Bergen, Norway - Norway, Fjords & Baltic Cruises

See the main sights of Bergen followed by a piano recital of Grieg’s music in the inspiring surroundings of his home.

See the old medieval city, including the 13th-century King Håkon's Hall, the 16th-century Rosenkrantz Tower, and Bryggen, a major trading centre for the medieval Hanseatic League. Pass the open-air fish market at Torget and Grieg Hall, the city's concert hall. Enjoy the surrounding sights of green slopes and ragged mountains as you drive through suburbs, with well kept houses and gardens, to Troldhaugen.

Troldhaugen, beautifully situated at the Nordås Lake, was home to the late Edvard Grieg. Grieg (1843 1907) was a composer, pianist and conductor with his first piano debut being at the age of 18. Norwegian folk music, nature and the delightful scenery of Norway inspired him to create the most beautiful pieces of music.

A special piano recital in the ‘Troldsal’, a unique style concert hall with turf roof, will immerse you in the exquisite sounds of Grieg's music. After the recital, there will be a guided tour of Grieg’s house and gardens where you will see many of the original furnishings including a Steinway grand piano, which was an anniversary gift in 1892. Before departing Troldhaugen, there will be the opportunity to visit the information centre which sells books, CD’s and other Grieg memorabilia.

Note: There is a total of 30 minutes’ walking with some steps and gravel terrain. Photography is not permitted inside the house. The itinerary may operate in reverse. If the ship is berthed at Dokken or Jekteviken Pier the journey will include a tunnel.

Enjoy a leisurely cruise along the scenic fjord followed by a guided walking tour of the picturesque Hanseatic Quarter.

Step aboard your boat for a scenic cruise, lasting approximately 1½ hours, along the beautiful fjords. Beginning on the Byford, you’ll travel between the surrounding archipelago of the Bjorøyna, Lerøyna and Tyssøyna islands, under the Askøybridge and along the Lysefjord. After relaxing and soaking up the scenery on board, a coach awaits to take you on a drive through the suburbs and city centre to Bryggen.

Bryggen is a living illustration of the city’s history, with 61 protected Hanseatic buildings. Enjoy a guided walk through the alleyways and colourful, picturesque warehouses lining the street and waterfront. These once housed German merchants belonging to the Hanseatic League who settled in Bergen around 1350.

As you stroll through the narrow passages and along the dark covered balconies, you’ll be transported back through the centuries. Bryggen is not a museum, it is living cultural heritage. Today these buildings, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, house shops, restaurants, cafés and artists’ workshops.

Note: The guided walk is approximately 30 minutes over level cobbled terrain. There are a few steps and a steep gradient to board the boat.

Admire the lovely fjord landscape as you delight your taste buds with fresh seafood prepared by one of the finest chefs in Bergen.

A short transfer through the city centre of Bergen will bring you to the small harbour where you will board a comfortable modern boat for your Byfjord cruise of the Bergen archipelago and the peninsula of Nordnes. Your guide for the tour will be the local ‘sea cowboy’, Alf Roald Sætre also known as ‘Oyster Dundee’ – Alf is a very colourful character and will bring his hometown to life with his flamboyant tales.

On arrival at the small private island of Holmen you will be welcomed with a glass of wine and an appetiser before beginning your ‘seafood safari’ where you will be shown an array of fresh lobster, crab, scallops, langoustines and other shellfish. You will be given seafood demonstrations, watch the daily catch being processed and taste smoked salmon straight from the oven before adjourning to the unique and renowned Cornelius Seafood Restaurant where you will be greeted by a freshly caught sumptuous seafood buffet. Savour your delicious luncheon whilst you admire the picturesque views of the fjord and surrounding landscape.

You will have exclusive access to the restaurant and its surroundings for the duration of the tour making it a truly unforgettable dining experience.

Note: The island is only accessible by boat. The boat ride is approximately 25 minutes each way. There are 12 steps to access the toilet.

Take a funicular up Mount Fløien for panoramic views over the city followed by a leisurely drive past the main sights of Bergen.

Leaving the port your drive will take you past the medieval King Håkon's Hall and Rosenkrantz Tower. The route then continues along Bryggen, the hanseatic quarter of Bergen, with its old, picturesque wooden buildings to the funicular station of Fløibanen.

The funicular will take you on a short journey to the top of Mount Fløien, one of the seven hills that surround Bergen and stands at a height of around 1,050 feet. There will be free time to purchase souvenirs or to just sit and enjoy the bird’s eye view of Bergen and the fjord, before taking the funicular back to the bottom.

Back on board your coach, you will head past the famous fish market and on towards the peninsula of Nordnes, with its typical 19th century, white-painted wooden houses and splendid views on both sides of the port.

Note: The walk from the coach to the funicular is approximately 100 yards. Queues may be experienced at the funicular station, due to the popularity of this attraction. There is no place to store wheelchairs on the funicular. The views from Mount Fløien may be affected by adverse weather conditions. If the ship is berthed at Dokken or Jekteviken Pier, the route will include a tunnel. The itinerary order may operate in reverse.

See the main sights of Bergen before ascending the city’s most impressive mountain by cable car, to view the city from above.

Bergen is known as the city between seven mountains, and Mount Ulriken is the highest and most spectacular of these. At 2,109 feet above sea level, the view from the top offers a magnificent panorama of the city, coastal landscape, fjords and mountains.

As you take a leisurely drive through Bergen to the cable car, your guide will point out the interesting landmarks such as the Grieghallen, fish market, Bryggen and the Nordes Peninsula.

At the cable car station you’ll board your gondola for the seven minute ride to reach the top. As you ascend you will be able to see views of Norway’s second largest city stretching out below you. On arrival at the summit of Mount Ulriken, refreshments of coffee or tea and a slice of cake will be served in the stylish new restaurant, whilst you relax and enjoy the panoramic views.

Note: There is a walk of approximately 200 yards over uneven terrain and 20 steps at the cable car station. There is standing room only in the gondolas, and each one will accommodate up to 25 people. The views may be affected by certain weather conditions, however the tour will still operate except when the cable car closes due to strong winds. There are 15 steps to access the toilets in the restaurant. If the ship is berthed at Dokken or Jekteviken Pier, the journey will include a tunnel. The itinerary order may operate in reverse.

Enjoy a day of breathtaking scenery as you pass cascading waterfalls, scenic fjords, jagged mountains and quaint villages.

Begin your day with a drive past many of Bergen’s highlights including the Bergenhus Fortress, Rosenkrantz Tower, fish market and the Hanseatic buildings of Bryggen.

Heading inland, you will pass Lake Kaland and the village of Os, before reaching Hatvik for a ferry ride across the fjord to Venjaneset. There will be a stop to visit the tiny wooden structure of Holdhus Old Church.

As you approach Mundheim, the beautiful Hardangerfjord will come into view, it is undoubtedly one of the prettiest Norwegian fjords. An hour-long scenic drive will take you along its shores offering panoramic views of orchards and villages framed by the surrounding snow-capped mountain peaks. On a clear day you will have views of the Folgefonna Glacier.

There will be a stop at Steinsdalfossen Waterfall, whose falls arc away from the mountainside. If you wish you can walk behind the curtain of water without getting wet. Back onboard the coach a series of tunnels will take you up the Tokagjel Gorge, before descending to the Sørfjord for views of Osterøy Island.

During the day, you’ll enjoy a delicious Norwegian buffet luncheon at a local village hotel.

Note: The majority of the sightseeing is seen from the comfort of the coach. Photographs are not permitted inside Holdhus Old Church. The waterfall walk involves a steep gravelled road, however it is optional. Comfortable, enclosed footwear is recommended for the gravel paths. This tour involves tunnels. Please dress according to the weather.

Experience the sights, sounds and smells of a vintage railway as a steam train carries you along in its restored teak carriages.

The Old Voss Line is the only preserved railway in Norway where the steam locomotives and teak carriages still run on a main line track. It was originally constructed in 1883 as a narrow gauge line, which formed part of the Bergen to Voss railway. In 1904 the line was upgraded to extend to Oslo and then electrified in 1954. It continued to serve as part of the Bergen to Oslo main line until it closed in 1964 when the Ulriken Tunnel opened.

The railway is now run by volunteers of the local branch of the Norwegian Railway Society. The service operates with a 1913 steam locomotive, which was restored by the society between 1981 and 1993.

Enjoy a nostalgic 45 minute ride on this lovely heritage railway which travels between Garnes and Midttun. The 11 mile journey passes through the Arna Valley towards Haukeland, where the scenery undertakes a change toward a more typical western Norwegian nature.

There will be time at Garnes Old Railway Station to browse the gift shop or explore the museum and railway area.

Note: The journey to the train station is approximately 50 minutes by coach. The walk from the coach to the station is approximately 220 yards and there are three high steps to embark the train. There is no place to store wheelchairs on the train. Guests are reminded that the train is vintage therefore the toilets will be basic and the windows may experience condensation in certain weather. The coach and train journey involves numerous tunnels.

Combine an interesting walking tour with a funicular ride up Mount Fløien for a lovely bird’s eye view over Bergen and the fjord.

Walk from the pier to Høyden, home to the University of Bergen Library and the Botanical Gardens. View some of the beautiful buildings in Bergen as you head to Grieg Concert Hall, built in the shape of a grand piano and inaugurated in 1978. Enter the city park, where many of the city’s art museums are located and pass the small Lille Lungegaardsvannet Lake and the city’s Town Hall.

Take a look at the fish market and the Byfjord, before reaching the famous Bryggen Hanseatic Quarters. Soak up the atmosphere in the narrow passages between the buildings. Continue past St Mary’s Church, the oldest building in Bergen still in use, and one of the outstanding Romanesque churches in the country.

You’ll soon reach Bergen’s oldest street, Øvregaten Street, to board the funicular for a ride to the top of Mount Fløien. This is one of the most popular recreational areas with spectacular views at 1,050 feet above sea level. You’ll return to the base of Mount Fløien by funicular.

At the end of the tour you can either return to the ship or opt to remain in town to explore further.

Note: Queues may be experienced at the funicular station, due to the popularity of this attraction. The views from Mount Fløien may be affected by adverse weather conditions. Flat, comfortable walking shoes and bottled water are recommended. Please dress according to the weather. The fish market may be closed on Sundays. The itinerary order may operate in reverse.