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Bergen

Norway

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Bergen, Norway

Overview

Surrounded by seven hills and seven fjords, Bergen is a beguiling city. During the early Middle Ages, it was an important seaport and a member of the Hanseatic League, as well as Norway's capital – a heritage that can still be glimpsed in the beautifully preserved wooden buildings of Bryggen, now protected as a Unesco World Heritage site. Chocolate-box, clapperboard houses creep up the hillsides, ferries flit around the fjords, and a cluster of excellent art museums provide a welcome detour, and not only in case Bergen's notoriously fickle weather sets in. Meanwhile, a large student population ensures the city has a buzzy bar scene and nightlife, and easy access to nature means you're minutes away from complete tranquillity.

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  1. 1Witnessing the colorful choreography of the Arctic's Northern Lights
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Best Things to Do

With a medieval harbor, gorgeous scenery, and exciting food and live music, Bergen is one of the most appealing cities in Norway – and all of Scandinavia.


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