Step aboard a Viking-style clinker-built ship in Bergen Harbor and relive Norway’s seafaring past. The 90-minute Viking Ship Experience offers travelers a safe yet authentic taste of Viking life, complete with sails, oars, and storytelling.
⚓ Boarding the Viking Ship
From Bergen’s historic pier, travelers step onto a wooden clinker-built vessel modeled after Viking ships. The creak of the timber and the sight of the square sail instantly transport guests back to the age of Norse explorers.
Important to know: Guests are required to wear modern safety equipment such as life jackets throughout the voyage. Weapons or replicas (swords, axes, etc.) are not permitted onboard. The authenticity comes from the ship’s design, the storytelling, and the activities — not from carrying arms.
🌊 Sailing the Fjords
The ship departs into Bergen Harbor and nearby sheltered fjord waters. Unlike the perilous voyages of old, this journey is calm and safe, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenery while imagining the challenges Vikings once faced on the open ocean.
This is a seasonal experience, typically available in summer months (June–August), when daylight and weather conditions are most favorable.
✨ Highlights of the Experience
- 🛶 Rowing the ship with traditional oars
- ⛵ Helping to hoist the square sail
- 🎣 Trying your hand at fishing for mackerel
- 📖 Listening to Viking tales and maritime history
⚓ Safety & Authenticity
- Life jackets: All passengers must wear modern safety gear.
- Oars & sails: Guests can help row with traditional oars or assist in hoisting the square sail — the “hands‑on Viking” part of the trip.
- Atmosphere: The authenticity comes from the ship’s design, the storytelling, and the activities, not from carrying weapons.
🍴 Food and Drink
No meals or snacks are served onboard, as the focus is on sailing and atmosphere. Guests may bring small personal snacks if needed, but most choose to enjoy Bergen’s harbor cafés and restaurants before or after the trip, where mead, seafood, and local delicacies provide the perfect Viking-inspired feast.
⏳ A Journey into Heritage
For travelers, the 90-minute Viking Ship Experience is more than a boat ride — it is a living connection to Norway’s maritime heritage. Safe, family-friendly, and deeply atmospheric, it offers a glimpse into the Viking spirit while surrounded by the calm waters of Bergen’s fjords.
