Returning to Sky Princess and doing a similar itinerary a year on around the Norwegian Fjords felt like a bit of risk but luckily it paid off with a stop off in Bergen. Although it’s one of Europe’s wettest cities, there’s still plenty to explore in this charming Norwegian town!
After a day and a half at sea, starting in Southampton, the first stop of our cruise was on the horizon – if you could see through the fog! Before departing, we’d researched what to do and decided to board the Floibanen Funicular, visit the fish market and stroll around Bryggen.
Floibanen Funicular: A journey to the clouds
Ahead of starting our journey, we had pre-booked tickets directly through the Floyen website, costing 200 NOK per person which works out at around $22 or £16. Little did we know at the time the weather would be against us – we’re sure you could have got the tickets on the day but we’d got excited and booked in advance! An easy 10-15 minute walk from the cruise port gets you to the base station and with pre-booked tickets you can walk straight in and await your ride to ascend to the top of Mount Fløyen. (It’s worth noting you don’t have to book a particular time slot.) 320m above sea level in under 8 minutes; trains departing every 10-15 minutes.
As mentioned already, the weather wasn’t brilliant, with heavy rain which really limited the panoramic views across Norway’s second biggest city. The cloud did briefly break to allow us get those all important shots of the city and of course our ship.
After walking around for a little while and visiting the shop we decided to call it a day and head back down due to the weather and visit the next stop in our plan. This was obviously a real shame as there were many hikes to do at the top which we would have enjoyed. Amongst other things, you can meet the locals – the goats – and also play on Bergen’s best playground. There are also cafes and restaurants at the top of the mountain but keep in mind a beer works out at around £10!
Bryggen
The UNESCO-listed harbour area is where you’ll find the iconic colourful wooden buildings and alleyways containing a range of shops to buy the all important merch and souvenirs, along with bars and restaurants. Due to being soaked at the top of Mount Floyen, we decided to visit O’Connells Irish bar to dry off and try the local beer along with a snack to keep us going – it was just like being in Dublin to be honest!
Once we were ready to face the weather again, we made our way through the wooden alleyways to look around the shops and then take in another landmark: St Mary’s Church.
Fishmarket
The famous fishmarket is easily found as you make your way either to the funicular or Bryggen with the striking red tents really standing out. Here you can browse the fresh fish or even sit down for a meal to sample the locally caught seafood.
Other food options include plenty of independent bakeries and cafes along with a hot dog stand serving up ‘the world’s best hot dog’.
We’d love to visit the “Gateway to the Fjords” again as Bergen certainly holds a certain charm, perhaps with the weather being a little kinder to us!
For The Love Of Cruise 