Founded around 1070 AD, Bergen quickly evolved into one of the most important cities in Norway. It w

Bergen [1] is the second largest city in Norway and the most popular gateway to the fjords of West Norway . The city is renowned for its beautiful nature and offers excellent hiking opportunities in its immediate car rental discount code surroundings. Having fostered many of Norway's greatest bands and artists, car rental discount code the city is also famous car rental discount code for its cultural life and underground/indie music scene.
Founded around 1070 AD, Bergen quickly evolved into one of the most important cities car rental discount code in Norway. It was the country's administrative capital from the early 1200s until 1299, and the largest city in Scandinavia. car rental discount code Bergen was one of the most important bureau cities of the Hanseatic League, interconnecting car rental discount code continental Europe with the northern and coastal parts of Norway, car rental discount code thus becoming a central spot for the vending of stockfish and the commercial hot spot in Norway. It was the largest city in Norway until the 1830's and has a long maritime history in shipping and finance.
The city still has relics of its Hanseatic heyday, most notably the old harbor car rental discount code of Bryggen, car rental discount code a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Bergen has been ravaged by several fires; the most recent major fire took place in 1916, a fire which destroyed most of the buildings in what is today the central parts of the city center, centered around the large square Torgallmenningen.
Bergen is located far west in Norway, sheltered car rental discount code from the North Sea only by a number of islands. It is situated along latitude 60 degrees north, as Oslo , Stockholm , Helsinki , Saint Petersburg and Anchorage . The city is the most hilly and mountainous in Norway. The city center is surrounded by a group of mountains and peaks known as the Seven Mountains, a defining characteristic which 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 [2] .
Except for the dense city center, which made up the entire city before 1916, Bergen is the least dense of the four largest car rental discount code cities in Norway. Most of the settlement inside car rental discount code 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.
Due to the city's location relatively far north, close to the northern sea and surrounded by mountains, special weather conditions occur, resulting in approximately 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, car rental discount code only bad clothing.
For the rest of us, the trick is obviously to choose the time of visit with caution. If you're lucky enough to 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 open spaces, parks, flowers and lawns scattered all over downtown.
July has the highest mean temperature, car rental discount code 14.3 °C (57.7 °F), with August, 14.1 °C (57.4 °F) following close behind. May is usually the month with the least precipitation. Considering the number of local events this month, May is probably the best time to visit Bergen, car rental discount code with the summer months of June, July and August as an almost as good second choice.
Bergen is one of the most important cultural centers in Norway. The city is the home of the Bergen International Festival, Nattjazz and Bergenfest, car rental discount code festivals car rental discount code 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, 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 car rental discount code 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.
In recent years, a number of 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, car rental discount code Suzanne Vega, Bob Dylan, Kaizers Orchestra, Kanye West and Rihanna appeared.
Bergen Airport Flesland ( IATA : BGO )( ICAO : ENBR ) [4] is located 19 km south of the city. The main international airports with flights to Bergen are Copenhagen , London car rental discount code , and Amsterdam . There are also flights from various cities in the United Kingdom (such as Newcastle , Edinburgh , and Aberdeen ); Prague , Paris , Berlin , Frankfurt , various cities in Spain , and some other airports. There are also a number of domestic car rental discount code flights, car rental discount code such as Oslo , Stavanger , Trondheim , Kristiansand and Sandefjord , connecting Bergen to additional international airports. The main carriers in Norway are SAS and the low cost airlines Norwegian Air Shuttle. car rental discount code The Dutch KLM has flights to Amsterdam, Lufthansa to Frankfurt. The smallest airports in Norway are usually served by Widerøe.
There is a frequent car rental discount code (every car rental discount code 15 minutes) airport bus service (Norwegian: Flybussen [5] ), which takes about 30-40 minutes to downtown (costing kr. 100, return ticket valid for one month kr. 160). Another company offering a similar service is Airportexpress [6] (costing kr. 100, return ticket valid for one month kr. 150). Their departures are not quite as frequent (every 30 minutes), but they stop closer to many hotels. Notice that return tickets are not exchangeable between these competing services.
Taxis are also available but they cost much more (kr. 300-350 on weekdays to downtown, more at night and at the weekend). car rental discount code There are some local buses occasionaly going to and from the airport (see the Get around by bus -section for more information on local buses). They have limited space for luggage and take longer, but only cost kr. 25.
The car rental companies AVIS, Budget, Hertz, Europcar and National all have offices at Bergen Airport Flesland. Located in the terminal building, by the exit, most of them are open 7AM–9PM on weekdays. Opening hours in the weekend are limited, but some of the companies will offer 24 hours rental if you make a reservation.
car rental discount code Bergen is served by a railway line which runs from Oslo . The railway line is operated by the Norwegian State Railways [7] . The journey takes about seven hours and gives you beautiful views, especially for the last three hours. When passing Geilo , you will cross over a high mountain plateau and then travel downwards through some of the most wonderful 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 , the equivalent of first class, with slightly better seats, free coffee and tea, and a power outlet. If you want to make more out of your journey, book your tickets on the phone (+47 815 00 888, press 9 for information in English). Phone reservations cost 50 NOK extra per ticket however, so be sure to mention you had trouble booking on their website (which is common) to avoid the extra cost. Ask to 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 railway station is located east of the city centre, close to the bus station car rental discount code and the Bygarasjen garage.
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 car rental discount code can be secured on board. For the seeing impaired, there are tactile lines in the larger stations. Staff will assist you in the station. car rental discount code If you need an assistant and can provide documentation, you and your traveling companion will get a 50 % discount off the full ticket price.
When travelling by car from Oslo, European road E16 is the longest, but easiest drive. Between Lærdal and Flåm , the road goes through Lærdalstunnelen, the longest road tunnel in the world. This route is less prone to be closed on short notice in the winter due to weather conditions - compared with the other mountain crossings.
There are many other alternatives, such as RV7 (the Hardangervidda route) which probably is the most scenic route, but also more difficult with regards to both weather and driving conditions. The road takes you across the mountain plateau Hardangervidda car rental discount code and along the innermost parts of Hardangerfjorden. From Brimnes, car rental discount code take the ferry to Bruravik and continue to Voss where RV7 meets E16 - or take the beautiful "Hardangerfjord car rental discount code route" car rental discount code from Granvin via Norheimsund. Parts of this scenic "Handangerfjord route" is narrow, even with single lane roads. Caravanists, be aware!
The nice Aurland-Hol car rental discount code route from upper Hallingdal to Flåm. Take RV7 to Hagafoss, then RV50 to Flåm. This is a quick route many Norwegians prefer, as there are no ferries - but be prepared for some narrow, dark tunnels and the rather steep, but breathtaking descend down from the mountains.
The Numedal Valley route from Kongsberg to Geilo on RV40, and then over the Hardangervidda plateau (see RV7 above). Enjoy very decent and even good roads along this peaceful valley. This route has much less traffic than Hallingdal. A good alternative if you travel from Vestfold county, but