21 Fantastic Things to Do in Bergen

Planning a trip to Western Norway’s cutest city? Check below for all the best things to do in Bergen!

Bergen is such a charming city; you have no idea how excited I am that one of my best friends, Silvia, now calls it home. Since I first wrote this post, I’ve been to Bergen three more times and am planning a trip back next summer to watch my friend’s cat again. Each time I go, I get to revisit old favorites and try new places, so consider this your most up to date guide!

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Although a population of less than 300,000 sounds small, Bergen is actually Norway’s second largest city behind Oslo. Located on the west coast, it’s surrounded by mountains and was officially founded all the way back in 1070 by King Olav Kyrre. It was even the capital of Norway for a time and has, in general, played a huge role in the country’s history.

Today it’s one of the most popular places to visit in Norway and is often a launching city for cruises and road trips to nearby fjords and towns. Here’s everything I’ve gotten up to so far!

Disclaimer: On my first trip, Visit Bergen was kind enough to supply us with complimentary Bergen Cards and Frescohallen with dinner. However, all subsequent trips have been from my own pocket!

All the Best Sightseeing Things to Do in Bergen

1. Stay in a historic hotel

When staying in a historic city, it only seems right to stay in a historic hotel! We booked a few nights at Det Hanseatiske Hotel (The Hanseatic Hotel). Nestled right in Bryggen district, it’s located in what was once the Finnegaarden Trading House. They’ve maintained the wharf-esque architecture right down to the timber walls and with only 37 rooms, everything feels much cozier and more intimate than one of the bigger hotels.

If they’re booked up, check out these other historic hotels:

Hotel Name	Details	Prices
Bergen Børs Hotel	Located in Bergen’s old stock exchange building	Check Here
Opus XVI	Located in a former bank and owned by relatives of composer Edvard Grieg	Check Here
Grand Hotel Terminus	Dates back to 1928 and still maintains details from its beginnings	Check Here

2. Learn More About Bergen’s History

As always whenever I travel somewhere new, I like to learn a bit about the city’s history. Why am I visiting exactly? What’s the unique appeal?

Like I mentioned above, Bergen was established sometime before 1070 AD, so it’s got a lot of history! The most important thing you’ll want to learn about is when Bergen played a key role in the Hanseatic League’s trading from the 1300s to the 1500s. The Hanseatic League was a sort of confederation of merchant guilds and towns across northern and central Europe beginning with German traders. The league offered both trading relationships but also protection for everyone involved. Bryggen in Bergen was one of the places they expanded to, and it helped shape the city into what we see today.

If you want to learn more about Bergen’s history, I highly recommend one of the following tours:

Tour Name	What to Expect	Cost
Bergen: A Walk Through Past and Present	In this 2 hour walking tour, a guide will take you to various historic sites as well as more off the beaten path areas while you learn more of Bergen’s past.	Check Here
Private Tour with a Local	For when you want a more customizable itinerary as well as more one-on-one time with your guide.	Check Here
Historic Nordnes Neighbourhood: Crime, Witches & Seafarers	For more niche history, check out the Nordnes neighborhood which was a big 16th century place for seafarers and has a winding history that involves everything from execution to witchcraft trials.	Check Here

3. Get a bird’s eye view of Bergen from Fløyen

For the best views in the city, you’ll want to make your way up to Fløyen! The observation decks sit about 320m (2,790ft) above sea level and has incredible views out to the fjords. You have two options of getting there from Bergenhus:

Hiking

You can hike up and down, which should take you a total of 2+ hours with an elevation gain of 1,010ft. The path starts behind the Fløibanen entrance. I actually did this hike with my friend when she visited! Shows how much fitter I’ve gotten because when I first wrote this post, the thought of hiking up to the Fløyen overlook made me shudder. The path is nice and paved and winds up pretty gently, so there’s only a few sections where you’ll be heaving and catching your breath.

The Fløibanen Funicular

The other, more relaxing option, is to ride up the Fløibanen funicular! It only takes about 5-8 minutes and is a very pretty ride. Keep in mind, this is one of the most popular things to do in Bergen, so there’s seemingly always a line outside the station. Buy your ticket online or at the kiosk to skip the first line!

4. Stroll through the wooden alleyways of Bryggen

I feel like every city in Norway has this historic center or street that’s the representative photograph. For Bergen, that’s the UNESCO World Heritage site known as Bryggen.

Back in the day, something known as the Hanseatic League was a huge confederation of merchant guilds and towns through central and northern Europe. Bergen became home to one of its offices (kontors) in 1350 and is the only one that has remained preserved through the modern age. The colorful wooden buildings you see today are from a rebuilding following a 1702 fire, though construction was and is done in the traditional methods.

It’s such a pretty section of Bergen! You can learn more about the history at the Bryggens Museum, shop through all the cute boutique and souvenir stores, and get a traditional Norwegian dish at one of the restaurants (more on my pick under the foodie section).

Also if you stay at Det Hanseatiske Hotel, you’ll be staying in one of the historic buildings!

5. See Bergenhus fortress

While wandering through Bryggen, go a little further to see Bergenhus Festnin (Bergenhus Fortress) at the entrance of Bergen harbor. This stone castle goes back to the 1240s and the most recent buildings are from World War II. Back in the day it contained the royal residences and was used to help protect the city when it was the country’s capital. The Royal Norwegian Navy still controls the fortress today and even has some people stationed here.

Fun tip – a lot of concerts are held around here including Bergenfest in June. Later when we were hiking down from Fløyen we could hear a Bryan Adams concert coming from that area!

6. Pop into all four of the Kode Museums

Right around a lake, Bergen has a four different Kode Museums. (Elsewhere in Bergen, there are also three Kode composers’ homes). Their history goes back two centuries when President of the Storting, Wilhelm F.K. Christie, wanted to start a museum in Bergen that would cover a number of topics. The museums have undergone a number of changes, updates, and many renames until Kode was decided in 2013.

Around the lake, the museums are as follows:

• Permanenten
• Stenersen
• Rasmus Meyer
• Lysverket

If you only have time for one, I would say the Rasmus Meyer (Kode 3) was my favorite. It focuses on Norwegian artists and has a nice Edvard Munch collection.

7. Learn more about Bergen’s ties to leprosy

A museum I was actually curious about visiting was Lepramuseet (The Leprosy Museum). It’s right in the same area as the Kode Museums so easy to add as you explore. It’s located in what was once St. Jørgen’s Hospital, an institution that had been treating lepers until the middle of the 1900s. (The current building only dates back to the 1700s, though).

The disease was actually discovered in Bergen by physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen (hence why it’s also called Hansen’s disease) and the museum covers its history as well as highlighting some of its victims.

8. Take in the views from the harbor

An absolute must in Bergen – taking in the iconic views from the harbor! You can either walk to one side or do what we did and get on a boat. From afar you can see all the charming buildings and see what makes a Norwegian destination, well, Norwegian!

9. Do a little fjord cruise

The cruise we did to see the harbor was actually a 4-hour fjord cruise which took us all the way over to Osterfjord through Mostraumen strait. When I first went, our boat got right up against the waterfall so people got wet if they were standing on the deck! It didn’t happen the second time I went, so I’m not sure if they stopped or if it’s just up to whoever’s driving the boat.

It’s an out and back cruise, so you’ll see the same sights twice. Bring a book and grab some snacks ahead of time! They have a snack bar on board but it’s obviously a bit overpriced.

10. Wander through the idyllic streets of Nordnes

Now that I’ve been, I think Nordnes might be my favorite neighborhood of Bergen! If you look on a map, it’s located on the peninsula opposite of Bryggen and is a bit more residential. If you’re going for a run or just want to stretch your legs, follow a bit of a circular loop to the edge of the neighborhood where you’ll get the prettiest view out to the fjord. The houses are all somehow even prettier and most pastel than in the center.

While wandering, you can always stop into Løvetann Café & Bistro for a bite to eat and a nice coffee. They have iced coffee for anyone visiting in summer.

11. Do a day trip from Bergen (or a multi-day road trip!)

Many people start their fjord cruises or road trips from Bergen because of its location. We were one of them. Once Silvia joined us, we rented a car (which meant going back to the airport) and then headed to Fjærland, Flåm, and Gudvangen over a few days.

Western Norway is so stunning; I really, really recommend getting out of the city to see its smaller towns and landscapes. Renting a car is super easy and relatively inexpensive all things considered. Plus Norway is very empty and speed fines are absurdly steep, so in general, people drive slowly and safely.

12. Spend a few hours at a Norwegian sauna

One thing I always love doing when I visit Norway is spend a few hours at a sauna. Ever since Silvia took me to my first one, I’ve been hooked! There are a few options in Bergen, but we walked to Nordnes Sjøbad, which has been around since 1910. It’s more of a swimming pool and open water swim, but it has a nice little dry sauna where you can get nice and toasty before jumping into the cold water!

If you want a more traditional experience, I took my friend over to Heit Sauna in their Marineholmen location.

Foodie Things to Do in Bergen

13. Dine in a historical building

Guys not only is the food here *chefs kiss*, the building is easily one of the most beautiful restaurant interiors I’ve seen in all my adventures anywhere. A part of Bergen Børs Hotel, Frescohallen was just opened in 2022 in what was once Bergen’s stock exchange building. The ceilings are high and the walls are adorned with colorful frescoes. There’s a lot of natural light too, so if you come in the summer when the days are long, it makes for a really nice evening dining experience.

We were invited to come have dinner here while on our trip, and it was seriously delicious. They started us off with this massive seafood platter and followed with this incredible spicy linguini. I’ve read breakfast is served here for hotel guests as well!

14. Grab a bite at Bergen’s oldest restaurant

Another place we ate at was Bryggeloftet. Sher and I wound up here purely by chance when we were looking for dinner and our first choice was booked for a private event! We only learned they were the oldest in the city, having been founded in 1910, when looking at our menus.

Still owned and operated by the same family from the beginning, the restaurant serves up traditional Norwegian meals with the freshest local ingredients possible. I can’t remember which we got specifically but it was the fish dish above. I also later took my friend here and got the bacalao while she got the fish soup – YUM!

15. Grab an ex-squid-site bite at the Fisketorget…

Right by the edge of the harbor sits the Fisketorget (fish market). It’s been around since the 1200s and is full of fresh fish as well as seafood and other items depending on the season. As you might guess, the market was a place for fisherman from outside of the city to sell their wares. The indoor component, Mathallen, was built in 2012 and is open year round while the outdoor component is open May 1st through the summer.

On my first visit, I got a little salmon sandwich while we were sightseeing, but there are a few places to sit down if you want a proper meal. I even saw some paella being offered.

16. … Or get your fish fix at Søstrene Hagelin

Now that I’ve been back to Bergen, I’ve learn a not-so-secret secret. The fish market is pretty overpriced and while the food is good, you can actually go right around the corner to Søstrene Hagelin for the same quality of food at a fraction of the cost. Silvia, clued me in on this and told me to try the fish cakes. They did NOT disappoint.

And don’t just trust me or Silvia on this rec. Søstrene Hagelin has been around since the 1920s, was started by sisters Elna and Gudrun (hence the name), and was a favorite of King Olav whenever he was in Bergen. They still use the same recipes as the sisters did!

17. Get the cheese wheel pasta at Boccone

Coming on a Tuesday and craving some Italian? Check out Boccone Ristorante. Another friend who lives in Bergen, Lisa, has a whole post of her favorite restaurants in the city and Boccone is her top pick for Italian. While their normal menu is full of fantastic dishes, they do a special dish on Tuesdays – grana padano. Think rigatoni pasta mixed in a gooey cheese wheel and topped with fresh truffles. YUM! Silvia and I went on my last visit, and it more than lived up to the hype.

18. Get a reindeer hot dog from Trekroneren

You know what’s funny? It took me until my most recent trip to Norway to actually try a Norwegian hot dog. I think I vaguely knew they existed but none of my friends were passionate about them, so I never went out of my way to try one. I also skipped out on the Icelandic version too.

However, that all changed after the copious amounts of Danish hot dogs I had in Copenhagen. I am now a woman possessed. I want to sample all the Scandinavian hot dogs I can. When my friend was visiting from the States, I polled my Norwegian friends for where to go in Bergen, and they recommended Trekroneren, a little stand that’s been open since 1946. We stumbled over after coming down from our Fløyen hike, but just know they’re open to 3/4:00 AM, so you can also stumble over there after a night out as well.

The guy recommended reindeer hotdogs, and that’s just what we got. Perfection.

19. Enjoy a Norwegian cafe or two.

One of my favorite similarities between Korea and Norway is that they have strong cafe cultures. Korea leans more trendy and unique while Norwegian cafes emphasize koselig (coziness). As with Korea, I am always down to try a new cafe while here, and between all my visits I’ve gone to quite a few! Here are some favorites:

• Godt Brød – has multiple locations including one by the Fløibanen entrance and Byparken. The Byparken one has a ton of outdoor seating!
• Det Lille Kaffekompaniet – A cute lil spot by the Fløibanen entrance. Usually has my favorite dessert, success cake.
• Solros Bakery – located in a very cute blue building with really delicious pastries and drinks.
• Café Opera – lots of indoor space and has real food options along with some sweets (including success cake!). Went here to work a few times.
• Bergen Coffee Roastery – not super central but also a good laptop work place. Has some nice pastry and food options but focus is obviously on the coffee!

20. Grab a drink at one of Bergen’s many cozy bars

Because Norway is fairly cold most of the year, they’ve really nailed the concept of coselig. (In fact, hygge is actually a Norwegian word!) Bergen is known for its consistent rainfall, so you can bet their bars have some sort of cozy element. So far I’ve gotten drinks at Ferdinand på Engen, Luddi, and Dark & Stormy and enjoyed all of them even though I don’t drink alcohol. Dark & Stormy also has a nice outdoor seating area for nice weather – it’s deceptively spacious.

21. Fall in love with Norwegian chocolate

Did you know Norway made some of the best chocolate in the world? Yeah me neither until Silvia introduced me to the magic of Freia during my very first visit. Specifically, Norway does really, really delicious milk chocolate and has been in the market since 1906. If you’re short on cash while visiting, the very least you should do is pop into any grocery store and buy a classic giant bar of Freia milk chocolate. This is my favorite chocolate anything. Every time I visit, I leave with as much as I can fit into my suitcase, and it’s all I request if Silvia meets me elsewhere in the world.

Now, if you have a little bit more cash to spend, check out Fjåk Chocolate, the first bean to bar makers in Norway. They have really nice hot chocolate. I also liked AJ Chocolate House & Bar. They do alcoholic chocolate drinks if you want somewhere to go after dinner. Their hot chocolate is basically melted chocolate, so you may not want a dessert and a drink if you go, and that’s coming from someone with a major sweet tooth!

And there you have it – all the incredible things to do in Bergen on your first trip! Anything I should make sure I do on my next visit?

For more Norwegian travel, read these posts next:

• More Bergen Posts
  • First Time in Bergen?
  • The Bergen Itinerary I Made My Friend
• Helgeland Coast: Off the Beaten Path in Norway
  • Visiting Vega, Norway
  • Lovund, Norway: A Charming Island Escpae
• Lofoten in the Winter: A Little Guide to these Picturesque Islands
• A Little Trondheim Travel Guide for Winter
• Wonderful Things to Do in Tromsø in Winter
• What to Expect Hiking Blåvatnet

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