Bergen - here we come !
 

My husband and I are visiting Scandinavia end of June & early July. We will be in Norway about 7 days: Oslo, Bergen and the fjords. I got some good advice on Oslo on another thread,as an 'add-on'on someone else's question on Oslo, but we're looking for help for Bergen. We are traveling with a tour group, BUT we are left with a lot of 'free' time to explore and eat on our own. The tour co. will show us the usual highlights.
We are staying at First Hotel Marin.
We would like to hear what not to miss and where we can get meals without a great expense. The type of restaurants the local residents know and appreciate and no 'tourist traps' (unless it is'worth'it)!
This is our first trip to the area but a long-time goal.
Some other thoughts :I need to drink plenty of water to take Rx etc.Do we have to buy spring water or can I use tapwater ? What is the weather like in early part of July ?
Thanks for all your help !

The most noticible things then are the long days (only a few hours of darkness) which lets you exhaust yourself sightseeing every waking minute, and the high expense of most everything. Also maybe the inconveniently short opening hours. More than enough pure water available from the sky.

Jenny:

Bergen is the only city I have visited to boast umbrella-dispensing machines.

On your free time you may want to take the cable car up mount Floyen, from where (weather permitting) you get a beautiful view of the area. the aquarium is also worth your while, as is a stroll along the Bryggen area in the historic centre.

Tap water is perfectly safe to drink in all of Norway.

You may want to check Bergen's website at http://www.bergen-travel.com

Enjoy your trip.

Phil.

An excellent restaurant with a lot of local color and history is To Koka. I,m not sure of the spelling of the name, but it means "2 cooks" in Norwegian. It is in a very old building, crooked floors, but great food and service. Im' sure your hotel concierge will know it.
ditto the aquarium!

I might also add for another good way to save money is to ask for tap-water at a restaurant... They should bring that and it should be free. A few places are charging for tapwater but that is generally frowned upon by Norwegians and it's mostly in places where they (restaurant or caffee owner) claim there are lots of guests only asking for water. Regardless be aware that all alcoholic beverages are very expensive when eating out (pretty expensive in the shops too as a matter of fact) and they will seriously increase your bill. A decent restaurant takes from 200-350 for a pretty average bottle of wine.

Cobos

Take rain gear!showers hit at a whim!
Eat at the harbor in Oslo and Bergen!
Both boast freshest seafood you will find nowhere else on the planet and reasonable. Either (Lucille or Louise ? forgot the exact name) on the wharf in
Oslo. Will remind myself when I return in a couple weeks! Yeah! Shrimp appetizer is about a ton of shrimp! Salmon sandwich is big enough for 2. If you have this for lunch with a beer or wine or cold ale..cancel dinner!
The UNICORN Restauruant on the Briggen (wharf) in Bergen is so unforgettable we returned twice in a few days....unknown for us
ANYWHERE!!!!Order the SEAFOOD SAMPLER.
Big enough for 2 (or order more later).
It's about $50 but as I said, big enough for 2 or you will need help standing up. Figure $25 pp and some wine and beer and you will truly have a dining experience to remember. Most of the shellfish you will never find anywhere else in the world as the Norwegans are smart enough to eat it up!
Nothing weird either, just bigger shrimp and interesting lobsters, etc.
The buildings in the district are middle age and you will find the floors lean even before you drink!
This is the district to buy sweaters and souveniers, etc.They will ship for you if you don't want to haul them home.Check the tourist bureau in the city center near the harbor for side trips like the day fijord trips and the about town trips like to Edvard Grieg's home including the Stave church, city views, etc.
TIP: I hit the Wednesday(?I think it was Wednesday, but it happens often during the week) fish market before boarding the tour bus to take a shrimp/salmon submarine sandwich with me (some are ready made, but you can customize it if you want! yummy) Did I get looks of envy!!!!
You will have fun!!!

Norwegian tap water is DELICIOUS! Interestingly, there's a restaurant close to us in L.A. that serves water from Voss in fancy bottles and you pay $3.00 for it, and I swear it tastes just like it came out of the tap in Norway!

We were lucky enough last summer to hit a sun-wave in Bergen (lasting 7 days!), which made the front page of all the papers, so everyone must be right that it rains there a lot.

It's nice just walking the length of the Bryggen and checking out the buldings, the side streets, and the main drag. There are interesting little restaurants dotting the wharf area.

Hi, everybody ! Travelers must be the nicest people to share their advice . I thank you all. We are leaving June 24 and it is getting more exciting with each day. I made a list of your suggestions to take with us, and while there we'll certainly raise a toast to your health and many happy travels for us all.
If anyone wants to add anything else, I'll check this board and thread up to Mon. PM (6/23).

A nice, FREE site is the fish market at
the harbor!