Mostraumen fjord cruise
3.5 h
from NOK 680 per person
Fjord cruises from Bergen
Bergen is Norway's fjord capital and the natural place to begin. Wedged between seven mountains and the open sea, the city has been a trading port for nine centuries — the colourful timber façades of Bryggen, the old Hanseatic wharf, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the backdrop to the harbour where most cruises depart. Within a short sail lie two of the country's grandest waterways: the orchard-lined Hardangerfjord to the south and the vast Sognefjord, the longest and deepest fjord in Norway, to the north.
Because Bergen sits right on the coast, you don't need to travel inland to reach dramatic scenery. Boats leave the city centre and are among sheer walls and tumbling waterfalls within the hour, which makes Bergen ideal if your time is short or you're arriving by cruise ship, plane or the Bergen Railway. It is also one of the few ports where the water is genuinely a year-round proposition — sightseeing runs through winter, when snow dusts the peaks above the fjord.
For most visitors Bergen is the launchpad for a wider fjord journey. The famous Norway in a Nutshell route begins here before winding through Sognefjord and Nærøyfjord, and the city is the western end of the spectacular Bergen Railway. But you needn't go far to feel the fjords: even a half-day on the water — a morning cruise or an afternoon after cod — delivers the scenery most people travel to Norway to see, with the comforts of a real city waiting when you step back onto the quay.
Why sail from here
- Fjords within an hour's sail — no long inland transfer needed
- UNESCO Bryggen wharf and the Fløibanen funicular a short walk from the quay
- One of the few year-round fjord-cruise ports, with winter sailings
- Genuine deep-sea fishing for cod, pollock and halibut on the doorstep
What to do on the water
Two very different experiences leave from the Bergen waterfront: a scenic fjord cruise into a narrow tidal channel, and a hands-on sea-fishing trip out toward the open coast.
Bergen sea-fishing trip
4 h
from NOK 950 per person
The signature sightseeing trip is the Mostraumen cruise, a three-and-a-half-hour run up the Osterfjord to the narrow Mostraumen strait, where the boat noses beneath waterfalls close enough to fill a cup from the meltwater. But Bergen is equally a fishing town: deep-sea trips head out toward the coast in search of cod, pollock, coalfish and — for the lucky — halibut, with rods, tackle and waterproofs supplied on a typical four-hour outing. It's a memorable half-day even for first-timers, and any catch is yours to keep.
Getting there
Bergen has its own international airport (Flesland, 30 minutes from the centre by Light Rail) and is the western terminus of the scenic Bergen Railway from Oslo. Cruises and fishing trips leave from the quays around the Fish Market (Torget) and Zachariasbryggen, both a short walk from the centre.
Good to know: Bergen is famously rainy, so pack a waterproof layer even in summer; the boats are covered but the best fjord views are from the open deck. Book fishing trips a day or two ahead in high season, as small boats fill quickly and departures depend on the weather out toward the coast. Combining a morning fjord cruise with an afternoon at Bryggen and the Fish Market makes a full, easy day without leaving the city.
Frequently asked questions
- Where do the fjord cruises leave from in Bergen?
- Most sightseeing cruises and sea-fishing trips depart from the quays beside the Fish Market (Torget) and Zachariasbryggen in the heart of the harbour, a few minutes' walk from Bryggen and the Fløibanen funicular.
- Can I go fjord cruising from Bergen in winter?
- Yes. The Mostraumen fjord cruise runs year-round, and winter sailings offer snow-capped peaks and near-empty boats. Sea-fishing trips are seasonal, running roughly March to October when the weather is more settled.
- How much is a fjord cruise from Bergen?
- The three-and-a-half-hour Mostraumen fjord cruise starts from around 680 NOK per adult. A four-hour deep-sea fishing trip starts from about 950 NOK including equipment. Request a quote for exact, up-to-date pricing.