Tag: Norway

Bergen Sentrum and Funicular to Mount Floyen
I went on to check out Fantoft Stavkirke the next morning before exploring around Bergen Sentrum area. The ride from Byparken to Fantoft via Bergen Light Rail took less than thirty minutes. But finding the way from the Light Rail stop to Fantoft Stavkirke is another story. I did not see any clear signage until much later of the way. So I have to ask the Meny Groceries Storeâ€™s staff for the direction initially. It took another fifteen minutes for me to locate the distinctive-looking church.
However, Fantoft Stavkirke is only open during 15th May to 15th September so I did not get a chance to see its interior. The church also suffered the ill fate of being burnt down like some of the worldâ€™s famous wooden structures. Thankfully it was reconstructed else it would be such a waste.
Bergen Sentrum
Right next to Byparken Light Rail stop is an octagonal-shaped lake in the centre of the city. There are also a few Arts museums facing the peaceful Smalungeren Lake.
One thing I like about Nordic building style is the use of bright colours. See the colourful houses at Marken, a pedestrian street and those at Kong Oscar Gate.
Bergen Sentrum is a lively place with many shops and malls. But thankfully it is not a super crowded kind of street. There was an ongoing marching parade while I am here, which is a nice surprise.
Right at the end of the street is the towering Johanneskirken (St. John’s Church).
Funicular to Mount Floyen
Bergen has seven mountains known for its hiking trails and spectacular views. And among them, it is possible to reach the top of Mount Floyen via Funicular and Mount Ulriken via cable car. I would love to try both but Ulriken cable car was closed for maintenance during my visit. Well, at least I still get to ride on one. Mount Floyen funicular station is conveniently located near to Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf.
The Funicular ride up from Bergen to Floyen takes less than ten minutes.
The sweeping views of the fjords and surrounding are indeed spectacular at 320 meters or 1050 feet above sea level. I can only imagine the view from Ulriken at 643 meters (2109 feet). Not taking anything away from Mount Floyen, I am captivated by the scenic views of Bergen and the mountains from the top. It is totally worthwhile to be here!
There are many locals who live in the houses along the side of the mountain, so the funicular is one of their transport modes too. It is possible to take the mountain paths which will lead back to the city too.
There are restaurant, souvenir shop and a playground up here and a seemingly friendly Troll to welcome all :).
And if possible, stay a bit later to see the city lighting up. I did just that and was blown away by the beauty of Bergen at night. This was a nice way to conclude my stay in Bergen before moving on to Stavanger next.
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What are your thoughts about Bergen Sentrum and Mount Floyen? Leave a comment and share it with me.
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October 6, 2017
Bergen and Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf
It was a rainy morning when I left for airport to catch my flight to Bergen. The friendly bus driver mentioned that he would love to visit Singapore in the near future. And the casual conversation made the short bus ride to Bodo airport a very pleasant one. The plane was the smallish Bombardier Dash 8 again and a pain to stuff my Deuter backpack underneath the seat. But not that bad since it is a mere 2 hoursâ€™ flight between the two cities. The Wideroe plane landed at Bergen Airport and I was greeted coldly by Mr. Rain. I made my way to Bergen Centre where my hotel is located via the Airport Express Bus.
The Fish Market (Fisketorget) is hard to miss given its central location and right across from Scandic Strand Hotel where I am staying. All the stalls have a nice and enticing display of fresh seafood with great variety. It’s probably rather pricey to buy from here since it is after all a main tourist attraction. However, he freshly caught seafood here is undeniable fresh though hence still worth a try!
Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf
The waterfront city is Norwayâ€™s second largest city and known to be the Gateway to magnificent Fjords. It is also one of the stops in the popular Norway in a Nutshell trip to take in the beautiful western fjords by train, boat and bus. And the most iconic landmark of Bergen is none other than Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf. The brightly painted and slightly crooked wooden buildings against the mountains as backdrop are beautiful.
The Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf with its colourful and wooden buildings is listed as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. All these are actually reconstructed due to a fire which destroyed almost everything. Gone are the German merchants and in their places are souvenir stores, shops, restaurants and museums. It’s funny that most people are only interested about the waterfront buildings and leaving out the nice narrow alleyways. Whereas I find these other wooden buildings and little shops to be equally interesting.
The Bryggen wharf area is equally charming in the night.
Bergenhus Fortress
I did a quick visit to Bergenhus Fortress which is near to Bryggen. The defensive fortification is now mostly being used for public events.
STAY: Scandic Strand Hotel review
Scandic Strand Hotel is right across to the Fish Market and overlooking the beautiful Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf. And being right at the central area means short walking distance to many attraction sites. The hotel staffs whom I met were friendly and helpful. The small basic roomâ€™s comfort level was passable at best but the condition was quite bad and in need of a makeover. Itâ€™s hard to justify the high room price if not for the location. I would not mind staying here again but I do hope the room will get refurbished by then.
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What are your thoughts about Bergen and Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf? Leave a comment and share it with me.
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October 2, 2017