Luxury holidays in Bergen

Back in the 12th and 13th centuries, Bergen was Norway’s capital, until King Håkon V moved to Oslo and took the title with him. But, ultimately, Bergen won out in the beauty stakes. Nestled in a valley surrounded by seven forested hills, and the gateway to the fjords, it’s where people come to explore the city then promptly leave it. But, even against the monster-mountain gorges the fjords cleave prettily through, and nature trails of uncommon majesty, the city’s charms shine. A Christmas card of historic houses line the waterfront, it’s home to the world’s largest cultural collection in Scandinavia, its music legacy is strong, from Grieg to Ole Bull to Kings of Convenience, and its gastronomic clout is mighty, from sweet brown goat’s cheese, lamb reared on the slopes and all the treasures to be trawled. Bergen’s still capital in our opinion.
See All Hotels

Recommended offers

See our boutique hotel deals

When to go

Due to the surrounding mountains, Bergen exists in a rain shadow, so you could get showers at any time of year, but summer stays on a more even keel from May to August.

Getting there

  • Planes

    Bergen Flesland Airport serves the city, about a 20-minute drive from the centre. It has direct routes all over Europe and one to New York, and from here you can easily ride the bus or light railway into the city centre.

  • Trains

    Bergen Station has arrivals from major cities in the country – the six-hour ride from Oslo to Bergen offers particularly spectacular scenes.

  • Automobiles

    You won’t need a car in the city, it’s compact and very walkable, but you might want to hire one for heading out into the hills and beyond (take extra precautions in the icy winters).