BERGEN

Whenever we go on holiday we do the guidebooks, we look at all the websites, but when we actually get there we have to do all the finding-out that many people have done before. We don't want you to have to duplicate our work. So while this page isn't everything about Bergen, it's the things that might save you a bit of time.

• There are 12 NOK to the pound. Dividing by 12 is annoying, but develops good mental strategies at Level 5.
• The station is very small, but the ticket office is an ideal place to buy your Bergen Card and Norway In A Nutshell tickets
• Radisson SAS Hotel Norge
  • It's very central and you can walk with your cases from the station round the lake, though you may prefer to take a taxi.
  • The fitness centre has a swimming pool, get a key from reception.
  • There is a library (not very good books), a bar, and an activity room with table tennis, table football and Playstation.
• Sightseeing
  • The Bergen Card gets you into almost everything free. 165 NOK for 24 hours, 245 NOK for 48 hours. Only buy it when you want to start using it.
  • The Floyen funicular runs from 7.30am every half an hour. For a fun ride, catch the 'kindergarten express' at 8.30am weekdays.
  • Bergen Art Museum on the lake is in three buildings. The main one requires you to put bags in lockers (10 NOK required).
  • Norway In A Nutshell is a must. Pick up leaflets and timetables and plan which time you want to travel. We recommend doing Flamsbana then boat then bus.
  • If you're really adventurous, combine the Nutshell tour with travelling between Bergen and Oslo - it saves doing the same 2 hour journey twice. You may have difficulty with heavy cases.
• Shopping
  • While the shops on Bryggen are very nice, watch out for getting short-changed - this happened to us twice in one day
  • The main shopping centres are Galleriet in the centre of town, and Storcenter near the station. They have good supermarkets and cheap eateries.
• Eating out
  • Dolly Dimples has many branches. You eat with your hands unless you ask for cutlery. The pizzas are big and one 40cm pizza will do for 2 people.
  • Pasta Basta is pricey (140 NOK main course) but the food is far better presented than most Italian restaurants. The one on Torget does excellent 'Tagliatelle alla marinara', and the tiramisu is fabulous.
  • MacDonald's and Burger King are all over town. A 'menu' i.e. meal deal, is usually 70 NOK