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Bergen

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.

Anchored fishing boat and historic facades, Bryggen. bergen, boat, bryggen, canon 600d, dock, norway, travel

Tiago Batista/500px

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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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