Bergen, Oslo and Stavanger, Norway
Discussion
Anybody been to the above ? Might have 2/3 days in each, just wondering whether that is enough to see them.
Will be using the train to get between them as there are apparantly great scenic train trims between them.
Looks expensive so can't stay too long but willing to change plans for the right reason.
Will be using the train to get between them as there are apparantly great scenic train trims between them.
Looks expensive so can't stay too long but willing to change plans for the right reason.
All good in different ways.
In Stavanger many restaurants/bars are around the harbour area which makes it easy to visit several in one night, the Irish bar at the top of the hill was always good, and the closed sign in the tattoo shop next door amusing. Lots of good places to eat and drink but it is very much an 'oil' town, which is no problem for me as I could almost always find someone I knew to pass some time with.
Bergen is a lovely city, but a bit wet, it is surrounded by hills which probably has something to do with that.
The funicular to the top of Floyen is worth taking, I liked to take it up have a drink or coffee and cake at the top and walk down, close to the funicular station is the Bryggen area, which is all old wooden buildings and I think some heritage site. There is also a cable car up Ulriken which I never did but is supposed to be good.
Again lots of bars and restaurants around the harbour, Zacheriasbriggen at Torgett was a favourite haunt of mine, big bar with live music and a couple of smaller bars all under one roof.
The peninsula to the left looking out into the harbour is a nice place to spend some time, some good views from there, an open air swimming pool, an aquarium, and a topless sunbathing area, not that I took any notice.
Oslo being a big city is more cosmopolitan and has much more to see, a walk to and around Vigeland Park, also known as the Statue Park is worthwhile.
Karl Johans Gate is a street with lots of shops and a few good bars and leads to a big open sguare with shops and open air cafes, Karl Johans Square maybe, and further on the Royal Palace.
The harbour area has been developed and Aker Brigge again has lots of good bars and restaurants, you may have noticed that is where I spent much of my time in Norway, when not working of course.
You can take a boat from the Aker Brigge area across to Bygdoy (you can also drive but the boat is good) there are several museums there, I particularly liked the folk museum where they have brought buildings from all over Norway and set them up in an open museum. The Fram and Kon Tiki Museums are also there and worth visiting.
I hope you get good weather.
In Stavanger many restaurants/bars are around the harbour area which makes it easy to visit several in one night, the Irish bar at the top of the hill was always good, and the closed sign in the tattoo shop next door amusing. Lots of good places to eat and drink but it is very much an 'oil' town, which is no problem for me as I could almost always find someone I knew to pass some time with.
Bergen is a lovely city, but a bit wet, it is surrounded by hills which probably has something to do with that.
The funicular to the top of Floyen is worth taking, I liked to take it up have a drink or coffee and cake at the top and walk down, close to the funicular station is the Bryggen area, which is all old wooden buildings and I think some heritage site. There is also a cable car up Ulriken which I never did but is supposed to be good.
Again lots of bars and restaurants around the harbour, Zacheriasbriggen at Torgett was a favourite haunt of mine, big bar with live music and a couple of smaller bars all under one roof.
The peninsula to the left looking out into the harbour is a nice place to spend some time, some good views from there, an open air swimming pool, an aquarium, and a topless sunbathing area, not that I took any notice.
Oslo being a big city is more cosmopolitan and has much more to see, a walk to and around Vigeland Park, also known as the Statue Park is worthwhile.
Karl Johans Gate is a street with lots of shops and a few good bars and leads to a big open sguare with shops and open air cafes, Karl Johans Square maybe, and further on the Royal Palace.
The harbour area has been developed and Aker Brigge again has lots of good bars and restaurants, you may have noticed that is where I spent much of my time in Norway, when not working of course.
You can take a boat from the Aker Brigge area across to Bygdoy (you can also drive but the boat is good) there are several museums there, I particularly liked the folk museum where they have brought buildings from all over Norway and set them up in an open museum. The Fram and Kon Tiki Museums are also there and worth visiting.
I hope you get good weather.
While in Stavanger you might want to look into a tour to Prekestolen (Preacher's Rock) that hangs precariously above Lysefjord, supposedly the most beautiful fjord in Norway. It's a 2 hourish hike up from the parking area to this cubic lump of granite sticking out of the cliffs above the fjord. Lovely place, and going there has got to be cheaper than drinking in Stavanger!
Preikestollen is a good call, well worth seeing.
You can also take a boat trip up Lysefjord and see Preikestolen from below, though it is more impressive from the top, if you are up for walking you could also do Monofossen, it is an impressive waterfall but it is a bit of a climb to get to it.
600m straight down to the fjord
You can also take a boat trip up Lysefjord and see Preikestolen from below, though it is more impressive from the top, if you are up for walking you could also do Monofossen, it is an impressive waterfall but it is a bit of a climb to get to it.
600m straight down to the fjord
YankeePorker said:
I just watched that Noggie film "The Wave" about a tsunami in a fjord due to a rock fall, made me think about Prekestolen! It'll make quite a splash the day it falls....
Don't think I'll be watching that as I'm just about to join a boat !!Very wet here in Bergen.........
If you go to Bergen, investigate the day long boat trips up the fjords - i did one last year that was only about £120/person which took you to Flam, then you got the amazing mountain railway past some spectacular waterfalls, then get a train back to Bergen. A great trip, chance to walk around at a few ports, and just stunning scenery. Think it was this one https://www.norled.no/en/fjordcruise/sognefjorden-...
Norway is beautiful, and has such varied landscapes. I've done business trips to Trondheim and Tromso , and if you get a clear day the flights from Oslo give you a huge range of scenes. Part of it is like flying over the moon, all twisted rocks etc.
Also- if you are an epicurean, i'd recommend booking the Restaurant Cornelius. http://corneliusrestaurant.no/english/
It's about £200-250 a head, but this includes some drinks and the ferry trip up the fjord to the tiny private island the restaurant inhabits.
Incredible food, service and views to die for. In spring or summer, you pick up the ferry about 6.30 and return to Bergen hardour 11pm ish, and it's still perfect daylight. Fantastic sunsets to be seen too.
Norway is beautiful, and has such varied landscapes. I've done business trips to Trondheim and Tromso , and if you get a clear day the flights from Oslo give you a huge range of scenes. Part of it is like flying over the moon, all twisted rocks etc.
Also- if you are an epicurean, i'd recommend booking the Restaurant Cornelius. http://corneliusrestaurant.no/english/
It's about £200-250 a head, but this includes some drinks and the ferry trip up the fjord to the tiny private island the restaurant inhabits.
Incredible food, service and views to die for. In spring or summer, you pick up the ferry about 6.30 and return to Bergen hardour 11pm ish, and it's still perfect daylight. Fantastic sunsets to be seen too.
Stavanger's pretty small, you'll get round most of what it has to offer fairly quickly. Bergen's a much nicer town, but IMO you don't go to Norway for the towns.
Preikestollen is well worth a visit, and there's loads of other really good walks
If you're travelling by train Flåm is well worth a visit. The main station is the hills above it and there's a really scenic train ride down to the town. They have a brewery (not cheap but the £15/bottle aged beer is bloody lovely), and the Fjord safari is worth doing (RIB ride up the Fjord)
Preikestollen is well worth a visit, and there's loads of other really good walks
If you're travelling by train Flåm is well worth a visit. The main station is the hills above it and there's a really scenic train ride down to the town. They have a brewery (not cheap but the £15/bottle aged beer is bloody lovely), and the Fjord safari is worth doing (RIB ride up the Fjord)
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