Luxury 7-night Norway two-centre holiday combining by the two cities of Bergen and Alesund by Hurtigruten ferry
This luxury two-centre holiday introduces you to Norway’s two most important port cities of Bergen and Alesund, connected by an overnight trip on the Hurtigruten ferry. Start by flying into Bergen via a short stopover in Oslo. Known as the city of the seven mountains, Bergen is a beautiful city which used to be the capital of Norway. It is possible to reach one of these mountains by funicular from the city centre, which awards spectacular views of Bergen and the surrounding landscape. Bergen is also known for the colourful façade of Bryggen with its picturesque wooden structures, now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For those more interested in the cultural attractions the Troldhaugen was the home of composer Edvard Grieg and houses a museum and a concert hall where his music is still played. After three nights here you will take the Hurtigruten cruise ship along the western coast to Alesund. Board the ship in the evening and arrive into Alesund the next morning, where you check into your hotel for the next three nights. The port town of Alesund is known for its art nouveau architectural style following a fire in 1904, and you may want to spend some time here taking in the architecture in its downtown district. For a true appreciation of this, Fjellstua is a famous viewpoint over the city which gives the best outlook on the townhouses and the surrounding waters. Alesund Museum provides an insight into the history of the city, from the great fire to the German occupation. It also features many exhibitions on fisheries and boats, an important part of Alesund’s history and culture. At the end of your time here you will be transferred to the airport, where you take a flight back to the UK via Oslo.
Highlights
Bergen • Alesund • Hurtigruten cruise
Day by day
Fly from London to Bergen with a short stopover in Oslo. Upon arrival check in to your hotel in Bergen for three nights.
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and was the capital throughout some of the country’s most influential periods. One of your days here should start with a visit to the iconic Bryggen wharf, first established in the 14th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its colourful buildings today house a small museum, shops and restaurants. Bergen is known as the city of the seven mountains, the most easily accessible of which is Fløyen, which can be reached funicular from the city centre and awards spectacular views of the city and surrounding area. It is possible to take the funicular back, or you may want to hike back down at your leisure. For a full immersive experience you should take the time to visit Bergen Fish Market. Bergen has the busiest seaport in the country and the market offers an abundance of fish, shellfish, fruit and vegetables. Cultural attractions include the Troldhaugen, the former home of Edvard Grieg and today host to a museum about his life and works as well as a concert hall where you can hear his music performed. Its location in the fjords also makes Bergen an excellent base from which to explore more by boat, and there are multiple options ranging from a quick trip to an all-day experience.
On the evening of your final day in Bergen you board the Hurtigruten cruise ship heading northwards along the western coast to Alesund. Depending on the time of year you may have plenty of hours of sunlight left to enjoy the stunning fjords as you pass by them.
You arrive into Alesund in the morning, your base for the next three nights. You may want to organise an early check-in at a supplement, dependent on availability.
The port town of Alesund is built on a row of islands protruding into the Atlantic Ocean. This unique position has made it home to Norway’s most important fishing harbour, next to which is Holmbua, a warehouse which was built in 1861 and today houses the fisheries exhibitions of Alesund Museum. Here you can learn about the town’s production of fried cod before sampling some of this delicacy at the markets. Besides the port, Alesund is perhaps most-known for its architecture. After a fire destroyed the city in 1904 it was rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style, and you may want to spend some time exploring and appreciating the vibrant buildings which line the waterfront. You will find more information about this part of the town’s history, as well as many other periods including that of the German occupation, at the Alesund Museum. For an excellent view of the city and the surrounding area, Fjellstua is a famous viewpoint which is accessible from the city centre.
On your final day you will be transferred from your hotel in Alesund to the airport, where you will board a flight via Oslo back to the UK.
I just wanted to thank you for putting together our recent trip. We thoroughly enjoyed it, We were happy with all the hotels.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide From £1,910 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code SCBA01
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury 7-night Norway two-centre holiday combining by the two cities of Bergen and Alesund by Hurtigruten ferry
Fly from London to Bergen with a short stopover in Oslo. Upon arrival check in to your hotel in Bergen for three nights.
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and was the capital throughout some of the country’s most influential periods. One of your days here should start with a visit to the iconic Bryggen wharf, first established in the 14th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its colourful buildings today house a small museum, shops and restaurants. Bergen is known as the city of the seven mountains, the most easily accessible of which is Fløyen, which can be reached funicular from the city centre and awards spectacular views of the city and surrounding area. It is possible to take the funicular back, or you may want to hike back down at your leisure. For a full immersive experience you should take the time to visit Bergen Fish Market. Bergen has the busiest seaport in the country and the market offers an abundance of fish, shellfish, fruit and vegetables. Cultural attractions include the Troldhaugen, the former home of Edvard Grieg and today host to a museum about his life and works as well as a concert hall where you can hear his music performed. Its location in the fjords also makes Bergen an excellent base from which to explore more by boat, and there are multiple options ranging from a quick trip to an all-day experience.
On the evening of your final day in Bergen you board the Hurtigruten cruise ship heading northwards along the western coast to Alesund. Depending on the time of year you may have plenty of hours of sunlight left to enjoy the stunning fjords as you pass by them.
You arrive into Alesund in the morning, your base for the next three nights. You may want to organise an early check-in at a supplement, dependent on availability.
The port town of Alesund is built on a row of islands protruding into the Atlantic Ocean. This unique position has made it home to Norway’s most important fishing harbour, next to which is Holmbua, a warehouse which was built in 1861 and today houses the fisheries exhibitions of Alesund Museum. Here you can learn about the town’s production of fried cod before sampling some of this delicacy at the markets. Besides the port, Alesund is perhaps most-known for its architecture. After a fire destroyed the city in 1904 it was rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style, and you may want to spend some time exploring and appreciating the vibrant buildings which line the waterfront. You will find more information about this part of the town’s history, as well as many other periods including that of the German occupation, at the Alesund Museum. For an excellent view of the city and the surrounding area, Fjellstua is a famous viewpoint which is accessible from the city centre.
On your final day you will be transferred from your hotel in Alesund to the airport, where you will board a flight via Oslo back to the UK.
I just wanted to thank you for putting together our recent trip. We thoroughly enjoyed it, We were happy with all the hotels.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide From £1,910 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code SCBA01
Our prices include
● Return flights with British Airways from London to Oslo
● Scheduled return flights from Alesund to Oslo
● 3 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at Bergen Børs Hotel, Bergen
● 3 nights’ bed and breakfast in a Standard double room at Hotel Brosundet, Alesund
● 1 night’s bed and breakfast in a Polar outside cabin on the Bergen to Alesund Hurtigruten
● Private transfer from Hotel Brosundet to Alesund airport
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers and meals except breakfast at hotels
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Possible local tourist tax, usually the equivalent of £1 to £3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
● Transfers in any cities
Additional information This holiday can be arranged throughout the year. Timings can vary depending on the month and day of the week.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury 7-night Norway two-centre holiday combining by the two cities of Bergen and Alesund by Hurtigruten ferry
An hotel that is a fusion of the historic and the modern, 4-star, in the centre of Bergen, opposite the Fish Market and with 127 rooms. A cosy and exhilarating atmosphere. Restaurant with Michelin star.
Standard double room
Hotel Brosundet is a charming, 4-star design hotel occupying a traditional warehouse on the side of the water in the historic centre of Ålesund. 131 rooms, restaurant, stylish rooms.
Standard double
I just wanted to thank you for putting together our recent trip. We thoroughly enjoyed it, We were happy with all the hotels.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide From £1,910 per person based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Holiday Code SCBA01
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury 7-night Norway two-centre holiday combining by the two cities of Bergen and Alesund by Hurtigruten ferry
About Vestlandet and Norway's fjordland
Vestlandet contains many of the archetypal sites the visitor associates with Norway: spectacular fjords, colourful fishing ports, stave churches and dramatic panoramas. Vestlandet is a long, thin region in the west of the country, bordering the North Sea and interspersed by jagged inlets from the sea into the mountainous interior: the fjords including Sognefjorden, Geirangerfjord, Lysefjorden, Hardangerfjorden and Eidfjord. Bergen is the outstanding jewel as a town in this region, a World Heritage City, with ancient history, attractive buildings, world-class museums and superb restaurants. Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord and is composed of five large arms with fingers, of which Naeroyfjorden is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To complement the dramatic natural scenery, there are ample man-made delights in the area too, with charming villages, waterfronts, well-preserved Viking heritage sites and local foodie specialities. You can witness the drama of the Sognefjord by boat from Bergen to Flam on a journey of about five hours. Just north and south of the innermost reaches of the Sognefjord are the outstanding stave churches of Borgund, unchanged since the Middle Ages, and Urnes, the oldest stave church in Norway. The Geirangerfjord is one of the best-known and justifiably so as it contains ten miles of dramatic natural beauty with numerous waterfalls tumbling down the vertical cliff face. The Hardangerfjord runs from the North Sea to the Hardangervidda Plateau and offers a wealth of attractive scenery and pretty towns, with numerous activities. There are also apple orchards and farmland, hiking and cycling. Towards the north of the region is the coastal town of Alesund, whose centre consists mainly of striking Art Nouveau buildings, constructed in the early 20th Century after a fire destroyed most of the old town centre.
Highlights of Vestlandet
Vestlandet is fjord country and the most well-known and spectactular are Sognefjorden, the Geirangerfjord, Lysefjorden, Hardangerfjorden and Eidfjord. The seafaring cities and ports of Bergen and Alesund offer a mixture of cultural, food and sightseeing possibilities. Bergen has the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bryggen with museum, shops, galleries and restaurants. There is the KODE museum of art and design and at Troldhaugen you can visit the home of Edvard Grieg. The region is also home to the Flam railway and cable cars take you to mountain tops. Alesund is renowned as an Art Deco town after a fire in 1904 destroyed the old town. From here it is the gateway to the Geirangerfjord and the Trollstigen mountain road. Combine land and water sports as well as spectacular scenery in Vestlandet. You can also visit glaciers in this region and take the Atlantic Road for coastal vistas.
Cultural highlights of Vestlandet
There is a wide range of cultural visits throughout the region: KUBE art nouveau centre in Alesund, Agatunet traditional Norwegian village on the Hardangerfjord, Kinn stone church from the Middle Ages, Alesund medieval age museum, The Vicarage at Nesset childhood home of Nobel Prize for Literature winner Bjornson, Bergenhus Fortress in Bergen, Suldal living museum farm, Eldhuset at Undredal on the Sognfjord showing local traditions, pasture farming and goat's cheese production, Sirdal mountain musuem, Bergen school museum, Geirganger timber church, Flam railway museum, Steffagarden on Ona croft from 1793, Visnes mining museum, Hardanger fold museum, Baroniet Rosendal manor house and gardens, Viking exhbition at Eidfjord, Vik historical tour, Kaupanger stave church on the Sognefjord, Trollveggen visitor centre, Viking village at Gudvangen, Borgund church, Osteroy museum, Ardal old church Ryfylke.
Festivals of Vestlandet
Kristiansund has a food festival in June, there is a Viking festival in Avaldsnes in June, Sola holds a kite festival in June, Floro holds the world's longest herring table in June, early July sees the Skudefestivalen the largest gathering of coastal culture in western Norway, Floro holds a sea sports festival in mid July, Molde holds the oldest continuously running jazz festival in the world in July, Haugesund harbour days is a yearly tradition in mid August, The Tomato festival is held in mid August at Finnoy on the Ryfylke Islands near Stavanger, Hardanger holds a music festival at the end of August, Bergen has a food festival at the beginning of September.
Gastronomy of Vestlandet
The mild climate and soils of the region lend themselves to the growing of fruit and berries that produce apple juice, cider and jams. Strawberries, raspberries and cherries are also grown locally. Cheeses are produced in the region including the Tingvoll cheese that has been produced here since 1303. Smoked salmon and cured meats are also local. Clipfish (dried salted cod) in the Alsesund area.
