Many a cruise ship stops off at Bergen on their way to the magnificent splendour of the fjords, and the city is always busy with visitors. With a historic Hanseatic quayside, cobbled streets with small stone and wooden houses, and a famous Fish Market to explore, Bergen is a great place to lose yourself in amongst its pretty streets. The spectacular panoramic views from the surrounding mountains take in the whole city as it stands between the fjords and ocean, and Bergen has been described as 'The Most Beautiful City in Norway' by many travel guides and respected visitors alike. Getting to the summits of these imposing natural features is easy with the cable car or funicular railway that take just minutes to climb the steep slopes.
Location: Norway's main west coast port
On the same line of latitude as Lerwick in the Shetland Isles, Bergen is easily accessible from all over Europe and beyond by air, land, and sea. Bergen International Airport is only 15 kilometres to the south of the city centre, and has direct flights to many destinations including Tokyo. Surrounded by spectacular mountains and fjords and the rugged outdoor beauty of western Norway, Bergen is to be found in a wonderful location 460 kilometres to the west of Oslo, Norway's capital city.
Business: A favourite for exhibitions and conventions
With over 8,000 beds in its myriad of hotels and some of the finest venues for conferences and meetings, Bergen has become a first choice for many international business events. With venues that can cater for up to 3,000 people and excellent access from all over Europe and beyond, it is easy to see why Bergen is one of the fastest growing and most popular congress cities in Europe.
Culture: European city of culture in 2000
Birthplace to the composer Edvard Grieg and home to one of the world’s oldest symphony orchestras, Bergen is a city of music. On any given evening, you can hear choirs, operatic performances, improve-jazz, or the rock and pop music of the Bergan Wave resonating through the streets of this fine city.
Activities: Get some fresh air and enjoy the view
Surrounded by mountains makes Bergen an ideal city to dust off your hiking boots and take to the hills. An annual Seven Mountain hiking event will take you to all of the peaks, but for an easier option, take the cable car or funicular railway to keep your legs from getting too tired. The mountains offer great views down upon the city as well as some well-preserved World War II constructions that offer an insight into the recent history of the area. A great afternoon out is to take one of the guided hikes where you learn a few words of Norwegian on a 'Walk and Talk Trail'.