Top 10 Things to Do in Bergen, Norway

Located on Norway’s west coast, Bergen is the country’s second-largest city (after Oslo) and well worth a visit! It is an excellent place to experience Norwegian culture and history. This post contains a list of my favorite things to do in Bergen, Norway.

If you are planning on visiting a lot of museums during your trip to Bergen, you might want to consider purchasing the Bergen Card, which gives you free or discounted admission to many museums and attractions in the city. Check out my post on whether the Bergen Card is worth it for your trip!

Top things to do in Bergen

Here are some of my favorite things to do in Bergen!

Visit Bryggen, Bergen’s UNESCO World Heritage Site

No visit to Bergen is complete without a visit to the famous wooden houses at Bryggen!

The old wharf in Bergen was Norway’s first UNESCO World Heritage site. It dates back to the 14th century and commemorates Bergen’s importance as part of the Hanseatic League trading empire. 

These buildings are very photogenic and recognizable icons of Norwegian architecture. Although the buildings have experienced several fires, they were rebuilt using traditional methods and materials, leaving their main structures intact.

Hike up Fløyen and take the tram back down to the city

Fløyen is one of the seven mountains that surround the city of Bergen. It is a lovely 45-minute hike to the top, or if hiking isn’t your thing, you can take the tram!

At the top, there is a great view, a cafe and souvenir/gift shop, and a playground for kids. In the summer, you can take a canoe out on the scenic Skomakerdiket lake.

The Fløibanen is the tram that runs to the top of Fløyen and back. It has been running for over 100 years and is a great way to see the sights on the way up or down the mountain.

Explore Bergenhus Fortress

Perfect for history lovers, this fortress is one of the oldest and best preserved in Norway. Construction of the fortress buildings dates back to the early 1500s.

It is free to walk around the fortress grounds. If you want to dig deeper into the building’s history, you can buy tickets for the museum inside the fortress.

Visit Bergen University’s Natural History Museum

I love natural history museums, and I thought the Bergen University Natural History Museum was really well done! With exhibitions on biodiversity, crystals, the deep sea, and more, this museum is one you could get lost in for hours.

There is a student discount, so don’t forget your student ID card if you have one!

Visit Fantoft Stave Church

The original Fantoft Stave Church was built in 1170. After being moved, demolished, and even burnt down, it was rebuilt in its current form in 1992. Despite this complicated history, it remains a well-known and picturesque symbol of Bergen’s history today.

You can see the outside of the church all year round. The inside of the church is open from the 15th of May to the 15th of December (excluding the 17th of May) from 10:30 to 6:00 PM. As of 2022, it costs 70 NOK for adults, 50 NOK for students, and 30 NOK for kids.

Admire the view from the cable car to Mount Ulriken

Mount Ulriken is the highest mountain in Bergen and provides excellent views of the surrounding city and fjord. The hike up the mountain consists of 1,300 stairway steps and takes about 1.5 hours. There is a restaurant and viewing area at the top.

If you want to save yourself a hike in either direction, there is also a cable car that goes to the top of the mountain. The cable car is a bit expensive, but worth it for the views alone. Remember to be aware of the weather when you go – Bergen is one of the rainiest cities in Europe, and clouds can roll in quickly.

Stop for dinner at the Fish Market

The Fish Market is one of Bergen’s most popular food markets. It sells many different types of food – fish, but also bread and pastries, wine, and other artisanal foods. There are also several restaurants inside, with seating overlooking Bergen Harbor.

Conveniently, the Fish Market is within walking distance of other tourist attractions like Bryggen and the Bergenhus Fortress, which makes it a great place to sit down after a long day of exploring the city.

Discover the KODE Museums

At the KODE Museums, you can view work by Norwegian artists, including Edvard Munch, Harriet Backer, Nikolai Astrup, and JC Dahl, alongside a number of contemporary art exhibitions. The KODE Museums consist of four separate buildings, all of which can be accessed with one entrance ticket.

Explore the Edvard Grieg Museum at Troldhaugen

Edvard Greig was a famous Norwegian composer who lived from 1843-1907. He was considered one of the leading Romantic Era composers and toured extensively throughout Europe during his life. While not on tour, he lived at Troldhaugen with his wife, Nina.

Today, Troldhaugen has been preserved as a monument to Grieg’s life and work. You can take a tour to see what his house looked like when he lived there and even visit the lakeside shed where he composed many of his most famous works.

After touring Grieg’s house, you can check out the small on-site museum to learn more about his life and then stop for a coffee at the museum’s cafe before continuing on your way.

Visit Hardangerfjord

Hardangerfjord is the fifth-longest fjord in the world and the second-longest fjord in Norway. It is also the site of the famous Trolltunga hike! Getting to Hardangerfjord from Bergen takes 1.5 hours by car or 4.5 hours by bus.

The season for the Trolltunga hike lasts from June 1st to August 31st each year. It is recommended that you hire a guide, especially on the edges of the season. Since this is a fairly long hike, plan accordingly – either start early in the day to make sure you get back before dark, or book a two-day hike and sleep under the stars.

Where to stay in Bergen

Hostels

There are two hostels in Bergen: City Hostel Bergen and Bergen Hostel Montana. Both are highly rated and around the same price. However, while City Hostel Bergen is downtown and close to many cultural attractions, Bergen Hostel Montana is located on a hillside of Mount Ulriken and close to more natural attractions, like hiking trails. You can choose whichever fits your travel style best!

Hotels

Bergan has plenty of solid hotels to choose from. Hotel Norge by Scandic is a great, centrally located option. If you’re looking for a little extra history, Bergen Børs Hotel is located in an old stock exchange building from 1862 – check out the impressive ceilings over the restaurant area!

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There is so much to see in Bergen, Norway, and I hope this post gives you some ideas. Enjoy your time visiting this enchanting Norwegian city!

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