The city of Bergen is surrounded by seven mountains and is based around its harbour. In the Bergenhus district there are well-preserved medieval buildings. On the other side of the harbour is the Klosteret area, which has beautiful 18th century wooden houses and charming alleys, where you can take a stroll out to the Nordnes peninsula. The city centre extends from the main square (Torget) to the Nygård area, where most of the shops and restaurants can be found. In the Middle Ages, Bergen was the largest city in Scandinavia and it wasn't until the 1830s that it was overtaken by Oslo.
Bergen retains its status as an important port city. Bergen was involved in trade with countries all over Europe and was awarded its city charter as long ago as 1070, by King Olav Kyrre. Contacts with the Hanseatic League allowed Bergen to export fish and import crucial supplies of grain. In the harbour, which is called Vågen, you can still see parts of the Bryggen, the old Hanseatic Wharf. The old wooden buildings are on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and have been damaged by fire several times.
Majestic mountains and heavenly fjords in Norway combine with the tranquil landscapes of Sweden on an epic journey that includes every great Scandinavian rail experience. On this exciting 16-day tour you'll visit the fascinating cities Oslo and Stockholm and travel beyond the Arctic Circle to the 'Land of the Midnight Sun.'
… see more16 days from $6,695 pp
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With their towering cliff faces, rugged rocky ledges and waterfalls that drop straight into the sea, the awe-inspiring Norwegian fjords really have to be seen to appreciate their beauty and majesty. On this fantastic tour we visit these natural wonders and cross spellbinding landscapes to visit Norway's magnificent cities.
… see more7 days
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Explore Denmark, Sweden and Norway on this truly spectacular overland rail adventure. We visit the region's three magnificent and lively capital cities, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo, Norway's awe-inspiring fjords and the wild landscapes north of the Arctic Circle in the 'Land of the Midnight Sun.'
… see more21 days
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The tour met our expectations although we enjoyed the Norway section the most. Our tour Manager was very efficient and ensured everything ran smoothly.
By Sukie Chapman
26 March 2018
Happiness seems like it's in short supply sometimes, which is why this week's annual announcement of the World Happiness Report may seem like a nice reminder that there are plenty of wonderful places all across the globe.
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By Sukie Chapman
17 November 2017
The world is a weird place. It’s not something we always appreciate as we go about our day-to-day lives, but every so often you learn something about this planet of ours, suspended in a potentially infinite cosmos, that makes you stop and pause for thought.
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By Peter Liney
25 August 2017
Welcome to the land of the midnight sun – where it really never does get dark in mid-summer. If you wait up late enough you can watch the sun graze the horizon, a blazing ball of orange, before it immediately starts to rise again.
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By Joel Draba-Mann
26 January 2016
A guide to the “Top 10 Must See Fjords to Add to the Bucket List”. We pick out the very best fjords in the world, ranging from the reaches of Scandinavia and the iceshelves of Greenland to the South American coast and the woodlands of New Zealand.
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Very well organised throughout and excellent value for money. Our tour guide, Ray Ellis, could not be faulted; he was extremely conscientious and worked very hard to ensure that everything went smoothly, down to the last detail.