DIY Flaam, Bergen, Olden, Stavanger
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Topic author - Cadet
- Posts: 63
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Somerset
DIY Flaam, Bergen, Olden, Stavanger
Hi again! Any advice on DIYing the above ports? We are only doing 1 P&O excursion this time so will be doing our own thing at 3 of the ports. Are they all easy to DIY?
Thank you
Ess
Thank you
Ess
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 13014
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Dorset
Re: DIY Flaam, Bergen, Olden, Stavanger
Book the railway trip in Flaam.
Bergen is a short-ish distance to the colourful main street and the Old Town, Brygen(?)
Olden is a case of walking up the hill, looking in the church, crossing the bridge, checking out the water rapids and then the water meadows on the other side of the river. Complete the circle and return to, and have lunch on, the ship followed by a brisk walk for a mile or two down the other other side of the Fjord ... you will sleep well that night
Stavanger is the easiest of all as you are generally parked adjacent to their famous white clapperboard houses plus the museum on the dockside.
Bergen is a short-ish distance to the colourful main street and the Old Town, Brygen(?)
Olden is a case of walking up the hill, looking in the church, crossing the bridge, checking out the water rapids and then the water meadows on the other side of the river. Complete the circle and return to, and have lunch on, the ship followed by a brisk walk for a mile or two down the other other side of the Fjord ... you will sleep well that night
Stavanger is the easiest of all as you are generally parked adjacent to their famous white clapperboard houses plus the museum on the dockside.
Keep smiling, it's good for your well being
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- Able Seaman
- Posts: 6
- Joined: July 2013
Re: DIY Flaam, Bergen, Olden, Stavanger
In Bergen you can walk to the Funicular to Mount Floyen for some wonderful views (40 NOK each or 80 NOK return, you can walk back down if you want)
Not much in Olden apart from walking, but it has the most wonderful sail in and out which is 60 miles along Fjords from the sea.
Not much in Olden apart from walking, but it has the most wonderful sail in and out which is 60 miles along Fjords from the sea.
Brian
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- Third Officer
- Posts: 191
- Joined: March 2013
- Location: Wirral
Re: DIY Flaam, Bergen, Olden, Stavanger
I believe that to prebook the Flaam railway yourself you now have to have a group of 10 or more.
In Stavanger the ship used to do a wonderful tour Flor & Fjaere (sp?) to a fabulous island garden and that you could only do on a ship's tour.
Everywhere else is doable on your own, as is Stavanger town if it is your first visit.
In Stavanger the ship used to do a wonderful tour Flor & Fjaere (sp?) to a fabulous island garden and that you could only do on a ship's tour.
Everywhere else is doable on your own, as is Stavanger town if it is your first visit.
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- Second Officer
- Posts: 361
- Joined: February 2013
- Location: NE Wales
Re: DIY Flaam, Bergen, Olden, Stavanger
All ports are an easy DIY.
Bergen
Where you dock depends which ship you are on. The smaller ships can dock in the centre, larger ones further away. If you are further away then P and O supply a free shuttle bus into the city which drops you right by the central park which is really pretty. If you are berthed close, then town is about 20 mins walk.
This is a very easy DIY place. There are a number of hop-on-hop-off buses that tour the town, excellent for getting your bearings.
You will find all the normal tourist shops and these display prices in NK Dollar, pounds and Euro. However, if you are upset by animal skins, avoid the market and shops as they are for sale everywhere, including silver fox, wolf and seal pelts.
If you are thinking of doing the funicular train then either get here very early or do an organised trip, you will jump pretty much to the front of the queue. The ride is only about 5-6 minutes and there isn't that much movement on it and the views and beautiful panorama from the top are brilliant.
Another recommendation is doing the Ulriken cable car instead of the funicular, it’s simple to get tickets from the tourist info near the harbour fish market; it takes you to the top of the highest mountain where you can spend hours walking around at the top lots of fantastic views well worth the little extra. It is about £30 each including bus fare returns, the bus stop is just around the corner #2 bus the woman in tourist info will give you map etc.
In the main area and at the end of the main pedestrianised shopping street there is a beautiful little park.
A visit to the Bryggen area is a must. Beautiful wooden buildings with some lovely little shops selling unusual goods (at a price!). We found a Christmas Store, purchased a Father and Mother Christmas.
Walk up past the old houses to a Museum, and further on to a castle both worth a visit both have a nice coffee shop, not expensive and clean loos
Stavanger
The ship will berth in the centre with only a short walk into town. Stavanger town itself is very colourful and easy to get around. The old part of the town is lovely to stroll around with its whitewashed wooden houses.
There is a market in the main square close to the ship and if you follow the road over the hill past the church there is a nice park and lake.
There is a very interesting Gas and Oil museum with a life like dive to enjoy. Good place to go if the weather is not too good.
Flam
This is a tender port.
There isn't a lot else in Flam besides the station and a few large outlet shops selling trolls, lace and knitwear.
A must do is the Flam railway from the station by the ship. This trip can be booked DIY, but take care if there is a lot of cruise ships in port it can be booked up.
If you don't want to do the railway trip walk along the road and down a small path following the river (the way the train passes) past some lovely little farm houses and a waterfall and onto a lovely church.
Olden
A pleasant little village situated at the Southern end of the Nordfjord. Peaceful valleys and tidy farms lie in contrast to glaciers, waterfalls and towering mountains.
The Tourist office was a few hundred yards from the port (get off turn right). They had maps of various walks. The 5 mile or so walk to the Floen is absolutely stunning.
There is a trolley train and take a tour of the local sights which runs every 15 minutes. It starts from outside the ship and does a full loop all around Olden town and the lake, about £15 pp,
Bergen
Where you dock depends which ship you are on. The smaller ships can dock in the centre, larger ones further away. If you are further away then P and O supply a free shuttle bus into the city which drops you right by the central park which is really pretty. If you are berthed close, then town is about 20 mins walk.
This is a very easy DIY place. There are a number of hop-on-hop-off buses that tour the town, excellent for getting your bearings.
You will find all the normal tourist shops and these display prices in NK Dollar, pounds and Euro. However, if you are upset by animal skins, avoid the market and shops as they are for sale everywhere, including silver fox, wolf and seal pelts.
If you are thinking of doing the funicular train then either get here very early or do an organised trip, you will jump pretty much to the front of the queue. The ride is only about 5-6 minutes and there isn't that much movement on it and the views and beautiful panorama from the top are brilliant.
Another recommendation is doing the Ulriken cable car instead of the funicular, it’s simple to get tickets from the tourist info near the harbour fish market; it takes you to the top of the highest mountain where you can spend hours walking around at the top lots of fantastic views well worth the little extra. It is about £30 each including bus fare returns, the bus stop is just around the corner #2 bus the woman in tourist info will give you map etc.
In the main area and at the end of the main pedestrianised shopping street there is a beautiful little park.
A visit to the Bryggen area is a must. Beautiful wooden buildings with some lovely little shops selling unusual goods (at a price!). We found a Christmas Store, purchased a Father and Mother Christmas.
Walk up past the old houses to a Museum, and further on to a castle both worth a visit both have a nice coffee shop, not expensive and clean loos
Stavanger
The ship will berth in the centre with only a short walk into town. Stavanger town itself is very colourful and easy to get around. The old part of the town is lovely to stroll around with its whitewashed wooden houses.
There is a market in the main square close to the ship and if you follow the road over the hill past the church there is a nice park and lake.
There is a very interesting Gas and Oil museum with a life like dive to enjoy. Good place to go if the weather is not too good.
Flam
This is a tender port.
There isn't a lot else in Flam besides the station and a few large outlet shops selling trolls, lace and knitwear.
A must do is the Flam railway from the station by the ship. This trip can be booked DIY, but take care if there is a lot of cruise ships in port it can be booked up.
If you don't want to do the railway trip walk along the road and down a small path following the river (the way the train passes) past some lovely little farm houses and a waterfall and onto a lovely church.
Olden
A pleasant little village situated at the Southern end of the Nordfjord. Peaceful valleys and tidy farms lie in contrast to glaciers, waterfalls and towering mountains.
The Tourist office was a few hundred yards from the port (get off turn right). They had maps of various walks. The 5 mile or so walk to the Floen is absolutely stunning.
There is a trolley train and take a tour of the local sights which runs every 15 minutes. It starts from outside the ship and does a full loop all around Olden town and the lake, about £15 pp,
Regards
Peter
Peter
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- Captain
- Posts: 12153
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: DIY Flaam, Bergen, Olden, Stavanger
The Flor & Fjaere trip is still on offer - it is billed as "tropical flowers of Norway" or somesuch. Very much well worth a visit if you are remotely interested in gardensJoanneB wrote:I believe that to prebook the Flaam railway yourself you now have to have a group of 10 or more.
In Stavanger the ship used to do a wonderful tour Flor & Fjaere (sp?) to a fabulous island garden and that you could only do on a ship's tour.
Everywhere else is doable on your own, as is Stavanger town if it is your first visit.
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- Ex Team Member
- Posts: 11331
- Joined: January 2013
- Location: Cumbria
Re: DIY Flaam, Bergen, Olden, Stavanger
Somebody on our cruise did this one and showed us their photographs. They looked absolutely stunning.