My best trip, Norway

As you probabily know, my family and I took the train from Oslo to Bergen, the second-largest city in Norway. It is significantly less visited than Oslo, the capital of Norway. When planning out your trip to Norway, make sure to plan at least two days in Bergen to truly experience this beautiful city. The train costs aproximatively $60 ( or 534,5 norwegian crowns ) and you arrive in Bergen in 5/6 hours. The view from the train is absolutely spectacular, for you can see the waterfalls, fjords and mountains, which truly make Norway one of the most beautiful countries.

Day 1,

From the moment you arrive in Bergen, the city will welcome you with cobblestone roads and quaint alleyways lined with traditional Norwegian wooden houses. The city is situated around the water and it's surrounded by mountains, truly stunning! We walked to the hostel, booked a room for $30/night ( or ( 267 norwegian crowns/night ) and immediately went to the city center. There, you can find the most iconic sight in Bergen, Bryggen. It's an area full of old wooden houses featuring restaurants, shops, and lots of tourist traps. You can walk in-between the wooden houses into the alleyways to really transport you back hundreds of years. After we saw Bryggen, we decided there was still time to visit "Mount Ulriken", Bergen’s tallest mountain, it is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. You can either take the Ulriken Cable Car to the top ( which is now closed because of rebuild, opening again in 2021 ) or you can make the 1.5-2 hour hike up, the method we were keen on taking. After reaching Mount Ulrik's peak, we were simply amazed. The view over Bergen that this mountain gives you is spectacular. Also, I made some photos, if you want to check them out.

After climbing Bergen's tallest mountain, we were exhausted and hungry so we decided it's best to get dinner from the hostel and end the day there.

Day 2,

If you’re planning to fit as much as possible into your 2 days in Bergen, you may want to consider getting a 24 or 48 hour Bergen Card. It will get you free or discounted admission to museums, attractions, events, and sightseeing tours, as well as free travel on the buses and light rail. We bought one 24h Bergen Card for each of us. The price for a Bergen Card for adults is $31 ( 280 norwegian crowns ) and $11 ( 100 norwegian crowns ) for children aging from 3-15 years old. We took the bus from the hostel to our first destination, Bergenhus Fortress Museum. Back in the late 16th century, the Bergenhus Fortress dominated the entrance to Bergen’s harbor. Now, this fortress offers a museum featuring exhibits on the contributions of Norwegian women in history, particularly during WWII. It also features exhibits about the illegal press that took place throughout the war, information about the Fortress itself, and details of other conflicts Norway has been part of. It really is a "must see" place if you travel to Bergen and like to learn about Norway's history. After learning everything about the fortress, we ate lunch at The Fish Market ( located in the Market Square ). The prices for the food are high, but so is the quality and freshness of the fish. After we ate at the Market, we took the bus to Mount Floyen and Floibanen. We got to the base of the prestigious Mount Floyen, where we bought tickets. The price for one adult ticket is $11 ( 100 norwegian crowns ) and for children $5.5 ( 50 norwegian crowns )  The hike is about 45 minutes uphill and depending on the time of year you may hit freezing weather, snow, or ice on the way up. No matter what weather you run into, the spectacular views at the top will make it well worth it! Also – keep an eye out for troll statues hidden in the woods near the top! 

The day and our trip in Norway were slowly coming to an end. 

I would like to point out some things about Norway. The first is the cost, Norway is expensive. While Bergen is less expensive than Oslo, make sure to leave some extra room in your trip budget. You may encounter unexpectedly high prices for food, accommodations, tours, and entry fees. What surprised me most about Norway? The weather. Throughout a day it could go from sunny and “warm” to freezing rain to overcast and windy to snowing and then back again. Fortunately, the weather comes and goes so quickly! Wear layers and always carry a coat. Overall, the trip with my family to Norway was one of the best and most spectacular trips I've ever made! I am so glad that I can share my experience in Norway with you.

#bergen #norway #prestige #greenmountains #beautifulviews #fishmarket