How to Visit the Stave Church in Bergen, Norway

As a Chicagoan, I'm a little nerdy about good public transit. While things have gone a bit downhill in the Windy City as far as on-time service is concerned, I have a keen appreciation for good public transit when I see it. When staying in Bergen, I knew I wanted to see at least one stave church. To do so? I needed to venture on public transit.

For some reason, many new travelers are really intimidated by trying out local buses and trains. I'm here to say: idiots do it every day, and you're probably not an idiot.

So, how do you get to the stave church nearest Bergen? Take the tram. It's incredibly easy. The pickup is centrally located in downtown Bergen, and all it requires is that you download the Skyss Ticket app and book a ticket.

The tickets have a time limit, so don't book in advance. Just do it as you're waiting for the tram. Like much of Europe, you likely won't have your ticket checked. However, still buy a ticket as sneaking on could cost you some hefty fines.

All I did was hop on the number 6 tram that went toward the airport and got off at the Birkelundstoppen stop. From there, it was a 15-minute walk through a residential neighborhood. Everything felt safe, clean, and simple. There is a small fee if you wish to enter the church. You can only pay by credit card.

While I would have loved to venture to some of the older churches in Norway, I was short on time. The church just outside of Bergen is a great option for those who want to see a stunning example of Norwegian architecture without traveling too far from the city center.