The North Cape Express: Half Voyage | Bergen to Tromsø (Hurtigruten)

It’s only fitting that your Norwegian coastal experience begins in Bergen, Norway’s cultural and artistic hotspot.

In many ways, Bergen is like a medieval living museum. Founded by King Olaf III in 1070 AD, Bergen was Norway’s capital for many years. As you wander its cobblestone streets and alleyways, you’ll note how this bustling city has lost none of its heritage and historic charm.

After checking in to your centrally located hotel, the rest of the day or evening is free to spend at your leisure.

You could explore well-known sites such as Nordnes peninsula, medieval Håkon’s Hall, the Renaissance-era Rosenkrantz Tower, or the 12th-century St Mary’s Church, known as Mariakirken in Norwegian.

Or why not take a stroll around the beautiful UNESCO-listed buildings in Bryggen? Once the haunt of 14th-century Hanseatic League traders, these colorful wooden wharves now house artisanal boutiques and galleries that are ideal for souvenir shopping.

If there is enough daylight remaining, you could even take a funicular to the top of Mount Fløyen. At the summit, you’ll be able to take in spectacular views of Bergen, its neighboring fjords and surrounding mountains.

For dinner, where better to go than the fish market in the city center? There, various indoor stalls cook fresh seafood on the spot for you, filling the air with appetite-arousing aromas.

After breakfast in your hotel, a transfer will meet you to whisk you over to MS Trollfjord, your home for the next week. Once we’ve you’ve settled into your cabin or suite, you’ll meet your Coastal Experience Team. You’ll get to know each member of the team well as they give lectures and organize onboard activities for you throughout your voyage.

Grab yourself a drink in the ship’s two-story 1893 Bar and meet your fellow guests. As the ship sails from Bergen and into Hjeltefjord, your scenic adventure along Norway’s coast is underway.

Molde is the capital and commercial center of Romsdalen, which sits on the southern coast of the Romsdal Peninsula. We’ve stopped at this port many times before on our Coastal Express route, but this time we’ll be making a much longer stop, so you’ll have all the time you need to get your fill of the town.

There are several optional activities organized by your Coastal Experience Team that add to your experience of Molde. Accessible nearby on an optional excursion is the Atlantic Road, an icon of the Norwegian coast that often features in Hollywood movies.

To get the best panoramic views of the area, join us on a hike to Varden viewpoint, following the trail from the town center. Once you’re there, you can gaze at the town from above at the height of 1319 feet above sea level and admire the 222 snowy peaks across Moldefjord.

If you prefer to stay closer to the ground, you can pop into the Romsdal Museum, one of Norway’s largest folk museums about ten minutes away from the town center.

The Vikna archipelago is a chain of around 6,000 islands, islets and skerries. The largest of the chain, Inner-Vikna, is where we’ll make our next stop. We aim to dock at the port town of Rørvik around mid-morning, remaining there most of the day.

The town and its surrounding areas have a long history, with burial mounds found there that date back to ancient times. The area’s maritime legacy is well-documented across Rørvik’s many museums, particularly The Norwegian Coastal Museum.

Another major export is cod, and the town even has an annual Cod Festival in March. This species of fish is especially common in the waters of the archipelago during winter, so why not indulge yourself in some fresh cod cakes while here.

The administrative center of a municipality with the same name, Lødingen is a village on the southwestern shore of Hinnøya, with a population of under 2,000. This is a port that our ships used to visit on one of our earlier coastal routes and returning here is a kind of homecoming for us.

We’ll dock at around midday, using Lødingen as a base for a few hours to explore more of Hinnøya island, Norway’s largest island south of Svalbard. Wander the streets near the port and admire the traditional red fishing huts, or rorbuer, that line the shore. As you walk, you’ll likely notice the calming atmosphere that village life brings.

The highlight of this visit has to be the breathtaking fjords and mountains that the Norwegian coast is so famous for. Branching off Andfjord, Gullesfjord cuts into the north side of Hinnøya, bordered by pristine mountain ranges. The area is popular among campers, who stay on the campsite or in cabins and fish for cod in the fjord during winter.

From Lødingen, you can join a handful of optional excursions, including a fishing trip with a local, an immersive Sámi experience to learn more about their culture and history, or a visit to Dampskipsbrygga, Lødingen’s former wharf.

Alta is one of the bigger coastal towns we visit, with a population of over 10,000 people. A particularly famous part of the town is Alta River, one of Norway’s best salmon rivers. Here, large salmon are regularly caught, with some even weighing up to 53 pounds. You won’t regret trying some fresh grilled salmon in one of the local restaurants.

At 70 degrees north, this town is still far above the Arctic Circle. The area is known for particularly good Northern Lights visibility, so keep your camera ready. If the skies are clear and the conditions are right, you should be able to get some amazing shots of the lights dancing above you.

You can learn more about this incredible natural light show at the Northern Lights Cathedral, which can be visited on our optional guided tour of the town. The cathedral even has an exhibition showing how Alta became the epicenter for ground-breaking research of the Aurora Borealis between the 19th and 20th centuries. As part of the tour, you’ll also visit the Alta Museum which chronicles the discovery of Northern Europe’s largest concentration of prehistoric rock art at the head of nearby Altafjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Increased snowfall in the winter allows for some truly authentic Arctic excursions, like dogsledding. The snow and climate of Alta also creates the perfect conditions to build and maintain the Igloo Hotel, located on the banks of river Alta.

You’ll have the chance to visit and tour the world’s northernmost ice hotel, built out of snow and ice every winter and carved with different artistic themes by local sculptors. Head to the hotel’s ice bar, decorated with handcrafted ice sculptures and order a drink in an ice glass – no ice cubes needed.

The northernmost city on the mainland, Honningsvåg’s landscape is quite distinctive, with barely any trees or bushes. This far north, winters are long, and snowfall is high, so get ready for some fantastic winter scenery and activities.

Feel the snow crunching under your snowshoes as you hike across the plains. You might even be able to try your hand at ice fishing, a beloved winter tradition in the far north. Get a taste of the local delicacy, king crab, which is caught in the waters around Honningsvåg and served year-round. Admire local art in the Once Upon a Dream art gallery, and don’t miss the Honningsvåg Church. This is the oldest building in the area, dating back to 1885.

The highlight of any trip to Honningsvåg is a visit to the North Cape. This is one of the northernmost points of mainland Europe, and as we’re visiting in winter, we can get there by snowmobile. Standing near the northern edge of Norway and looking out over the Barents Sea under the polar night sky is a truly special experience. Add the ethereal Northern Lights dancing in the sky above, and you’ve got a sight you’ll never forget.

The cape is marked with a famous globe monument, which demands a selfie or two… or five. When you’re ready, head inside North Cape Hall to warm up, and learn about life in the High Arctic through a short film and a variety of exhibits.

Having reached the northernmost point of our voyage, we’ll turn around and begin going south as we sail away in the evening.

Today, you’ll arrive at the Arctic Capital itself, sitting around 217 miles north of the Arctic Circle. You’ll bid farewell to MS Trollfjord, and a transfer will take you to your hotel in the center of Tromsø, where you’ll spend the final night of your journey.

You can spend the rest of the day at your leisure, strolling around a historic Arctic city that is rich in explorer history. On the waterfront you’ll find Polaria, the world’s northernmost aquarium, while on the other side of the fjord from the harbor is the iconic Arctic Cathedral, with its beautiful stained-glass mosaic.

Take your pick from the many shops and restaurants in the city center, including Mack Brewery and favorite local watering hole, Ølhallen pub. There are also trendy cafés where baristas create innovative coffee art and serve up delicious cinnamon buns.

Checking out of your hotel in Tromsø after breakfast marks the end of your travels with us.

You’ve sailed on The North Cape Express, exploring Norway’s coastal cities and villages all the way to the top of the European continent. During the journey, you’ll have experienced Norway’s varied climate, seen majestic mountains and fjords, and maybe gazed up in awe at the Northern Lights once or several times.

We hope you’ll cherish each of the memories of The North Cape Express that you’ll take home with you. Come sail with us again soon on another iconic voyage of our spectacular home: the Norwegian coast.