Top Things to do in Hordaland
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What to do and see in Hordaland, Western Norway: The Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day
Lying at the heart of Norway’s Western Fjord area, Hordaland is home to culturally rich Bergen, the country’s second largest city. Hardangerfjord, Norway’s second-longest fjord (and the third-longest in the world), is here too, and cruising along its scenic 110 miles is a top area activity. Leirvik, the second-biggest town in Hordaland, has the interesting open-air Sunnhordland Folk Museum. Set atop one of the country’s biggest glaciers, Folgefonna National Park has a popular summer ski center.
Restaurants in Hordaland
1. DMG GALLERY
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
David Matej Goljat / DMG GALLERY - local painter and designer
Reviewed By 780cheriz
This is a delightful little gallery in historic Bryggen, tucked away in a corner waiting for you to discover it. The talented artist, David Matej Goljat, is warm and friendly, his art is colorful with unique character and texture. We were delighted to return home with one of his special pieces, a little bit of old Bryggen, for ourselves and several small images for gifts. Take the time to find this wonderful little gallery. You won't be disappointed. Cheri
2. Det Hanseatiske Museum og Schoetstuene
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,042 reviews
This wooden building is furnished in 18th-century style and gives visitors a feel of what Bergen was like in its medieval trading days. During a couple of years now, the City of Bergen is implementing a major restoration work. We tell you the Hanseatic story from Schøtstuene and Bryggen. Join us at Schøtstuene!
Reviewed By JeanneJ739
As the main merchant’s building where their exhibit hall is housed is closed for 6 years for renovations, this museum provides a guided walking tour of the Bryggen Wharf area and a building where the Germans gathered and several schoetstuene have been recreated. The fee for the tour includes entry to the Norwegian Fisheries Museum and a shuttle to and from it. The walking tour goes back through the tenements where the Germans lived and worked, and describes the living conditions at the time as well as the political and economic aspects. The Hanseatic League negotiated with the Norwegians for favored trading status and exchanged their grain for dried cod. They also brought in luxury goods such as furs, jewelry, marzipan. Their enclave on Bryggen Wharf was surrounded by a fence and no women were allowed inside. Only approved Norwegian traders were admitted. German boys came as apprentices at 12 or 13 for 6 years of training and did all the housekeeping and cooking as well as loading and storing goods. Our guide was excellent, a pleasant German woman with very clear English. She was quite knowledgeable, gave an overview as well as details and welcomed questions. The tour ended in the Schoetstuene where we were free to wander on our own through the building with its meeting rooms and kitchens.
3. Troldhaugen Edvard Grieg Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,145 reviews
Enchanting residence of the composer Edvard Grieg and his wife, who lived there every summer from 1885 to 1907. The museum also comprises the chamber music hall, Troldsalen, where daily concerts are held during the summer season. Museum building with shop, exhibition and cafeteria.
Reviewed By PerthRetireds
What a beautiful tour - from Thomas greeting us on the sidewalk outside the Visitor Centre, his very knowledgeable talk, the little gem of a house with the amazingly concealed concert hall. The acoustics were excellent, the performance top notch, and the tour was very good value. To listen to Grieg under these excellent conditions AND take in the same view he enjoyed while composing - very special indeed. Thanks to everyone and especially Thomas.
4. KODE Art Museums of Bergen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 745 reviews
KODE is one of Scandinavia's largest museums for art and music. It has a unique combination of art museums and composers' homes, of visual art, historical objects, concerts and parklands. KODE stewards almost 50,000 objects that can be experienced in four museum buildings in Bergen city centre, KODE 1-4, and in the homes of the composers Ole Bull, Harald Saeverud and Edvard Grieg. Welcome to KODE!
Reviewed By kay186370 - Reykjavik, Iceland
There were 4 galleries that were open, including KODE KUNSTALL (1 gallery out of the 5 was closed), and each had a different feel, from ecclectic and modern to landsacpes, Edvard Munch and Picasso - just wonderful. My advice is to use your Bergen Card when you buy a ticket, but when you consider how much you see this is truly great value for money, with or without the Bergen Card discount. The galleries are situated in the centre of town around the lake with serene and beautiful views. Even with the covid requirements and restrictions visiting the galleries was such a lovely and peaceful experience. The staff were so welcoming and helpful too. If you have ever wondered what to do on one of Bergen's wet days - go to the galleries! You need three hours to take your time in all of them, more if you want to stop in the café and still go at a leisurely pace.
5. Latefossen Waterfall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 445 reviews
Reviewed By slc5rings - Salt Lake City, United States
Latefossen is a monster of a water cascade, and it can be viewed up close from the parking area adjacent to the highway. I'm sure that you've seen or heard about spectacular waterfalls, but there is nothing like being "right there". Wikipedia has a nice explanatory write up. An additional treat can be found in Roledal, about 15 miles east of Latefossen: an original stave church that has been "remodeled" on the out side, but has its original inside features reemain intact - awseome.
6. Kraftmuseet
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
The powermuseum is a vibrant museum which sheds light on the origin of industrial Norway. Odda and Tyssedal went from being an important tourist resort to being an area of pioneering hypropower and industrial expansion. Hydropower and industry were crucial to the shaping of Norway in the 20th Century. For generations, the power cathedral by the fjord transformed roaring waterfalls into lighting and heating. Today the beautiful hydropower plant is an industrial heritagesite, as well as a vibrant museum which offers a wide spectre of activities: films and exhibitions, guided tours, concerts and plays, museum shop and cafeteria, workers houses, science center, hikes to caves and tunnels. Welcome to Tyssedal - a different and dramatic Hardanger!
Reviewed By 85janms
In Tyssedal you will fint the Lilletopp museum. If you walk from sea level down at the museum in the fjord, it will take about 45 minutes to one hour to walk up to the power station up in the mountains. You can also drive a bit, and just hike the last bit (about 20 minutes of hiking each way). There you will find stunning views of Odda, Tyssedal and the Hardangerfjord. You can get a guided tour around the compound from very good guides. All at a cost of about 50 NOK. (about 5 euro). You will get interesting info about how the workers lived up there, and you will get a walk in the tunnels in the mountains where the water used to flow on its way to the pipes. Theres a movie shown if you want, inside the tunnels. The guides are good and knows their history! So if you dont fancy a trip to Trolltunga, or just dont want to spend 8 ours walking in queue with chinese tourists on that path, this might be a very good alternative, and a lot shorter :) The climbing can be done on sneakers, but is pretty steep at some levels. But no worries for the common man/woman :)
7. VilVite Bergen Science Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 292 reviews
Come to VilVite - Bergen Science Center - to explore and enjoy science!
Reviewed By ewint2006 - Wesley Chapel, United States
This was a bit pricier than we thought but then all of Norway is pricey really and overall we couldn’t have been happier with our day at the science center. My kids had so much fun exploring and trying all the exhibits and we adults had fun too. There’s a small cafe on site and a nice park across the street. It is a bit out of the way but a real gem. You won’t be disappointed
8. Odda Turistinformation
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 97 reviews
Reviewed By punyaveenapalai - Bangkok, Thailand
We loved the surroundings in this city. The mountain, lake and starting point for trolltunga trekking. We loved this city.
9. Hardanger Folk Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
The Hardanger Folk Museum (founded in 1911). The main museum with its exhibition and administration building is at Utne, 200 metres from the ferry landing. Changing art and cultural history exhibitions throughout the year. Permanent exhibitions: Folk costumes and accessories and Folk Music. In the open-air museum we have reconstructed a traditional cluster farm in which the oldest building is a medieval log house with a central open fire. The museum also has an old general store, cotter's cottage and wooden ski factory. The boathouse by the sea houses several traditional Hardanger boats. There is a museum shop where you can buy arts and crafts, books/ booklets, local history items and folk music. The museum is located by a fruit orchard. The Hardanger Folk Museum has branches with open-air museums and collections at Bu near Brimnes and Skredhaugen near Lofthus. School and guide service.
10. Ulvik Frukt & Cideri
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
Production of fruit from a number of old types of apples on the farm gives a wide self production of juice and cider with a variety of tasty experiences. Premium apple juice and award-winning ciders in 2010.
