Bergen City Cruise
28 Reviews
4.07 out of 5 stars Based on 28 reviews collected by City Boat Tours and TripAdvisor
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Bergen, Norway
1 hour (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Overview
Experience Bergen from the sea on this 60-minute intimate sightseeing cruise in Bergen's harbors and the City Fjord. See some of the oldest and most relevant historic sites in the city, including the medieval fortress that served as the seat of Norwegian power in the 13th century and the colorful emblematic Bryggen wharf that made the city thrive as a successful trading center.
Get glimpses of how the city looked like in the old days when you sail past the old wooden warehouses in Skuteviken and Sandviken, and marvel at the luxury residences blossoming on top of skerries at Måseskjæret or springing out from the mountainside at Verftet.
Hard to spot otherwise, you will sail past the WW2 concrete ruins of the U-Boot Bunker Bruno before waving at the locals bathing in the fjord at the historical Nordnes Sjøbad and returning back to the Fish Market and the very heart of Bergen.
What's Included
- Bergen City Sightseeing Cruise
- Food and drinks
Meeting Location
Meeting point
Strandkaien
5014 Bergen, Norway
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What To Expect
Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf (Pass By)
Colorful Bryggen is one of Bergen's and Norway's main attractions. The very first buildings in Bergen were situated at Bryggen, which has been a vibrant and important area of the city for many centuries. Bryggen is now part of our common heritage and has a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The world heritage site consists of the old Hanseatic wharf and buildings, and is one of the best known urban areas from the Middle Ages in all of Norway.
St. Mary's Church (Pass By)
The construction of St Mary"s Church was completed around 1180, making it the oldest remaining building in Bergen. Although having been built as a parish church for the Norwegian population, St Mary"s Church was taken over by the city"s large German population in 1408. By belonging to the wealthy Germans, it's richly adorned and escaped the fate of being turned into a ruin, unlike several of the other churches in the city. St Mary’s church is a basilica, i.e the body of the church is divided into a lofty nave and two lower side aisles with separate roofs. This is a feature borrowed from medieval cathedrals, and is relatively seldom found in an ordinary parish church.
Bergenhus Fortress (Pass By)
Bergenhus Fortress and Royal Castle is one of the oldest and best preserved stone fortifications in Norway, and it contains buildings dating back as far as 1240. In medieval times the area was known as Holmen and contained the royal recidence, as well as a cathedral, several churches, the bishop's residence and a Dominican monastery. Excavations have revealed foundations of buildings believed to date back to before 1100. In the 13th century Bergen was the capital of Norway and Holmen was the main seat of Norway's rulers. Håkon's Hall was built in 1247 and It was the largest and most imposing building of the royal residency in the 13th century.
Skuteviken (Pass By)
Skuteviken developed as an isolated suburb of Bergen, under the protection of the Sverresborg fortress which was built in 1183. In Skuteviken, small wooden houses were built without any overall plan, and the growth took place until the end of the 18th century. The name Skuteviken (ship bay) probably comes from the fact that the merchants at Bryggen used the beach at Bradbenken and in Skuteviken as a mooring place when the ships were to be keeled. Although Skuteviken is an old place and located just outside Bergen, it was not until the 20th century that a road was built along the beach into the city.
Måseskjæret (Pass By)
Måseskjæret is one of three islets in the bay of Sandviken. The first settlement on the islet came in 1804 and was a summer residence. Towards the end of the 19th century, the rest of the islet was developed. Today, it is the modern apartment building that characterizes Måseskjæret. Måseskjæret 1 is a summer resident that got its current name from the islet just outside. The house was built by Christopher Kahrs in 1795, and is a single-storey building with a high hipped roof and center sheet. Lyststedet Måseskjæret 1 was protected by the National Heritage Board from 1927.
Byfjorden (Pass By)
The 15-kilometre (9.3 mi) long fjord separates the island of Askøy from the mainland Bergen Peninsula, passing right north of the city of Bergen.Among the major war events on The City Fjord are the naval battle in 1665 between an English and a Dutch fleet, during the Second Anglo-Dutch War. A fleet of sixty Dutch ships, including ten ships from the Dutch East India Company with very valuable cargo, sought refuge in Bergen's neutral port during the pursuit of English warships. The forces in the city joined the battle on the Dutch side. The battle was short and bloody and the English fled. A cannonball stuck in the wall of the Cathedral in Bergen has long been thought to come from this battle.
Ubåtbunkeren Bruno (Pass By)
The submarine bunker Bruno at Laksevåg, was built into the mountains by the German occupation forces from 1941. 18,000 tonnes of steel, 500,000 tonnes of sand, 120,000 tonnes of cement and 15 tonnes of dynamite were used to build the submarine bunker. The heavy work was carried out by Soviet prisoners of war. It was subjected to a allied air attack in October 1944. Only a few bombs hit the target, most hit the settlement and killed 193 civilians, including 61 children at Holen school. Two of the planes were shot down. Under the five-meter-thick concrete roof, three docks are hiding today. In 1952, the facility was taken into use by the Norwegian Navy and is still used today.
Georgernes Verft (Pass By)
The original shipyard was built in the 1780s by Georg Brunchorst and Georg Vedeler, and it was called Georgernes Shipyard. In 1853 Annanias Dekke started the yard's heyday. Dekke had learned shipbuilding, in Boston, and a series of magnificent sailing ships were built here. He gained a reputation as one of Norway's best ship designers and shipbuilders. In 1910 a sardine factory was established in parts of the shipyard area, and in the following years it became one of the largest sardine factories in Norway. Today, the factory lives a new life as "USF Verftet", a 12,000 m2 large art and culture arena with a total of 120 companies in all disciplines within art and culture.
Fredriksberg Fort (Pass By)
Fredriksberg Fortress is located on the highest point of the Nordnes peninsula. On the west side there is a steep side down to the sea, and from the fortress there is a good view over Bergen city center and towards Laksevåg. In the 17th century, there were fortifications with cannon batteries around the entire Nordnes peninsula . Fredriksberg fort was a military area until 1904. From the 18th century, the fort also got a fire tower, and in the event of a fire, the military had to fire shots. The number of shots fired told where in the city it burned. In 1926, the fire service here was closed down, but the fire tower still stands on the fort today.
Nordnes Sjobad (Pass By)
Nordnes Sea Water Pool was opened in 1910, and until 1965 the sea water pool consisted of floating wooden boxes in the sea that were attached to land with chains. In 1965, the modern seawater pool was ready and later the water was also heated. Today, Nordnes Sjøbad is a 25m long, heated, saltwater swimming pool. The main pool is kept lovely and warm at a temperature of 29°C (84°F) and you can also take a refreshing dip in the sea. The facilities include indoor changing rooms and a sauna.
Bergen Aquarium (Pass By)
Bergen Aquarium is a facility from 1960 that shows fish, aquatic animals and penguins. The aquarium also has a tropical section with snakes, crocodiles, spiders and other tropical animals. The aquarium has more than 300 species and over 60 large aquariums. In 2016, an ocean aquarium was opened that can be seen from the outside and inside. Penguins, sea lions, otters and large fish live in four outdoor ponds, and in the tropical section there are snakes, crocodiles, spiders, lizards and other exotic animals.
Tollbodallmenningen (Pass By)
In 1561, Bergen got its first customs house, which also became the city's largest wooden building. The jetties protruded more than 100 meters into the sea. Thus one came out on such deep water that even large ships could dock. The Tollbod extension served both as a shelter against the northwest storm and as a narrowing of Vågen, so that it became easier to prevent smuggling.
Nykirken (Pass By)
The large, white, stone, cruciform church was consecrated in 1622 as "Holy Trinity Church", but it's generally known as Nykirken (The new church). When the church was originally built in 1622, there were other churches in Bergen that were already several hundred years old, so this church was nicknamed "the new church", a name which has stuck for centuries. It is also an appropriate nickname, since the churches on this site have burned down several times and then been rebuilt, so it literally is usually the "newest" church in the central city.
Murhvelvingen (Pass By)
Murhvelvingen was built after the town fire in 1561 as a private house and representation for the sheriff of Bergenhus fortress. He had received the king's permission to collect soapstone from a monastery ruins, and this can be seen in corners and frames. The building was damaged by fires in 1625, 1640 and 1643. It was repaired by public funds in the years 1651, and after that used by guards. The lower floor has several smaller basements on each side of the vaulted passage, where there have been shops since the 17th century. Large slate slabs from Hardanger are just as nice today as when the house was built. In the basement, dynamite was also sold until the late 1960s, allegedly enough to blow up the whole city.
Fish Market (Pass By)
The Fish Market in Bergen is one of Norway's most visited outdoor markets, and it has a charming location in the heart of the city. The square has been a meeting place for townspeople, merchants, farmers and fishermen for centuries. You can find fresh fish, shellfish and local farm products such as fruits, berries, vegetables and flowers here. There are also several restaurants serving a large selection of seafood. The outdoor Fish Market is open from May to September, while the food hall with outlets and restaurants is open all year. In addition to the merchants on land, there were also historical sales from boats along the quay. Fishermen who lived outside the city rowed into the square to sell the catch of the day before rowing home the same day.
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 92 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions
(7)Q: Will I get seasick on Bergen City Cruise?
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
Still have questions?
We're here to help.
Activity code: C-207913P54
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.07
28 reviews
Average 4.07 out of 5 stars based on 28 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
5 stars
11
4 stars
12
3 stars
2
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1 star
1
Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Boat Tours customers.
Filter by:
Q:
Will I get seasick on Bergen City Cruise?
A:
If you have any doubts about becoming seasick on the water, we recommend taking a Dramamine® Motion Sickness Relief tablet the night before your trip. Some people recommend taking it the night before your cruise and then again that morning so you will not feel so drowsy.
Feb 2023
Q:
What is the cancellation policy for the Bergen City Cruise?
A:Apr 2025
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (CEST).
Q:
What's included in the price?
A:
Apr 2025
The following is included:
- Bergen City Sightseeing Cruise.
The following is NOT included:
- Food and drinks.
Q:
What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:
There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..
Apr 2025
Q:
My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:
If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025
Q:
Is this an accessible tour?
A:Apr 2025
Accessibility information for the Bergen City Cruise is as follows:
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Q:
Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Bergen City Cruise will be included in your confirmation email from City Boat Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024What's Included
- Bergen City Sightseeing Cruise
- Food and drinks
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 92 travelers
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