Bergen
From Halal Explorer
This Muslim Friendly Travel Guide is part of eHalal.io Travel Group File:Brygge Norway 2005-08-18 - Old harbour and downtown
Bergen in the morning in june - View from Mount Fløyen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway the most popular gateway to the fjords of West Norway. The city is famous for its great location amidst mountains, fjords and the ocean. Steep mountains and highlands within the city offers excellent hiking opportunities. Having fostered many of Norway's greatest bands and artists and the city is also famous for its cultural life and underground/indie music scene. Bergen's unpredictable weather adds to its quirky, unmistakable charm. Bergen was Norway's main city for centuries and many patriotic inhabitants believe it still is.
Contents
- 1 Bergen Halal Travel Guide
- 2 Travel to Bergen
- 3 Get Around in Bergen
- 4 What to See
- 5 Top Travel Tips
- 6 Study in Bergen
- 7 Shopping in Bergen
- 8 Shopping in Bergen
- 9 Halal Restaurants & Food in Bergen
- 10 eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Bergen
- 11 Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Bergen
- 12 Ramadan Celebrations in Bergen
- 13 Muslim Friendly Hotels
- 14 Stay Safe
- 15 Medical Issues in Bergen
- 16 Local Customs in Bergen
- 17 Cope in Bergen
- 18 Telecommunications
- 19 News & References
- 20 Go Next
Bergen Halal Travel Guide
The character of Bergen is defined by its the location among steep mountains and surrounded by sea (straits and fjords). The city itself has many lakes. It is a typical Norwegian wooden town, even downtown there are notable neighborhoods of small wooden houses in various styles. In some areas wooden houses have been replaced by taller masonry structures giving the city fascinating mix of old and new.
Cityscape
Bergen has some fine examples of functionalist architecture such as Kalmar House and Sundt Shopping Centre. "Brutalist" buildings include the science building at the university and the city hall.
Bergen in Nøstet - panoramio - Narrow alleys (smug) with small wooden houses is one of Bergen's trademarks.
Bergen grew organically from the small port and trading post at Bryggen from around year 1000. Because of frequent fires only some masonry buildings (notably Mariakirken and Håkonshallen) remain from the middle ages. But the downtown has retained many aspects of its ancient layout. Notable are the many wide streets or open spaces, called allmenning (commons), perpendicular to Vågen (the inner harbour). These allmennings often rise steeply from the waterfront. Torgallmenningen is not open to cars and defines the modern downtown. Ordinary streets in the medieval town were often long and more narrow and ran parallel to the waterfront. Narrow and short streets, smug (alley), run among houses packed close together. Alleys are too narrow for cars and some are so steep that there are stairs.
History
Founded around 1070 AD, Bergen quickly evolved into one of the most important city's in Norway. It was the nation's administrative capital from the early 1200s until 1299 and the largest city in Scandinavia. Bergen was one of the most important bureau city's of the Hanseatic League, interconnecting continental Europe with the northern and coastal parts of Norway, thus becoming a central spot for the vending of stockfish and the commercial hub of Norway. It was the largest city in Norway until the 1830s and has a long maritime history in shipping and finance. Until the Bergen railway (Bergensbanen) began operation in 1909 there was no convenient overland transport between Norway's principal city's.
The city still has relics of its Hanseatic heyday, most notably the old harbour of Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bergen has been ravaged by several fires; the most recent major fire took place in 1917, a fire which destroyed most of the buildings in what is today the central parts of the town center, centered around the large square Torgallmenningen.
While few medieval buildings remain and the historical centre of Bergen is along the eastern shore of the harbour, notably Bryggen (the Wharf) and the fortress and the two key churches (Mariakirken/St Marys and Korskirken/Holy cross church). The pattern of settlement is largely unchanged for almost 1,000 years, including Øvregaten/Lille Øvregate − one of Norway's oldest streets.
What is the Geography of Bergen
Houses in Bergen Norway 2009 2 - White wooden houses, one of Bergen's trademarks
Bergen is located in the far west in Norway, sheltered from the North Sea only by a number of islands. It is located along latitude 60 degrees north, on the same latitude as Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Saint Petersburg and Anchorage. The city is the most hilly and mountainous in Norway. The town center is surrounded by a group of mountains and peaks known as the Seven Mountains. This has given the city its name (berg is an old Norse word for mountain). The geographic conditions of the city are very visible; limited space to build on made it necessary in the 19th century that new city blocks be built on the steep slopes of mount Fløyen
Except for the dense town center, which made up the entire city before 1916, Bergen is the least dense of the four largest city's in Norway. Most of the settlement inside the very wide city borders is concentrated in the Western part of the municipality. The rest of the municipality is made up of mountains, as well as some farmland and smaller settlements. Except for the compact downtown, distances are relatively long within the municipality of Bergen.
Weather in Bergen
Due to the city's northern location, close to the northern sea and surrounded by mountains, special weather conditions occur, resulting in roughly 240 days with precipitation a year and a mean temperature of 7.6 °C (45.7 °F). In January 2007, a record of 85 rainy days in a row was set. Still, local people claim there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. An annual mean at close to 8 °C, with even January on average above 0 °C, makes Bergen the warmest city in Norway. Frost just below 0°C and some snow occurs between December and February, but temperatures colder than -10 °C are very rare. Temperatures above 30 °C are also extremely rare.
For the rest of us and the trick is obviously to choose the time of visit with caution. The infamous rain should not keep visitors away in summer, because when the sun breaks through after a rainy day, hardly any city twinkles and glows like Bergen. If you catch the city on a sunny day, you will find an incredible atmosphere as citizens really know how to appreciate nice weather. City planners have probably had this in mind the latest years, resulting in the creation of open spaces, parks, flowers and lawns that are scattered all over downtown.
July has the highest mean temperature, 14.3 °C (57.7 °F), with August, 14.1 °C (57.4 °F) following close behind. May is the month with the least precipitation. Considering the number of local events this month, May is probably the best time to visit Bergen, with the summer months of June, July and August almost as good. April is also a relatively dry month, although cooler than the summer months. These averages are merely indications as weather is well knownly unpredictable and rain does not appear in any regular pattern.
Culture & Tradition of Bergen
Grieghallen - Grieghallen - the home of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.
Bergen is one of the most important cultural centers in Norway. The city is the home of the Bergen International Festival, Nattjazz and Bergenfest, festivals of international renown within their genres. The local symphony orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, was founded in 1786. It is one of the world's oldest orchestral institutions. Bergen was the home of Norway's great composer, Edvard Grieg. Henrik Ibsen and the famous playwright, started his career in Bergen as manager of Den Nationale Scene.
Around 2000, a number of artists from the rhythmic music scene in Bergen gained international fame. In the domestic press, this became known as the Bergen Wave. Musicians and bands with roots in Bergen include Annie, Burzum, Enslaved, Gorgoroth, Immortal, Erlend Øye, Kings of Convenience, Röyksopp, Sondre Lerche and Datarock. Bergen still has a thriving underground/indie music scene.
Great international artists have visited Bergen, including Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse, Bruce Springsteen, Depeche Mode, Kent and Mark Knopfler. And in the summer of 2011 several artists including Roxette, Mastodon, Avenged Sevenfold, Suzanne Vega, Bob Dylan, Kaizers Orchestra, Kanye West and Rihanna appeared.
Research and education
Bergen is home to important institutions of research and education: The University of Bergen and the College of Applied Sciences and the Norwegian School of Economics. Even before these institutions were created important work were done in Bergen. Armauer Hansen in 1873 discovered that leprosy was caused by a bacteria, a major breakthrough in medical sciences that laid the foundation for modern epidemiology and was also a major input to microbiology. Fridtjof Nansen and the great explorer, humanitarian and diplomat, made his first contribution to the novel science of neuroanatomy when he worked at Bergen Museum. Vilhelm Bjerknes and the Bergen school of Meteorology developed the basis for modern weather forecasting.
Travel to Bergen
Fly to Bergen
- Bergen Airport Flesland IATA Flight Code: BGO 60.293611,5.218061 19 km south of the city - Bergen Airport, Flesland =New Bergen Airport Flesland with old terminal in the background - The main international airports with Flights to Bergen are Copenhagen, London and Amsterdam. There are also Flights from the United Kingdom (such as Newcastle, Edinburgh and Aberdeen); Prague, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, various city's in Spain and some other airports. There are also a number of domestic flights, such as Oslo, Trondheim, Stavanger, Tromsø, Kristiansand and Sandefjord, connecting Bergen to additional international airports. A plane ticket from the capital Oslo to Bergen costs around kr 300-400. The main carriers in Norway are SAS and the low cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle. The Dutch KLM-Airline has Flights to Amsterdam, Lufthansa to Frankfurt. The smallest airports in Norway are served by Widerøe. A new spacious terminal replaced the old in 2017 with more services and airside facilities.
Flybussen departs from right outside the terminal building. Flybussen makes frequent stops, including at Bryggen and the Fisketorget and the bus terminal. The journey downtown takes about 30–40 minutes. Adult tickets are kr 120, return ticket kr 170 (discounts for children, students and senior citizens apply). Buy your ticket via eHalal Travel Group before boarding to save kr 10, either online, from a machine or from a ticket vendor. However, tickets can easily be bought on the bus, with either cash or cards. Busses run frequently throughout the day. There is a machine next to luggage collection in arrivals and at the bus stop at the airport - so buy your ticket while you are waiting for your luggage.
Bergen Airport light railway station - Bergen Light Rail station at the airport terminal.
The Bergen Light Rail has its southern terminus at the airport and the station is in the basement outdoor. Thit is the cheapest option for travelling downtown since it charges the regular public transport fares (kr 37 for an adult single ticket, kr 19 for children and seniors). The light rail runs very frequently, from 05:00 to past 00:00, with up to 12 departures an hour, but it is a stopping service and takes 45 minutes to its final stop at Byparken. The other public transit line is the 23 bus which runs to the Western neighborhoods of Søreide and Loddefjord. The 23 runs only in the morning and evening rush hours Mondays to Fridays.
Taxis are also available but they cost much more (kr 300-350 on weekdays to downtown, more at night and at the weekend).
The automobile rental services Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar and National have offices at the airport. Located in the terminal building, by the exit, most of them are open 07:00-21:00 on weekdays. Opening hours in the weekend are limited, but some of the companies will offer 24 hours rental if you make a reservation.
Travel by train to Bergen
Bergensbanen2 - Bergen line runs through high mountains
Bergen is served by a railway line which runs from Oslo through Hønefoss. Bergen is the last station and there is only one station in the city (in addition one station in Arna suburb). The railway line is operated by NSB. The journey takes about 7 hours and gives you stunning vistas, especially for the last 3 hours across the plateau and down towards Voss and Bergen. When passing Geilo, you will cross over a high mountain plateau and then travel downwards through some of the best scenery in Norway. If you buy your ticket online well in advance, fares may be as low as kr 199 for a one-way ticket. For an additional fee of kr 90, you may upgrade your ticket to NSB Komfort and the equivalent of first class, with slightly better seats and free coffee and tea. If you want to make more out of your journey, get a window seat on one of the most recent upgraded trains (they're quite stylish and have power outlets by every seat) on the left hand side (this will give you the best view).
The ticket office is only open limited hours - outside of which you must use the ticket machines. Not that travel tickets booked via an agent (including Norway in a Nutshell) must be collected from the ticket office. There is a small deli that sells Coffee, Snacks and some supermarket items open early and late. There is a small cafe with limited opening hours (closed before 17:00 most days).
Universal access is a priority to the Norwegian State Railways. Book your ticket on the phone or buy it at the train station at least a day in advance to inform staff if you have any special needs. You will have the same offers as are available online. Most trains are equipped with lifts or ramps and handicap toilets. Wheelchairs can be secured on board. For the seeing impaired and there are tactile lines in the larger stations. Staff will assist you in the station. If you need an assistant and can provide documentation, you and your traveling companion will get a 50% discount off the full ticket price. Bergen station GPS 60.390351,5.333221 (IATA Flight Code: QFV) is located east of the downtown at Strømgaten 4, close to the bus station and the Bygarasjen garage.
How to travel to Bergen by car
For more details see: Driving in Norway
If arriving in Bergen by car, you will be better off not taking your vehicle into the town center unless you know exactly where you're going, as most streets are one-way or do not allow cars at all (only buses and taxis), read more in the #By_car_2|Get around section. Parking is generally forbidden (unless explicitly permitted) downtown inside zone 1 and restricted outside zone 1.
Generally, you will find that many roads in rural areas, even the highways between the city's, are partly narrow and slow. There are no motorways except a few kilometers around the town, most primary streets (E16, road 7) are two-lane undivided and limited to 80 km/h|0|abbr=on. Even if some people drive very fast, you should mind the speed limits (usually 80 km/h) and drive according to the conditions. In the mountains, help can be hours away. Furthermore, you will find traffic controls and police in unmarked cars nearly everywhere. Fines are very high. To avoid dangerous situations, it's a very good idea stop and let faster going traffic pass you. Except in and around Bergen, traffic is generally very light, although there may be some traffic on road 7 during summer vacation and around weekends.
Road E16 from Oslo and Voss makes a circle from Arna through Aasane where it joins E39 on a motorway to the centre (northern approach). At Sandviken the wide road continues through a long tunnel towards the southern city in order to avoid the centre, while those heading for the centre can either exit at Sandviken or just after the tunnel. The southern approach (E39) comes from the Halhjem ferry dock at Os and arrives downtown just before the long tunnel. Find a good parking and use legs or public transport inside the centre.
From Oslo and Eastern Norway
The trip from Oslo to Bergen takes between seven and nine hours, depending on the route and the driving conditions and whether you choose to make any stops on the way. Be prepared to add some hours driving time in the winter - and remember that the daylight will be scarce for many months. All routes Oslo to Bergen run through mountain passes. It might be a good idea to use two days on the tour in the winter if you're not accustomed to these conditions. A 12- or even 14-hour drive on icy, dark roads in bad weather is not very nice. Keep in mind that many roads in Norway are often of narrow and slow due to relatively low traffic and difficult weather conditions.
Name (mountain pass) | Itinerary, number(s) | Description | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Filefjell mountain pass. | 30px | The official primary street through Filefjell mountain pass. Continues via Oslo airport to Gävle, Sweden. | Scenic drive with iconic fjords, waterfalls, mountains and lakes, as well as cultural legacy (stave churches). The most reliable route in winter, as it does not go above the tree limit and is less prone to be closed on short notice due to weather conditions - compared with the other mountain crossings. Mostly light traffic. E16 is the longest, a bit slow through the villages of Valdres and some narrow places. Between Lærdal and Flåm, through Lærdalstunnelen, at 24.5 km the longest road tunnel in the world, separated into 6-km bits by large caverns, in which tunnel-lagged drivers can pull over and rest. |
Hemsedal mountain pass | 30px/Stamvei 7.svg|30px/Stamvei 52.svg|30px/Tabliczka E16.svg|30px | Through Hemsedal mt pass. Alternative to the above. | Preferred by truckers, only a few narrow places. Also scenic. Occasionally closed in winter if strong wind (blizzard). |
Aurland-Hol route | 30px -Stamvei 7.svg|30px -road 50-Tabliczka E16.svg|30px | Hol-Aurland mt pass. Road 50 is county road. | Also scenic. Partly steep and narrow, few or no trucks. Some times closed in winter. From upper Hallingdal to Flåm. Take road 7 to Hagafoss and then road 50 to Flåm. Thit is a quick route many Norwegians prefer, but be prepared for some narrow, dark tunnels and the rather steep, but breathtaking descent just before Aurland. |
Hardangervidda route. | 30px -Stamvei 7.svg|30px -Stamvei 13.svg|30px -Tabliczka E16.svg|30px | Through Hardangervidda plataeu and mt pass. | Very scenic drive with iconic fjords, waterfalls, mountains and lakes. Often closed during winter, but fastest during the summer and shortest (460 kilometers), around 7 hours Oslo-Bergen plus breaks. Designated a national tourist route and one of the most scenic route, but also more difficult with regards to both weather and driving conditions except in summer. Runs across the mountain plateau Hardangervidda, descending along Vøringsfossen waterfall and through the wild canyon beneath and along the innermost parts of Hardangerfjord. Cross the fjord on the 1380 m Hardanger bridge (toll) and continue to Voss where road 13 meets E16. |
30px -Stamvei 7.svg|30px -Road 7 | An alternative between the Hardanger bridge and Bergen, stay on road 7 along the lovely "Hardangerfjord route" from Granvin via Norheimsund, partly narrow and winding, even with single lane roads. Caravanists, be aware! | ||
The Numedal Valley route | Road 40 | From Kongsberg to Geilo on road 40 and then over the Hardangervidda plateau (road). | Enjoy nice and some good roads along this peaceful valley. This route has much less traffic than Hallingdal. A good alternative if you travel from Vestfold county, but not the fastest route from Oslo. Numedal has a numerous ancient wooden buildings. |
Haukeli mountain pass | 30px -Stamvei E134.svg|30px -road 551-Norwegian-road-sign-775.0.svg|25px -road 48-Stamvei 7.svg|30px -Tabliczka E16.svg|30px | Through Haukeli mt pass. Includes ferry crossing at Gjermundshamn-Årsnes. Alternative crossing at Jondal-Tørrvikbygd. | Scenic drive passed glaciers and lakes. The Haukeli route via mystic Telemark through the southern part of Hordaland county on E134. Take road 13 to Odda and then 555 to Utne and the ferry to Kvandal. Continue on the Hardangerfjord route (see above). Variant: The “unknown”, fascinating route from Odda via the Folgefonna tunnel to the outer Hardangerfjord area. Visit the Barony at Rosendal or try summer skiing at the glacier and then take the ferry from Løfallstrand to Gjermundhavn. Drive to Eikelandsosen and take the short Venjaneset-Hatvik ferry crossing, or drive to Tysse and over the Gulfjellet mountain to Bergen. Some narrow roads. As for the Numedal route thit is a good alternative if you’re starting from the neighborhoods south of Oslo - or if you arrive on a ferry (Horten, Sandefjord, Langesund, Larvik, etc.)
Måbødalen, 2011 August (Crop) - Road 7 (Rv7) passing Vøringsfossen waterfall. If you plan to cross the mountains (for instance by driving from Oslo to Bergen) in the winter season, it is imperative that you are prepared for the journey. The conditions are harsh. Always keep a full tank of fuel and keep warm clothes, food in the car. Make sure your tires are good enough and suited for winter conditions (studded or non-studded winter tires; "all-year" tires are not good enough) and that you have sufficient skills for driving in snowy and cold conditions. Roads are often closed on short notice due to weather conditions. For advice on conditions and closed roads, call 175 in Norway or check the Trafikkinformasjon/Reiseinformasjon/Trafikkmeldinger online road reports (in Norwegian only) from the Norwegian State road authorities. Not all parts of the nation have cellular phone coverage. From Western Norway
From Southern Norway
Travel by Bus to BergenKystbussen - Nor-Way express bus heading for Bergen. Via the network of NOR-WAY Bussekspress, Bergen is accessible by direct links from all of South Norway. Bus is the cheapest way to travel, but can take some time. The national buses are very comfortable, but not suitable for people using wheelchairs. Schedules and fares are available online and it is also feasible to pre-book. Booking may be required on some routes. The bus station is conveniently located just a few minutes walk from the town center. The terminal for long distance buses is located on the rear side of the station. Travel by boat to BergenHurtigruten - Bergen, Norway - Hurtigruten docking at Bryggen in the very centre of Bergen There are fast boat services from several communities north and south of Bergen, including many of the islands. Because these passenger ferries stop at various small towns on the way there, you get a great view of the coast and its islands. Fjord1 runs ferries north of Bergen, Norled runs services south of Bergen and Skyss also does a bit of both, including the Sunnhordland. There is no service from/to Stavanger. The boat terminal (Strandkaiterminalen båtkai) is on the Nordnes peninsula in the town center. It has luggage lockers, charged daily. Bergen is the southern terminus for Hurtigruten, a week-long passenger ship route with stops along Norway's coast all the way to Kirkenes in the far north of Norway. Ålesund can be visited overnight and Trondheim will take one full day and two nights. The terminal is located at Nøstet. The Hurtigruten ships are accessible with a wheelchair. There are vehicle ferries which run to and from Hirtshals in northern Denmark, operated by Fjordline. The terminal is the Skoltegrunn pier, some hundred meters beyond Bryggen. Bergen is one of Europe's to cruise ports and is available by cruise departing from several North Sea ports. Get Around in BergenOrientationDowntown Bergen is compact and easy to walk for most visitors. Most sights and hotels are located within few minutes walk within downtown. While the very centre is located on a relatively flat piece of land and there are hills in virtually every direction out of the centre so heading downhill leads to centre. The main square is the east/west Torgallmenningen, a pedestrian zone. The Nordnes peninsula points north from the very centre, on the eastern side is the Vaagen, a small bay and once Bergens main harbour, lined on the eastern side by Bryggen and the Fortress. Overall navigation is generally easy as the summits and the bay provides clear indication of general direction, Mt Ulriken is a key landmark for large parts of the city, while downtown Street John’s Church (Johanneskirken) with characteristic red brick and green roof is another landmark. The sturdy theater building at the top of Ole Bulls place is also a point to note. Precise navigation through many irregular streets may still be challenging. Navigation by vehicle can be equally difficult because of hills, narrow streets and many one way streets, what seems close on the map may in fact be a long drive. Bergen is idiosyncratic in many ways, including layout and names of streets:
In addition there is a handful of specific names without generic suffixes like “−gate”, for instance Bryggen (“the Wharf”), Strangehagen (“Strange's garden”, a street), Klosteret (“the Monastery”, a square), Georgernes Verft (“Georges' Shipyard”, a street), Marken, Engen (“the Meadow”, a square), Arbeiderboligen (“Workers' residence”), Torget ("The Market"), Vaskerelven ("Laundry river", a street). Bergen - no-nb digifoto 20150206 00131 NB MIT FNR 18952 (cropped).jpg|1280px|Torgallmenningen is the very centre of the city. It is a wide gap originally designed as a firebreak. Photo from the 1950s, when the space was open to cars; now it's the city's most important pedestrian zone Walk in BergenWithin the town center, walking is the best way to get around. You can walk across the downtown in 20 minutes in any direction. The most central streets of the city are relatively flat and generally have a good accessibility for the disabled, sidewalks have rounded corners to allow access by wheelchair. The characteristic alleys and narrow streets (often with stairs rather than ordinary streets) on the slopes are however not available by wheelchair and may be difficult to walk for the disabled. The most important pedestrian crossings have sound signals and are indicated by tactile paving. They are also accessible with a wheelchair. Although cobble stone is a popular material in the streets, it is commonly used in pedestrian areas. A map with more information on this subject is available from ive/00008/Tilgjengelighetskart__8097a.pdf the municipality's website. Travel by Bus to BergenSchedulesBus schedules can be a bit difficult to understand. Ask a local or a bus driver; they will be able and happy to assist you. There are information desks at the bus station and off Torgalmenningen providing information on all local bus and train lines free of charge. Calling 177 will also put you in contact with the information center (if you call from a cell phone, be sure to ask for the information center for Hordaland county, as thit is a national service). Schedules and outline maps of the services are available online from the Skyss website together with an online travel planner. There are schedule and travel planner apps available for Android and iOS mobile phones and tablets. Printed schedules can be picked up from any bus, but are only available in Norwegian. For a few major stops and the bus may have a fixed departure time and will not leave before schedule. At other stops though, a bus may leave a few minutes ahead of schedule. During periods of high traffic and the bus may be several minutes late. Rush hour traffic is sometimes accounted for in the schedule by greater time allowances, but busy Saturday shopping is often not. FaresTickets can be purchased from the driver, from ticket machines at major stops, from many grocery and conveniences stores, from the information desks at the bus station and off Torgalmenningen, or via the "Skyss billett" app for iOS and Android (available free of charge on Google Play and the App Store). The driver only accepts cash payment. Tickets are more expensive when bought from the driver. If you purchase your ticket in advance, you will be given a receipt and a grey card that is actually your ticket. The ticket must be validated when you enter a bus by holding it close to the electronic card reader until you get a green light. Tickets purchased via the apps do not require validation. The following ticket options are available (prices listed apply to adults and only for travels within Bergen municipality and Straume on Sotra, Kleppestø on Askøy and Søfteland in Os):
For an always updated price list and the bus company's official website is also available in english kets-and-prices/Prices/ here At night, only special (and expensive!) night tickets are valid. Senior citizens (67 years or older), children (15 years or younger) and disabled persons are entitled to discounts on all tickets. Students are entitled to discounts on tickets from 7-day tickets and season tickets. One child (between the ages of 4 and 15) can travel free of charge together with an adult travelling on an single ticket. Children under the age of four travel free of charge. Groups of ten or more get a discount on single journeys. A person accompanying a disabled person who can present a companion/escort card travels free of charge on single tickets. The companion/escort must present the companion/escort card to the driver when embarking or in the event of a ticket inspection. The companion/escort does not need a separate ticket. If you are caught without a valid ticket or fare card, you will be kicked off the bus and get a stiff fine. Controls are common and performed by both uniformed and plain-clothes personnel. Fare cards in the form of the electronic "Skysskort" can be obtained at the client service desks at the bus station and off Torgallmenningen. Lines and servicesRegular bus services operate throughout the day, major trunk routes running through downtown run with a 20-minutes frequency or better. In the suburbs and there are smaller lines, generally operating from a local terminal, with less frequent services. There are not so many buses between the downtown and the southern neighbourhoods of Fana and Ytrebygda, instead the Bergen#By light rail|light rail runs from the downtown to the regional terminal at Nesttun, where feeder buses bring passengers onwards. Most major lines operate seven days a week, including all holidays (usually a regular Sunday schedule with a few exceptions), but some of the lesser lines may have little or no service in the weekends. During the school vacation (mid-June to mid-August), buses are less frequent, so make sure you have an updated bus schedule. On Christmas Eve (December 24) and there are no buses after about 16:00. On Constitution Day (May 17) and the parades and celebrations shut down the downtown streets, though buses do run to and from downtown and they will generally not run through downtown on that day. After about 01:00, regular bus services cease to run. In the weekends and there are a few night bus lines available. Tickets are more expensive than on the regular lines (kr 60 within city limits) and travel passes can not be used. AccessibiltyThe process of replacing old buses with newer ones accessible for people using wheelchairs is ongoing. Most buses on central lines have low floors and a built-in ramp. On the new buses, that are now a majority and the stops are announced on a display. The bus driver will be able to assist you in English, if required. By light railBybanen23.juni2010 - Light rail ("Bybanen") downtown terminal. A light rail line runs between the downtown and southwards towards Lagunen before turning west to the airport. Thit is the primary means of public transportation to southern parts of Bergen. The line passes the train station and the bus station, Brann soccer stadium and the student homes at Fantoft along the route. The line operates from 06:00-01:00, seven days a week, generally with a 7- to 8-minutes frequency (a bit more often during rush hours, 15-minutes frequency on Saturday mornings, 30-minutes frequency on Sunday mornings). The entire journey takes about 45 minutes. Night lines operate all Friday and Saturday night with departures every 30 minutes. You need to buy your ticket from the ticket machine at the station before you board. Apart from that and the ticket and fare card system is the same as for buses, see the Bergen#By bus 2|Get around by bus section for more details. It's feasible to change from bus to light rail and from light rail to bus within the time of validity of a ticket. Tickets for the night lines must be bought on board. Fare cards can not be used. The price is 60 kr. The light rail is accessible with a wheelchair. All stops are announced and displays also show the name of the next stop. How to travel to Bergen by carBergen - Dragefjellsbakken og Sydnessmauet sett fra Sydneskleiven - Typical downtown streets where walking and cycling are the only transport options. It is an expressed goal of both local and national authorities to reduce vehicle traffic in the town center. Thus and the speed limit downtown is very low and most streets are one-way streets. If you plan on getting from one part of downtown to another, walking is often faster than driving, even for local residents who know their way around. Furthermore, parking in the streets is reserved for the handicapped and for residents that possess a special permit with only a very few exceptions. If you plan to drive to the town center from outside of it, unless you have any special needs, park your vehicle in a garage, such as Bygarasjen (very large, at the bus station) and Klostergarasjen (at Nøstet, northern downtown), Bygarasjen being the cheaper. There are also several smaller (and more expensive) garages around town. If you take the chance to bring your vehicle further downtown, be sure to read all signs – most streets are one-way streets and some are for buses and taxis only. To park in a spot reserved for the disabled, you need a standard European "blue badge", a special parking permit (generally, handicapped parking permits from most countries will be accepted). It must be placed on the inside of your car's front window, clearly visible from the outside. The municipal parking authorities provide a 22381736/Parkeringskart%202012.pdf brochure with some information on the general rules of parking along with a map of parking spots, including parking spots for the disabled. Driving in the area outside the town center is quite convenient, with expressways going in most directions. The roads are well sign-posted, but a map will probably come in handy anyway. Mind the speed limits; traffic controls are common and fines are stiff. Do also keep in mind that a lot of the roads are toll roads. All toll stations are automated. When approaching one, keep driving and do not slow down. A photograph of your license plates will be taken and you will receive an invoice per mail. During rush hours (07:30-09:00 and 15:00-17:00) traffic is jammed many places, but it's nothing compared to larger city's in Europe. Between 1 November and 31 March and the use of studded tires is legal. Within Bergen municipality, you have to pay a fee to use such tires. You can pay at automated payment stations on the primary streets into Bergen (Norwegian: oblatautomat), Statoil gas stations or by visiting the municipal parking authorities in Bygarasjen or Vincens Lunges gate 3 (directly south of the train station). Best way to travel in Bergen by a TaxiTaxis are generally expensive in Norway. Throughout Bergen and there are a number of taxi stalls where taxis are parked waiting for clients. During the day, taxis will not pick up clients nearer than 300 metres from the stalls, except when called to an address. During the night in the weekends, taxi queues can be very long (up to one hour) and all clients are therefore required to go to the stalls. It is feasible to order taxis to addresses also at this time of the week, but you shouldn't really expect the taxi to arrive. The places where the taxis are stationed changes from time to time because of renovation of the city streets, but you will find them at the bus station and the train station, Festplassen, Ole Bulls plass, Torget and in Torggaten and Vetrlidsalmenning. Look for signs saying "Taxi". Some taxi stalls are only open during the night and vice versa. Information about thit is printed on a separate sign below the taxi sign. If no taxis are available at the taxi stall, call 07000 (Bergen Taxi), 08000 (Norgestaxi), +47 55 70 00 00 (Taxi 1) or +47 55 70 80 90 (Bryggen Taxi). There is a fee associated with calling a taxi. Taxis may also be ordered in advance by calling one of these numbers, which is recommended if you are able to. Fares are roughly the same regardless of the taxi company. All companies are regarded as reliable and safe. If several taxis are available at a taxi station, you may pick the one you want from the line. It can be added that taxi drivers rarely expect or receive any tip. Travel by train to BergenThere is one local commuter train service, between downtown Bergen and the suburb of Arna in the east (schedules are available from the 3642/Download+timetables Norwegian State Railways' web site). If you are going to Arna and the train is by far the fastest option from downtown since the roads run around the mountains while the railway line runs straight through them; it is an eight minutes train ride, running every half hour during most of the day. Tickets should be purchased beforehand in the office at the downtown station or in the machines both downtown and in Arna. Travel by bicycle in BergenGetting around by bike can be difficult in Bergen. Many central streets are paved with cobblestone and there are only a few roads with designated cycling lanes. Cycling in such lanes can even be dangerous, as vehicle and bus traffic may cross the lane. It is however legal to cycle on the sidewalks as long as you do not disturb pedestrians. Front and rear lights are mandatory after dark. Bicycle theft and vandalism is common, so be careful where you leave your bike and always use a lock. What to SeeBergen panoramic IMG 5322 - Panoramic view of Bergen There's a number of attractions in Bergen and the surrounding areas. Surveys do, however, show that most Muslim visitors in Bergen find the atmosphere, cultural landscape and architecture more compelling than the typical sights, so pick a few things to see and spend the rest of your time in Bergen sitting down in a park or café, strolling around the town, enjoying a concert or hiking the mountains. On sunny summer days, stay downtown until late to enjoy the sunset in the north. Panorama pointsBecause of its rugged landscape Bergen has an abundance of panorama points and these give an intense feeling of space, notably Mt Fløyen and Mt Ulriken served by funicular and cable vehicle respectively but also available hiking for the sporty. At lower altitudes the Fjellveien panorama road and the highest point of Nordnes peninsula are easily available. Sandviksbatteriet just above Sandviken hospital also offers excellent panorama. The Montana residential area likewise gives a nice outlook.
Traditional wooden architectureMcDonalds Bergen Norway 2009 1 - McDonalds in a traditional Bergen house downtown Traditional small wooden houses, often placed in an irregular pattern around narrow streets and passages, dominated most Norwegian city's during the past centuries. Bergen is one of the few major towns where this traditional style still dominates several neighbourhoods downtown. A number of houses have also been relocated to Gamle Bergen (old Bergen) museum. Some of these are merely pockets of cute little houses between stone and concrete structures; others are wider areas of these dollhouse-like buildings. Show respect for those living there while you walk by. These areas are best seen on a relaxed stroll (although the view from Fjellveien gives a birds eye view):
Downtown
Monday to Friday 07:30–23:00, Sa–Su 08:00–23:00 Adult: Single: kr 45, Return: kr 90 Fløibanen Fløibanen is a funicular which goes up Fløyen, a plateau in the mountain massif north-east of the town center. From here, you get a great view of the city. Accessing Fløibanen and the plateau on Fløyen with a wheelchair is a piece of cake. More than 1.2 million people rode with Fløibanen in 2007 and it has become the attraction that the most Muslims are content with. Expect queues, but don't worry and they move fast. There are no steps where lifts are not available without assistance and all doors are wide. 7767
Statsraad Lehmkuhl royal yard - Statsraad Lehmkuhl
Bergenhus fortressHaakonshallen - Håkonshallen
BryggenView of Bryggen - Bergen, Norway - Bryggen Inside Bryggen - Bergen, Norway - A scene at Bryggen
Museums
Nygårdshøyden and Møhlenpris (southern downtown)Bergen Museum garden - The museum garden at Bergen Museum
South of the town center
Gamlehaugen1 - Gamlehaugen
North of the town centerGamle Bergen - Gamle Bergen
West of the town center
Top Travel TipsConcerts
Stage artNationale Scene - Den Nationale Scene
Beach-lifeHanging out by the ocean can be one of the best ways to spend a hot summer day in Bergen, although Bergen is hardly a sun and sand destination. The temperature in the ocean around Bergen is warmer than most places on the west coast because of the outer islands protecting the area from the constant flow of cooler water from the North Sea and allowing the water to heat in smaller bays in the area. Temperatures can rise to 20°C after consecutive days with good weather. The water is clean and fresh. There are sandy beaches at Arboretet at Milde (Hjellestad), Kyrkjetangen at Nordåsvannet and Helleneset, "bathing houses"/beaches at Nordnesparken and Elsero situated in Old Bergen in Sandviken. After a day hiking in the mountains, Skomakerdiket above Mount Fløyen has a sandy fresh-water beach.
Take a Hiking Tour in BergenDe syv fjell|StoreLungegårdsvann5 - Ulriken summit with the tower is a key landmarkLocals refer to de syv fjell (the seven mountains) when they talk about the mountains surrounding the city. But there's no agreement on which mountains these seven really are, as there are in fact at least nine mountains and peaks in the area. Most people do however agree that Fløyen, Ulriken, Løvstakken and Damsgårdsfjellet are among the seven, plus three out of Sandviksfjellet, Blåmanen, Rundemanen, Lyderhorn and Askøyfjellet. As local residents are known to have strong opinions on most subjects and the question of which mountains to include has been up for debate in local newspapers since the morning of time. The reason for the controversy is probably that the number seven is more of a roman-inspired gimmick and that it is imfeasible to distinguish some of the mountain tops from each other when in the town center, as many of them are part of the same massif. The mountains surrounding Bergen offers great hiking possibilities and unlike most city's the first hiking trail starts downtown and no need for transport out of town. There are options for anyone from those just looking for a fifteen-minutes stroll in the sun to the more adventurous interested in daytrips and steep hills. Byfjellene (lit. "the city mountains") have good networks of dirtroads and paths, well signposted. Good maps are available in most bookstores – look for Tur- og friluftskart Bergen (1:25 000) from the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority (Norwegian: Statens kartverk). For advice on hiking, as well as hiking opportunities elsewhere in Norway, you should consult Bergen Turlag (Bergen Hiking Association) and the local branch of Den Norske Turistforening (Norwegian Trekking Association), located in Tverrgaten 4-6. The Norwegian right to access entitles you to hike in all uncultivated areas. Mount FløyenMount Fløyen is the most central of the mountains. It is easily accessible by the funicular running from downtown, but the better fit will probably choose the 40-minutes walk up. A good compromise can be to take the funicular up and walk down. The way is well signposted, so you won't get lost. In the steep slope towards Fløyen (right above the city) there is the popular Fjellveien, a long, gentle, horizontal pedestrian road with a perfect panorama of the city. From Fjellveien and there are several alternative roads to the top. From the top of Mount Fløyen and the 1.8 km (1.1 mi) walk in relatively flat terrain to Brushytten (lit. "the soda cabin") is ideal, if you have kids. Brushytten is a kiosk open on Sundays. There are several ways to get there, if you follow the signs, you're on the safe side and will walk on dirtroads all the way (easily accessible with both a wheelchair or a pram). From Brushytten, you can walk up the hill to Mount Rundemanen and get a beautiful view. From Mount Rundemanen, a good choice for a not-so-long hike will be to walk to Sandviksfjellet and from there down to Sandviken, where you can get on a bus or walk back to the town center. Another possibility is to cross the Vidden plateau and walk to Mount Ulriken and the highest mountain in Bergen, a hike which takes about five hours. You should be somewhat fit to take this trip and also be prepared for bad weather. The trip across Vidden is among Norway's most popular hiking trips. For both kids and adults, a popular activity on snowy days is to take the funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen and toboggan to the town center. Blamanen Bergen Norway 2009 2 - Mt Fløyen and Mt Blaamanen on a crisp winter day FjordsThere are frequent boat trips to some of the more scenic fjords from the downtown. There are trips all year round, but many are only available in season, from May to September. FishingThe islands, fjords and lakes surrounding Bergen provide excellent conditions for both saltwater and fresh-water fishing. Fishing from fresh water lakes requires a local rod permit, even permition from the land owner. Pay attention to signs marking lakes used for drinking water. Coast and deep sea fishing is free and there is no need for any license. However, no more than 15 kilos of fish fillets or fish products can be exported from Norway per person and there are some regulations concerning the minimum size of the fish. Consult the web site of _management/setting_quotas/Fishing_tourism/ The Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs for more information. Fishing in the downtown (Bryggen, Vågen, Bontelabo, Dokken) is feasible, but there are some concerns about traces of mercury in white fish fillet and liver. A new report may indicate that the situation is better than expected, but a good advice is to avoid fishing in Vågen, from old ship yards and the Åstveittangen and Eidsvågen areas. A general, very cautious advice could be not to eat liver from fish caught in areas close to the downtown - and pregnant and breast feeding women should not eat this fish at all. EventsBuekorps|Markens ogMathismarkens The buekorps (literally meaning archery brigade) is a tradition unique to Bergen. Formed by children and young people and these brigades have their roots back to the 19th century when kids imitated military troops performing closed order drill. The brigades parade the city streets with drummers, officers and privates carrying crossbows throughout spring, with Constitution Day being the high point. While not universally loved by the citizens and these brigades certainly add to Bergen's unique character.
Study in BergenInstitutions of higher education in Bergen include the University of Bergen, The [ Norwegian School of Business and Economics, Bergen National Academy of the Arts and Bergen University College. The university is Norway's second largest and covers most areas of education, though the educations in law and in medicine are probably considered the best. The Norwegian School of Business and Economics is considered the best education within these fields in the nation. All the aforementioned institutions are members of the Nordplus and Erasmus exchange programms and offer courses in English. Shopping in BergenBergen has a number of shopping centers and international chains are well represented. As prices are rather high in Norway, regular shopping is probably not the most interesting thing to do in Bergen, even if you get a VAT refund (see the #Tax_Free_shopping|Tax Free shopping section below). But if you know where to go, you can find rare and unique items, both traditional crafts and stuff made by local designers - and some other fun stuff. Keep in mind that with a very few exceptions, Bergen shuts down completely on Sundays and holidays. Shopping in Bergen
Tax-free shoppingVAT (value added tax/sales tax, Norwegian: mva. (merverdiavgift) or moms. (merverdiomsetningsavgift)) is 25% for most items in Norway. It is included in the retail price, which makes the VAT content 20% of the price you pay. As Norway is not a member of the European union, all foreign citizens (apart from those of Sweden, Denmark and Finland) are eligible for a refund of the VAT if the goods purchased are brought out of the nation at the latest one month after the purchase. The prerequisites for such a refund is that the goods are not used or consumed, even in part, within Norway and that you spend at least kr 315 in a store. Look for stores with a Global Blue/tax free flag or sticker. You need only to ask the shop assistant for a global refund check and provide documentation of your citizenship. When leaving Norway, go to a Global Blue refund office with the goods and the check and your passport and you will receive up to 19% of the sales price in cash. In Bergen and the only tax-free-shopping/refund-points/norway/bergen-airport/ Global Blue refund office is at the airport, but there are also information desks on a couple of the ferries leaving from the city. Unlike in many other countries and the customs authorities are not involved in the VAT refund process in Norway. Halal Restaurants & Food in Bergenpricerange|Up to 130 kr|130–210 kr|Over 210 kr}} There is a great variety of restaurants and cafes in Bergen, but you should expect to spend some time looking for the best places. In the most central parts of the city, many of the restaurants are all the same. Move a block away from the most central parts of downtown to find lower prices and better food. Kitchens close at 11PM at the latest. Waiters and other restaurant staff have good wages. You are not required to leave any money to cover the service, but many Muslim choose to tip the waiter if he or she has been helpful and nice and if the food was good. If you choose to leave a tip, rounding up or adding about five to ten percent will be appreciated. A rule of thumb would be that the more expensive the food is and the more are you expected to leave a tip. Keep in mind that tap water is safe to drink and (usually) free of charge. To save money, ask for tap water to drink. Local foodKjoettbasaren - Kjøttbasaren hosts the affordable Egon restaurant as well as high end Restaurant 1877 and a bar upstairs. Finding local food might take some effort, but there are some options. There aren't that many local dishes available at restaurants. "Norwegian" food is the food of the husmann (cottager) – nutritious and affordable, not what you find in a restaurant. The Bergen fish soup might be the most important, as well as raspeballer and cooked cod. If you want to get that Norwegian taste and have a gourmet meal at the same time, look for dishes that use "local" ingredients (such as reindeer, stockfish and cod) with a twist, such as Bryggen Tracteursted's filet of reindeer farced with goat Cheese. Many cafe's and restaurants serve "raspeballer" on Thursdays. Raspeballer are local potato dumplings, in Bergen served with bacon, Sausages,salted Meat from sheep, melted butter and mashed rutabaga. You can get takeaway raspeballer at Kjøttbasaren (kr. 50), affordable ones at Lido, excellent ones at Pingvinen and Bjellands Kjøkken. You can get reasonable take-away fish soup, fish-balls, "plukkfisk" and fish-gratin at Madam Bergen. In November, December and January, traditional Christmas food is served in some Halal restaurants. Look for "pinnekjøtt" (cured, dried and sometimes smoked Meat of lamb or mutton), "lutefisk" (lit. "lye fish", dried cod prepared with lye) and "ribbe" (oven-baked Beef ribs). For a very special experience, try smalahove (sheep's head). It is a traditional dish from Voss not far from Bergen.
Fløyen Folkerestaurant - panoramio - Restaurant at Mt Fløyen.
There is a great variety of cafes, night clubs, concert venues etc. in Bergen. Night clubs are open from 23:00, but life never starts before 01:00. Bars opens at different hours, some can be open all day. No places are allowed to serve alcohol after 03:00 and the consumption of beverages must cease at 03:30 at the latest. Many places are required to close earlier. The establishments are only allowed to let people bring their drinks outside if they have been granted a special permit. A requirement to get this permit is that they have a confined space outdoors for their guests. All drinks must be indoors by 01:00. People go out all week, but Fridays and Saturdays are the best nights, Saturdays being the clear winner (most places will be a bit too crowded on Saturdays). Some clubs have a 2 for 1 policy on Wednesdays and Sunday is the night for people in the industry. Most places require that you are 20 years of age (look in the list for details) and that you can provide a valid ID, even if you are much older. Valid IDs are Norwegian bank cards, GCC standard driver's licenses and ID cards and passports. Drinking in public is illegal. Emptying a can in front of a police officer on a Saturday night will earn you a kr. 2500 fine. If you stroll through a park a bit outside the town center on a sunny day you will still see a lot of people having a organic juice or a glass of with the picnic. The police won't mind as long as everything passes in an orderly fashion. Prices vary great from place to place, ask at the door if you need to know. In the weekends and there is a cover charge from kr 50 to kr 100 at night clubs. Almost all night clubs and some cafes have a dress code. The required attire varies; look in the list for more information (when the listing indicates "no dress code" normal, nice clothes are accepted). Supporter gear is generally not accepted even in sports pubs. Remember that smoking in all indoor areas where people work is strictly prohibited by law in Norway. Most restaurants, bars, night clubs etc. will require you to leave if you try to smoke indoors. Nightlife is largely concentrated in the central downtown (streets Vaskerelven, Engen, Torgallmenningen, Ole Bulls plass, Nygaardsgaten) and Bryggen area (streets Bryggen, Rosenkrantz gt, Vetrlidsallmenningen, kong Oscar gate). Central downtownClubs
Other
Bryggen and Dreggen
Nordnes and Nøstet area
Nygårdshøyden and Møhlenpris – the University AreaDet Akademiske Kvarter - Det akademiske kvarter in Nygårdsgaten an area with cafes and pubs popular among students.
Outside the town centerBien bar desk - Bien Cafe in a previous pharmacy at Danmarksplass.
eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to BergenBergen - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Bergen, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Bergen. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Bergen and its surrounding regions. With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Bergen. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values. The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Bergen. Key components include: Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Bergen: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Bergen. Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Bergen: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Bergen, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Bergen. Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Bergen, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations. Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Bergen, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values. Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Bergen and beyond. Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Bergen, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Bergen, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Bergen without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients." The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Bergen is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Bergen. About eHalal Travel Group: eHalal Travel Group Bergen is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values. For Halal business inquiries in Bergen, please contact: eHalal Travel Group Bergen Media: info@ehalal.io Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in BergeneHalal Group Bergen is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Bergen. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Bergen. At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Bergen ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property. For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Bergen. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living. If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Bergen, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values. For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in Bergen are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io Ramadan Celebrations in BergenRamadan 2025 in BergenRamadan concludes with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which may last several days, usually three in most countries. The next Ramadan shall be from Friday, 28 February 2025 to Saturday, 29 March 2025 The next Eid al-Adha shall be on Friday, 6 June 2025 The next day of Raʾs al-Sana shall be on Thursday, 26 June 2025 The next day for Mawlid al-Nabī shall be on Monday, 16 September 2024 Muslim Friendly Hotelspricerange|Up to 800 kr|800–1500 kr|Over 1500 kr}} Outside the summer season, getting a hotel room is not a problem, although it can be quite expensive unless you have a reservation. In the summer season (from May to Sept) a reservation well in advance is required. Breakfast is normally included in the price except at hostels and camping sites.
Stay SafeBergen has, as the rest of Norway, a generally low crime rate. The most likely crimes for tourists to experience is vehicle break-ins and bicycle theft. Pickpockets do also tend to be an increasing problem in the summer season, but it's still nothing like in larger city's in Europe. It is always a good idea to look after your belongings, this includes never leaving valuable objects visual in your vehicle and locking your bike safely. There are no particularly unsafe areas in Bergen. The upper part of Nygårdsparken used to be the hang-out place for drug addicts. The lower part of Nygårdsparken is a stunning location popular among the local residents. To make the whole park family friendly the upper part was closed down and renovated for two years forcing the drug addicts to disperse. As a consequence they are now spread across the city. The drug addicts are completely harmless, but nevertheless not fun to be around. Buying sex is illegal in Norway. People party hard on Friday and Saturday night and hoards of drunk people will appear in the central areas from around midnight, singing, carousing and just hanging around. Some foreigners may perceive this as threatening, but they are mostly harmless, even all-male groups chanting football songs. If approached, just smile and stay friendly, but uneasy visitors should avoid groups of drunk young after midnight. Summer evenings has daylight until 23:00 or 24:00, adding to the safety for visitors. There is an emergency and accident ward at Solheimsgaten 9. The ward is open all day all week and provides examination and treatment in case of accidents and acute diseases. The ward is located together with a life crisis assistance center, a psychiatric emergency ward, a reception center for rape victims and a dental emergency ward. All services may be reached at ☎ +47 55 56 87 60. If you should be in need of immediate medical assistance, do however call 113. The police station downtown is in Allehelgens gate 6, across the street from the old town hall. Emergency numbers in BergenNorway - National Police POLITI current style (8164823476) - 25px ☎ Police: 112 Hazard F.svg|25px ☎ Fire: 110 First Aid Green Cross.svg|25px ☎ Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance): 113
Medical Issues in BergenIn acute illness or if accident occurs:
There are many pharmacies (apotek) in Bergen, that are selling medications and can give you advice on the treatment of injury and disease. Vitusapotek Nordstjernen Bergen (Bergen Storsenter, Strømgt. 8) has extended opening hours. Local Customs in BergenAs in the rest of Norway, it is customary to take your shoes off when entering a home. This in particular done as a practical matter, due to the wet weather (slush and salt in winter). People from Bergen have a reputation for being more loud and direct than many other parts of Norway. Locals are perhaps the most patriotic in Norway. Cope in BergenGetting around by foot is easy and s free maps are available everywhere. If you need a better map, you should buy one of the local newspapers' (Bergens Tidende) maps. Maps are sold from the paper's reception in Krinkelkroken 1, close to the blue stone and in various bookstores. The city map costs kr 50. VISA and MasterCard are normally accepted in any restaurant, taxi and store, except grocery stores, some kiosks and McDonald's (Please do not support McDonald's as McDonald's supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant). Many places, American Express, JCB and Diners Club are also accepted. ATMs accept all major credit and debit cards and are available in English language. The currency is Norwegian kroner (crowns), but euros may also be accepted at some tourist destinations (you should, however, avoid paying in euros as the exchange rates may be stiff). Currency exchange is available in all banks. Exchange is associated with an incredible fee, so you should use your credit card or withdraw cash from an ATM unless you have a good reason not to. You will also find that most shops don't handle change manually. A grey machine by the till accepts your change in the top (and counts it for the shop assistant) and provides your change in a hopper at the bottom. Don't feed a large number of coins in at once: put them in one at a time or the machine may jam. The regular opening hours for grocery stores are 08:00-21:00 on weekdays. Some stores open earlier and close later. Other shops have shorter hours, except those in the shopping centers. Almost all shops, including grocery stores, close earlier on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Kiosks such as Narvesen, 7-Eleven and Deli de Luca, as well as many petrol stations, are open. These do however often have very high prices for normal grocery items. Some smaller grocery stores are open on Sundays and public holidays, including Bunnpris at Nedre Korskirkeallmenningen (by the Bergen YMCA and the Church of the Cross) and Rimi at Nygårdsgaten 6. The city's main post office is conveniently located in the Xhibition shopping center, on the 1st floor. Some grocery stores offers limited postal services and stamps are available from most book stores and kiosks. Post boxes are either red or yellow and are located all over town. Yellow boxes are only for local mail, if unsure use the red box. All post boxes, postal offices and grocery stores offering postal services are marked with the emblem of the Norwegian postal service, a stylized red or silver horn and the word "Posten". For more information on the postal service and to locate postal offices and post boxes, see the web site of me Norway Post. The local tap water is fresh, tasty and rich in minerals from the surrounding mountains and safe to drink. Public toilets are available for a small fee at Shopping Centres and at Torget and Bryggen. Countries with consulates in Bergen are listed below in the #Consulates|consulates section; however, most are only honorary consulates, so their services are limited. You may wish to visit your country's embassy in the Norwegian capital, Oslo#Embassies|Oslo. TelecommunicationsArea codes are no longer in use in Norwegian phone numbers. Phone numbers are normally eight digits, some special numbers may be three, four or five digits. In any case you should always dial all of the digits to make a call. The country code of Norway is +47. If you are calling abroad from a land line, dial 00 before your country code and phone number. Cellular phone coverage is very good throughout the city. Three different networks are available, Telenor, NetCom and Network Norway. Check with your local operator to find out which one is the cheaper for you. The difference is not big. Norway, like most of Europe, uses GSM 900 and 1800, which means that some cell phones from USA, Canada and countries in Asia will not work. For those in need of mobile data lines, both HSDPA/3G/UMTS, EDGE and 4Gcoverage is good on all networks. There are no telephone centers in the city and only a very few phone booths. Most hotels have phones in every room, but international calls from these phones are expensive. There are some calling cards available, thit is probably the cheapest way to phone home. Many cafes and restaurants have free Wi-Fi for their patrons. Free Wi-Fi is also available at Bergen Public Library, Strømgaten 6 (by the bus station). Most large hotels do also have wireless Internet access, however access at a hotel may be pricy. If you are a registered user at an eduroam participating institution, you can connect to a high-speed secure Wi-Fi network on the university campus on Nygårdshøyden and in other buildings used by the university and the Bergen University College and the Norwegian School of Business and Economics and the Bergen National Academy of the Arts. For information on how to connect, see UNINETTs website. There are internet cafes around town. At Bergen Public Library, you may also use a computer with high-speed internet access for free. There is a reservation system, ask at the circulation desk. Religious services
Christian
Consulates in Bergen{{flag|Canada* Canada Honorary Consulate| P.O. Box 2439 Solheimsviken - ☎ +47 55 29 71 30 +47 55 29 71 31
* India Honorary Consulate| Fortunen 7 - ☎ +47 913 25 880, +47 55 54 48 29 News & References
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Lysoen - Lysøen - home of Ole Bull
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