How to Find Luxury Hotels in Bergen, Norway

Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, and has traditionally been an important center for fishing. It is also a culturally and historically rich city, the burial place of several Norwegian kings and the home of an assortment of music festivals throughout the year.

Instructions

Sleep in Bergen, Norway

1. To book accommodations, contact Bergen Tourist Board at 011 ([phone] or visit the Web site (see Resources below). Jump into the center of things. The city center of Bergen is home to many three- and four-star hotels. Look for unique names on the hotels, rather than chains. The true luxury accommodations of Bergen, Norway are not chain hotels.

2. Go independent. Large, independently run establishments are your best bets for snagging true luxury accommodations in Bergen. As an added bonus, many of these hotels have their own gourmet restaurants on site, where you can experience nightly world-class dining as part of your Bergen adventure.

3. Enjoy the view from the window of your luxury accommodations. Bergen is surrounded by many beautiful mountains, some of which have observation areas at the top where you can climb to see a spectacular view of the city and surrounding countryside.

See the Sights in Bergen, Norway

1. Take lots of pictures. Bergen, Norway is a city of both deep history and natural beauty. There are an abundance of ancient churches, forts and houses to see, as well as museums throughout the city.

2. Sample local cuisine at Bergen's daily fish market. Aside from a staggering variety of fresh fish, you'll also find other local foods and souvenirs.

Get around in Bergen, Norway

1. Go on foot: the best way to get around in Bergen is by walking. The city is small and has natural boundaries created by the landscape, situated as it is between two fjords and seven mountains. You can walk across the city in 20 minutes in any direction.

2. Ride the bus. For those who don't want to walk, or who can't, a free bus service goes through downtown Bergen every 10 minutes, 6 days a week during the day. There are cabs, as well, but they are expensive, and don't pick up passengers. Instead, you have to find where the cabs are parked and get one there.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes you don't have to go far to find quality lodging. The Bergen airport hosts several 3- and 4-star hotels, so look there first if your trip is very short.

• If you want to take a cab in Bergen, know that they are expensive and don't pick up passengers. Instead, you have to find where the cabs are parked and get one there.

• Bergen is a very rainy city, averaging about 260 rainy days a year. The best times to visit are during the late spring and summer, especially May. From October through April, expect lots and lots of rain, so be sure to bring suitable clothing for the weather.