Fjordcruise Bergen screen #

This 90-minute tour takes you on a silent, emission-free journey aboard Legacy of The Fjords, a 100% electric catamaran. As we glide along Bergen’s waterfront, you’ll discover the city’s history, architecture, and maritime heritage, just as sailors and traders did over 900 years ago. The tour highlights historic fortresses, bustling harbors, and modern city developments, all viewed from the sea. Enjoy the panoramic scenery of the fjord, mountains, and Bergen’s iconic skyline. Take in the sights, capture the views, and immerse yourself in Norway’s maritime capital.

We are now passing Bryggen, which is Bergen’s most iconic landmark and has been a trading hub for over 900 years. The narrow, colorful wooden houses were the headquarters of the Hanseatic merchants from the 14th century, and despite several fires, they have been rebuilt using traditional methods. From the boat, you can see their distinctive facades reflected in the water, a view almost unchanged since medieval times. Today, Bryggen is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to restaurants, shops, and museums.

Bergenhus Fortress has guarded Bergen’s harbor for nearly 800 years. Originally built in the 13th century, it served as both a royal residence and a military stronghold. From the boat, you can see Håkon’s Hall, built in the 1200s as a royal banquet hall, and Rosenkrantz Tower, a 16th-century defensive structure. During World War II, the fortress was occupied by the Nazis and damaged in a 1944 bombing. Today, the fortress houses a museum and hosts ceremonies and concerts.

High above the city lies Skansen, one of Bergen’s oldest defensive outposts. A fortification was built here in the 17th century to protect the city from attacks by sea. In 1903, a fire station was added, providing a vital lookout over the city’s wooden buildings. Today, Skansen is a popular viewpoint offering panoramic views of the city center, Vågen, and the surrounding mountains. From the boat, you can spot the fire station’s distinctive tower—a reminder of the site’s strategic importance over the centuries.

We can see the The Fisheries Museum in front of us, which is housed in one of the historic boathouses where fish was once stored and processed. Bergen has been a seafood trading center for over 1000 years, with dried fish as its main export. The museum showcases the history of fishing, from traditional methods to modern technology. From the boat, you can see the sturdy wooden buildings that tell the story of Bergen’s long maritime past.

Kristianholm, once called Tjuholmen, served as an execution site in the 16th century, where thieves were hanged as a warning to others. In the 17th century, the islet was fortified with cannons and renamed Fredriksholm to strengthen Bergen’s defenses. Today, little remains of the fortress, but at low tide, you can still spot traces of the old walls. The islet stands as a reminder of Bergen’s military and legal history.

On the hillside above the water lies Old Bergen, an open-air museum that recreates 19th-century Bergen. The museum consists of 50 historic wooden houses, relocated here to preserve the city's architectural heritage. Visitors can explore shops, workshops, and homes as they looked over 150 years ago. From the boat, you can see the white-painted houses climbing the hillside—a typical sight in old Bergen.

Built by the Nazis during World War II, Bruno U-Boat Bunker was one of several along the Norwegian coast designed to protect German submarines. Laksevåg, where the bunker is located, was a strategic target and was bombed by British forces in 1944. The bunker is still in use by the Norwegian Armed Forces and serves as a war memorial, reminding us of a time when Byfjorden was a center of military operations.

We are now in Byfjorden, the historic entrance to Bergen. From here, you can see Sandviken, the Askøy Bridge, Laksevåg’s industrial past, and Nordnes stretching into the fjord. For centuries, Byfjorden has been Bergen’s lifeline, with merchant ships, fishing boats, and travelers passing through. Hanseatic traders arrived with goods, while Dutch and English ships loaded dried fish and exports. Today, it remains one of Norway’s busiest waterways. Unlike past steamships and diesel vessels, we sail silently and emission-free—a glimpse into the future of maritime travel.

The large grain silos towering over Hegreneset have long been a key part of Bergen’s food supply. But before they dominated the area, this was home to Hæggernes Valsemølle, a flour mill established in the late 1800s. With its strategic location by the sea, grain was easily transported by boat, milled into flour, and distributed to the city’s bakeries. As industrialization progressed, larger mills took over, and the site changed. Today, the silos remain as a symbol of Bergen’s industrial past, a reminder of when this waterfront bustled with millstones, steam engines, and workers.

As you look toward the shore, you see Laksevåg, an area with deep historical roots. Its name comes from the Old Norse Laxavágr, meaning “the bay of salmon”, as it was once a small fishing village. By the 19th century, Laksevåg became a shipbuilding center, with large shipyards supplying vessels to both Norwegian and international markets. During World War II, the area was heavily bombed due to its military significance. Today, Laksevåg is transforming, with modern housing and businesses replacing much of the old industry—yet its maritime heritage remains.

We are now at the innermost part of Puddefjorden, a fjord arm separating Laksevåg, Damsgård, and Bergen West from the city center. This has been an important waterway for trade and industry for centuries. Ahead lies Damsgårdsundet, once home to shipyards and maritime businesses. Bystrand Slippen has been transformed from an industrial site into a city beach. At the far end is Store Lungegårdsvannet, once a key transport hub, now a recreational area with promenades and green spaces, part of a major urban renewal project bringing Bergen’s waterfront back to the people.

Nøstet i front of us, has a rich maritime history, once home to shipyards, rope-making, and trade. Its name comes from the old "nøst", meaning boathouses and storage sheds. From 1640 to 1877, it was Bergen’s execution site, and traces remain, like Galgebakken street. The area was also known for taverns and brothels, with the last two closing in 1875. Today, Nøstet is a lively residential and cultural district with cafés, galleries, and Den Nationale Scene, Norway’s oldest theater. Across the water, Sydnes Quay serves Hurtigruten and cruise ships.

Verftet has a long history where ships were built and maintained. In the 20th century, the area became an industrial site for United Sardine Factories (USF), one of Norway’s largest sardine producers. When the canning industry declined, the factory was repurposed into USF Verftet, now one of Norway’s largest cultural venues. It hosts Sardinen USF, an intimate concert space, Røkeriet USF, a larger venue, and Kippers Bar & Kafé, named after smoked herring. Today, Verftet thrives as a residential and cultural district, blending history with art, music, and maritime heritage.

High above us lies Fredriksberg Fortress, built after the 1665 Battle of Vågen, it provided a strategic vantage point over Vågen, working alongside Bergenhus Fortress to defend the city. The fort included ramparts, cannons, and a commandant’s residence, serving the military for over 200 years. It was later used as a prison and barracks before being decommissioned in 1872—without ever seeing battle. Today, the remaining walls and cannons stand in a public park, offering one of Bergen’s best views over the fjord, Nordnes, and the city.

We are now passing Nordnes Sjøbad, one of Bergen’s most iconic swimming spots, open since 1910, in all seasons. Nordnes, the peninsula we are rounding, has been central to Bergen for centuries. Once a hub for trade and shipping, it later became home to mansions, fortifications, and cultural institutions. Here, you can swim in heated saltwater or take a plunge into the fjord, a refreshing contrast between warmth and cold. A favorite year-round, it’s especially popular with winter bathers.

We are now passing Nordnes Point, the outermost tip of the Nordnes Peninsula, where Bergen meets the sea. Here lies Nordnes Park, a green oasis with stunning views of the fjord and the city’s harbor entrance. Established in the 1880s, it has been a popular recreational area ever since. At the park’s highest point, you’ll see Bergen Aquarium, Norway’s largest, opened in 1960, featuring seals, penguins, tropical fish, and reptiles. A unique sight here is the Canadian totem pole, symbolizing Bergen’s historic maritime ties with Canada’s west coast.

As we approach the shore, you see the old Customs House area, where Bergen welcomed goods, travelers, and sailors for centuries. This was the city’s official customs station, where imports were taxed before reaching the market. During the Age of Sail, Bergen was one of Norway’s busiest ports, handling fish, timber, coffee, spices, and textiles. Today, the area has been transformed into Aktiv Tollbodkai, a public space with playgrounds, sports facilities, seating areas, and urban gardens, designed for accessibility and inclusion.

This area, Strandsiden, is one of Bergen’s oldest districts, historically home to boathouses, merchant homes, and narrow streets. It has always been closely tied to the sea, attracting traders and craftsmen. A little up the hill, you’ll see Nykirken, first built in 1621 to serve the growing population of Strandsiden. It has been destroyed by several city fires but was always rebuilt—most recently after a 1944 explosion that devastated the area. With its distinctive green dome, Nykirken has shaped Bergen’s skyline for centuries.