Norway with the family is guaranteed fun! Bergen with children is a great adventure through Viking history
Traveling to Norway as a family is like immersing yourself in a fairy tale, especially if you're going to Bergen with a child. There are trolls everywhere, Viking history is latent and the mountains that rise from the sea make for a unique setting, the famous fjords.
Bergen is the gateway to the Norwegian fjords and a great option for those who want to learn about Norway's early history. The main reason is that you can still see wooden houses from when Bergen was still the country's capital. This position passed to Oslo in 1299, but Bergen is still Norway's second largest city.
History and nature are completely immersed in Bergen, but family fun is also present! Our little one enjoyed the science museum, the aquarium and our walks around the city! So get your pen out and write down some tips on what to do in Bergen with a child.
Bergen in Winter
We went to Bergen in winter, and despite being a rainy city, it ended up being a little warmer than the capital Oslo. On none of the days we were there did it get below freezing, while in Oslo it was about -5 degrees.
We always went out with waterproof jackets and we were ready for anything!
Bergen is one of the rainiest cities in the world, with an average of 250 rainy days a year! But even if it does rain, you can still enjoy the day.
However, it's worth taking a look at the museums you want to visit, as many of them are closed at this time of year, and the parks aren't as flowery as at other times.
The plus side of going to Bergen in winter is that you get to see a different landscape, with the fjords frozen over and the city emptier. On our trip we were practically alone, but of course I want to go back in spring or summer too! After all, I want to do the famous Trolltunga trail, which is impossible in winter.
Tourist Information Center
It's next to the fish market, right in the center of town, and it's where you can pick up maps, information and buy the Bergen Card, which entitles you to free entry or great discounts at more than 30 museums and attractions around the city, as well as a free bus.
Fish Market
For those who want to try some local cuisine on the cheap, this is a great option. This is where we ate on many occasions when we were in the center of Bergen.
For those traveling to Bergen with children, the fish market turns out to be great for a delicious and quick meal, as it has fish and chips at a good price.
Another tip for those who want to save money is: If you buy to go, it's even cheaper, but we prefer to eat there, as there are tables, water and heaters, laughs, although the temperatures in Bergen are milder than Oslo, they are still cold.
Vilvite Bergen - Science museum
Vilvite is the Bergen Science Museum, simply fantastic! Completely technological, we had a lot of fun. Igor even stood on his head pedaling a bicycle and Emmanuel beat me at table soccer with his brain! Wow!
Yes, I said that this was the most technological science museum I've ever been to. In one of the attractions, we put sensors on our heads and when we speak, or emit any brain wave, the little ball moves, or not! Emmanuel managed to beat me in this contest, it was simply sensational and very educational for teaching children how things work.
Of course, there are lots of things to do in the museum, such as riding a motorcycle with a speed wind simulator, or becoming a goalkeeper. You can also give orders to a robot or understand how chain reactions work. The Bergen Science Museum is simply sensational!
To get to Vilvite from the center, we took a bus, as we were in a hurry, but if you go to the city in spring or summer, take the day to go for a walk and enjoy the parks along the way.
Aquarius - Akvariet
The Bergen aquarium has a very strong ecological footprint. It has been in operation since 1960 and all the animals there were either born in captivity or rescued from mistreatment.
We were delighted with all their care, in some of the areas you can see a complete representation of the seabed, in garbage taken from the ocean. Emmanuel was very impressed by this and it came from him to say that this couldn't happen and he would deal with it one day when he got older.
I think that introducing these species to children and promoting this kind of thinking is essential for the growth of a conscious individual. I really liked the way the Bergen aquarium promotes this kind of reflection on conservation and biodiversity.
There's no doubt that if you're going to Bergen with children, you should visit the aquarium, not least because there's also a very nice playground for them to let off steam. Emmanuel played a lot while we enjoyed a beautiful sunset. It's definitely a great place to enjoy a late afternoon too.
Bryggen district
When we talk about Bergen, we either think of the fjords or the colorful little houses near the pier, and no wonder! Bryggen is the neighborhood of these pretty little houses, which were actually the first buildings constructed in the city.
It's a wonderful place to stroll around by day or night, with lots of little shops, restaurants and museums! It's one of Bergen's postcards and it's impossible not to pass through there, you probably wouldn't want to leave this neighborhood either!
As soon as I entered the streets of Bryggen I felt like I was in the children's movie "How to train your dragon" and it turns out to be a great place to go back in time and play with the imagination of those who come to Bergen with children. Don't forget to look up when strolling through the streets of Bryggen, the crooked buildings will surprise you.
Bergen was burned to the ground in 1702 by a terrible fire, but Bryggen was rebuilt and has remained virtually unchanged, retaining its 11th century foundations
Bryggen entered the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1979, and today, there are more than 20 attractions in the Bryggen area, from the fish market to the Bergenhus fortress.
We didn't manage to see all the museums in Bryggen, which are usually closed in winter, the time we went, but not all of them. It's in Bryggen that you can go to a museum and see about the merchants of the Hanseatic League (an alliance of market towns), which made Bergen one of the most important European trading ports of the time. Don't miss St. Mary's Church - the oldest building in the city, dating from the 12th century and with the most elaborate church art of all the medieval churches in Norway.
Mount Floyen and Floibanen Funicular
Mount Floyen is one of Bergen's most visited attractions. From the top you can see the whole city, the colorful houses and a bit of the fjords.
Unfortunately we left this tour to the last minute and the weather didn't help much, but without a doubt it's one of the most beautiful views in the city, super privileged, well worth it, even in bad weather.
Take some time to stay up there, and as well as enjoying the view, we'll also have a delicious coffee. If you want to go further, explore the site, discover the entrance to the trails and the spaces for children to play until you meet a huge troll.
There are two ways to get to the mountain: a 30-minute hike or a funicular.
We chose to go up with the Floibanen Funicular, which is close to the colorful houses in the historic center of Bergen.
The city is a delight to walk around and discover its surprises. We did practically everything on foot, but to get up the hill we preferred the funicular.
Tip for those going to Bergen with children → Children under 4 don't pay for the funicular ticket.
See the figures here
Get lost in the streets
The streets of Bergen are full of surprises. We stayed in an Airbnb near Bergen's historic center and preferred to walk to the center every day.
Even in cooler temperatures or cloudy weather, a stroll through the streets of Bergen turns out to be a delight. There are a few ups and downs, and when you look at the details, you'll find colorful little houses made of the most diverse materials. It was difficult to walk without wanting to take pictures of every corner.
There's even the possibility of taking a guided tour of these alleys, where they talk about life in the Middle Ages right up to the present day, but if you don't want to take the tour, that's fine, you can go on your own and you'll be just as surprised.
Ice Bar
Well, if it's cold we want, it's cold we'll get! What's more, the ice bar is a place where everything is made of ice, even the glass in which we drink our body-warming drinks! And I was dying to see it. The temperature is minus 5 degrees, so it's good to start preparing for the next stop, the Arctic Circle!
We played Eskimo and sat on an ice throne! If you're going to Bergen with children, don't worry, there's also juice for the little ones to try in the ice glass.
Fjords
Incredible walls that rise out of the middle of the sea, often green with beautiful waterfalls, it's a real Norwegian gem! Bergen is the city known for being the gateway to the famous Norwegian fjords, and even though the weather wasn't great, we weren't going to miss out on this experience. There are fjord cruises every day, all year round, and we liked them so much that we took two trips.
It was our first trip to the fjords. So I was really looking forward to seeing this beauty, even in completely cloudy weather and with a chance of rain. I've heard that even on good days fjord tours can be a real surprise, with sun, rain and wind on the same tour, so we took a chance.
We did both tours with Rødne Fjord Cruise
Bergen Fjord Cruise - Mostraumen
We boarded hoping that the sun would come out, especially as we were with our little one and didn't want to get too windy, but I was reassured once we boarded and saw that there was a covered cabin with benches in case it got too cold.
The cruise along the Mostraumen passes through narrow places, at one point it even feels like we're going to touch the walls or be able to dip our hands in the waterfall. It's simply magical! As it was winter, we were almost alone on the tour, which made seeing everything much easier! The weather is really crazy, with sun, clouds and rain throughout the tour, the only thing that didn't change was the wind, which was intense!
Take a heavy coat, especially if you're going to Bergen with a child, and if you want to enjoy the ride outside the cabin. That way neither you nor the little one will get cold and you'll be able to enjoy the view.
It's almost impossible to stay in the cabin during the tour, as even though it has windows, it's not the same as watching from the deck.
Along the way you'll see the beauty of the fjords, idyllic islands, small farms and villages. It's fascinating! This tour also passes through Modalen, a remote and charming town, the second smallest municipality in Norway, with only 380 inhabitants.
Hardangerfjord express boat
It's a full-day tour, and I didn't see as many fjords as on the first one, but it took us to Rosendal, a beautiful place where we disembarked and discovered a beautiful waterfall! In the middle of all the snow, an oasis full of greenery and life.
Rosendal has almost no activity in winter, so we decided to go for a walk and have a picnic at this beautiful waterfall. The walk, which was supposed to see the fjords, turned out to be a lovely surprise.
In Rosendal, you can stroll around Scandinavia's smallest castle and visit local sights, stores and cafés.
If you want to visit the famous Trolltunga trail, this is a good option, as one of the buses to the start of this trail leaves from Rosendal. The corresponding buses continue to Tyssedal. In Derfra, most people spend around 11 hours getting to know this world-famous jewel of nature, but keep an eye on the boat timetables.
Bergen with children in winter
We loved our experience and it left us wanting more, much more in summer or spring. You can see that the two cities are completely different in winter and summer, but it was great to see everything snowy and empty.
The city is beautiful, small and charming, with charms to be explored at every turn! We loved our adventurous tour of both the fjords and Rosendal, and of course the science museum and aquarium were one of the highlights of the trip. However, I think our picnic at the Rosendal waterfall was just as successful as the other attractions. It was certainly one of the moments I enjoyed the most.
We played Vikings on the boat trips and looked for trolls all the time, Bergen as a Family was a delight.
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