Bergen Shopping

What to buy: I often get the question, what type of souvenir is typical for Norway?
Several things would be typical, depending on what you like. I would say the most typical is probably a troll figure. You can get them in all sizes and in all price ranges from the little plastic one to the hand-carved one in wood. Another typical craft is tinwear. They are not cheap, but you can get a nice Viking boat in tin.

One off the souvenirs shops in Bryggen has a christmas shop on the first floor!

Be amazed about all the pretty, funny and glittery christmas things they have.

What to buy: Santa´s are a Norwegian specialty. They call them nisse, but they look like santa´s to us.

Galleriet is a big building with a lot of different shops inside. So dont worry abot the rain..

There is restaurant on th 2 and 5 floor.
Her you can by food, medicin,cloths for men and women, toys,books,films and so on.The also have a zoo shop with fich and birds, Fun for the shildren.

But you dont get wine or spirits here-
You go to the vinmonopol for this.

What to buy: You can find a lot of things to by. In late Jan, there is mostly sales going on for some weeks so you can get something nice for not to muth money. Half price of half price is not usual.

All the buildings at the Bryggen water front contain souvenir shops.

What to buy: Sweaters, Trolls, tin. Other asorted touristy things. Dont forget the postcards for all your VT friends and family.

I notice that some of the shops had a worldwide mailservice. If you do find that sweater, jacket or down covers you always looked for you can mail it home in stead of trying to put it in your already overflowing suitcase.

What to pay: Norway is expensive so these shops are too if you want something decent

Bergen's fish market is famous and has freshly caught seafood and fish at all times.

What to buy: Any fish/seafood you love.
BUT beware of the black meat, it's not gone off, but it's whale meat. I don't think that's to everyone's taste.

Here is another example of this great new trend to take care of old buildings. This is the old telegraph building that was out of use. They kept the style and changed the interior as little as possible to build several new and small shops inside.

On the picture you see a nice cafe on the main floor. The roof and decorations are original.

It used to be a street with small shops on each side. Then they built a roof over it and closed the ends. Now it is a tasteful shopping mall with small shops in 5 stories around the "galleries".

I like it when they make use of the old buildings instead of just tearing them down and building new.

What to buy: Most of everything

What to pay: Norway is a little more expensive than the average in Europe

If you are a souvenir hunter, you will find those shops around the fish marked area. The largest shopping malls are outside town, but you will find most of what you need in the shopping centre at the bus station or "Galleriet" at the Torgalmenningen. Small shops are in most ereas of the town centre.