Bergen to Trolltunga is 4 hours by car and 4.5 to 5 hours by taking public transit.

Driving is considered the most efficient and easiest way to reach Trolltunga’s from Bergen with an exact travel time of about 4 hours. This route covers a distance of about 99 miles or 159 km and then passes through the North Sea and Hardangerfjord.

You will also go through troll roads and ferry crossing along the journey. The ferry tends to cross through Hardangerfjord, and so, it is your responsibility to keep the cameras ready to take great shots. 🙂

You can also take up a train to Voss for an hour and a 15-minute voyage and then board for a 2-hour bus ride towards Odda. However, the trains frequently operate from the morning session until nighttime.

Furthermore, you can also take the bus directly from the city of Bergen to Odda, which takes around 3 hours duration. Skyss provide buses with many departures through the day, and the most direct route on a bus is 9.30am.

Overall, Odda to Trolltunga will take one hour by a private transfer or bus.

Bergen to Odda bus – The duration of the bus takes around 3 hours and 56 minutes. Tickets cost around 2100 to 2600 NOK.
Bergen to Trolltunga bus – The bus traveling from Bergen to Trolltunga, costs around 5329 to 6496 approximately. The time duration involved might be around 4 hours and 18 minutes.
Bergen to Odda train – You can travel from Bergen city to Odda through train anytime. There are possibilities for frequent trains for travelers. The exact duration is 191 kilometers and costs around 41.59. The time needed to travel from Bergen to Odda is 3 hours and 19 minutes, so that you can get rid of tiredness and boredom. The train journey is extremely helpful and purposeful when compared to other modes of transportation. You can book your train ticket in advance to avoid the last-minute hassles.

How To Get To Trolltunga From Odda

There is quick access to the shuttle bus from the city of Odda to Trolltunga(NOK 150) as well as from the Tyssedal by taking (NOK 100). Parking at Trolltunga car parks is NOK 500/day with about 250 spaces. The road has sharp turns with the vertical and narrow path having a 400 meters slope and 17% maximum incline. There is a vehicle height is just 2 meters. Motorcycles and mobile phones are prohibited from usage on this route. It is 4 kilometers from Skeggedal towards Trolltunga.

Oslo to Trolltunga

Duration from Oslo to Trolltunga by a car or private transfer is only 6.5 hours and takes 8.5 to 9 hours using public transportation.

The road-tripping from Oslo to Trolltunga can take around 7 hours without undergoing any traffic delays or stops. This specific route involves a scenic and two-lane highway, E134 and RV13, a toll road. In addition to this route, you can also pass through numerous lakes like Heddalsvatnet connecting the ocean through the Telemark canal.

You can also take a trail from Oslo train station directly towards the town of Voss, and then you will require a transfer to a bus, taking you immediately to the town of Odda. However, the trains run 3 to 5 times per day, with the first departing from the morning until the afternoon with the traveling time of about 5 and a half hours.

There is also an availability of night trains taking around 6 hours duration, so you have to get prepared to arrive early in the morning. It is also recommended to book your train ticket in advance at the station.

Tyssedal to Trolltunga

Tyssedal is another town close to Trolltunga. Its a little over an hour away so bear that in mind if you stay here during tour hike to Trolltunga. Recommendations are to start hiking by 8am if you are doing the same day hike. The time duration to travel from Tyssedal to Trolltunga takes only 1 hour 13 minutes if you have your own car. The distance is only 25.4 kilometers.

Bergen to Skeggedal

There are many ways to get to Skeggedal from Bergen. The distance between Bergen and Skeggedal is only 78 km. The best transport to get from Bergen to Skeggedal other than the car is by taking a bus, which takes around 3 hours and 19 minutes, and costs around 4300 to 5500 NOK. When you travel by car, it takes around 2 hours 50 minutes.

Travel by bus
- Take a bus from Bergen bus stop to Askane and then from Askane change for another bus to Skeggedal.
Travel by car
- You can drive from Bergen to Torvikbygd Kai
- Take a car ferry from Torvikbygd Ferjekai to the Jondal Ferjekai
- Then continue driving from Jondal Kai to Skeggedal.
Traveling through Trengereid Station
- Take a drive from Trengereid station to Torvikbygd Ferjekai
- Take up the line 1006 car ferry from Torvikbygd Ferjekai to Jondal Ferjekai
- Then drive from Jondal Ferjekai to Skeggedal

Trolltunga Hiking Season

The start days vary every year depending on snow and weather conditions but an estimate of these is usually provided as:

15 June – 15 September – The recommended Trolltunga hiking season
16 September – 28 October – Hiking is only allowed with a guide
29 October – 16 February – Not recommended for hiking as the trail is extremely dangerous
17 February – 14 June – Hiking with snowshoes and skis only allow with guide

Hopefully, that wasn’t too much information overload. The journey to Trolltunga is fairly easy. At least if you have your own car. You can make as many stops as you want and just overall comfort of the journey. There are options for buses and trains if you don’t want to rain a car for this trip to Trolltunga. You can also get more information about how to reach Trolltunga from various when you arrive in Bergen, Tyssedal, Skeggadal, Odda, and Osla.

So, have you been to Trolltunga, or Norway before? Is this your first time planning a trip to Norway?

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Top 15 Of The Best Norway Hiking Tours

November 19, 2019 by admin Leave a Comment

If you are like me and love good hiking trips as much as a city break then this post is for you! My round-up of the best Norway hiking tours. Hiking in Noway is just magical!

The views, fjords, waterfalls, hiking Norway fjords will leave you speechless as you admire beautiful vistas and famous mountains in Norway.

If you are one of those travelers who want a bit adrenaline rush on their trip then Norway has everything you could possibly want..

Hike through the narrow trails of mountains. Get lost in the wild and explore something new. Norway is the best place to plan a trip if you enjoy the outdoors for solo walks of want to join trekking groups.

Whether it is the rough terrain of this Scandinavian country or the fjords and the magnificent view of the Northern lights, Norway has always been the first destination for adventurists around the world.

So if you are looking for a little inspiration of the best hiking tour to explore this beautiful country this post may just be the ticket. Besides exploring Norway fjords by boat this is another great way to see them, in mores cases from a much higher height too.

Best 15 Norway Hiking Tours

Norway is blessed with beautiful mountains vistas and with that, stunning hiking trails too. Whether you want to do Trolltunga one your own like we did or do a Trolltunga guided tour there is a trail in Norway for everyone.

Whether you want to do an easy or challenging tour, below are some of the best hiking tours in Norway. I have also shared tips on everything you need to know about the Trolltunga trail before your hike.

Guided Tour to Pulpit Rock Preikestolen

For this hiking trip, you have to go to Western Norway, where the cliff plateau, Pulpit Rock is located on the Lysefjorden. After the hiking, the view of the blue lagoon never ceases to amaze, and this place is paradise for the photographers.

Sit and enjoy the view while relaxing and having your packed lunch or snaks. This hiking tour is conducted with a maximum of 8 hikers in one group. There are professional guides to guide you throughout and maintains your safety. See here for more.

Starting Point: Stavanger
Duration: 4 hours
What’s Included: Hotel/port pick-up and drop-off, professional and local guides, driver, transportation in air-conditioned minivans.

Guided Hike to Kjerag and Kjeragbolten

This is another exciting fjord adventure where you should hike towards Kjerag Bolt. Once you are here, you will be spellbound by visiting the outstanding natural phenomenon.

Here a five cubic meter glacial deposit is stuck between two huge rocks in a certain mysterious way. If you are a brave heart, try to stand on this middle link between two giant rocks, and if you have the courage, you can experience the spectacular view of Lysefjorden from the top. See here for more.

Starting Point: Eagle’s Nest
Duration: 6 to 8 hours
What’s Included: Taxes and fees, driver, Hotel/port pick-up and drop-off, professional and local guides, driver, transportation in air-conditioned minivans.

Snowshow Hike in the Whale Island of Tromso

Are you fond of skiing while hiking? Then, you need to attend this tour at the Whale Island or Kvaloya in Tromso. It is a round-trip transport from Tromso.

On this hike, you will get the best professional guide who knows this place thoroughly. While walking the snow-covered lake with your snowshoes, you can enjoy the view of forests and mountains around.

Besides having a great hiking experience, you can also try the Finnish snacks and beverages here to warm you up. See here for more.

Starting Point: Tromso City Centre
Duration: 5 hours
What’s Included: Snowshoes, hiking poles, hot beverages, snacks, and local guide

Hiking Trip To Keiservarden, Northern Norway

This hiking trip is for introducing the adventurists to the serene natural beauty of Northern Norway, where the guided tour takes the hikers to the top of Keiserverden (366 meters from sea-level) from where they can enjoy the remarkable beauty of Lofoten Islands. Usually, the hiking trips are arranged with 15 people maximum. See here for more.

Starting Point: Bodo
Duration: 4 to 6 hours
What’s Included: Transportation, local guide, and other activities at the hiking ground

Hiking Trip to Troll Church Caves

If you want to experience a completely different terrain in Norway than the snow-covered lagoon and the mountains, then hiking to Troll Church Caves is something to add to your list of cool trails for hiking in Norway.

Here, you will find three limestone caves with waterfalls and underground streams. The first grotto has an underground passage, and there is also a fishing lake with marble jetties.

You can also enjoy the magnificent view of the cascade waterfalls at the lower caverns where the waterfalls come 14 meters down to create a marble pool. The mountain behind the Trolls’ Church is unique with spires and sharp points. See here for more.

Start Point: Trollkirka, 6440 Elnesvagen, Norway
Duration: 4 to 6 hours
What’s Included: Headlamp, lunch

Hiking Trip to Preikestolen

Have you already been for a hike at the Pulpit Rock of Preikestolen? Then, you can also take a second chance and visit the beauty of this place during the autumn.

It is a 5-mile hiking trip experience where you need to hike towards the mountain’s plateau from where you can get the fantastic view of the colors of nature and also the fjord. This is perfect also for those arriving via Stavanger cruise port.

You can also visit the Three Swords Monuments after getting back. See here for more.

Start Point: Stavanger
Duration: 9 hours
What’s Included: Snacks and beverages

Hiking Experience at Jendemsfjellet

A 360-degree view of the fjords and the mountains around can be enjoyed a lot if you hike to the top part of Jendemsfjellet.

The hiking trail to the top of the hill is quite rough, and specific points are quite steep. There are wet parts that can create difficulty while hiking, so you need to wear high-quality hiking shoes for your trip. After this rough trail, there is even ground that will lead you to the forest.

The trail of the forest will take you to the steepest part of the hiking route. Throughout the track, the natural view is breathtaking, and once you reach the top, you will be amazed by the bird’s eye views. See here for more.

Start Point: Jendem
Duration: 4 hours
What’s Included: lunch

Glacier Hiking to Svartisen

Take a full-day tour from Bodo and explore the incredible natural beauty of Svartisen Glacier. You need to take a boat ride and a bike ride to reach the hiking point to start a guided hiking tour.

If you are a first-time hiker, then this glacier hiking won’t be a problem. Even you can take kids with you on this hiking trip.

At this hiking trip, you will be provided with a harness, crampons, ice axe, etc. An expert guide will help you to get along this trip. See here for more.

Start Point: Holandsvika
Duration: 6 to 8 hours
What’s Included: Professional guide

Snowshoe Hiking Bergen

To stay away from urban life and to spend a few days in nature’s lap, you can go for this snowshoeing hiking.

A small group of 10 members is eligible for this hiking trip. Enjoy the scenery throughout your journey, and have a lifetime experience. See here for more.

Start Point: Strandkaien
Duration: 2 to 5 hours
What’s Included: Beverages

Snowshoe Hiking at Lofoten

An excursion at the snow-covered Lofoten Islands will be a great excursion. Have a guided tour of the lakes, mountains, and valleys to enjoy your trip.

The unique thing you can enjoy here is flora and fauna of the Arctic region. It doesn’t matter whether you have experience in snowshoeing or not, you can go for this hiking. See here for more.

Start Point: Svolvaer
Duration: 3 hours
What’s Included: Snacks

Hiking Trip to Stoltzekleiven

While you are in Bergen, you can’t avoid this wonderful hiking trip to the summit of Stoltzekleiven Mountain. It will take 1.5 hours to reach the top.

A guided trek will help there throughout your trekking and hiking. Bergen is full of mountains and valleys that will amaze you with extraordinary views. Once you are at the top, the view down is stunning. See here for more.

Start Point: Bergen City Center
Duration: 3 hours
What’s Included: local guide

7 Day Hiking the Fjords In Norway

Norway is a country of mountains, rough terrain, northern lights, and obviously of several fjords. You can hike to any of these beautiful coastlines of fjords where you can enjoy the white beaches, high sea cliffs, and the glacial terrain.

As the location of these fjords is different, you can have a different experience of hiking. See here for more.

Start Point: Nordfjordeid rutebilstasjon, 6770
Duration: 7 days
What’s Included: experienced guide, breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Hiking to Watch Midnight Sun From Tromso

If you want to explore the Arctic nature of adventure, then hiking at nighttime is thrilling. You can start from the busy city of Tromso and go towards the rough coastline.

To do this there must be an experienced guide with you. Whether you are doing Tromso in winter or summer, the place is just a dream! The beauty of nature on your way is breathtaking while you can also experience the native animal world and flora and fauna. See here for more.

Start Point: Scandic Ishavshotel, Fredrik Langes gate 2, 9008 Tromsø, Norway
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
What’s Included: Hotel drop-off, souvenir photos, taxes, fees, and handling charges, hiking poles and backpack, sitting pad, etc.

Hiking Through Florli Stairway

Hiking at Preikestolen is quite a popular hiking trail in Norway. During your outdoor adventure, you can also hike the world’s most substantial staircase.

Once you reach the mountain top, you will be amazed by the spectacular view of the Norwegian fjords. Don’t forget to visit the power plant village, Florli. See here for more.

Start Point: Stavanger
Duration: 10 hours
What’s Included: Snack and beverages

Hiking at Vidden

Not only hiking in Norway, but you can enjoy the camping and cabin experience with this hiking trip tour. On this journey, you can gain knowledge about the wilderness and topography of Bergen.

Have a local meal and enjoy staying in cabins here. See here for more.

Start Point: Fløibanen, Vetrlidsallmenningen 21, 5014 Bergen, Norway
Duration: 6 to 8 hours
What’s Included: Hiking poles and lunch

These are the best hiking tours that you can go for while you are in Norway. If you are an adventurist by heart, you can gather information about any of these hiking trips.

You need to make an early booking and collect all the information about these tours. There are specific tips which are for experienced hikers while there are hiking tours for beginners and kids also.

Find the most suitable one for you and have a great trip to Norway.

Need More Travel Tips On Norway? Also See:

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Top 15 Of Best Fjord Day Trips From Bergen – One Day Tours & Multi-day Fjord Tours

June 24, 2019 by admin 4 Comments

Bergen is the gateway to Fjords in Norway. There are plenty of day trips from Bergen to Fjords around the country; from Fjord day tours to multiday tours taking you around Norway on private yachts to group tours.

We explored the Fjords but by ourselves, as we rented a car but also did tours but at the start of our trip, having landed in Bergen, during our self-drive itinerary and at the end of our trip when we returned back to Bergen. Tours offer the best way to see fjords in Norway as you are taken to hidden gems that you wouldn’t otherwise know about as a visitor.

I have shared tips on the best views in Bergen, things to do in Bergen in a weekend if you are short on time, as well as an ultimate guide to Trolltunga for those that want to explore this beautiful hiking route. If you need further inspiration I have just the perfect mountain quotes for nature lovers and adventure seekers.

Whether you have a long trip or a short one below are some of the best fjords near Bergen. One of the cheapest ways to see Norwegian fjords is via short day trips. You don’t necessarily have to take week-long cruises to get the best of the fjords. Being in Bergen, you are offered a multitude of options. Many of which I have highlighted below.

Below are the perfect fjord day trips from Bergen, including a couple of multi-day if you have more time in your Bergen itinerary.

Top 15 Best Day Tours & Day Trips From Bergen To Fjords

There are so many reasons why you should visit Norway. The fjords are just one of many reasons. The tours below offer some of the best ways to see the Fjords in Norway. Many not only offer the tours via boat but can also arrange or include hiking so that you get to see the fjords from the top and bottom of the fjord. There is also a wide range of tours and varying budgets too. Below I have included some of the tours we did as well as some of the best cruise ships for Norwegian Fjords.

The beauty of doing a tour is that most will take you out during the best time to see the fjords in Norway. Many of the tours will also make stops in picturesque spots and give you plenty of time to take pictures or video of stunning waterfalls, check out some of Norway’s marine animals and cool vistas.

Many of the tours below offer one price for a small group. So if travelling with a friend or partner you can explore the fjords with your very one dedicated guide showing you around the best fjords in Norway.

Cruise From Bergen To Mostraumen Fjord

If you are looking for an inexpensive fjord day tour from Bergen, then this is up there with the best. You will leave from the easily accessible ferry port in Bergen and head along the narrow Mostraumen fjord to see some of western Norway’s most spectacular scenery, including waterfalls and mountains, as well as wildlife including seals, goats, and perhaps eagles.

Soak up views of western Norway’s most stunning scenery Spot wildlife, including seals and goats and so much more.

Private Tour to Sognefjord, Gudvangen, and Flåm from Bergen

Want to explore the best fjords Norway has to offer but with your very own guide. This just the way to do just that. Get a personalised tour of the fjords. Discover some of the stunning natural scenery in Fjord Norway during this full-day private tour from Bergen.

Travel in a private vehicle down the scenic Bergen road to the Nærøyfjord, the Aurlandsfjord, the Flåm Railway and down the dramatically steep Stalheimskleiva road. Round-trip transportation from Bergen hotels is included.

Self-Guided Norway Roundtrip: Bergen to Bergen

Take to the fjords in Norway via rail. This rail tour allows you to see the best of Norway, including visits to charming local villages, a scenic train ride through beautiful terrain, and a trip along the UNESCO-listed fjords.

This full-day tour begins and ends in Bergen and includes a cruise through the fjords. Visit traditional Nordic villages Ride the historic Flåm Railway and the Bergen Railway Train, bus, and boat fares included.

Private Tour – A Full-Day Round Trip to Hardangerfjord from Bergen

If you are looking for a well-rounded fjord day trip from Bergen then this offers just that. A 1-day fjord cruise from Bergen where you experience the full majesty of Hardangerfjord, one of Norway’s most beautiful fjords, in a single day on this 10-hour private tour from Bergen.

Follow a picturesque highway to this spectacular fjord, and spend the day enjoying its beauty and nature. Visit the Hardangervidda Nature Centre, stop for a tasty Norwegian lunch, see the Vøringfossen waterfall and more. Private round-trip transport and hotel pickup and drop-off in Bergen included.

Guided Norway Roundtrip: Bergen to Bergen

Want to make the most of your visit to Norway by seeing some of its most alluring landscapes in one hassle-free day trip? Then this is the perfect tour to that with a dedicated guide, travel by bus through charming villages toward the town of Gudvangen, by boat through the UNESCO World

Heritage-listed fjords of Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord, and by train along the Flåm Railway, famed for its sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. You can book the tour via Viator.

Hardangerfjord Day Trip from Bergen

Hardangerfjord is one of the best places to see fjords in Norway. Discover the stunning scenery of Hardangerfjord during this 12-hour roundtrip adventure from Bergen.

Marvel at this waterway’s mix of towering mountains, thundering waterfalls, and pastoral orchards as you explore the many attractions along its 111-mile length. A mix of railroad, bus and boat transfers help add to the adventure. You can book the tour via Viator.

Bergen to Flam Cruise -The King of Fjords

Get the best of Bergen fjord sightseeing and admire panoramic views of Norway’s fjords during this full-day cruise from Bergen to Flam.

Sail through the Sognefjord, the longest and deepest fjord in the country, and stop at small coastal villages along the journey.

Discover Flam with free time to explore independently and then board the boat for the return trip to Bergen complete with views of mountains and waterfalls. You can book the tour via Viator.

Guided One Day Private Tour From Bergen To Naeoyfjord And Flam

You don’t have to know the best time to cruise the fjords as this is fjord tour runs all year round and it will take you through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Fjord Norway.

You get to sample all the best ways to see fjords in Norway. The trip includes a private guide and car, Fjord cruise, Bergen Railway, Flåm Railway, and is Norway’s most popular tour. Passing through Gudvangen, at the bottom of the Nærøyfjord, board the electric ship “Future of the fjords” to Flåm.

The Nærøyfjord is surrounded by high mountains and is a beautiful sight both in summer and winter. One of the best fjord day trips in winter too. In Flåm, the trip continues with the Flåm Railway which is one of the world’s steepest railway tracks on normal tracks.

The 20 km long train journey takes 1 hour. At Myrdal station, a train changes to the Bergen Railway which takes you to Voss where you are picked up by car and take you back to Bergen. You can book the tour via Viator.

A 6 hour Day Trip Fjordcruise & Round Trip To Skjerjehamn

This another tour that allows you to make the most of your visit to Bergen. A fjord cruise and Skjerjehamn tour. Learn about the highlights of the area with curated commentary from a guide, including Nordhordland, Skjerjehamn, and the tidal currents of Alverstraumen.

This tour travels via express boat, saving time and allowing travellers to get a full experience of the area in a shortened tour. You can book this tour via Viator.

The Fjords In A Nutshell Sognefjord, Flåm & Gudvangen

Looking for tips on how to see fjords from Bergen on a tight schedule? Look no further! Experience the unparalleled beauty of the fjords on this comprehensive 2-day tour.

Enjoy a scenic ferry ride across the Sognefjord, discover the massive tree caves of the Lærdal tunnel, and marvel at the pristine splendor of the UNESCO-protected Nærøyfjorden.

If you wish, take a train ride on the celebrated Flåmsbana Railway. This customizable tour allows you to set your own itinerary. Guided tour to some of the most beautiful sights in Norway. You can book this tour via Viator.

A 5-Hour Bergen Day Trip To The Osterfjord

If you are visiting Norway as part of a cruise around Europe and looking for the perfect well-rounded excursion, then this is one to consider.

Make the most of your time ashore with this special half-day tour to The Osterfjord and the Golden Circle of Bergen. Enjoy the stunning scenery while listening to a guide’s engaging commentary. You can book this tour via Viator.

Private And Luxury Yacht Fjord Cruise From Bergen to Mostraumen

Travelling as a group or family? Then the perfect private and customised fjord tour is the way to go. A tailor-made experience where you get to grab lunch at one of the small Norwegian villages as well.

Enjoy a comfortable and private exploring of stunning scenery. All inclusive for an unforgettable experience in the Bergen fjords. Cost of the tour includes refreshments and snack on the trip. You can book this tour via Viator.

Private And Customizable Tour To Sognefjord And Flåm From Bergen

If you are visiting in Norway in the spring or summer then this is one of the best tours to check out. Summer travelers are in for the absolute best time to enjoy the tranquillity of this full day excursion to the Sognefjord. Appointed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Nærøyfjord is now drenched in colors and snow-capped mountains above enhance the calmness on the mirroring Fjord beneath. It is literally a postcard wonderland. Tour some of the top sites in Norway’s western fjords region and drive the steepest road in Europe with this tour. You can book this tour via Viator.

Self-Guided Sognefjord Day Trip From Bergen To Oslo

If you prefer the freedom of exploring on your own terms but still want a structured tour, this is the perfect self-guide fjord tour. Perfect for those looking for 3 or 2-day fjord tours from Bergen.

Choose your own adventure in Norway on this self-guided trip from Bergen to Oslo including a boat ride on the UNESCO-listed Sognefjord and a scenic train voyage.

Enjoy an included boat ride on this spectacular deep-water fjord, before embarking on a scenic railroad trip on the Flåm and Bergen Railways, admiring the Aurlandsfjord, Nærøyfjord, and the city of Myrdal while en route to Oslo.

This is a Flexible-length trip can be taken over a series of one-to-three days. Perfect for travelers looking for maximum flexibility in their transport options. You can book this tour via Viator.

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Ulriken643 – Why You Cant Miss The Views On Mount Ulriken In Bergen

April 13, 2018 by admin 18 Comments

A couple of weeks ago I shared a post on our exploration of Bergen, Norway or the city between seven mountains as its often referred. Today I am sharing our ride up on the Ulriken643 cable car to check out the Norway Fjords. With seven mountains surrounding the city means there is plenty of adventure waiting to be had. The mountain group includes Mount Ulriken (the highest), Fløyen, Løvstakken and Damsgårdsfjellet, Lyderhorn, Sandviksfjellet, Blåmanen, Rundemanen, and Askøyfjellet.

As we had spent two days hiking and exploring the Trolltunga hike trail, an Ulriken hike was going to be out of the question as our legs still felt like jelly from the 22km hike. On clear days the views offer a stunning panorama over city, fjords and mountains so were not going to pass on the chance to experience it. It was a clear day when we set off, making it a perfect time to head up the mountain. We took the cable and when you arrive at the summit, you are presented with magnificent views of Bergen and the surrounding area – the sea, the islands, fjords and mountains in all there glory.

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Wearing: Banana Republic Dress | Boohoo Duster Coat(linked below) | Converse Shoes | Asos Bag

Mount Ulrikren643 Cable Car

When you visit Bergen you have to option of taking in the views from Mount Floyen via the Floibanen Funicular, or from Mount Ulriken, considering Ulriken is the highest of the mountains we opted to take in the city from there. The journey from the city center is about 10 mins by tram and fairly straightforward. There is also a double-decker tour bus that leaves from the Fish Market in the center of town that comes to Ulriken. We took the tram, the tram stops about a 5-minute uphill walk to the cable cars station up to the summit of Ulriken mountain. Thankfully you don’t have to climb mount Uliriken – unless you want to, there is a cable car speeds from bottom to top in just seven minutes.

Mount Ulriken643 Cable Car Price/ Ulriken Cable Car Price:

One-way: Adults 125( £11.32) | Children 70 (£8.15)
Return: Adults 185 (£16.85) | Children 115 (£10.41) | Families 460 (£44.37)
Seasoncard: 1140() | Seasoncard for families 2280

Check out Mount Ulriken site for more details.

Things To Do On Mount Ulriken

Ulriken cablecar -Enjoy a spectacular ride with our cablecar in the breathtaking scenery. Welcome to highland nature, mountain hikes, local food and lots of family fun.

Ulriken 643 Skyskraperen Restaurant – Sky:Skraperen is the restaurant on the summit of Mount Ulriken is Bergen’s highest dining place, with a spectacular view. There is both a café and restaurant It is a must when visiting Bergen. There “mountain menu” offers traditional local food and pastries through day and in the evening the restaurant transforms into a fine dining restaurant with an “Ulriken by night” menu based on local ingredient presented in a series of different servings. We had a late lunch in the restaurant, it is definitely worth a stop.

Hiking – Norwegians are fairly active and most walk up and down the mountain during the weekend as part of the city’s active sports groups. You will also find people that bring their bikes on the mountain. You will also find people the come with paragliding gear. On this occasion we enjoyed a fairly chilled out walk in breathtaking scenery at Bergen’s highest mountain. There are several footpaths at the top for short and long walks, suitable for all ages and conditions.

Zipline on Mount Ulriken – Opened in summer 2016, this is the fastest zipline in Norway offering scenic views and an adrenaline rush. This adventure takes place on Mt Ulriken (643 meters), the highest of Bergen’s mountains. The zipline is 300 meters long and starts under the terrace in front of the restaurant on Mt Ulriken, and glides 300 meters in the direction of Mt Fløyen.

Bergen and Mount Ulriken Tour – Ulriken Express is a spectacular mountain tour by double-decker bus and cable car. Tours start 30 meters from the Fish Market. The trip takes roughly 2 hours.

More On Norway and Europe:

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What To Pack For Norway | Packing Tips For Norway City Breaks & Trolltunga Packing List

February 26, 2018 by admin 11 Comments

Depending on when you visit the country, but knowing what to pack for Norway is an important part for the trip. Even more so if you had doing the Trolltunga hike as what to pack for Trolltunga is massively important for safety reasons too. We spent some time exploring Norway, having visited Bergen, road tripped to Odda while exploring the small towns on the way.

I have also shared posts on things to do in Bergen, shared tips on how to hike to Trolltunga, in addition to an extensive guide answering all your questions in a comprehensive guide to everything Trolltunga. In this post, I thought I would address things to pack for Norway and include what to pack for hiking to Trolltunga which I thought to do in a separate post to the others.

Also See:

Bergen to Odda - Norway Packing Guide + What To Pack For Hiking Trolltunga

Bergen Hiking - Norway Packing Guide + What To Pack For Hiking Trolltunga

What to Pack For Bergen Norway?

Bergen is surrounded by seven mountains Ulriken, Floyen, Damsgardsfjellet, Lyderhorn, Sandviksfjellet, Blamanen, Rundemanen and Askoyfjellet. Many visit Bergen not just to explore Bryygen but to hike the surrounding mountains. So depending on your plans city or hiking below are some of what you should pack for Bergen:

Bergen Packing List:

Hiking Boots.
Waterproof Mountaineering Jacket.
Thermals.
Padded Jacked or wool coat.
Knitted Jumper Dress.
Warm jumpers.
Fleece.
Hiking Trousers.
Leggings – You can wear these under dresses and add boots.
Avoid wearing jeans in cold weather as they tend to not hold any heat. Stick to thicker materials like corduroys or cotton which you can also pair up with thermals underneath.

If you are heading to visit Norway in winter make sure you are ready for the weather as Norway in winter can be seriously hash. Make sure your Norway winter clothing is suitable for the weather.

What do you wear in Norway?

What you wear in Norway really details on the above timings and the activities you are doing in Norway.

What is the average temperature in Bergen Norway?

Bergen: Annual Weather Averages. July is the hottest month in Bergen with an average temperature of 15°C (59°F) and the coldest is January at 2°C (35°F) with the most daily sunshine hours at 8 in June. The wettest month is December with an average of 270mm of rain.

What is the best time of year to visit Norway?

When you visit or best time to visit Norway really depends on what you plan on doing. Jun-Aug promises long days and the fabled midnight sun ideal for hiking, cycling or cruising. May and Sep offer mild temperatures, fewer crowds, and gorgeous natural colours. We chose to visit Norway end of August into September.

What is the weather like in Norway in July?

July is one of the hottest months of the year in Norway as temperatures average 20°C (68°F), reaching an average high of over 26°C. The scenery at this time is said to be incredibly beautiful with lush green landscapes luxuriant with blossoming flowers, and breath-taking waterfalls.

Bergen Norway Packing List What to pack for Norway

Men and Women’s Packing List for Norway

Thermals and Base Layers.
Warm jacket or Coat.
Ankle or Knee-high Boots (women).
Walking or Hiking Shoes.
Mountaineering Jacket suitable for the weather.
Hiking Trousers.
Warm Jumpers.
Waterproof jacket.
Thermal Tops.
Beanie Hats.
Gloves.
Wool socks.

What To Pack For Trolltunga Hike?

What to pack for the Trolltunga Hike very much depends on your plans for a day hike or Trolltunga camping and hike. With that in mind, I have split the packing list for Trolltunga into two; day hike and camping hike.

What To Pack For Trolltunga | Trolltunga Hike Packing List (Day Hike):

Food Pack with energy snacks. We made granola bars before we left. So make sure you pack protein and high energy snacks as the hike is long and arduous. A good 10+ hours of walking should be considered for each day.
Gloves: I have a light and a heavier pair depending on the weather.
Thermals: Weather change can be sudden. Layers will keep you warm but also easier to slip off when it gets warmer.
Hiking boots: We saw so many people hiking in trainers, converse and I think I even spotted someone in flip flops which were not really suitable for the terrain or the hiking in general. Just like you wouldn’t do a marathon in hiking boots, so pack accordingly for the activity you are embarking on. Hiking boots for me are a lot more comfortable and are built for the terrain.
Walking Poles – You will thank me!
First Aid Kit – Because accidents can happen.
Head Torch: A lot easier as they keep your hands free.
Beanie Hat: The higher you get the more variable the temperature becomes. The hat will help to keep your body warm. Especially at night time if you are camping overnight.
Sunscreen: It was cold when we set off the hike but when we got to the summit at Trolltunga the sun was out and it was intense so bring some sunscreen to protect yourselves.
Camera – This is an obvious one as the views are so beautiful you won’t have time for Instagram but you will want to capture the beautiful landscapes in Norway.
Phone: There no reception along the trail so any calls or weather updates will need to be done in the car park. You will need your phone should anything happen you would be able to send a text. Numbers below for emergencies Make sure you bring battery chargers.
Charger blocks: Lithium batteries in phones tend to lose their charge quickly in the cold, so to make sure your phone is a charge should you need to make an emergency call.
Contact details for emergency services in Odda.
Water Bottle or Water Camel: You only need the first bottle and on the way, there are many water streams along the way where you can refill.
Mountain whistle: Hopefully nothing happens but this one should be packed in your first aid kit. Should anything happen, you may need this to draw attention to where you are located if you get stuck or injured.
Spare change of clothes and at least 2-3 pairs of socks: Leave the spare change of clothes in the car but take an additional pair of socks with you.
Plastic bags: There are no rubbish bins so don’t be like some of the people who have left piles of rubbish close to the summit. Some large groups get to the end of the hike and have food as they celebrate the end of the hike. It appears many leave their rubbish in the last 2km of the hike. There are no cleaners on the trail so be kind to the environment and bring your rubbish back down to the car park with you. Plastic bags will also be handy to put your dirty clothes in from the hike.
Map and Compass and not really needed on this hike as the trail is clearly marked. If you veer off course then they might be handy. On this trail though you don’t need them.
Wipes/Tissues for when nature calls or just cleaning hands after eating or general hygiene.
Waterproof Jacket.
Hiking trousers.
Day backpack.

Trolltunga Camping Packing List – List of item you need overnight camping at the top

In addition to the day hike item – these are items you will most likely need if camping on top at Trolltunga.

Tent – Also make sure you have practiced putting up the tent. I have had to help a few people put their tents up who came camping with new tents they had little knowledge of putting them up. You can also opt for an easy tent like the 2-second tent.
Sleeping Bag – As you are going to be up in the mountains with glaciers nearby be sure to pack a warm sleeping bag as most of the spot on the trail are exposed with not a lot of mountain to shield from winds.
Sleeping Matt: It helps to have something between you and the ground as it gets cold and frosty at night.
Camping Stove and plastic or paper crockery. This is the Camping stove we got and comes in a small little orange box that’s easy to pack.
Food: If camping overnight it helps to pack some items from home. We packed some tea bags, sugar, and the rest of the food to cook overnight we bought when we were in Odda.

Norway Packing Guide + What To Pack For Hiking Trolltunga

Tips on hiking and more equipment:

More can tips and equipment can be found in my previous post on hiking in Snowdonia.

Also See:

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Bergen

Book As Early As Possible

Travel out of season

Inexpensive nights

Travel with others

Buy local foods

Fresh drinks

Restaurants accessible

Stop longer

Natural attractions

Explore the national parks

Enjoy the outdoors

Take a cycling holiday

Is it convenient to travel to Norway in winter?

Sample Itineraries – Norway Travel Itinerary Options

ITINERARY 1

ITINERARY 2

ITINERARY 3

ITINERARY 4

ITINERARY 5

ITINERARY 6

Books and Novels Set in Norway

The Best Travel Books on Norway

Lonely Planet Norway (Travel Guide)

Insight Guides Norway (Travel Guide with Free ebook)

Cool Day Tours And Day Trips From Bergen To The Fjords

Take the Old Voss Steam train(runs in the summer)

Alverstraumen Sound Trip to Skjerjehamn

Fjaerland (Sognefjord, Boyabreen Glacier, Norwegian glacier museum)

Island hopping( Solund, Bulandet, Vaerlandet)

Norway in a Nutshell Tour (Norway’s most famous fjord tour) Duration

Norway Active Round Trips

20 Fun Things To Do And Cool Bergen Tourist Attractions To Check Out

Explore Bryggen and its Museums

Do a Medieval Tour of Bergen

Visit the Bergen Aquarium

Ulriken643 Cable Car and View at the Top

St Mary’s Church

Rosenkrantz Tower

Hakon’s Hall

St Johns Church

Hanseatic Museum

Visit The Wooden Houses

Damsgard Country Mansion

Old Bergen Museum

Fantoft Stave Church

Alvoen Manor

Fish Market

Bergenhus Fortress Museum

Floibanen Funicular

Bergen Maritime Museum

Bergen Science Centre

Kode Art Museum

Escape Bryggen

Magic Ice Bergen

Shopping In Bergen

Bergen Nightlife

How To Explore Bergen

Explore by Segway Tour

Explore Bergen through a Food Tour

See Bergen from Above via a Helicopter Tour

Explore Bergen by Bike Tour

City Hunt

Additional Tips For Visiting Bergen

Getting Around In Bergen

What to pack for Bergen

What To Know About Norwegian Beers

Beer Quality

Beer History In Norway

Drinking culture In Norway

Long tradition of brewing Christmas beer

Alcohol rules

Norwegian Beer Brands To Note

Beer-Related Events In Norway To Bookmark For Your Trip

Bergen Craft Beer Fest

Norwegian Breweries

How To Get To Trolltunga

The Trolltunga Shuttle

How To Get To Trolltunga From Bergen

Getting to Trolltunga