The brightly-colored houses of the neighborhood of Bryggen, which line the old port, will welcome you to this authentic UNESCO World Heritage site.
Did you know that they were all destroyed in various fires, but have since been rebuilt exactly as they were in Medieval times? Your local guide will tell you that in the 16th century, they were inhabited by German merchants of the Hanseatic League, who had their trading bases here.
This is why the atmosphere still retains its old seafaring air, but with a modern touch added by the museums, art galleries and restaurants that enliven the atmosphere.
The fish market is even more vibrant, and has been one of Norway's most popular since 1200: oysters, shrimps and other delicacies caught in the Arctic waters are displayed on the stalls with their myriad colors and scents.
Meanwhile, the temperature is about to drop as you head to the Magic Ice Bar: here, everything is sculpted from ice, including the glass containing your welcome glass of wine.
You'll sip it clad in a warm poncho and gloves, while you enjoy the iridescent play of light, the ice sculptures and the works of art by local artists. Would you ever have imagined that you'd be raising a toast in a real “ice kingdom”?