As the plane broke out of clouds in its final approach to Bergen Flesland airport, I had a bird’s eye view of the very scenic coastal fjords.
At the airport, it is not possible to exchange foreign currency to Norwegian Kroner. There are ATMs though. However one can pay for the taxi by credit card. Although there are cheaper options to travel to city centre, I chose to take the taxi as it was drizzling and I had luggage. It cost me ~INR 6k.
Bergen is the second largest town with a population of less than 300,000 and is located on the southwestern coast of Norway. It is also called the gateway to Fjords as it is surrounded by mountains and fjords. It is small town, with bulk of the attractions are within walking distance from city centre.
A couple of days is more than enough for a casual visit to many of the city sights though I must admit there is nothing very special about Bergen. Strolling around the Bryggen area(old wharf) with its colorful wooden buildings(a UNESCO heritage site), riding The Fløibanen Funicular that takes you up the Fløyen Mountain for panaromic views of the entire Bergen area, feeding ducks at Festplassen, window shopping around the main square, walking on narrow old cobbled streets and alleys lined by colorful wooden houses, shops and cafes are all part of any tourist’s itinerary.
I am sure one reason for Bergen’s popularity with tourists is its very convenient location for cruises to the Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord, Flam Railway and being the turnaround port for the Hurtigruten cruise.If you take ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ tour, it combines both the famous Flam rail journey and cruise through Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord in a day trip. It costs about ~INR 15k per person and includes only tickets by public transport. Including food/snacks, you will spend more. You can save some money by booking independently well in advance.
