Initially my interest in going to Bergen while I was in Norway was sparked when I discovered a train route I could take with my RailEurope flexipass that goes from one side of Norway to the other. It starts in Oslo and ends in Bergen and has several other scenic stops you can make on the way. Since I always enjoy a challenge, the idea of traveling across the entire country while sightseeing on the way was a no brainer, but I was really looking forward to getting to spend some time in Bergen, especially after seeing the amount of people boasting about it on my Instagram!
Since the national lines are included in my Global RailEurope pass, I didn't have to pay an extra fare for the train tickets. The pass is great especially if you want to do a lot of exploring, and it's really easy to figure out how to use the train. When I arrived at the Bergen train station, I only had to walk one block away to get to my hotel, the Scandic Ørnen, where the young and friendly concierge staff was more than willing to give me tips on the best things to do and see while I was there.
I did everything that they suggested, plus added a few extra activities of my own, and definitely found out why everyone is boasting about Bergen!
Of course I asked for the most "scenic" thing to do in Bergen, and the concierge at Scandic immediately suggested taking the funicular up to Mount Fløyan. A funicular is (aside from a really fun word to say) a small train cart thing that takes you up and down a mountain. It was only about $8 for a roundtrip ticket, and it went up and down every 15 minutes or so. Try to get a seat in the front so you can get the best view of the short yet awesome ride up to the top. The funicular has windows on all sides including the ceiling, so you get a 360 degree view the entire ride!
Once you get to the top you'll get a breathtaking view of Bergen, from the train station you arrived at all the way to the coast! There's also some interesting art pieces at the top, including a life size troll figure and an oversized yellow wheel.
It was also very quiet and peaceful since most of the people who rode up didn't venture very far, and most of the people that I saw were parents with their kids, who I assume live in the residential area just below the top. I finally got to the lake and it was frozen, which was pretty cool and enticing to slide on. But, I didn't want to die on my first day in Bergen, so refrained and went to go play in some snow piles instead.
If you Google "Bergen" like I did, the first/majority of images you'll see are of a row of old yet colorful looking houses that face the old wharf of Bergen. This is an area of Bergen called Bryggen, and those houses are popular because of their historical significance. They signify the town's importance as part of the Hanseatic League's trading empire hundreds of years ago, but they burned down often and were last rebuilt in 1955. Today they are a trademark representation of Bergen, and actually protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
When the Scandic concierge asked me if I wanted any food or bar recommendations, I assumed he would tell me information about some local Norwegian fare. But nope! His first suggestions for fun and popular places were in the downtown area, and both served American food!
Since there was no way I was going to go to TGI Fridays in Norway, I opted for what he told me was Norway's most popular pizza place, Peppe's. I know it's not exactly adventurous for food experiences, but after spending the day hiking around the snow, and trying to keep a budget, pizza sounded like an awesome idea. I got a kick out of their specialty pizzas which were categorized based on places in America including California, Chicago, and New York. P.S. I got the vegetarian California pizza and it was AMAZING.
Thanks to the power of social media I was able to get quite a few tips and invitations to meet up for drinks while I was in Bergen. Unfortunately I was still getting over my 9 hour time difference jet lag so couldn't pull myself together to meet up with anyone, but still stopped a few places for a glass of wine during the day. I obviously had wine at Peppe's because it was cheap (72 NOK), and saw that TGIFridays across the street was ridiculously busy in their bar area.
I also noticed a few local bars and "nightclubs" along Strandkaien across from the harbor, and the more touristy yet seemingly authentic Norwegian places tucked in the nooks and crannies of Bryggen. If you have the energy and budget you should definitely check them out!
I didn't get to do this because it was snowing too much, but I did look into ferry fjord tours in Bergen before I realized that there was going to be a blizzard. I think the main company of Norway that offers the tours is called FjordTours.com, but like I said, I didn't use them or get to do a tour so don't quote me on it. If you go when it's snowing like I did, you won't be able to (or want to) go on a boat, but you can still get a pretty nice view of the water from the top of Fløyan or...
I accidentally discovered this good idea when I randomly got booked in a corner room at the Scandic Ørnen that had floor to ceiling windows on the 12th floor. One side faced the downtown area and overlooked the nearby lake, while the other offered a view of the hilltop houses and the snow covered mountains behind them.
It was especially cool to watch the snow come flying at or past my windows, and the lights of the city at night made for a spectacular view too. If you don't happen to get a room with a view, you can still go up to the top floor and take a look out the floor to ceiling windows in the hallways!
It was interesting to find so many random pieces of modern art and historical statues in small parks throughout Bergen. The first park to note is the one with the giant man-made lake in the middle of the city, which has a "Christmas tree" on a little island, a Victorian-looking gazebo, and a peculiar mixture of different types of birds.
From the West end of the lake you can continue on to the downtown area where you'll see the first little park with a giant historical statue, or you can head North and see a perplexing piece made of metal and mirror triangles.
Originally I was supposed to stop in Flåm on my way to Bergen from Oslo, but a blizzard interrupted my plans and I never got to go. But, if you have better weather than I did, I'd suggest taking the train from Bergen to Voss or Flåm to check out some of their fjords! Flåm has the longest and deepest fjord in Norway, and it's supposed to be an incredible view!
If you're planning on doing a lot of train travel like I was, I'd definitely suggest looking into a RailEurope rail pass, it'll save you a ton of money on the train tickets.
10. Make Friends with Locals
The reason why I got all of this information was because I asked people that live in Bergen! From the Scandic concierges and bartender, to the followers on my Instagram, no one could have given me better advice or insight than them!