Norway: Bergen & Oslo
Bergen
We spent the first half of our trip in the beautiful town of Bergen, which is in my opinion a hidden gem of Scandinavia. I had only heard of Bergen because of the Trolls movie, so I was excited to come see it for myself. I didn’t really know what to expect, and it completely surpassed any expectations I had. We stayed in the heart of the central area, and were less than a 30 minute walk from all of the Mt Ulriken hikes. We were also 10 minutes from the train station, and right in the heart of all the cute shops, restaurants, and the famous Bryggen wharff.
On our first day, we hiked up Floyen, and it was an early morning magical forest hike. It was sunny in some parts and foggy in others. There were endless trails, trees, greenery and views everywhere you turned. We found an old rock jenga structure and added new rocks to it. On our last day, we did a really intense stair hike to the top of the mountain. We were drenched in sweat by the time we got to the top. It felt so good and the view was so worth it. It was probably the most beautiful view I have ever seen in my life. We hung out at the top, staring at the view for awhile before doing some more hiking and then descending down the mountain. We found a little vegan cafe where we ate vegan soup and fresh bread for lunch, and it was truly my idea of a perfect day.
Bergen is one of my favorite places I have ever visited, and I would not hesitate to go back because I could spend so much time hiking and taking in the views. I am so glad we ventured to Bergen. It will always hold a special place in my heart!
Flåm
On the second day, we took the famous Flåmsbana train from Berrgen to Flåm, which was a remote and stunning village in Norway. The train ride was absolutely beautiful! We passed so many little villages, waterfalls, and mountains. I felt like I was on the Polar Express, or in some sort of movie! In Flåm, we got our cold suits on and did a fjord safari ride. It was incredibly calming, peaceful, and breathtaking. I have never seen such gorgeous scenery in my life. It was very cold and windy on the windy and narrow fjords, but it was worth it because the nature was unreal. I am so happy that I got to cross “visit a fjord” off of my bucket list! This was definitely the highlight of the trip.
Oslo
We ended our vacation by spending some time in Oslo. I did not realize how big of a city it was, especially compared to Bergen. I loved how clean and modern it was, yet still very historical and walkable. We went to the famous Vigeland Park a few times to check out the cool statues (including the Human Tower). We also visited the Nobel Peace Center and the new Munch museum. I also loved the Aker Brygge area, which was full of new, modern shops along the water. The last day of the trip was the only day that rained, and we spent it walking around, visiting some markets, and drinking lots of delicious juices. It was the trip of a lifetime!
