Oslo/Bergen info needed

eth0_

Thinking of booking a 4 day break in Bergen or Oslo, anyone here been? Which is the better place to go to?

And is Norway rip off central like Sweden, I don't want to be broke when I come back

TomF

I was in both places in 1974 if that helps, and I thought Bergen was in a prettier location, but didn't stay there long (can't remember why). Oslo was interesting with a Viking ship in a museum on an island in the bay, and I think a park with lots of famous sculptures and the palace of the monarch with toy soldier guards. In 1974, a pint of beer cost about €2 and I think the prices in general were high.

davros

Besides the Viking Ship Museum, I thoroughly recommend the Fram Museum and Kon-tiki Museum which are beside each other.

The Fram is a ship used by polar explorers about 1900. The Kon-tiki (along with the Ra II in the same museum) is a vessel used by Thor Heyerdahl to see if ancient peoples could have crossed vast oceans.

Can't recall prices in Norway. Haven't been to Bergen.

highlight

Oslo is mega expensive, particularly for food and drink. Paid €160 for 2 main courses and a bottle of house plonk. But very pretty. Strangely enough shopping good and clothes prices reasonable

drrnwbb

bergen is amazing.. i was there interrailing a few years ago...

i got the train (8 hours) from olso to bergan, spent the weekend there.. and on the train back to oslo stopped off at a station called myrdal.

at this station you can take a 30min train to a place called flåm. nothing much to do there, but the train journey down is amazing. winding through hills and over fjords. at one point you even stop at a small platform over a waterfall.

once you get to flåm you can get a ferry /cruise through the fjords... well worth it.

anyway, back to bergan. its a city of about 200,000 (i think) but feels much smaller. i stayed in the ymca hostel that was right in the city centre. i was there around midsummers and we went to a huge bonfire and just hung around enjoying the city. there is a train to the top of the hill and from there you can see all the city..

the old part of the city is really nice (as you can see in the pic)



i was in oslo a few times, but didnt get to see much of it (except the train statin)

PM me if you want to see more pictures...

dw

AlanMacK

bergen all the way

much better, i wasnt really impressed with oslo, great shopping if you can afford it, i went in september and it was cold and rainy. bergen is supposed to be fantastic, i didnt hit bergen, instead went south for the sun

Mythago

Try and check out Pulpit Rock, it's down nearer Stavanger, and a good 4 hrs of walking(return). But well worth the view; 700+ metres up overlooking a stunning fjord.

And to anyone with a loada cash to burn I'd recommend a trip to Svalbard... very cool... but VERY expensive!

DadaKopf

Oslo's alright but hasn't very much original character anymore. It's more of a generic city. It's very expensive, as is all of Norway. It's got a nice, old centre, though and it's easily walkable. The scenery isn't so sxciting, though.

I'd go for Bergen. Didn't get to Flåm but walked all around the city. It's amazing because it's on such a small scale and many of the houses are old, wooden fishing cottages that have been there ages. There's a fish market at the harbour near Brygge where you can buy fish cakes pretty cheap. Bergen is even more walkable than Oslo.

The thing is, you could probably do both. Or at least fly in to Oslo and take the train to Bergen if that's where you decide to go because the train journey is amazing - it goes right from sea level up to snow capped mountains and back down to sea level in 8 hours. Don't take the night train or you'll miss it.

perri

highlight wrote:

Oslo is mega expensive, particularly for food and drink. Paid €160 for 2 main courses and a bottle of house plonk. But very pretty. Strangely enough shopping good and clothes prices reasonable

Can you let me know how much cash i will need for 3 or 4 days in oslo?

Dellas

Bergen is a cool place and very clean and lots to see. I was in Flam also not to be missed it was amazing,as were the Fjords ( I did a cruise ).

It is about 20 to 30% more expensive than here though but can be done on a budget. When you get to Bergen go to the tourist office near the harbour/market area/Bryggan. You can buy a Visit Bergan card which gets you lots of discounts and a free entry to the Funicular to the top of the mountain with amazing views of the city.