Bergen, Norway — City Information
City Facts
- Location
- Hordaland fylke (county), west coast of Norway.
- Time Zone
- GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
- Electricity
- 220 volts AC, 50Hz; Scandinavian/European round two-pin plugs are standard.
- Average January Temperatures
- 1ºC (34ºF).
- Average July Temperatures
- 14ºC (57ºF).
- Average Annual Rainfall
- 2,250mm (88 inches).
- Language
- One hundred and fifty years ago, Norwegians spoke Danish. There are now two official languages, Bokmål and Nynorsk, which have equal status and are used in public administration, schools, churches and the media. Bokmål, a Norwegian form of Danish, is the more popular of the two official languages, being spoken by 95% of the population. Nynorsk, created in the 1850s from spoken Norwegian and Old Norse, is spoken by about 20% of the population. Of the seven additional languages spoken in Norway, two are gypsy and five are Finn (often referred to by the derogatory term Lapp) languages. The two official languages are mutually comprehensible, but the Finn languages are not related to Norwegian and cannot be understood by those who have not learnt one of them. English is widely spoken in Bergen and German, French and Spanish may also be understood. Phrases Yes - Ja No - Nei Hello - Hei Goodbye - Hadet Please - Vær Så Snill (Vaer Saa Snill) Thank you - Takk My name is ... - Mitt navn er ... / Jeg heter ... How are you? - Hvordan går det? (gaar) I am very well - Jeg har det bra / Det går bra (gaar) I feel ill - Jeg føler meg syk (foeler) How much does it cost? - Hvor mye koster det? Do you speak English? - Snakker du Engelsk? I do not understand - Jeg forstår ikke (Forstaar)Where is ...? - Hvorer ...?Entrance - InngangExit - UtgangDanger - FareOpen - Åpen (Aapen)Closed - StengtToilets - ToalettDoctor - DoktorHotel - HotellRestaurant - RestaurantBeer - Øl (Oel)Wine - VinMenu - MenyToday - I DagTomorrow - I MorgenMonday - Mandag Tuesday - TirsdagWednesday - OnsdagThursday - TorsdagFriday - FredagSaturday - Lørdag (Loerdag)Sunday - Søndag (Soendag)One - EnTwo - ToThree - TreFour - FireFive - FemSix - SeksSeven - SyvEight - Åtte (Aatte)Nine - NiTen - TiTwenty - Tyve / TjueThirty - Tredve / TrettiForty - Førti (Foerti)Fifty - FemtiSixty - SekstiSeventy - Søtti (Soetti) / SyttiEighty - Åtti (Aatti)Ninety - NittiOne Hundred - Ett HundreOne Thousand - Ett Tusen
Cost of Living
| 1.00 GBP = 8.95 NOK |
| 1.00 USD = 5.56 NOK |
| 1.00 EUR = 7.86 NOK |
| Currency conversion rates as of 19 July 2011 |
Special Events
Borealis (Bergen Contemporary Music Festival)
March
Various venues
Website: www.borealisfestival.no
Piggtrådfestivalen (Barbed Wire Festival)
April
Hard rock and metal festival.
Hulen
Website: www.piggtraad.net
Bergenfest Fest
Late April-early May
Music festival.
Various venues
Website: www.bergenfest.no
Bergen Gay Pride
May
Parade throughout the city.
Website: www.bergengaypride.com
Norwegian National Holiday (Constitution Day)
May
Parades and entertainment.
Night Jazz Festival
May
City center
Website: www.nattjazz.no
Bergen International Festival
Late May-early June
General arts event.
City center
Website: www.fib.no
Lost Weekend
Late July-August
Big music festival
Island of Askøy, just outside Bergen.
Website: www.lost-weekend.net
Bergen Food Festival
Mid-September
City center
Webite: www.matfest.no
Raptus (Bergen Comics Festival)
September
Grieghallen
Website: www.raptus.no
BIFF (Bergen International Film Festival)
Late October
City center
Website: www.biff.no
