World Heritage City - BERGEN, Norway
Bergen has given a warm welcome to its visitors for more than 900 years. Bergen - the old city with a young outlook. A city with its feet in the sea, its head in the skies and its heart in the right place - full of infectious enthusiasm, and happy to share it with visitors.
Bergen is Norway's second largest city with a population of roughly 250.000 in 2008. King Olav Kyrre founded the city of Bergen in 1070, and it was the country's capital from 1110 until 1299.
Bergen was one of the major Hanseatic cities in Europe and it has been a great centre of trade throughout the ages. Fish was exported from Bergen, while grain was the chief import. The first German merchants came to the city already in 1270, and the powerful Hanseatic League continued to exist until 1784, when it was disbanded. The Hanseatic merchants operated in the Bryggen area, and is part of why Bergen now is on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Bergen is called "The city between seven mountains" because of the many mountains that surround it. At 624 metres, Mount Ulriken is the talles of them.
Today Bergen is an important centre for the shipping and oil industies, as well as for aquaculture, the food processing industry and higher education. Bergen is also a European City of Culture and its many museums and art galleries are well worth a visit.
Discount on accommodation in Bergen with Fjord Pass®
In Bergen you also find a number of Fjord Pass® hotels. With a Fjord Pass® hotel pass, you can save money on accommodation and rather spend your vacation budget on your preferred activities in Bergen. Find hotels in Bergen here...
Explore Bergen with the Bergen Card!
The Bergen Card is a practical and economical way to experience the cultural city of Bergen! With your Bergen Card, you can enjoy free bus travel within the city limits, free admittance to most museums and attractions and discounts on a variety of cultural and sightseeing attractions, activities, restaurants and parking. For booking and more about the Bergen Card, click here...
The Bergen Railway
The Bergen Railway is the approximately 500-kilometre-long line between Bergen and Oslo. The decision to build it was taken in 1894 and it was completed in 1909.
The stretch of railway between Bergen and Voss, wich was completed already in 1893, virtually revolutionised life in the communities along the line. For Voss it meant the start of an extensive tourist industry and it made it possible to export both timber and slate.
It is said that building of the Bergen Railway was a huge project in its day, and that it can be compared with today's development of the oil industry on the Norwegian Continental Shelf in the North Sea.
The Bergen Railway is Northern Europe's highest stretch of railway, roughly 100 km of which runs through wild mountain country. The line crosses both the Langfjellene mountains and the Hardangervidda mountain plateau. Situated at an altitude of 1222 metres, Finse is its highest station.
One of the greatest challenges is the harsh and changeable weather. The Bergen Railway line is exposed to deep low-pressure centres from the west, which can mean strong winds and heavy snow for part of the year. Keeping the railway open demands great effort and technical expertise. Today, skilled workers, effective equipment, tunnels and snow tunnels make the Bergen Railway one of the safest and most comfortable ways of travelling between Oslo and Bergen. The line was voted one of the 20 best railway experiences in the world in 1999.
Fjord Tours offer several vacation packages which include or start from Bergen.
Norway in a nutshell®
You travel through some of the most beautiful landcapes in Fjord Norway. The organized trip includes the Bergen Railway, the Flam Railway, the Sognefjord, the Naeroyfjord (now included on UNESCO's World Heritage List) and the steep Stalheimskleiva road. More information about Norway in a nutshell® here...
Sognefjord in a nutshell
On this organized round trip, you have time to enjoy the Bergen Railway, the Flam Railway and the Sognefjord New for the 2009 season is the additional trip to the Dalsfjord and the Gaularfjell Mountain. More information about Sognefjord in a nutshell here...
Hardanger in a nutshell
This is an ideal day trip exploring the Hardangerfjord, the Voringsfossen waterfall, dramatic mountains and idyllic fruit farms. More information about Hardanger in a nutshell here...
Hurtigruten & Norway in a nutshell®
If you would like to experience some of the best that Norway has to offer, combine the Hurtigruten with the Norway in a nutshell® round trip. More information about Hurtigruten Costal Voyage & Norway in a nutshell® here...
Geiranger & Norway in a nutshell®
This tour enables you to experience three of Norway's most famous World Heritage areas in one trip; the Geirangerfjord, the Nærøyfjord and the wharf side warehouses at Bryggen in Bergen. Read more about the trip Geiranger & Norway in a nutshell® here...
Lysefjord & Norway in a nutshell®
Experience the magnificent Lysefjord, the Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) mountain plateau, wild and beautiful coastal scenery and three of Norway’s biggest cities: Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger. Read more about the trip Lysefjord & Norway in a nutshell® here...
Rent a car in Bergen with Fjord Tours
Through collaboration with AVIS car rental in Norway, Fjord Tours is able to offer car rental at most of our destinations. Rent a car in Bergen here...
Fjord Tours vacation packages - The choice is yours!
