11 Best Things to do in Bergen (+Useful Tips)

Planning a trip to Bergen? Contemplating what places to visit in Bergen? Here’s our guide to the best things to do in Bergen that you can add to your Bergen itinerary.

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Bergen, Norway: First Impressions

The second-largest city in Norway and the World Heritage City, Bergen, is stupendously gorgeous. You are sure to fall in love with it! The city rightfully tops the list of the best places to visit in Norway.

Being the gateway to the fjords of Norway, Bergen is fondly known as the fjord capital and the heart of the fjords. It serves as a springboard for fjord trips and mountain hikes (it’s also known as the city between the seven mountains), as well as for Trolltunga, all close by and effortlessly accessible.

Travelers more often than not spend a day or two seeing Bergen and its sights and then head off to the fjord region or take on a hike.

Don’t just skim through Bergen. Bergen is more than a stopover. It needs your attention. With a small-town vibe, colorful wooden houses, and beautiful views, Bergen is wrapped with unusual charm and coziness.

We spent the eventful 3 days in Bergen. Here’s how we managed to tick off the best things to do in Bergen during our time there despite the rain. Yes, it was raining in July. It can rain at any time in Bergen, regardless of the season. So, pack accordingly. Well, what can you expect in one of Europe’s rainiest cities? 😉

Okay. Before we discuss the absolute best things to see in Bergen, let’s talk about the travel essentials you need to know to plan a trip to Bergen.

Related Read: 7 Days in Norway Itinerary

Best Time to Visit Bergen

The summer months of June, July, and August are great for visiting Bergen. It’s when the weather is perfect to enjoy the city and the surrounding fjord and mountain areas. And not to mention the charm of endless days! Though you’d have to deal with the huge crowds and high prices.

The spring months of March, April, and May bring lush beauty to Bergen. It’s when the snow starts to melt, the weather gets warmer, and the days get longer. The crowds are smaller, and the prices are affordable. The weather remains a bit unpredictable – the sun is shining one minute and the next it’s raining or snowing. So, make sure you are ready for the sudden changes in the weather.

The autumn months of September and October are perfect for viewing the colorful fall scenery. You can experience the fall foliage in quiet, as travelers are few and far between. And you can super save on accommodation.

PS: September and October are the wettest months. To say the least, you should avoid these months if you are not a big fan of rain.

The winter months of November, December, January, and February bring a chill in the air, for sure. But it’s not as cold as you might imagine it to be. Its location on the Atlantic coast keeps it mild during the winter months. It does snow in Bergen, but it melts away shortly after. The winter months are the least crowded and the least expensive months.

Now that you know the pros and cons of traveling to Bergen in different seasons, I’d recommend planning your trip for May, as it’s the driest month of the year. It’s when the sun smiles at you, giving you the best weather for Bergen sightseeing 🙂

Tip: Whatever season you choose to visit Bergen, it’s wise to pack a waterproof jacket and shoes, as you never know when you are in one of the wettest cities in Europe.

Getting to Bergen

Bergen is well connected to the rest of the world by air and to major cities in Norway and Europe by air, rail, and road.

By Air

The second-busiest airport in Norway (after Oslo), Bergen Flesland Airport offers many flights to and from national and international destinations, making Bergen an affordable and easy-to-reach destination. The major airlines that operate from Bergen include Norwegian Airlines, Wideroe’s Fly, and Scandinavian SAS.

We rely on and recommend Skyscanner for searching, comparing, and booking flights.

You can board the Bergen Light Rail (Bybanen) or the Airport Express Bus to get to the city center from the airport.

By Train

The Bergen Railway between Oslo and Bergen is one of the most desired train journeys in the world. You can fly to Oslo (there are direct flights to Oslo from most major cities in Europe and from some cities in North America and Asia), then get to Bergen from Oslo by the scenic Bergen Railway.

By Bus

The Express Bus Kystbussen runs between Stavanger and Bergen. There’s a bus almost every hour, and the journey takes about 5 hours.

Buses (Haukeliekspressen and Valdresekspressen) also run between Oslo and Bergen, but they ain’t direct.

The bus journey guarantees that breathtaking Norwegian scenery accompanies you throughout.

For tickets and the time schedule, check www.nor-way.no

By Ferry

Bergen has ferry connections to many Norwegian towns and to Hirtshals in Denmark.

You can travel from:
Stavanger with Fjord Line
Balestrand, Flåm, Sogndal, and Leirvik with Norled
Rosendal with Rødne
Bodø, Florø, Hammerfest, Harstad, Kirkenes, Kristiansand, Molde, Tromsø, Trondheim, Vardø, and Ålesund with Hurtigruten
Hirtshals, Denmark, with Fjord Line

Crossing the charming coastal towns, stunning fjords, colossal mountains, impressive waterfalls, and unique coves – getting to Bergen by ferry or boat along the coast is an other-worldly experience.

The ferries dock at either the terminal next to Bergenhus Festning, Vågen by Bryggen, or the terminal at Nøstet. One is right in the heart of the city, while another is a ten-minute walk from the city center.

By Car

As I always say, a road trip is the best way to explore Norway. Having your own car gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace.

If you are driving to Bergen, no matter where you are coming from, the majestically wild and rugged landscape of Norway remains your constant companion. Ah! The fjords, the mountains, the waterfalls – a beauty to behold.

Use Discover Cars to rent a car in Norway and thank us later! Because they are the best.

Read our guide to renting a car in Europe for useful tips.

Essential Reading: A Stunning Road Trip from Bergen to Oslo

Getting Around Bergen

Bergen is wonderfully compact and thus can be easily explored on foot. Renting a Segway or bike is another great way to explore the city center.

Bergen has an efficient public transport system (Bybanen and buses) in place if you want to get outside the city center. Skyss manages the public transport throughout the region.

Pro-Tip: If you want to explore Bergen on a budget, buy a Bergen Card. It gets you free or discounted entry to museums and popular attractions, as well as great discounts on sightseeing tours, restaurants, and parking. Plus, you can travel for free on public transport. You can buy a 24h, 48h, 72h, or 96h card depending on how many days you spend in Bergen. It saved us a ton of money and time while we were in Bergen.

Where to Stay in Bergen

There are quite a few amazing places to stay in Bergen. Bergen is an expensive city, just like the rest of Norway, so you must book your accommodation well in advance to grab the deals. Find the best deals on hotels and apartments in Bergen.

Bergen City Center (Sentrum) is the best area (in every sense) to stay in Bergen.

We recommend you book accommodation in the city center, especially if it’s your first time in Bergen, you’re short on time, or you’re traveling with young kids. Most of Bergen’s tourist attractions, shopping outlets, restaurants, and cafes are within walking distance, which helps you save time, hassle, and money.

Hotel Norge by Scandic, Opus XVI, Thon Hotel Orion, Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret, and Line i Smauet are some of the best places to stay in Bergen City Center.

Read More: Best Places to Stay in Oslo

Okay. Coming back to Bergen attractions. Here you go.

Best Things to do in Bergen

Admire the Iconic Bryggen

Think Bergen, think the iconic Bryggen or Tyskebryggen, the historic wharf of Bergen with colorful centuries-old Hanseatic wooden buildings.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Bryggen has been reduced to ashes several times (the great fire of 1702 being the most devastating), but has risen from the ashes each time. However, the area remains unchanged even after centuries because it was rebuilt on the foundations that had been there since the 12th century.

Once loaded with huge amounts of northern Norwegian stockfish, today the wooden buildings are filled with antique shops, charming boutiques, galleries, artist studios, cafes, and restaurants.

Strolling through the narrow streets and alleyways is like stepping back in time.

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Visit the Beautiful Churches of Bergen

Bergen has many amazing churches worth visiting. Mariakirken, Domkirken, Fantoft Stavkirke, and Johanneskirken are the most famous ones!

Located behind Bryggen, the only one remaining of 12 churches and 3 monasteries built during the 12th century, Mariakirken (St. Mary’s Church) is the oldest existing building in Bergen. The parish church survived the two great fires of Bergen (1198 and 1248) and has stood almost in its original form since 1130.

Counted among the finest Romanesque churches in Norway, the church was restored and reopened in June 2015. You must visit the church to witness its unique architecture and stunning interiors.

St. Mary’s Church is open during the summer months of June, July, and August, from 10 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday. Entry is free.

Located on Sydneshaugen, Johanneskirken (St. John’s Church) was built in 1894. The stone church catches visitors’ attention with its reddish neo-Gothic exteriors and impressive interiors. You can enjoy a great view of Bergen and the surrounding mountains as you climb the 76 steps to the church.

With 1,250 seats, Johanneskirken is the largest church in Bergen and has the tallest church tower (61 meters).

Domkirken (Bergen Cathedral) started as a church dedicated to Olav the Holy, the patron saint of Norway, in 1150. Damaged by many city fires in 1248, 1270, 1623, and 1640, and hit by a cannonball during the battle of Vågen in 1665, the church has been renovated several times and changed styles repeatedly.

There’s a small cemetery and Bergen Cathedral School (one of the oldest schools in Norway) behind the church.

The original stave church, built in Fortun in Sogn in 1150 and later moved to Fantoft in 1883, was rebuilt as Fantoft Stavkirke (Fantoft Stave Church), which you see today, after it was destroyed in a 1992 fire.

This beautiful Norwegian stave church is located outside the city center. You can board Line 1 Bybanen Light Rail or ride bus no. 21 to Fantoft.

Fantoft Stavkirke Ticket

Ticket Type	Ticket Price
Adult	NOK 65
Child	NOK 30
Student	NOK 50

Hike Up or Board the Fløibanen Funicular to Mount Fløyen for the Panoramic Views of Bergen and Much More

A hike up to Fløyen starts from Bergen city center, close to Fisketorget (Fish Market) and Bryggen Wharf (about 150 m). The hike takes anywhere between 45 minutes and an hour, depending on your pace and the stops you make along the way. There are quite a few paths of varying lengths and difficulty levels you can take to Mt Fløyen from the city center.

If hiking is not your forte, you’ll still be able to enjoy the best views of Bergen. Fløibanen speeds you up in 6 minutes to the top of Mt. Fløyen from where you can drink in the views of the fjord, mountains, and the city below.

Fløibanen Tickets

Ticket Type	Season	Adult	Child (4 to 15 years)	Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 children)
One Way	October to April	NOK 50	NOK 25	NA
One Way	May to September	NOK 65	NOK 35	NA
Return	October to April	NOK 100	NOK 50	NOK 250
Return	May to September	NOK 125	NOK 65	NOK 325

The funicular runs every 15 minutes from 8 am to 10 pm from Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 11 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 9 am to 10 pm on Sunday.

You can buy tickets to Fløibanen from the ticket machines installed at all stations, the ticket office at the lower station, the mobile app, or online at floyen.no.

You can enjoy food and drink with spectacular views at Fløistuen Cafe (which also offers souvenirs and gifts), Skomakerdiket Cafe, and Fløien Folkerestaurant at Fløyen.

Fløyen has the largest playground in Bergen! With lots of slides, climbing racks, swings, and Fløyentrollet – the troll, kids can have super fun at the playground.

Kids also have a nature playground at their disposal where they can jump from tree to tree, learn the art of balancing, use a zip line, and climb a 10 m tall tower. The young ones will also enjoy getting lost in the world of mythical creatures in Troll Forest.

Pro-Tip: Take the Fløibanen to reach the top of Mt. Fløyen and walk back into the city, winding down through the mysterious Troll Forest.

Sledding is available in winter. You can sled down from Mount Fløyen to Skansemyren/Fjellveien and take the Fløibanen funicular up again. The ticket costs NOK 210 per adult and NOK 110 per child.

Read More: Best Places to Visit in Oslo with Kids

Hike Up or Take a Cable Car to Mt. Ulriken

Hike up Mount Ulriken or take the Ulriken643 (cable car) to the top for more incredible views of the city, fjords, and islands. At 643 meters, Ulriken is the highest of the 7 mountains that surround the city of Bergen.

Ulriksbanen is a bit away from the city center. You can board Ulriken Express Bus (not operating until spring of 2022) that departs from the city center (just across the road from the Tourist Information) to Ulriken cable car station every 30 minutes, every day from 9 am to 6 pm between May to August, or ride the local bus no. 5 or 6 that departs every 10 minutes from the city center (Småstrandgaten M outside Exhibition shopping center) to Haukeland hospital and walk uphill a bit (10 minutes) from there to the cable car station.

Ulriken Express Bus (OBS) Tickets

Ticket Type	Adult	Child
One Way	NOK 50	NOK 25
Return	NOK 100	NOK 50

The cable car is open from 9 am to 7 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday, and from 9 am to 11 pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from October to April, and from 9 am to 11 pm on all days from May to August.

Ulriken Cable Car (Ulriken643) Tickets

Ticket Type	Adult	Child (under 16 years)	Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 children)
One Way	NOK 195	NOK 95	NOK 445
Return	NOK 345	NOK 145	NOK 790

Buy a bus ticket and Ulriken cable car ticket at the Tourist Information in Bergen, at ticket machines at the cable car station, or book the tickets online at https://ulriken643.no, visitnorway.com, or visitBergen.com.

If you want to hike, there are quite a few routes to the top of Ulriken, the most popular starting in Montana.

Tip: If you feel adventurous, you can continue across Vidden to Mount Fløyen from Ulriken or try out Norway’s fastest zipline at Mt. Ulriken, which glides 300 meters in the direction of Mt Fløyen. The zipline costs NOK 450 per adult and NOK 300 per child aged 7 to 16 years.

Note: You can walk from Fløyen to Ulriken or from Ulriken to Fløyen.

You can enjoy a delicious meal, a cup of coffee, and spectacular views at Skyskraperen Restaurant and Ulriken Café at the top of Ulriken.

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Gorge on the Fresh Seafood at Bergen Fish Market (Fisketorget)

How can you visit Bergen and not sample its fresh seafood?

One of the most-visited markets in Norway, the Fish Market in Bergen has been selling fresh seafood, local farm-fresh produce, and flowers and plants since the 1200s.

The outdoor Fish Market is open during the summer months, while the indoor Fish Market – Mathallen with several restaurants serving a large variety of seafood is open all year round.

For the best seafood experience, dine at Fjellskål or Fish Me.

Go, Museum Hopping

With more than two dozen museums, there’s no better way to understand the art, music, culture, history, and traditions of Bergen than to visit its varied museums.

Visit Bryggens Museum, The Hanseatic Museum, and Schøtstuene at Bryggen to learn about Bergen’s history.

The Norwegian Fisheries Museum and the Bergen Maritime Museum take you through the Norwegian tradition of fisheries and trade.

Discover Bergen’s architecture and interiors from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries at the open-air Old Bergen Museum. As the name suggests, the museum takes you back to Bergen’s old days.

Troldhaugen showcases the life and times of Edvard Grieg, a famous Norwegian composer and pianist.

You can’t help but marvel at the huge, varied, and unique collection of art and design at KODE. After all, you are at one of the largest museums for art, design, and music in the Nordic countries. It’s your chance to witness the masterpieces by Edvard Munch, Nikolai Astrup, Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, and J.C. Dahl.

With 100 different science exhibits, Vilvite-Bergen Science Center is one of the best museums in Bergen to visit with children.

Visit the Biggest Gingerbread Town in the World (Pepperkakebyen)

If you happen to visit Bergen in winter, you can’t miss Pepperkakebyen! Schoolchildren, kindergarteners, local businesses, and volunteers join hands each year around Christmas to craft a miniature version of Bergen from gingerbread cookies. Isn’t it a beautiful way to show love for the city you belong to?

The people of Bergen started this sweet tradition in 1991.

Looking at the cute miniature houses, castles, markets, trains, cars, ships, boats, and local landmarks made from gingerbread cookies, it’s one of the most unique and magical experiences you’ll ever have.

Pepperkakebyen is open to the public from mid-November to the end of December.

Pepperkakebyen Tickets

Ticket Type	Adult	Young Adult or a Student (12 to 18 years)	Child (2 to 12 years)
Ticket Price	NOK 150	NOK 100	NOK 50

All children ages 2 to 12 get free admission on weekdays.

Join a Fjord Cruise from Bergen to Mostraumen

A round-trip 3-hour cruise through Osterfjord to Modalen, and Mostraumen is one of the most beautiful things to do in Bergen.

Sit back, enjoy the views, and spot local wildlife as the cruise sails through narrow fjords, tiny villages, towering mountains, and mighty waterfalls.

The cruise departs daily from Zachariasbryggen Quay at the Fish Market. Timings differ with the days and seasons.

Bergen Fjord Cruise to Mostraumen Tickets

Ticket Type	Adult	Child	Family Ticket (2 adults + 4 children)
Ticket Price	NOK 680	NOK 370	NOK 1700

You can book the ticket online at visitBergen.com or rodne.no or buy one at the Tourist Information in Bergen or at the quay. If you are booking online, you must book 2 working days before departure.

Meet the Mysterious Sea Creatures at Bergen Aquarium

With about 60 large and small aquariums, Bergen Aquarium brings to you the creatures that live along the Norwegian coast and from the tropical rainforest. You can witness fish, sea lions, crocodiles, snakes, lizards, penguins, and marmosets.

They run film shows and feed the animals every day.

The museum is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm.

Bergen Aquarium Ticket

Ticket Type	Adult	Child (3 to 15 years)	Senior or Student	Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 children)
Ticket Price	NOK 310	NOK 200	NOK 230	NOK 850

Check akvariet.no for more information.

Explore Bergenhus Fortress

One of the oldest and best-preserved fortresses in Norway, Bergenhus Fortress is located right in the heart of the city. Dating back to the 1300s, this national cultural heritage site has a long and turbulent history as a royal seat, episcopal see, and military seat of power.

Today, the fortress serves as the everyday workplace for over 220 military and civilian personnel. However, most of the grounds are open to the public from 6 am to 11 pm for free, and the complex is used as a venue for festivals, events, and concerts.

Dedicated to the resistance movement during World War II, Bergenhus Fortress Museum is worth a visit. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm, and entry is free.

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Sample Norwegian Traditional Food

Norwegian cuisine is heavily based on raw ingredients sourced from the mountains, wilderness, and coast of Norway. It mostly features potatoes, cabbage, seafood, meats, ciders, flatbreads, and cheese.

Some of the traditional Norwegian dishes you should try include fårikål (literally translates to lamb in cabbage, it’s a national dish of Norway), pinnekjøtt (lambs ribs), smålahove (sheep’s head), lefse (flatbread), klippfisk (dried and salted cod), sursild (pickled herring), raspeballer (potato dumplings), finnbiff (sautéed reindeer), vaffelkake (waffle cake), pølse i vaffel ( a waffle folded around a smoked sausage), and brunost (brown cheese).

Pingvinen, Trekroneren, 1877, Bare Vestland, Bergen Fish Market, and many roadside kro are some of the best places in Bergen to taste Norwegian traditional food.

A food tour in Bergen is the perfect way to taste local cuisine and learn about local food traditions. Book a food-and-culture walk with a local guide.

So that’s a wrap! We sincerely hope our guide to the best things to do in Bergen helps you plan an unforgettable trip.

More Travel Resources to Plan Your Norway Trip

• Nordics Itinerary
• Best Places to Visit in Norway with Kids
• 7 Days in Norway Itinerary
• 2-week itinerary for Norway
• Oslo with Kids
• Where to Stay in Oslo
• Undredal in Norway
• Road Trip from Bergen to Oslo
• The Train from Oslo to Bergen

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