Experiences in Bergen That Will Make You Love the City, Bergen, Norway

Bergen is notorious for its constant rain; with an average of 239 rainy days per year, it’s actually one of Europe’s wettest places! Nevertheless, Norway’s second-largest city is known for its beauty, and it’s no wonder. The city is nestled below seven mountains that rise high above quaint streets and colourful houses. The unstable weather only adds to its charm.

I had been to the area once before as a small child but I could hardly remember anything, so when my best friend moved up there for a PhD position, I knew I had to grab the chance to explore Bergen! It was a rather spontaneous ten-day trip back in November last year, and while I did get some days of constant rain, I also got lucky and experienced beautiful sunny days – despite visiting in the middle of the off-season!

To get to Bergen, I chose to sail from Hirtshals in Denmark, a trip that took 16 hours (excluding the four-hour train ride from home to Hirtshals). I’d booked the cheapest option available, a so-called airseat which was quite uncomfortable to sleep in but I did manage to catch a few hours of shut-eye. I set my alarm for 8 AM when the sun rose, and woke up to some beautiful views of the southern Norwegian fjords as we approached Bergen. If you have time, I can highly recommend arriving to Bergen by ferry! ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).