About Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, situated on the Western coast, surrounded by mountains and the sea. In summer it is a popular tourist destination. Bryggen on the waterfront, with its houses from Hansa times, is protected as a World Cultural Heritage monument. Other attractions in the historic city center are the fish market and harbor, the aquarium, the funicular Fløibanen, the cablecar Ulriksbanen, the Hanseatic museum and several other historical and art museums. In summer there are several concert series.
Outdours activities in Western Norway, where summer temperatures are moderate, include boating, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, paragliding, rafting, wildflower photography, picking berries, etc. Bergen has a tourist information office which offers free maps and guidebooks to visitors, provides information about sights, tours and events, sells tickets, books and souvenirs, etc.
The official language of Norway is Norwegian, with Sami an official minority language, but most people also understand English. While some of the Norwegian way of life remains anchored in tradition, Norway is a modern, well-to-do country with a high per-capita income. Its tourism industry is highly developed and offers a wide range of services to visitors. Norway has a level of infrastructure similar to the rest of Northern Europe, with good transportation, telecommunications and medical care.
Bergen is an excellent starting point for hiking, fishing, or other sports activities. The city is also a good starting point for longer trips in Norway. The fjords in Western Norway are rated at the top of the National Geographic's worldwide list of most attractive sustainable tourism destinations. A popular day trip from Bergen to the fjords is Norway in a Nutshell. There is a famous coastal liner (Hurtigruten) to the North Cape and a railroad line (Bergensbanen) over the mountains to Oslo.