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TR: Bergen (Norway) in 2 1/2 days (September 2024)

Part of my Scandinavia trip in early September 2024 which included Copenhagen, Bergen and Stockholm. (Links to trip reports)

Monday: After 4 hot dry days in Copenhagen, I got light rain to the airport. I arrived in Bergen with a downpour at 1pm. My hotel was really close to the last stop of the #1 Bybanen (light rail), so it was an easy journey from the airport. I stayed at the Thon Bristol Hotel which I highly recommend. It was a bit colorful decor, but the room was spacious and the breakfast (included on my price) was amazing! I dropped my bag at the hotel and went out to explore. The hotel was a couple blocks from the southern end of the Fish Market. It was cold with light rain. I stopped at a store to buy a set of gloves and hat with the Norway flag (it was on my plan to do so), then found a cafe to grab a quick lunch and tea. The rain had stopped so I took the funicular up Mt Floyen. What a view! It was cloudy and misty, so I went to the bar up at the top and enjoyed a glass of wine. As I was about to head to the funicular to go down, the rain stopped and you could see it would be a beautiful sunset. So I lingered. And so glad I did! I stayed for another hour just admiring the sunset and view (and taking several photos). I might have taken one of the last funiculars down with my heart full. I was exhausted and cold, and it was dark and rainy again. I ended up just grabbing some chicken nuggets at a fast food place (don't judge) next to my hotel.

Tuesday: Started my day with the incredible breakfast at the hotel: fresh smoothies, Nespresso machine and regular coffee, several options for vegetarians and gluten free, and yummy pastries. I grabbed a few pastries and fruit to go for my tour. When I planned my Scandinavia trip, a must for me was to see the fjords. I didn't want to visit Oslo, NiN wasn't top of list for me, and I'm not that passionate about trains. So I booked this full day tour roundtrip from Bergen and it was beyond my expectations. I highly recommend Fjordrive and their Nærøyfjorden tour. I don't know if I'm allowed to link here but you can search online. We left Bergen in a small van at 8am with heavy rain. God listened to my prayers as the weather cleared out for the tour with beautiful blue skies! We stopped at Tvindefossen waterfall, Gudvangen, hopped on cruise to Flam, Stegastein Viewpoint, and our driver/guide made several stops for restroom/coffee and for pictures too. It is a long day and lots of driving, but traveling solo with short time, it was the easiest way for me to explore the scenery and a cruise in the fjords, and visit the viewpoint (a must!). It started to rain again as we were driving back to Bergen. Most people in the van napped, I just stared at the window and the rainbows thinking how luck I am to be here! We arrived back in Bergen closer to 6-7pm (I don't remember, honestly). I finished this special day with dinner at one of the stands at the Fish Market (they have seating area covered with tents).

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Wednesday: I took the day to just explore Bergen on foot, photography and to do some souvenir shopping. On and off rain all day. And cold! I loved the Christmas shop (Julehuset) but it was packed with people on a rush to return to their ship. I got a few small stuffed animals (Nordic theme) for my kid - they are very high quality. Also some interesting table ornaments and a few to hang on my tree but nothing breakable. Everything fit in my backpack. I also had an issue with a few of my nails that got split few day before in Copenhagen and had gotten worse. I went to a mall next to my hotel and got a quick and most expensive manicure of my life. Then off to explore some more. I enjoyed a reindeer hotdog at the Trekroneren stand for lunch, had the best cookie and hot chocolate at Fjak Chocolate Cafe mid-afternoon, and a very simple and early dinner at a casual restaurant near my hotel (Hagelin Sisters).

Thursday: I left my hotel in the morning after a great breakfast, walked a block to the #1 Bybanen (under heavy rain), and off to airport for a flight to Stockholm.

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Additional notes:

Bergen is a really charming town and I think I would have appreciated it even more if I had more clear skies, it was on and off rain all day, every day. Cobblestone streets get very slippery.

The town is small and it gets quickly packed with cruise passengers as I experienced at a store. You can cover a lot on foot, but it gets hilly, not flat like in Copenhagen or Stockholm.

I found Norway/Bergen to be the most expensive place of my trip. I usually travel on a budget with a few splurges here and there. I love a good hotel breakfast that keeps me going and the Thon Bristol Hotel delivered on that front. I thought it was very well located too.

Buying ticket for the light rail was a bit confusing. You tap your card and it "stores" the ticket. I didn't get any notification so I tapped again before boarding at a pay station. Later I saw 2 charges.

The salted caramel cookie at Fjak was to die for! Small place, gets crowded but the hot chocolate hit the spot on a cold and rainy day.
I also had several yummy fish soup throughout my stay.