Bergen
is Norway’s second largest city with a population of 300,000. Located just north of Stavanger, it is known as the "city of seven mountains”. Bergen’s port is Norway's busiest in terms of both freight and passengers, with over 300 cruise ship calls a year. These cruise lines bring nearly a half a million passengers to Bergen, of which almost half of the passengers are German or British.
Bergen has a big city feel compared to Stravanger. The first place to visit - the harbour bustling with activities. This is the heart and soul of Bergen. Take a stroll around the harbour & you will find many restaurants, harbour cruise boats, souvenir shops, and the popular Fish Market. Here you will find all kinds of fish to sample in the market’s stalls & tiny restaurants - including whale meat. When the cruise boats are in, this area is teeming with people.
On a sunny day make sure you head up the cable car to Floibanen and experience an adventure for families and hikers. The view of Bergen’s harbour is spectacular. Hiking trails from moderate to strenuous, play areas for families with children, a small lake for a canoe adventure, biking trails - this is a Bergen must visit.
Norway In A Nutshell
is a popular tourist trip that includes 3 train rides, 1 bus trip and a fjord cruise - all in one day. Trip starts at the train station in Bergen in the morning and returns via train about 8pm. Lots to see in one day, but a great introduction to Norway’s amazing scenery and fjords. Beautiful quaint villages hug the shoreline of the Naeroyfjord, one of Norway’s most iconic fjords.
The Flam Railway
is a spectacular train journey that offers a panoramic view of some of the wildest and most magnificent nature in the Norwegian fjord landscape. The 20 km-long train ride took 20 years to build and is one of the steepest standard gauge railway lines in the world. On the train ride that operates between Myrdal and Flåm, you can see rivers cutting through deep ravines, waterfalls cascading down the side of steep, snow-capped mountains, and mountain farms clinging dizzily to sheer slopes.
Huldra
One of the best photo opportunities of this journey is a stop at the Kjosfossen waterfall. Here as passengers disembark on the viewing platform for a short break, a mysterious woman with long hair and a red dress emerges from the forest, dancing to a Norwegian folk song. According to local folklore, she lures men into the woods to seduce them. Well there she was in front of me.
Yes, I saw Huldra, the elusive forest spirit from Norse mythology. But I was able to board the train to continue on to Flam, so I was not seduced. I learned shortly after that this version of Huldra was actually students from the Norwegian Ballet School.
