Art, music and the great outdoors
Norway’s second largest city enjoys a stunning setting and a special lively appeal.

The city itself is immediately likeable, with a friendly, laid-back atmosphere and a nautical air. The local economy still relies on fishing. The open-air fish market and Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf are sights worth seeing and the bustling harbour, Vågen, is still a focal point of the city.

Banksy visited the city in 2000 and caused something of a sensation in the street art scene, inspiring other artists to literally take to the streets. Work by Norway’s own famous street artist, Dolk, can be seen around the city – his “Spray” picture has in fact been preserved behind a glass screen.

If art’s your thing, make sure you take in Bergen Art Museum, one of the largest in Scandinavia and with a collection from the Renaissance period as well as contemporary exhibits. Several of Edvard Munch’s works are displayed here. The Bryggens Museum provides interesting facts about the architectural history of the Bryggen area and its characteristic wooden houses and alleyways. Despite the fire in 1702, many buildings have survived and the area is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city also rates highly as a cultural centre, with its own philharmonic orchestra. It has in fact nurtured many of Norway’s best known artists and bands and is famous for its underground and indie music scene. It was also the home of composer Edvard Grieg and his charming home, Troldhaugen, is just outside the city. The playwright Henrik Ibsen started out here as manager of Den Nationale Scene (the largest theatre in the city).

Popular events include the International Festival of music, theatre, dance, opera and visual art. This takes place in May/June each year in several locations throughout the city. Nattjazz, one of the country’s largest jazz festivals, takes place around the same time.

Bergen is an ideal base for visiting the fjords of West Norway with beautiful scenery all around and excellent opportunities for hiking. The Sognefjord (the second largest fjord in the world) and the Hardangerfjord are both easily accessible from the city by car and are truly breathtaking.

The island of Lysøen is around 12 miles south of the city, and is home to the former summer residence of the famous Norwegian violinist Ole Bull. The museum makes for a great day out – take a tour of Bull’s beautiful and enchanting house and discover the 165 acres of beautiful scenery, gazebos and even a lookout tower built in the musician’s memory. Access to the island is by shuttle boat, but you can park your hire car at the departure quay of Buena.

To the east, Voss is a centre for extreme sports such as paragliding, kite surfing and rafting. Each June, Voss hosts Ekstremsportveko, one of the world’s largest extreme sports festivals. This lively event welcomes over 1000 participants and thousands of spectators and also features live music from international artists. For those wishing to avoid white knuckles, the Folk Museum showcases several farmhouses from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Guided tours take place every hour.

The Tvindefossen Waterfall is well worth a visit. Situated roughly seven miles northeast of Voss along the E16, this beautiful 152-metre high spectacle will delight nature lovers and photographers alike. Tvindefossen gets very popular in the summer due to its easy access by car, but it’s well worth the trip.

Kvamskogen is an earthly paradise for winter sports enthusiasts, with a number of slopes and several ski lifts and also many opportunities for cross-country skiing. Easily accessible thanks to our car hire service: it’s about an hour’s drive from the city centre.

Which side of the road?
In Norway, please drive on the right side of the road.

Country driving laws

• Winter tyres are mandatory between November and April.
• Mobile phones may only be used with a headset or hands-free device
• Give way to traffic approaching from the right. You have the right of way if there is a road sign with a yellow diamond at the intersection
• Trams always have right of way.
• In Oslo, electric vehicles are allowed to use bus lanes.
• Dipped headlights must be used at all times
• If you're caught committing a driving offence, the police can issue an on-the-spot fine

Speed limits
All speed signs will be in km/h.

For a standard Avis rental vehicle with no trailers:

• Urban areas: 50 km/h (31 mph)
• Rural areas: 90 km/h (55 mph)
• Motorways: 110 km/h (80 mph)

Unless indicated by road signs.

Child safety / Seatbelt laws

• It is compulsory for the driver and all passengers to wear a seatbelt
• All children must be seated in an appropriate child restraint for their size.
• Children under 4 years old must travel in an appropriate rear-facing child seat for their size

Please note - It is the child’s parent / guardian or vehicle renter’s responsibility to fit the child seat.

This road rules information is for provided for general guidance only. We endeavour to keep the information up to date and accurate, but any reliance you place on this information is at your own risk.