Is Bergen the most photogenic place on the planet?
It’s almost impossible not to fall completely in love with Bergen—even when the weather is trying its absolute hardest to make you hate it.
Nestled right on Norway’s southwest coast, surrounded by seven dramatic mountains and framed by deep fjords, Bergen is a city that somehow manages to feel like a cozy, picture-perfect village despite being the country’s second-largest city.
Before it became the charming getaway it is today, Bergen was the beating heart of Scandinavia’s trade routes. Founded back in 1070 by King Olav Kyrre, it quickly grew into Norway’s medieval capital. By the 1300s, the Hanseatic League—a powerful German merchant guild—essentially took over the city’s harbor, transforming Bergen into a massive international hub for the dried cod trade.
If you walk down to the famous Bryggen wharf, you’re literally stepping straight into that history. Those iconic, leaning wooden merchant houses painted in deep reds, mustard yellows, and warm ochres aren’t just for Instagram photos—they’ve survived centuries of brutal fires, harsh Atlantic storms, and constant rebuilding. Walking through the narrow, creaky wooden alleyways between the buildings feels like stepping back into the Middle Ages, with the smell of old timber and salt air hanging thick in the atmosphere.
Beyond its Hanseatic roots, my absolute favorite part of Bergen was just wandering around the compact city center. It’s filled with hidden cobbled lanes, tiny independent boutiques, and fantastic local cafés that are practically built for escaping the elements.
And by “elements,” I really mean a state of atmospheric chaos driven by whatever mood Norwegian Mother Nature happens to be in that hour.
One minute you’re enjoying a crisp burst of sunshine, the next you’re getting blasted by coastal winds, and five minutes later it’s pouring buckets. The city receives well over 2,200 millimeters of rain every single year—which, to put things into perspective, is more than London (591mm) and Edinburgh (709mm) combined.
So, when the heavens inevitably opened up, I leaned hard into the Scandinavian art of cozying up indoors. I spent hours curled up on plush couches in warm, wood-paneled cafés, holding a giant, steaming mug of filter coffee in one hand and a fresh cinnamon bun in the other, happily indulging in some guilt-free people-watching while the rain lashed against the windows.
To burn off those bakery calories, I took the steep journey up to Mount Fløyen. You can either brave the 45-minute uphill trek or take the classic Fløibanen funicular right from the town center. From the lookout platform at the top, perched 320 meters above sea level, you get the absolute best views of Bergen—the colorful maze of wooden rooftops, the bustling harbor full of ferries, and the dramatic fjords stretching out into the misty horizon.
Exploring Bergen and day trips
- Full-day Tour to Flåm, Nærøyfjord and Stegastein from Bergen: You’ll take a scenic minibus drive over the mountains, board an electric fjord cruise through the narrow, cliff-lined Nærøyfjord (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and ride the famous Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana)—widely considered one of the most beautiful train rides on the planet.
- Half-day option – Mostraumen Fjord cruise: Short on time, don’t want a 12-hour commitment, or just want a low-stress way to get out on the water? This quick 3- to 4-hour boat tour departs right from the central harbor in Bergen. You’ll cruise down the narrow Osterfjord toward the tiny Mostraumen strait.
- Guided tour to Hardangerfjord with waterfalls and ferry crossing: If you’re visiting between spring and autumn and prefer lush fruit orchards, cider tasting, and massive roaring waterfalls over sheer rock cliffs, head southeast toward Hardanger.
