Before deciding to study abroad, I had never heard of Bergen. I would have struggled to name one Norwegian city aside from Oslo, let alone imagine that I would be living in this second-largest city in Norway. After spending five months living and studying in the city, Bergen has quickly become one of my favorite cities in the world. Here is an unofficial guide and list of my favorite things for anyone who is planning to visit this wonderful city.

Bergen is perhaps most known as one of the rainiest cities in Europe, a claim I only partially agree with. There is indeed a higher-than-average chance it will rain every day, with some weeks only having a few hours of total sun, but in my experience, there is an equal chance of absolutely gorgeous days with 18 hours of sunlight. In the middle of the semester, there was a period of two to three weeks where the weather was about as perfect as you could ask for: about 60-75 degrees with sun and a bit of a breeze. Even when it is not sunny, the weather is very consistently around the same temperature due to the proximity to the ocean as well as my favorite part of the city: The seven mountains.

Norway is much more mountainous than its Nordic neighbors, and Bergen is no exception. While there are many mountains in the area, there are a specific set of seven that outline the city area and have become a part of the culture and atmosphere of Bergen. Each one individually only takes one to three hours to hike up and down, but you can easily traverse many mountains at a time, and there is even an annual event to hike all seven in the same day.

Even if there is no mountain attached, Bergen has so many hiking trails, so I was still discovering new places to go each time I hiked. Additionally, each trail is drastically different depending on when you go. For example, my favorite mountain was called Lyderhorn, and all three times I hiked to the top, it felt like a completely new hike. From snow on the ground to mud on my legs to getting lost on accident and taking different ways each time, each hike was unique.

My next favorite thing to do in the city was to visit museums, concerts and events. Some of my favorite places in the city to visit and hang out were the Bergen Kunsthall, Bryggen, Edvard Grieg’s home (Troldhaugen), the Royal House (Gamlehaugen), Grieghallen and the University of Bergen museum. Each brings something different to the city, and I enjoyed discovering each of these places, and the memories attached to each one.

Bergen also has the opportunity to host various events, and I got to experience a student festival, experimental music festival, national day and international festival. The city is the perfect size: not so large that there are too many people, but still large enough to organize these events.

You also can’t forget about the local football club, Brann, which has a devoted local fanbase. Couple all of this with a simple and very effective public transport system, and the city has become the model for my ideal city. I highly recommend anyone that is traveling in the area to check out this gem of a city nestled in the fjords of western Norway, and I hope this short list will help guide you in finding things to do!

Studying abroad in Bergen has changed my life, and I cannot emphasize how much I recommend it to anyone who has ever had a wish, dream or thought of living abroad. It is easily the most influential experience I’ve had in college and has shifted my career plans, goals and entire worldview. If you are reading this thinking “this sounds like something I would enjoy,” open another tab and go to the Study Abroad program search, and just start looking at the many places you could go. You will not regret it.

Ha det bra, Bergen. I will always carry a part of you with me wherever I go, and I hope we may see each other again one day.