The Viking Ship Museum, Oslo

Epic mountain ranges, fjords and the witnessing the Northern Lights. This is a slither of the epicness that Norway has to offer. Albeit, coming face to face with the ancient relics of Viking naval history is still one of the most jaw-dropping experiences you can have in Norway.

How to get to the Vikingskipshuset Museum

Like most things, public transport is not cheap in Oslo. However, it is quite convenient. The cheapest way to reach the museum is to take the number 30 bus to Bygdøy from the center of town. The most convenient bus stop is Rådhuset (City Hall). You will want to take the bus from here and hop off at Vikingskipshuset. Those looking for an exact location of the Viking Ship Museum can find the pin below.

Norwegians speak good English and is a very easy country to travel. Just ask your driver to stop at the Viking Museum. For bus times and updated fares, check the ruter.no website.

The trip will cost 56 NOK and take roughly 15 minutes. You can shave off 20 NOK off the price by booking the bus ticket on the website listed above.

What are the Museum entry costs?

Thankfully, the cost of admission to see the Viking Ships of Oslo is reasonable. You can find the updated price lists below. You can also find more information on the museum website.

An adult ticket will cost 100 NOK or roughly $12 USD. Student’s get a small 20 NOK discount that helps. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that with true Scandinavian progressive style, refugees and asylum seekers gain free entry to see the Viking Ships and the Historical Museum.

A ticket purchase also entitles you entry to the Historical Museum and is valid for 48 hours. So if you have another snowed in day, you can check this out too.

What are the Museum opening hours?

Conveniently, the Viking Ship Museum is open all week. Specific opening hours vary depending on the time of year. Exact times can be found below, or on the official website.

• 1 May to 30 September: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• 1 October to 30 April: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Temporarily Closed: 1 January, 6 February, 13 February

What to expect at the Viking Ship Museum

The lore of Viking History has always fascinated me. Due to Viking burial ceremonies, many Viking Ships were burnt and sunk along with their respected King, ruler or important figure. Therefore, it is very difficult to find preserved Viking Ships today.

To see these gigantic Viking Ships in Oslo was mesmorising. The ships are in excellent conditions and preserved perfectly down to the detailed carving patterns. You will also be able to see weapons, armour and loot spoils that were found in the rubble of the buried ships.

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How to get to Bryggen and the Colourful Houses in Bergen

These buildings are great for an Instagram snap or for those wanting to check out the infamous Bryggen sites with your own eyes. That is, ff you haven’t already stumbled upon the old wooden buildings by accident while strolling around the harbour. You can check out the map below for the exact pinned location.

Getting to the historical Hanseviertel Bryggen buildings is easy and can be reached by foot. It is only a few minutes walk around the harbour from the famous Fish Market.

Best Time to Visit Bergen

It’s no secret that Norway can get cold – very cold. Being situated close to the Northern Sea and nestled between seven mountains, it has some unique weather conditions. Taking into account temperature and rain, the best month to visit Bergen is May. This also conveniently has the most local events to check out.

Weather in winter can be quite cold, wet and dark. However, if you’re looking to experience real Norwegian life, there’re no better way to do it than in Winter. You might also get the opportunity to experience the beauty of Bergen covered in snow.

FULL BLOG POST: Hiking to the best Viewpoint in Bergen

Photographing the Colourful Houses in Bergen

There are several great vantage points of the old wooden buildings of Bryggen. Located on a wharf just by the main harbour, you have the option of shooting several different angles. Although there may be some cars driving past, you can generally aways get a good view.

Bryggen Norway Facts

Bryggen itself translates simply to “The Wharf”. It is the old wharf of Bergen with both cultural and historical significance to the people of Bergen. The wharf played an important role as a trading post in the Hanseatic League trading empire as early as the 14th century.

Although there has been destruction from fires, the buildings have been maintained and rebuilt in accordance to traditional standards. The maintenance of these colourful wooden houses has followed traditional building techniques and patterns. The few buildings remaining are a glimpse into what Bergen and the rest of Northern European port cities would have looked like.

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Hiking to the Best Viewpoint in Bergen – Mount Fløyen

Hiking to the top of Bergen is a must. Most of the hike has asphalt, so it’s not uncommon to see locals pushing up baby strollers. If that doesn’t give it away – it’s a fairly easy hike. However you do gain roughly 400 metres of elevation upon reaching the top. The hike up will take roughly 45 minutes with included stops for panoramic photo opportunities of Bergen from above.

Best of all – it’s free. Which will be music to the ears of budget travelers in Norway.

Where to start the hike to Mount Fløyen

Conveniently, the hike to the best viewpoint in Bergen begins right near the famous fish markets. Check out the map below to find the starting point for the Floyen Hike overlooking Bergen.

Hesten Trenger Hvile is a small nature reserve with connecting trails that lead to the top of Mount Fløyen. You can get here by simply 5 minutes from Bryggen. Once you reach this spot, it is a very clearly marked trail leading you to the best viewpoint in Bergen.

Views from the Top

Regular visitors, backpackers and locals love this viewpoint. Many locals often hike to the top everyday to enjoy the fresh Norwegian mountain air and spectacular views.

There are incredible views of Bergen during most parts of the hike, so you will undoubtedly find yourself stopping for photo opportunities on the way up. In saying this, the view from the top is unbeatable. From the historic boat harbour, the incredible Bryggen and views all the way to the North Sea winding through the fjords. You can tell why this is the most popular viewpoint in Bergen.

The Funicular – The Easy Way Up

If you are short on time or simply too lazy to pass up incredible views, you can opt for taking the Funicular all the way to the top of Fløyen. The starting point is at Vetrlidsallmenningen station, not too far from the start of the hike.

The cost for a round trip is 90 NOK, however the main cost is the missed viewpoint opportunities. Although there are opportunities for vantage points on the way up, you get much better views from the hike.

Beware of Trolls

Trolls play a very important part in Scandanvian folk culture. Along the hike you may see warning signs to look out for trolls. Legend says that they live in Trollskogen (The Troll Forest) which is right next to the trail.

Although it’s mostly a bit of fun, some Norweigans take trolls very seriously. It’s You might be surprised to know that many Norweigans truly do believe in the existance of trolls, elves and other mystical beings from folklore.

More Hiking Near Mount Fløyen

If you’re looking for more hiking opportunities in Bergen, you can start from the top of Mount Fløyen. Due to my relatively short time visiting Bergen I didn’t have time to check it out. However, neighbouring Våkendalen valley is said to have some great day hikes.

More Norway Blogs

• Bryggen – The Spectacular Colourful Houses in Bergen, Norway
• Hiking to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), Rogaland Norway
• The Ancient Viking Ships of Oslo, Norway

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How to Get to the Preikestolen Trail

Getting to the trail will depend on where you are staying and what means of transport is available. For those leaving form Stavanger, I would recommend leaving as early as possible to get the most time on the trail.

DIY Route – Public Transport from Stavanger

If you’re staying in Stavanger like we were, you will need to start by taking a ferry from Stavanger to Tau. This ferry leaves from Fiskepiren every 40 minutes daily. The cost of this ferry is 49 NOK or $5.70 USD per adult, one way. 

Once you reach Tau, you will need to jump on a local bus. These buses correspond with ferry times, so there will be one waiting when you depart. During hiking season, there are regular buses departing from the port in Tau all the way to Preikestolen Mountain Lodge, where you can begin the hiking to Preikestolen. A bus ticket will cost roughly 30 NOK or $3.50 USD. During off-season (October – March) the bus will only go as far as Jørpeland, where you will need to get a Taxi or Uber. This will be the most expensive fare.

The entire trip to the start of the trail will take approximately 1-2 hours, so make sure that you account for this.

Organised tours from Stavanger

If you don’t want to organise your own way to the hike, you can purchase a tour from several companies operating in Stavanger. This will be much more expensive and you will often need to hike in a group. Typically I choose the DIY option when I can because I prefer this type of independent travel.

If you’re looking to book only the transport through a tour company, you have two options. Keep in mind that they will simply arrange the same or similar bus and ferry options detailed above.  

Transport with: www.tide.no
Transport with:  www.pulpitrock.no

Driving your own car

If you are fortunate enough to have your own car in Norway, the best place to start from Stavanger is to head to Lauvik Wharf (RV 13). Here, you can take the car ferry to Oanes.

Once you reach Oanes, continue on RV 13 towards Jøssang. There are several signs to Pulpit Rock so keep a lookout. You will also need to pay a parking ticket once you reach Preikestolen Mountain Lodge.

About the Hike

The hike itself is around 7.6 KM round trip from the Prekestolen Mountain Lodge (Preikestolen Fjellstue). The recommended time for this is 4-5 hours, however, we spent a little longer due to the icy trail in the Winter season.

Those hiking to Preikestolen will find that the trail is well marked, with trail heads dotted all the way to Pulpit Rock. The terrain is slightly hilly, and winds through forest, valleys and up rocky hills with flowing (or frozen) rivers. The last kilometer before reaching Preikestolen has incredible views of the Lysefjord.

Best Time for Hiking to Preikestolen

Hiking to Preikestolen has seasons. The hiking season is April to September when the weather is warmer, days are longer and there is no ice on the trail. During this time, buses and tours are catering to those hiking to Preikestolen.

Due to its popularity, I’ve heard that both the trail and Pulpit Rock viewpoint can get pretty crowded in peak season. Officially, the trail is closed in the Winter months. However, seeing the Lysefjord from 600+ meters up made me determined to reach Preikestolen in Januray.

Be prepared in off-season

The hike is definitely doable in the Winter months, however, is a little more sketchy. There is ice covering much of the path, meaning slippery crossings beside steep cliffs. It can also get pretty cold and windy. We were fortunate enough to have good weather, but temperatures will still below zero for most of the hike. It is important to monitor weather conditions as things can change quickly.

The days are also much shorter. You will need to account for this if you are hiking to Preikestolen in winter. Leave earlier and make sure you have enough daylight for the return hike back to the lodge.

After the hike, we returned to the Preikestolen Mountain Lodge to find it empty. Luckily we had a mobile with us to call for transport. It wouldn’t have been fun to walk an extra 9 KM through fjordland at night in minus 10 degrees. Make sure you plan ahead.

Recommended Gear for Hiking to Preikestolen

No matter the season, the hiking to Preikestolen will demand some protection against the elements. During Summer and peak hiking season, the hike is fairly easy. Normal hiking attire with some protection from wind will suffice.

Bringing a water bottle is also recommended. There are several flowing streams on the trail when hiking to Preikestolen. Drinking Norwegian mountain water straight form the stream is about as fresh as it gets.

If you are adamant on Hiking to Preikestolen in the off-season, you will need some extra gear. Warm clothes, a waterproof jacket, and some food are highly recommended. You will also need some comfortable hiking boots. Although I didn’t have them, we met one other hiker on the trail that had crampons for the icy parts.

Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) Viewpoint

Most people make the hiking to Preikestolen trip to see the famous flat Pulpit Rock viewpoint. Standing near the edge and looking down onto the seemingly endless drop into the frozen fjord is a wild experience.

Originally, the name of the ancient site was Hyvlatonnå, meaning “Planed Tooth” in English. However, Preikestolen got its new name around 100 years ago when tourism in the region was first kicking off. It is said that a local tourism organisation, Stavanger Turistforening wanted to establish the site for trekking.

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