Historic Nordnes: Merchants, Witches, Crime, & Hidden Alleys

Looking for a unique walking tour in Bergen that takes you away from the busy crowded areas of Bryggen and the fish market? Discover one of the best-kept secrets in the city with this walking tour of the Nordnes peninsula.

Many think Bergen is just Bryggen, the fish market and the funicular. But there is so much more to that! Bergen is a city full of history and secret charming areas. Nordnes is one of the best-kept secrets in Bergen city centre, and an absolute must for any visitor wanting to see more than the tourist attractions.

Come explore historic Nordnes with us! Nordnes is a 1km (0.6 mi) long peninsula that stretches out into the Bergen Harbour. Nordnes is a neighbourhood defined by religion, merchants, and the court. Originally home to the Munkeliv Monastery (as far back as the 12th century), after the Reformation the area was laid out as a new neighbourhood for the Norwegian merchants competing with the Hanseatic League on Bryggen. On the side facing Bryggen, wealthy homes grew along the waterfront, where goods from all over Europe and Norway were being traded. At the end of the peninsula, Bergen’s oldest execution site and courthouse stood. It is also the site of Bergen’s witchcraft trials – a monument stands on the site today. On the other side of the peninsula, a working-class sailor’s district grew. Beer was consumed every day; in the nooks and crannies were over 300 inns. This side of the peninsula is today regarded as one of the best-preserved neighbourhoods in Bergen, with houses dating from the 17th century.

This historic walk will give you stories that you won’t hear on a regular walking tour. We’ll also wander through the narrow alleys that only locals about. Here you will see some of the most photogenic spots in all of Bergen. While this is a history walk, we will also cover life in Bergen today – we will pass schools, parks, the Marine Research Institute, and places that give us an insight into everyday life. This area also has some of the city’s most popular cafes. Nordnes is also a residential neighbourhood, so we keep our group sizes small to not disturb the locals.

Information:

This tour is primarily suitable for children. Teenagers can participate if joined by an adult.

Meeting point:
We meet outside Aksdal i Muren, on Østre Murallmenning.

The tour ends at:
We finish at "Den blå steinen"/The blue rock at Torgallmenningen.

We walk on cobblestone and we use stairs to go down a couple steep hills. Good and comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Because this tour group size is small, you can ask endless questions about anything and everything related to Norway. It gives an opportunity to learn about what it’s really like to live in Bergen.

Duration:
The tour lasts 2 hours

Language:
The tour is done in English

Maximum number of participants: 10

Booking: The tour must be booked online at least 2 hours before departure.

Cancellation Policy:
- To receive a full refund, travelers may cancel up to 7 days before the experience start date in the local timezone. The full payment will be returned to the traveler.
- A cancellation fee of 50% applies to cancellations made less than 7 days in advance.
- A cancellation fee of 100% applies for cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance.
- A cancellation fee of 100% applies for no-shows.
- In the case of the company cancelling the tour, a 100% refund is given
- There are no refunds due to tour disruptions from extreme weather. The tour will be rescheduled. If extreme weather is forecast, the company will contact travelers well in advance to select another time or day. The tour runs on rainy days.