We planned on using Bergen as a base for the famous Norway in a Nutshell trip to Flåm. In the end, we decided that journey felt like too much travel for too little payoff, so Bergen became more of a “pause and explore” stop. We spent one full day and two half days there — honestly, a little too long, but it gave us a chance to see the city at an easy pace. And we were super lucky – Bergen is known as Norway’s rainy city, and it was all sunshine for us!

Day 1: Bryggen and Mount Floyen

We arrived from Iceland midday and checked into our hotel. Rather than spend time having a fancy lunch, we decided to try Trekroneren, Bergen’s famous hot dog stand. I went for their specialty and had my first-ever reindeer hot dog!

After our quick lunch, we took the Floibanen funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen. Bergen is famous for its mountain views, and riding up to the top delivered. Sweeping vistas, a troll forest, and golden light made it worth it — especially at sunset.

Back in town, we wandered through Bryggen’s colorful wooden houses, the fish market, and downtown. It’s a compact city, so strolling around is an easy way to get oriented.

Day 2: Boats, Breakdowns, and Mountain Views

After weeks of early mornings, we finally allowed ourselves a lazy start. Coffee and pastries set the tone before we set off for a Viking sailboat experience. It sounded perfect — out on the fjords, sails up, a dose of history.

Instead, the boat’s motor failed halfway out. We drifted, waited, and eventually got rescued by the fire department, who towed us back to land. Not exactly the adventure we imagined, but it made for a fun travel story!

We ended up getting towed near the Fisheries Museum, where a friendly local pointed us toward a scenic walking route back into town and recommended a great lunch stop at Dr. Wiesener. A spritz and hearty local food later, our spirits were restored.

In the afternoon, we headed for Bergen’s other big viewpoint: Ulriken. The cable car ride whisked us up the mountain for panoramic views — less crowded than the funicular, with a different perspective of the city and fjords. We did a little walk at the top and found sheep! We took tram back into town and ended the night with dinner at Namastey, a cozy Indian spot that hit the spot.

Day 3: Fjord Cruise

By the final morning, we were feeling “done” with Bergen but still had a few hours before our flight. We hopped on the Fjord cruise to Mostraumen for one last look at the scenery. It was pretty, though not the highlight we’d hoped — since you can’t go out on the front deck, getting good photos or videos was nearly impossible. The cruise setup felt like a passenger ferry to nowhere, and half the boat was sleeping! Can’t tell you this would make my recommendation list.

Final Thoughts

Bergen is charming and colorful, with those iconic Bryggen facades and surrounding mountains framing the city beautifully. But for us, two full days would have been plenty. It’s a great place to stretch your legs between fjord adventures. Between mountain sunsets, a quirky boat rescue, and plenty of good coffee and pastries, Bergen left us with memories worth the stop.