Bergen Travel Forum

I'd like to know what any of you would think about taking a short trip to the Bergen area in mid-March 2008. I know it will still be cold and dark - but how cold and how dark? Will tourist services be operating in March, or is it still too early in the year? Thanks for your input!

It won't be particularly cold (Bergen is situated on the coast, and it never gets *really* cold here!) - see www.met.no for weather statistics, average temperatures in Bergen in March is ca 2.5 C... It *might* snow, but that's not terribly likely (it doesn't snow that often in Bergen, probably max 10 days of proper snow per year) - and mid March is early spring. Might rain, might be lovely and sunny and 13C - quite impossible to predict, really.. :o)

...and it won't be dark either...;o) - in mid March, the sun rises at ca 07, and sets at around 1830.

You'll find that some museums etc will have reduced opening hours (but most *will* be open!), and some tours aren't available in March - but trips like Norway in a Nutshell run all year.

In March you can expect any kind of weather. It can still snow and you can also get spring-like weather. But don’t expect to see flowers and green leaves for another couple of months. It’s a perfect month to visit the ski resorts. Voss is only an hour away by train, and you can get special deals including train ticket and ski-pass for one day.

Thanks for both your responses! Sounds like it's an OK time to come after all, which is great news.

Heading north from Bergen toward Alesund, do you have any favorite spots?

I'd love to go hiking somewhere one of the days we're there. What do you think? Again, any spots you'd personally recommend?

Thanks again for any input.

The area between Bergen and Ålesund has nothing but spots!! It's fjord country the whole way, with the Geirangerfjord being perhaps the finest. If you don't go that far north, then the Nærøyfjord north of Voss is fantastic, and can be done as part of the "nutshell" tour.

Hiking? There will still be lots of snow in the mountains in mid March...

Ah yes, the snow will still be on the ground, of course! I guess that's the sort of thing I was wondering about. Thanks for reminding me. :)

So some friends and I are now all booked for a trip in mid-March 2008. We were thinking it might be nice to spend a day seeing Bergen, a day doing something like cross country skiing, and then a days just sort of seeing the scenery.

I have a couple questions I'm hoping for some help with. First, I've been told Voss is a good spot for skiing. Can anyone confirm this? What about cross country ski rentals? Any idea of cost?

Next: what would be the best way to see the fjords? I guess I'm specifically wondering if single-day boat tours are an option in March? Any opinions on which fjord or fjords would be best (and most realistically possible) to see? Hardangerfjord? Sognefjord? Somewhere else? What about renting a car and driving around? Because there will still be snow on the ground, will we be able to do anything other than drive the roads? That doesn't sound like something I'd want to do all day...

Finally, I may return home via Oslo. I was thinking that a nice way to end my trip would be to take the train from Bergen to Oslo on my second to last day in the country. I'd then have the late afternoon of that day and part of the next day in Oslo before catching my flight. Is the journey enjoyable? I hear the view from the train is lovely, and that this is an easy, relaxing way to see more of the countryside. What do you think?

Okay, thanks for any help. Apologies for the long, rambling post!

Yes, Voss is indeed a good ski sports centre. I know alpine skis are easy rent, but I'd check about cross-country.
As to fjords, Voss is a good starting point for the "Norway in a nutshell" (check up on tips about that here on VT)
If you are taking the train to Oslo, then I would combine that with the trip to Voss as that is on that stretch. Perhaps spend a night or two there.
The trip i real nice, and you'll be passing the alpine village of Geilo too (another great spot to ski)

It seems to be possible to rent equipment for cross country skiing, check this website: http://www.voss-fjellheisar.no/voss_fjell/skiutleige/

As for day trips to see the fjords - your options are fairly limited in March, see www.fjordtours.com - I think the Nutshell is the only tour available in March...