Ytrebygda: Plant Collections and Family Trails

Ytrebygda offers opportunities to discover nature together: at the Arboretum and Botanical Garden Bergen, scientific plant collections meet trails and recreation areas. Families can also enjoy an activity trail and a playground with a special pendulum swing. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you might first consider whether botanical discoveries, outdoor activities or Bergen’s cultural attractions should shape your stay.

Plant Worlds at the Arboretum

The Arboretum and Botanical Garden Bergen are home to scientific collections of living plants. These include rare, threatened and endangered species. Visit Bergen describes the rhododendron collection at the arboretum as the largest in the Nordic countries. The arboretum is also home to Rosariet, which Visit Bergen calls Norway’s largest rose garden. The various collections give the nature experience a botanical focus and make plant diversity the main theme.

The arboretum’s nature trail leads through pine forest and the rhododendron collection to an area with American trees. It then continues towards the Mini-Arboretum and the Olafsbu shelter. Along the way, several different plant groups and stopping points take centre stage. This nature trail is particularly suitable for school classes and families with children.

Activities for Families and Time Outdoors

An activity trail with various tasks and open-ended questions for children and families runs from the Dalsmyra car park towards the arboretum. It offers a different focus from the nature trail: here, the tasks encourage you to think, while the other trail passes through specific plant areas. There is also a special pendulum swing in the playground park at Fanatorget.

There are three outdoor recreation areas in the arboretum: Sandholna, Grønevika and Naustdalen. They are suitable for swimming and barbecuing. Together with the trails and plant collections, they offer different ways to spend time outdoors. You can book guided tours of the Arboretum and Botanical Garden Bergen; if interested, check the available dates in advance.

Cultural History in Bergen

In Bergen, historic sites and museums complement the natural attractions. Bryggen is a historic harbour district that had become established as a trading centre by the 12th century. The former trade in stockfish and other goods was gradually replaced by small craft businesses from the 1960s onwards. Bryggen is on the UNESCO World Heritage List; Bergen is also designated a World Heritage City. At the Bryggens Museum, the “Below Ground” exhibition offers insights into the everyday lives of the medieval population of Bergen and Western Norway. The exhibition display may change.

Other cultural highlights in Bergen range from the medieval Håkon’s Hall to art and music. The hall was built between 1247 and 1261 as a royal residence and banquet hall. Troldhaugen was the home of composer Edvard Grieg for 22 years. KODE manages, researches and presents a 200-year-old collection of art and music, and houses the world’s third-largest Edvard Munch collection. Theatre tours also bring the past to life with actors performing in the city’s streets, lanes and houses.

Nature and Water in Bergen

Bergen’s landscape also offers inspiration for planning your holiday. The municipality’s large natural areas extend from the coast to mountain areas just under 1,000 metres above sea level. Bergen’s fjords and coastline offer opportunities for paddling and recreational fishing; many lakes are suitable for canoeing and kayaking and are good fishing spots.

When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to prioritise your interests: should the botanical collections and family activities in Ytrebygda be the focus, or are you particularly interested in Bergen’s cultural attractions and water-based activities?

For the main travel overview: Kokstad.