Off the Beaten Track in Bergen: Sandviken Walking Tour

Historically a separate residential area, Sandviken has become one of Bergen’s most picturesque neighbourhoods, with peaceful houses nestled between its spectacular vistas and narrow alleys. Join me, a local guide, as I show you why I dream of living in the same place that was once home to the star of Bergen’s most popular drinking song, Madam Felle.

This walking tour starts at Saint Mary’s Church, the oldest preserved stone building in the city. As homage to Bergen’s trade origins, I’ll introduce you to the Hanseatic merchants, who bargained for the stockfish that was dried in Norway and have bestowed the church with rich ornamentation since 1408. Then, I’ll explain how the industrial revolution laid the foundations of modern Sandviken as I tell you about the textile industry and show you buildings that housed its labourers along Nye Sandviksveien – New Sandviken, a road which finally connected the neighbourhood to the city center in 1873. At the other end of the street, we’ll enter “Old Sandviken”. There, you’ll see quaint wooden houses, including the world’s smallest house with a mansard roof, and I’ll show you the building where Madam Felle ran her pub before taking you to her statue to learn the famous song written in her honour. Finally, we’ll finish our walk at the Norwegian Fisheries Museum where you can enjoy a breathtaking view over the fjord and, season permitting, catch a ferry back to the city center from Bod24.

Along the way you’ll also hear:

• Why the fire stations tend to burn down in Bergen
• Who the city’s statues of boys in uniform represent
• How a large boat anchor came to lie on Sandviksfjellet Mountain since WW2
• Where to get free books from a repurposed telephone booth

You will need just over an hour to complete our itinerary. And, remember to bring a rain jacket, just in case! (Umbrellas tend not to last very long around here.) I’ll show you some cozy spots to stop along the way but it’s worth being prepared for all seasons so you can take your time to appreciate the rustic real estate daydream that is Sandviken.